Cheers to the 2024 Apple Grower of the Year
July 30, 2024 There are so many reasons why Tim Welsh, Chief Orchardist, Columbia Orchard Management of Wenatchee, WA, is the American Fruit Grower SM 2024 Apple Grower of the Year. For starters, his many nominations yielded a first — support from three former winners.
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Notably, none of the three hails from Welsh’s home of Washington state, which dominates U.S. production: Maurice Tougas (Massachusetts, 2011), Phil Schwallier (Michigan, 2018, with wife Judy), and Rod Farrow (New York, 2017).
In Farrow’s thorough nomination, his appreciation of Welsh comes through, writing: “I have known and worked closely with Tim for almost 20 years. His passion and dedication to all aspects of growing, marketing, and developing all varieties of apples both new and old is inspiring! … I struggle to understand how he fits everything into his busy schedule — work, international travel, industry and personal volunteering, and family life. But in my eyes, he excels at it all.”
Farrow spent nearly a decade with Welsh on the International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA) Board of Directors, where they searched the world for the latest and greatest technology to improve fruit production. What impresses Farrow most is Welsh’s willingness to share the cutting-edge tech in his own orchards while still putting people first.
“In my visits to his farms he was proud to introduce his farm managers and employees, many of whom had developed to those positions with his tutelage, extolling their contributions and sharing any recognition directly with them,” Farrow writes. “He really values and cares about all the team members.”
Many of Welsh’s nominations note his work with IFTA, where he moved up the ranks to serve as President. Two growers who worked with him there, Jeff Cleveringa, who not only also served as president of IFTA but also the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, and Scott Swindeman of Michigan, both say Welsh is a great choice for the award.
“Tim is always willing to share and help anyone whenever he can,” Swindeman writes. “The best way I can describe Tim is to say he is a true gentleman. I have been blessed to have worked with him and look forward to continuing working with him in the future. In my opinion, he is long overdue to receive this award.”
IFTA’S STRONG BOND
IFTA is all about sharing information, a theme that comes through in Welsh’s nominations. Two Canadians on the other side of the continent who served on the IFTA board are effusive in their praise. “He is precise in his business, giving lots of thought to new technology and his employees,” writes Lisa Jenereaux. “He is an outstanding example of what someone in this industry should be.”
Larry Lutz writes that he has travelled the world with Welsh through IFTA and has visited his orchards and home many times. “I have always been impressed with the professionalism he exhibited in all his endeavors,” Lutz writes. “A true horticulturalist who willingly mentors the youth of the industry. He is truly a gifted individual, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award.”
Speaking of international admirers, besides IFTA, Welsh’s company is also a member of the International Pome Fruit Alliance (IPA). General Manager Stephen Rabe of South Africa notes that he got to know Welsh as he has hosted the international group on several occasions and joined their tours to various parts of the globe.
“His contributions at this variety development and testing forum has been invaluable,” Rabe writes. “We have also visited his Columbia Fruit orchards and have seen the world-class plantings he has managed over the years. His ability as a grower, people person, and industry stalwart makes him a very worthy nominee for this prestigious award.”
Another IPA member who weighs in is Markus Bradlwarter of Italy, whose nomination makes up for its brevity with its extraordinary enthusiasm: “Tim Welsh to me is the most innovative grower I’ve ever met in the USA. He has an enormous knowledge about the apple business worldwide and the U.S. in specific.”
NEW VARIETIES WANTED
Another Italian who weighs in is Stefano Musacchi, Professor, Endowed Chair of Tree Fruit Physiology and Management Department of Horticulture, Washington State University (WSU).
“I have known and admired Tim Welsh’s work since I moved to work in the USA 10 years ago,” he writes. “The activity of Tim Welsh as General Manager of Columbia Orchard Management Inc., farming apples, cherries, and wine grapes in six different regions of Washington State, is impressive.”
Musacchi notes that Welsh oversees licensing, variety, and brand development for Columbia Fruit Packers in conjunction with CMI Orchards. He works extensively with WSU, his alma mater, as a cooperator in WSU research, including Extension and student research. Although Welsh manages more than 600 acres of apple orchards, he manages to have extensive trials and had a prominent role in introducing new cultivars ‘Gala’, ‘Honeycrisp’, and, more recently, ‘Kiku’, ‘Kanzi’, and ‘Smitten’.
“He currently has dozens of trees in test blocks,” Musacchi writes, “continuing his search for the perfect apple.”
Welsh was also one of the first growers in the U.S. to use mechanical pruning to convert traditional orchards to planar canopies suitable for mechanization and automatization of harvest, commonly known as “fruiting walls.” He is an early adopter of technology, Musacchi writes, especially the sensors that provide real-time data from the orchards. This represents the new frontier of precision farming, although there is more to it than new technology, he notes.
“Personally, I admire his ability to integrate solid horticulture knowledge with new technologies,” Musacchi writes.
Next to Welsh’s wife of 43 years, Kathy, the person who might know Welsh best is his boss, Mike Wade, the original owner Columbia Fruit Packers. When Welsh first worked for the company, he started as a field man and quickly worked his way up to the orchard management team, writes Wade.
“Tim has an incredible work ethic, a strong desire to learn and share new ideas, and a passion for excellence,” Wade writes.
Through Welsh’s experience with IFTA and IPA, he has traveled the world searching for the best varieties and the optimum production systems. Wade notes that Welsh has returned the favor many times, hosting industry members at CMI.
“Tim has developed several orchards from bare ground,” Wade writes, “and over the years Tim has become a common stop on many orchard tours.”
LISTENING CAREFULLY
If you get the idea that Welsh is well respected, you would be correct. He is not shy, but you get the feeling he is a believer in the theory we are born with two ears and only one mouth for a reason. If you give him a topic, he will provide you a thoughtful take:
The award: “It’s quite an honor to be Apple Grower of the Year, and when I think about it, I think about the relationships that have been built over the years with people and how that’s really what elevated me to this honor. It’s not something that I expected, for sure, but knowing that it comes from other people and friends, it’s why it’s gratifying.”
His role: “There are about 520 acres in this area that were developed in this region that I started in 2007, and when I say I, it was not me, it was the company giving me the opportunity to do it, and then hiring some really, really key people that did all the work. Thankfully, I was just able to help them with some teaching, some guidance, some oversight, and some mentoring, and, really, they’ve taken it and have done the rest.”
Planting club varieties like ‘Kiku’ and ‘Kanzi’ in 2007: Through acquaintances and friends I got to know some people who were trying to develop or offer out for license their managed varieties. And that got me both into working that end of licensing and developing relationships with licensors and actually planting the product in the field. Because that’s really what I wanted to do — grow it.”
Sustainability and regenerative farming: “That’s really what I’ve been about all along: Whatever we take out of the soil and out of the atmosphere around us, we try to replenish, we take care of it, and even try and make it better.”
Adapting to change: “Columbia Fruit Packers was bought out by a private equity group in 2022, so my job transitioned. A job I’d had for 34 years at the time transitioned to a new job, a new company, new people, and so it’s been a unique change. But I feel like I’ve been evolving over all these years in this industry, first as a fieldman, then moving into orchard management, and finally overseeing all our company’s orchards.”
In September, Tim Welsh will be formally presented the 2024 Apple Grower of the Year Award, sponsored by Valent USA.
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