New Leader at Pacific Northwest Fruit Cooperatives
May 22, 2018 A veteran of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) fruit sales desks has been named the new leader of what are known in the PNW as “The Marketing Associations,” the apple, pear, and cherry marketing cooperatives established in 2001.
Brian Focht has been selected as Manager of the Washington Apple Growers Marketing Association (WAGMA); Washington Pear Marketing Association (WPMA); Mid-Columbia Pear Marketing Association (MCPMA) which is Hood River, OR, growing area; and Northwest Cherry Marketing Association (NWCMA) covering Washington and Oregon cherry growers.
Focht has been in fruit sales with Oneonta Trading Corp. for the past 17 years and has extensive prior sales experience with Dovex and Northern Fruit. With a bachelor’s degree in Economics, Focht is a University of Washington graduate and Wenatchee native.
“The marketing cooperatives will be starting their 18th year of operation in June and, career-wise, I was ready to transition to something different while remaining involved in the tree fruit industry,” said Focht, (pronounced ‘foaf’). “This should be a perfect fit and I am looking forward to the transition.”
Focht will come fully on board following the conclusion of this year’s cherry season. He will succeed Bruce Grim, who will be retiring in September after serving as Manager for the past 17 years.
Grim also previously served as the last Executive Director of the Washington State Horticultural Association before that organization combined with the Yakima Valley Grower-Shippers, the Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association, and the Washington Growers Clearing House to form the Washington State Tree Fruit Association in 2015.
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