What People Are Saying About the Latest Apple Grower of the Year
August 19, 2025 
2025 Apple Grower of the Year Jim Engelsma shares a moment with colleagues Poliana Francescatto and Amy Irish-Brown recently in the apple orchard.
Photo by Thomas Skernivitz
In this summer of “Superman,” American Fruit Grower® magazine brings you Jim Engelsma. Extending a long line of industry superheroes, Engelsma was recently announced the 37th recipient of the Apple Grower of the Year, presented by American Fruit Grower and sponsored by Valent U.S.A.
As President of Engelsma’s Apple Barn in Walker, MI, just more than 4 miles west of downtown Grand Rapids, Engelsma has set standards with his multileader high-density production systems, award-winning cider business, and mentorship of fellow growers.
Engelsma now makes for a fantastic four of Michigan apple growers, each of whom hails from or near the state’s prestigious Fruit Ridge region. Previous recipients named Apple Grower of the Year include peers Phil and Judy Schwallier (2018), Ed Wittenbach (1999), and Harold and JoAnn Thome (1992). Only Washington (14) and New York (5) have fared better than Michigan at the state level.
Industry peers are speaking out in praise of Engelsma being named the 2025 Apple Grower of the Year. Here is what several of them have to say.
“My first trip to Michigan, I asked former Apple Grower of the Year Phil Schwallier what progressive growers I should visit,” Dave Eddy, Editor of American Fruit Grower, says. “Jim Engelsma was the first grower he mentioned. I have never forgotten how Schwallier, who was then a Michigan State University Extension Advisor, held him in such high esteem.”
“Jim Engelsma is known among his peers for his family-centric farming operation, high-density orchards, and award-winning apple cider,” Vince Restucci, Tree Fruit Market Segment Manager at Valent U.S.A., says. “Jim is dedicated to producing high-quality apples, and he embraces new technology with the goal of improving efficiency and profitability. We are honored to recognize him as the 2025 Apple Grower of the Year.”
Diane Smith, Executive Director of the Michigan Apple Committee, singles out several Engelsma attributes while calling him a “respected leader” in Michigan’s apple industry.
• Beside growing apples and producing cider, he actively supports research efforts that help drive the industry’s success.
• He volunteers his farm as a host site for horticultural research and collaborates with Michigan State University leaders in horticulture, plant pathology, and entomology to advance research priorities for the industry.
• He has held leadership roles with the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission and the International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA) and currently serves on the Michigan Apple Research Subcommittee, further demonstrating his commitment to innovation and industry development.
• He worked with the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development as part of a working group that created regulations and guidelines to improve the safety and quality of apple cider production across the state.
“In short, Jim Engelsma is a passionate and committed advocate for the Michigan apple industry,” Smith says. “Our industry is so fortunate to have had so many wonderful growers honored with this award.”
“The USApple team has always been very impressed by Jim Engelsma,” Jim Bair, President and CEO of the U.S. Apple Association, says. “In particular, Jim’s dedication to the pursuit of science-based research to benefit the apple industry is broad and deep. He is a keen supporter of innovation, and his reputation as a thought leader reflects that.”
In 2016 Engelsma assisted the MSU Dept. of Horticulture in its quest for top-tier faculty, resulting in the simultaneous hiring of researchers Todd Einhorn and Courtney Hollender.
“Jim is a wonderful individual, a stellar ambassador of Michigan fruit, who is extremely devoted to improving the competitive position of the industry,” Einhorn says. “He has engaged my program in many key stakeholder events, and I have always been aware and grateful for his support. He is very deserving of this recognition.”
Equally appreciative is Nutrien Ag Solutions, which employs Engelsma as the Location Manager at its Hart and Sparta branches.
“Jim is a hard-working manager, as he oversees two locations for Nutrien Ag Solutions, all while servicing fruit and vegetable growers in West Michigan,” Scott Dumaw, the supply company’s Michigan Division Manager, says. “Jim has a love for apple production, and you can see that in the smile on his face when he is talking about growing and producing high-quality apples. Jim is always looking for new and innovative products to take to his growers, as well as utilize for himself to produce high-quality fruit.”
Would you like to extend congratulations to Jim Engelsma, the 2025 Apple Grower of the Year? Leave a comment below.
Subscribe Today For
