Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/418083
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER DECEMBER 2014 75 "Savings in hand thinning time and/or increases in fruit sizes resulted in a net positive impact of $123/ha to $1368/ha compared with hand thinning alone." - Baugher, Schupp, et al. Mechanical string thinner reduces crop load in various stages of bloom development in peach and nectarine trees. HORTSCIENCE 45(9): 1327-1331, 2010 Manufactured by; Beamsville, Ontario | 905.563.8261 www.provideag.ca Contact us directly or one of these dealers; Scotian Gold Co-op - 902.679.2191 Blueline Equipment - 800.827.0972 Crown Orchards - 434.979.0619 Louis Gelder and Sons - 269.934.9900 %DUWOHWWSHDUSDFNLQJDW'XFNZDOO)UXLWIDFLOLW\ "First and foremost, we never forget who we're work- ing for," Fred said. "The grower always comes first. The only reason we're in business is to make a profit for the grower." If the company can generate good returns for the growers, the growers have the money to invest back into their orchards to grow top quality fruit that gets the top price, he explained. "It's a cycle that feeds on itself." Being successful requires constant investment in the packing house. "Our goal is to be on the cutting edge of change so we can do an increasingly better job when the opportunities are made available through technology and equipment changes, so we can continue to do a good job for the grower, Fred said, acknowledging that it's expensive. "But you can't afford not to do it. If you don't stay in good repair, you'll never catch up." )DPLO\ Fred, 72, begins each workday with aerobics and stretching at the local sports club at 6 a.m. He heads to the office after taking four of his 11 grandchildren to ele- mentary school. During the day, he fits in civic duties, such as Hood River Port Commission or Rotary Club meetings, along with running the business. The next two generations of the family are on board. Fred's son Nathan, a former building contractor, is assistant production manager, and his daughter Sara is senior accountant. Dick's grandson Ed Weathers, who has a degree in marketing and economics from OSU, is vice president and sales manager. Weathers said being a packing company, and not a grower as well, helps Duckwall to do the best possible job for its growers. "If anything, we probably do a better job just because we know the growers are the life-blood of our operation," he said. "Our sole focus is to do a good job for our grow- ers, and that translates into greater loyalty and the full warehouse and expanding operations that we've gotten over the years." For the time being, though, no further expansions are planned, he said. "I think we're at the size we're going to be, though we've left a little bit of room for current grower expan- sion. The focus of the team here has been to be the best in the industry, not the biggest." •