Good Fruit Grower

December 2016

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LAST BITE More Young Growers at goodfruit.com/yg Jesus Ramos grower / Originally from Royal City, Washington age / 25 crops / Wine grapes, apples, cherries business / Production supervisor at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates family background / Jesus, son of Javier and Irma Ramos, is the fi rst in his immediate family to attend high school and college. He earned an undergraduate degree in plant sciences, viticulture and enology from Washington State University. He is currently working on a master's degree in agriculture sciences, focusing on plant health management. " " " " How did you get your start? With my dad, I got to do a little bit of everything. I had opportunities to go out midwinter, when it would actually snow quite a bit. I remember one year being knee-deep in snow pruning trees, learning about everyday operations, things like how to manage crews and how to prep for the next day. Some of the most interesting aspects were going with dad and seeing the love and passion for what he did. It motivated me to be the best worker who gets the best results by the end of the day. What were your interests on the farm? I was interested in what anatomical parts you can remove and what you shouldn't remove, and what would the end result be. One of the things I've learned is if you don't have the right tools and nutrients for the plants, then you can't really expect the greatest result at the end of the day. Having the correct balance of chemistry in the soil will help the plant live longer, all the while it produces the best grapes possible in that growing season. Was higher education always part of your plan? I think it's defi nitely a family thing. I'm the old- est son, the fi rst to graduate from high school then fi rst to get my undergraduate degree. Everything was riding on my shoulders to make sure I was making the right steps to help guide my brothers down the right path. My parents, who came from a pretty humble background, are a motivation for me. I think all growers, in the long run, should enrich themselves in plant sciences, soils and water management. At the end of the day, having that background will make their lives easier and we'll be able to get the best produce out to the consumer. What did you gain from interning over the summers? When you're an intern, they really throw everything at you. Some summers I remember thinking how horrible the work was. That work convinced me that I needed to go on through school and higher education to land the job that I really wanted. Looking back now, I'm in a position where I'm glad I had those internships, because it taught me to value being a hard worker. " One of my goals is to be one of the most prepared growers in the future. www.gslong.com SPONSORED BY 94 DECEMBER 2016 GOOD FRUIT GROWER PLAY goodfruit.com/yg scan to watch the interview by TJ Mullinax More from this interview and other Young Growers at goodfruit.com/yg. An interview in Spanish can be found at our new Spanish website: goodfruit.com/es

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