Good Fruit Grower

March 1

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6 MARCH 1, 2014 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com Batcha heads organic group L aura Batcha has been n a m e d C E O a n d executive director of the Organic Trade Associa- tion, a North American membership-based trade association representing the organic food industry. Its members range from farmers and ranchers to handlers to manufacturers and retailers. Batcha most recently served as OTA's executive vice president and interim co-executive director, according to a news release. She is chair of OTA's political action com- mittee and has served on two federal advisory commit- tees, one that advises on issues related to biotechnology and organic and identity-preserved agriculture and the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee, which is dedi- cated to international trade. In her new capacity, she will serve on the board of the Organic Center, an independent, nonprofit research and education organization operating under the admin- istration of OTA. Batcha joined OTA six years ago as marketing and public relations director. She brings 20 years of expe- rience as a certified organic producer and handler and more than 10 years' experience in the private sector of the organic industry. OTA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices and staff in Vermont, California, and Oregon. Bob Black honored for distinguished service M aryland fruit grower Robert Black received the Harry Black Distinguished Service Award from the state's horticultural association for his performance as industry spokesperson after the brown marmorated stinkbug invasion in 2010. The award, interestingly, is named after Bob's father, who was an industry leader in his day. Henry Allenby, in presenting the award during the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention in Her- shey, Pennsylvania, noted that the Maryland fruit indus- try leaders chose Black because he was an open, honest, genuinely friendly person who could speak to the public and to people who needed to know how devastating this new pest was to them. In accepting, Black was at a loss for words. Black, his wife, Frances, and family members operate a 100-acre, diversified fruit, berry, and vegetable operation and a farm market called Catoctin Mountain Orchard in Thurmont, Maryland. Pennsylvania's Outstanding Grower T he State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania named Reed Soergel its Outstanding Fruit Grower of 2013. Sixteen Soergel family members are involved in growing and marketing fruits, vegetables, value-added products, including Amish furniture, apple cider and apple wine, and farm-based entertainment. Soergel Orchards is located in Wexford, in western Pennsylvania. It covers 450 acres and employs 135 people Soergel, for nine years a member of the SHAP board, logged thousands of miles to represent growers, traveling the 200 miles from his farm to Adams County where SHAP meets, said Dave Wenk, incoming SHAP president. Cider winners P ennsylvania State University's Dr. Robert Crassweller announced winners of the sweet cider contest. Top honors went to Kauffman Fruit Farm and Market, Bird- in-Hand, Pennsylvania. Godfrey Run Farm, Lake City, placed second, and Rex Farms, Gardners, was third. GOOD J OB Industry people in the news. Reed Soergel Bob Black Laura Batcha

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