Good Fruit Grower

www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER MARCH 15, 2017 5 Kurt Schlect, 1954-2017 K urt Don Schlect, a lifelong grower in Washington's Yakima Valley, passed away Feb. 5 at the University of Washington Medical Center due to complications of a double lung transplant in early September. Kurt was a long- time partner at Highland Fruit Growers Inc. in Yakima and was vice president of the board of directors. He was 62. Schlect was born in 1954 to Don and Betty Schlect. He grew up on his father's apple orchard in west Yakima. After graduating from West Valley High School and attending Washington State University, he began his career in agriculture at his father's orchard. He and his brother Neal would later discover and help develop the Schlect Spur Red Delicious sport that C&O Nursery was given rights to sell. Although he would openly admit that he was hesitant to plant new varieties, he was always proud that he planted his first Honeycrisp block in 2001. The brothers appeared on the cover of the September 1987 Good Fruit Grower "Apple Land" edition. An avid golfer, Schlect was once asked how he made time to play golf three times a week during the growing season. He replied, "You make time!" He is survived by his father, Don; wife, Sally; daughter Sarah (Luke); son Donny (Laura) and son Eric; as well as two grandchildren; three brothers (Steve, Neal and Christian, the longtime president of the Northwest Horticultural Council), and many other wonderful family and friends in the Yakima Valley. His family passes along this message: Go Cougs! Three elected to Washington Apple Commission board of directors M ark Stennes, James Foreman and Jon Alegria were elected to three-year terms as members of the Washington Apple Commission board of directors. Stennes will fill Grower Position 1, District 1; Foreman fills Grower Position 5, District 2; and Alegria returns to the board in Grower Position 8, District 2. The election was held in December during the Washington State Tree Fruit Association's annual meeting in Wenatchee. The new terms began March 14 at the board's meeting in Wenatchee. National Grape & Wine Initiative elects board members, officers T hirteen board members and three officers were elected at the National Grape & Wine Initiative annual meeting last week in Sacramento, California. The group is made up of grape growers, academic institutions and government agencies to help focus on grape research. The board members elected to three-year terms are: Commodity Sector Representative-Wine: Jerry Lohr, J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines. Regional Representative-Northwest: Russ Smithyman, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. At Large Representatives: John Aguirre, California Association of Winegrape Growers; Tony Stephen, American Vineyard Foundation; Allison Jordan, Wine Institute; Rich Schaefers, Silverado Premium Properties; Wendy Brannen, Lodi Winegrape Commission; Deborah Golino, University of California, Davis; Franka Gabler, California Table Grape Commission; Michael Walker, Constellation Brands; Sam Filler, New York Wine & Grape Foundation; Jim Trezise, WineAmerica; and Anji Perry, J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines. Officers for 2017 include: Craig Bardwell, National Grape Cooperative, Chair; Rick Stark, Sun-Maid Growers of California, Vice Chair; Dan Martinez, Martinez Orchards, Secretary/Treasurer. The NGWI board is made up of 29 representatives by commodity and by region with other at-large members. QUICK BITES People and industry in the news. Read more Fresh Updates at goodfruit.com/fresh-updates cameronnursery.com 1261 Ringold Rd., PO Box 300 • Eltopia, WA 99330 We ship nationwide, so please call for price and availability! CONTRACTS for 2017 and beyond! Custom Contracted Apple, Cherry & Pear Trees ➱ TOP QUALITY ➱ VIRUS TESTED ➱ VERY COMPETITIVE PRICING HIGHEST QUALITY FRUIT TREES ! Call for: • TREES • ROOTSTOCK • INTERSTEMS • BENCH GRAFTS • SLEEPING EYES • ROYALTIES TIME TO PLAN! 2020 Tree Needs 2018 Sleeping Eyes STACY GILMORE 509-266-4669 Stacy Gilmore • cnsales@fastmail.com

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