Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/622402
www.goodfruit.com Good Fruit Grower JANUARY 15, 2016 25 Centerpiece W hen Scott McDougall, co-president of the Washington fruit grow- ing and packing com- pany McDougall and Sons, heard there was an 830-acre parcel of open land with water rights available near Wenatchee, he felt a blend of trepi- dation and excitement. With orchard establishment costs at around $50,000 per acre, the fi nancial stakes are high. But Scott knew it was unlikely that a property of that size — with water rights and close to their pack- ing house — would ever come up for sale again. McDougall and Sons is a mid-sized family operation that needs to keep expanding in order to remain competitive in the industry today, he said. So he and brother Stuart, who jointly own the com- pany, decided to seize the opportunity. The property is a former dryland wheat farm tucked in a little-known area of East Wenatchee. No doubt because of its undulating ground and breathtaking views, there were plans at one time to develop it into a golf course. "It's just a unique piece of ground," Scott said. Scott and Stuart named it Legacy Orchard in memory of their father, Bob, who visited the property when they were purchasing it three years ago but died shortly after at age 87 and never saw it developed. "He at least saw the land," Scott said. "He would love it. The new planting sys- tems — he was intrigued by that and with how unique this property is with all the elevation change and the overall beauty." The orchard's name also refers to what Scott and Stuart, who are fourth-gen- eration orchardists, hope will be their legacy for the next generation. Stuart's son, Bryon, is company vice president and Scott's son, Tyler, recently joined the business. About 570 acres on the new property are plantable, making it their largest orchard. The water is pumped from a well near the Columbia River, about 3 miles away, into three ponds at the orchard holding 1 million, 5 million, and Legacy New McDougall and Sons orchard honors the past and heralds the future. story and photos by Geraldine Warner The new Legacy Orchard in East Wenatchee, Washington, has more than 500 plantable acres, making it McDougall and Sons' largest orchard.