2009 Top Apple/Pear Growers
November 12, 2009 Across the board, 2009 was a challenging year for just about every business. And while it’s true that “everyone has to eat,” that doesn’t mean food producers can be complacent.
Now more than ever it’s important to maintain solid business practices that will see you through these tough economic times and help you prosper now and for many years to come.
These are the kinds of practices employed by American/Western Fruit Grower’s Top Apple /Pear Growers. Our 2009 Top Apple/Pear Growers list is ranked according to 2008 acreage for apples and pears owned or leased by one company that is responsible for maintaining it.
In addition to the acreage list below, read on for information on how one top grower is working to ensure economic viability for its business as it enters its fourth generation of leadership.
Symms Fruit Ranch
Jim Mertz, vice chairman of Symms Fruit Ranch in Idaho, says the business hasn’t necessarily changed the way it operates in light of the economy but instead has remained steadfast in its mission: to listen closely to customers. “We’re not retailers,” he says. “If our customers tell us they want a product in a certain package, it’s our judgement that what we’ve got to do is put it in the package they want — maybe not necessarily the one we want to put it in. It really comes down to being customer friendly.”
Mertz says paying close attention to detail is important, too. Symms Fruit Ranch follows the market closely to determine what consumers demand and adjusts production to meet those needs. “We try to be very responsive to what our customers tell us they want, because we think it’s our job to send them a good product, and that way we’re going to get return orders.”
Top Apple/Pear Growers |
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|
Rank
|
Company Name |
Year Founded
|
Apple/Pear Acreage
|
Crops Grown
|
Total Acreage |
2008 Rank
|
|
|
1
|
Evans Fruit Company, WA | 1959 | 7,283 | Apples | 7,283 |
1
|
|
|
2
|
Stemilt Growers, WA | 1985 | 6,064* | Apples, Cherries | 7,364 |
2
|
|
|
3
|
Broetje Orchards, WA | 1979 | 5,860 | Apples, Cherries | 6,130 |
4
|
|
|
4
|
Borton Fruit, WA | 1910 | 5,552 | Apples, Pears, Cherries | 5,765 |
5
|
|
|
5
|
Gebbers Farms, WA | 1973 | 5,161 | Apples, Pears, Cherries | 6,593 |
3
|
|
|
6
|
Zirkle Fruit, WA | 1888 | 5,000 |
Apples, Cherries
|
5,500 |
6
|
|
|
7
|
Naumes, Inc., OR | 1946 | 4,500 | Pears | 4,500 |
9
|
|
|
8
|
Farmland Management Services, CA | 1986 | 3,600 | Apples, Pears, Tree Nuts, Winegrapes, Cherries, Prunes | 30,073 |
11
|
|
|
9
|
Dovex Fruit Co., WA | 1983 | 3,580 | Apples, Pears, Stone Fruit |
3,760 |
8
|
|
|
10
|
Dovex Fruit Co., WA | 1992 | 3,500 | Apples | 3,500 |
7
|
|
|
11
|
Fruit Hill Orchards, VA | 1929 | 3,200 | Apples | 3,200 |
10
|
|
|
12
|
Hansen Fruit, WA | 1948 | 2,948 | Apples, Pears | 2,948 |
13
|
|
|
13
|
Fowler Bros., NY | 1858 | 2,750 | Apples, Cherries | 2,800 |
12
|
|
|
14
|
Chiawana Orchards, WA | 1980 | 2,470 | Apples, Pears, Cherries | 2,500 |
—
|
|
|
15
|
McDougall and Sons, WA | 1977 | 1,982 | Apples, Pears, Cherries | 2,320 |
16
|
|
|
16
|
Bear Creek Orchards, OR | 1934 | 1,900 | Pears | 1,900 |
15
|
|
|
17
|
Gilbert Orchards, WA | 1897 | 1,800* | Apples | 1,800 |
14
|
|
|
18
|
Valley Fruit, WA | 1982 | 1,600* | Apples | 1,600 | 18 | |
|
19
|
Symms Fruit Ranch, ID | 1914 | 1,520 | Apples, Pears, Stone Fruit, Grapes | 5,035 |
19
|
|
|
20
|
Associated Fruit Co., OR | 1942 | 1,496 | Pears | 1,496 |
17
|
|
|
21
|
Premiere Entities, CA |
1986
|
1,359 | Apples, Cherries, Winegrapes, Tree Nuts |
12,705 |
20
|
|
|
22
|
Forrence Orchards, NY | 1833 | 1,200 | Apples | 1,200 |
23
|
|
|
23
|
Chazy Orchards, NY | 1939 | 1,100 | Apples | 1,100 |
—
|
|
|
24
|
Earl E. Brown & Sons, OR | 1977 | 1,046 | Apples, Winegrapes, Plums, Prunes | 1,206 | — | |
|
25
|
Yakima Valley Orchards, WA | 1951 | 1,000 | Apples, Pears, Cherries | 1,300 |
—
|
|
|
*estimated acreage |
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