Washington Tree Fruit Groups Inching Closer To Consolidation

Posted by Christina Herrick|December 4, 2013

During the Washington State Horticultural Association’s 109th annual convention, members of a task force charged with consolidating the state’s many tree fruit organizations gave an update on their progress to date.

As first reported this past August, the proposed new organization would create a merging of the Washington State Horticultural Association, Washington Growers Clearinghouse, Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association, and Yakima Valley Grower-Shipper Association.

The new “Washington State Tree Fruit Association” would serve to enhance the value of all segments of the Washington tree fruit industry, with a focus on education and meetings; timely and accurate data reporting; member outreach and assistance on regulatory compliance; and industry advocacy through legislative lobbying on the state and national level.

“It’s not a question of if, but how this will move forward.” said Robert Kershaw of Domex Superfresh Growers. “We only have one shot to do this right.” Kershaw noted that the task force’s goal is to ensure that none of the services provided by the four individual organizations will be lost, but rather that they will be enhanced. To make that possible, Kershaw says the new association will have two offices, one in Wenatchee and one in Yakima.

West Mathison, president of Stemilt Growers, noted that the movement toward the Washington State Tree Fruit Association will be a long transition, which means input from industry members will be critical. He sees it as a bold but necessary move. “In the late 1960s we took a big step in forming the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission. This will be another bold move.”