Most apple growers I’ve met are rugged individualists. It’s hard for me to picture them sitting at a desk all day; most just aren’t the corporate-cubicle type. They enjoy the sense of freedom being outside brings, and they’re not crazy about getting interference from government regulations and other obstacles to producing something they take great pride in, this year’s crop.
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Kenny Barnwell
Kenny Barnwell, the Owner of Kenny Barnwell Orchards in Edneyville, NC, becomes the 35th recipient of the American Fruit Grower SM Apple Grower of the Year award. A passionate proponent of farmland preservation, he follows in a long line of peers who exemplify industry advocacy.
Photo by Thomas Skernivitz
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David Gleason
David Gleason, the 2022 American Fruit GrowerSM Apple Grower of the Year, is known for keeping an open mind, measuring his words carefully, but when he speaks, fellow growers listen.
Photo by David Eddy
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The Hardys of Brookdale Fruit Farm
Congratulations to Trevor Hardy (left) and Chip Hardy of Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, NH, the 2021 Apple Grower of the Year Award recipients.
Photo by Thomas Skernivitz
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Robert Black
“When we planted ‘Gala’, people started eating more fresh apples. We want noisy apples – they have to crunch when you bite into them.”- Robert Black, 2020 Apple Grower of the Year
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John and Bill Borton
“It’s tough for an apple grower, because you know the early strains of each variety are not going to be as good as those found later. We knew that, but jumping in early helped because the price was relatively high because there wasn’t the huge volume.” - Bill Borton (right), pictured with cousin, John, 2019 Apple Growers of the Year
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Phil and Judy Schwallier
“When I come home, we talk about the things that need to be done. Usually, Judy says I tell her what needs to be done. But I think it’s she who tells me what needs to be done. And I agree,”- Phil Schwallier, pictured with wife Judy, 2018 Apple Growers of the Year
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Rod Farrow
"Having a crew of talented, motivated people is the key to making this work. You can have all the ideas in the world, but you need the boots on the ground.”- Rod Farrow, 2017 Apple Grower of the Year
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Scott McDougall
“It takes 10 to 11 years to make a profit, and that’s if there’s no hail or other weather events. I don’t think any banker would be excited by that. We’ve been able to get pay-backs in six years because of the ‘Ambrosia’ and ENZA varieties.” - Scott McDougall, 2016 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Bill Dodd
“The thing about networking is, no matter how smart you are, there’s always someone smarter. You can’t predict how it will work out, but the more people you know, the better chance you have of finding success.”- Bill Dodd, 2015 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Bill and Jeannette Evans
“We were burned very badly in the first few years by biting off more than we could chew. The lesson I would tell the kids and grandkids is don’t ever extend yourselves and be careful how you invest your money.”- Bill and Jeannette Evans, 2014 Apple Growers Of The Year
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Cordell Watt
“All projects come with headaches, but we deal with them. You have to do what you're comfortable with and what's best for your orchard. You have to be realistic.”- Cordell Watt, 2013 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Jeff Leonardini
“They can be a headache, but these standards are important, and if we can better ourselves, and set the standard for the industry, that’s great.”- Jeff Leonardini, 2012 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Mo Tougas
“Unless you get out of your region and culture and see what people are doing elsewhere, things get stagnant. By traveling and seeing what others are doing, and if they have better ideas, that's how we progress and grow in our business.”- Mo Tougas (pictured with wife, Phyllis, and son Andre), 2011 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Mike Taylor
“There's a wide array of apple varieties available for growers to consider planting, and the biggest thing you can do is match the variety to the micro climate, elevation, soil type, and site you are in. If you start with that and get the best available plant material, you've set the stage for a winning combination.”- Mike Taylor, 2010 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Bill Zirkle
“My father always told me to grow quality fruit first, last, and always. People are always looking for an excellent piece of good quality eating fruit. You'll always be successful if you work hard but smart. Grow the right thing and be willing to change. Find out what people's desires, wants, and preferences are, and grow to their needs rather than try to sell them what you have.”- Bill Zirkle (pictured with son, Mark), 2009 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Evan and Nathan Milburn
“Treat your labor with high respect and gratitude. Some people don’t realize that they are the ones making your living and success possible.”- Evan and Nathan Milburn, 2008 Apple Growers Of The Year
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Jeff Crist
“Consumers are expecting a better product, and they’ll expect a stronger product tomorrow than today. This requires diligence and assurance every step of the way.”- Jeff Crist, 2007 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Dan Boyer
“We need to come up with something that consumers don’t even know they want yet.”- Dan Boyer, 2006 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Gary Mount
“Variety is the spice of life for retail farm marketers. If we have to sell something wholesale, then we’ve fallen down on the job.” - Gary Mount, 2005 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Darrel Oakes
“One of the reasons we’ve been able to survive these tough times is because we’ve had people who are really tied to the family and the land that we operate.”- Darrel Oakes, (pictured with family), 2004 Apple Grower Of The YearDarrel Oakes (third from left), is a co-owner at LynOaken Farms in Lyndonville, NY, along with, from left, his cousin Jeff Oakes, Darrel’s wife Linda, and his sister Wendy Wilson.
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Ralph Broetje
“Apple growing is very labor intensive, and without good people running the business, we can’t do anything.”- Ralph Broetje, 2003 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Fred Valentine
“It’s still a very hands-on industry, and you need to work with the resources you have.”- Fred Valentine (pictured with fellow grower Bob Banning), 2002 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Greg Nix
“You tend to think that overproduction is hurting the industry, but I can’t honestly say that to be true. A lot of people think poor quality fruit or imports are hurting the industry. I don’t think it’s any one thing — it’s a combination of several things. If Model T Fords had been so popular there wouldn’t have been a need for Chevrolet or Chrysler.”- Greg Nix, 2001 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Brad Hollabaugh
“The high capital investment each year is difficult to make, since even one’s best planning cannot assure success of varieties in the marketplace. We often choose fresh fruit varieties which have value as processing apples as well to safeguard against volatile markets. Our planting strategy is tuned into our own marketing plans as well as industry trends.”- Brad Hollabaugh, 2000 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Ed Wittenbach
“I think every grower has to be involved in organizations. If you aren’t involved, you’re walking around with blinders on. You have to know the pulse of what’s happening. Every meeting I go to I come back and ask, ‘what did I learn, what do I see as a trend, and how can I apply it to my operation?’”- Ed Wittenbach, 1999 Apple Grower Of The Year
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George and David Allan
“The weakest part of fruit growing these days is nobody wants to be a farmer. But if you get good, firm, well-colored produce, everything else will fall into place. You’ll have a good consistent pack. You can make a bad packout of good fruit . But you can’t make a good packout of bad fruit.”- George and David Allan, 1998 Apple Grower Of The Year
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George Lamont
“We can be more effective working with the EPA while ideas are being developed. If you wait until the regulations have been written and then react to them, it becomes much more difficult.”- George Lamont, 1997 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Doyle Flemming
“If you’re the first to do something, chances are that people will seek you out as an authority.”- Doyle Fleming, 1996 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Mitch Lynd
“I can name dozens of growers who do a better job than me. But growing apples is so difficult, you don’t have to worry about being put out of business by helping someone.”- Mitch Lynd (pictured with family), 1995 Apple Grower Of The Year(Front row: Mitch, Lester, and David Lynd; back row (left to right) John Kammeyer, Steve Lynd, Dick Wander, and Andy Lynd
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Chuck Peters
“My philosophy is we are growers. But we can’t exist unless we recognize the industry must come first. We need to look at this as a big corporation. Yet it doesn’t have a specific CEO but instead a good fractionated leadership from many growers.”- Chuck Peters, 1994 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Roscoe Crist
“You have to find out who the decision makers are, talk to them, and try to find out what they are thinking and what their priorities are. Then you have to make your case to them.”- Roscoe Crist, 1993 Apple Grower Of The Year (pictured with wife Marylou) about the need for funding for research
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Harold and JoAnne Thome
“All commodity groups in agriculture are going to be compelled to work closer together. We’re all trying to say pretty much the same thing, but we’re saying it differently.”- Harold and JoAnne Thome, 1992 Apple Growers Of The Year
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Steve Wood
“It’s getting very difficult to make a living with a small to medium apple operation in a wholesale market.” - Steve Wood (pictured with son, Harry), 1991 Apple Grower Of The Year
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Grady Auvil
“To be successful, growers have to look at the whole system — growing, harvesting, packing, and marketing.”- Grady Auvil, 1990 Apple Grower Of The Year
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John Rice
“The days when you could innocently sit back and just move your crop out or deliver it to the packing house and that was it — those days are gone. We have to be involved in the public arena. We have to be giving our side of the story. We need to anticipate problems rather than just react to them.” - John Rice, 1989 Apple Grower Of The Year
They have to keep their eyes on such a prize, because when you think about it, growers only get paid once a year, when they sell their crops. How many people would borrow huge amounts of money to produce a crop each year? A crop that is by no means guaranteed? Not many.
Most corporate types couldn’t take that pressure. In fact, some big corporations have gotten into fruit growing, only to get out of it after a few of years. Growing fruit is a lot tougher than manufacturing widgets. You can just see them holding their quarterly meetings, videoconferencing with the guys in charge back at their New York City headquarters. The guys back East calling the shots are finding out the fruit division of the company is running into problems with this year’s crop because of a horrendous hailstorm. They look at each other and say, “This fruit-growing business is tough enough as it is, but having profits repeatedly threatened by a factor outside our control is too much.”
I don’t think most people could handle the risk inherent in fruit growing. It requires people with an even keel who can handle that risk. They very much resemble the old line about behaving like a duck — serenely touring a lake, above-water as calm and unflappable as can be, while below water, out of sight, they’re paddling with all their might.
Such a person is the furthest thing from a braggart. And that’s where you come in. Somebody has to brag about fruit growers, because if you don’t do it, perhaps nobody else will. That’s why I encourage you to help honor a segment of this great country’s fruit growers who are found coast-to-coast, America’s apple growers.
Avoid These Mistakes When Flying Drones Over Your Farm Field
The nomination period for the American Fruit GrowerSM Apple Grower of the Year Award recently opened. We established the award 33 years ago because of the great work being done by apple growers around the country. The then-editor of American Fruit Grower, Gary Acuff, came up with the idea of honoring apple growers. At the time, Acuff specifically thought John Rice of Pennsylvania’s Rice Fruit Company should be honored that first year for his tireless work in trying to battle the ridiculous, later unfounded, uproar
over Alar.
Incidentally, John still usually attends the annual Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference in Chicago, hosted by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple). It’s at that well-run conference — which I urge all apple growers to attend — where I present the award, a large, handsome, crystal bowl. If you think this award is no big deal, I doubt you’ve been to that conference, nor seen the faces of the winners at the trophy presentation. They can get a little emotional, something I always seem to be unprepared for, because it’s so different than the unflappable grower I knew before he or she hit the stage.
In other words, the award means a lot to those who receive it. Sponsored by Valent USA, the award recognizes apple growers who have reached outstanding levels of success through their efforts in innovative production, marketing, horticultural, and management practices. Winners demonstrate commitment and leadership to their field by producing high-quality fruit, being actively involved in associations, and taking a strong role in shaping the direction of the apple industry.
If you know enough apple growers, you probably know one who fits the bill, so take a few minutes today and fill out the form below.
You’ll be glad you did, because if you don’t speak up for that worthy grower, perhaps no one ever will, least of all the grower.
Nominate an Apple Grower Today
For a complete list of Apple Growers of the Year from 1989 to present, scan through the photo gallery at the top.
225How You Can Help Top Apple Growers Toot Their Horns
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David Eddy is the editor of Meister Media Worldwide's American Fruit Grower®magazine. See all author stories here.
March 8, 2022 
