CHICAGO — Washington apple grower Sean Gilbert is The Packer's 2021 Apple Man of the Year.
Tom Karst, editor of The Packer, presented Gilbert, general manager of Gilbert Orchards, Yakima, Wash., with the award Aug. 19 at the U.S. Apple Association's Outlook Conference.
Karst said Gilbert is an outstanding industry leader from a multi-generational family farm in the Yakima Valley.
His leadership includes involvement in several joint marketing efforts.
One of those is his involvement with the Coast-to-Coast Group and the Koru apple, a collaboration between New York Apple Sales, Starr Ranch Growers and Chelan Fresh.
Gilbert is a vital member of several grower cooperatives and participates in a number of industry boards, Karst said.
Dan Davis, director of business development for Starr Ranch Growers, Wenatchee, Wash., said he appreciates Gilbert's collaborative nature and his ability to be market-driven and understanding the need to embrace new trends.
“He is first and foremost market driven,” Davis said.
Davis and others praised Gilbert for his deep knowledge of the marketing side of the business while being rooted in a production background. They also praised Gilbert for his passion for organic farming and innovative farming practices.
Gilbert thanked The Packer and lauded the work of U.S. Apple Association for the industry.
“I feel incredibly lucky,” he said. “Apples are healthy and they taste amazing, and we have the joy of a job to get them to consumers.”
Gilbert said his ancestors moved from Illinois to the Yakima Valley in 1897 to begin growing fruit.
“I am the inheritor of a lot of legacy builders, relatives and partners that have gotten us to this point,” he said. “None of it would be possible without the dedication and hard work of a lot of people, lot of employees, a lot of growers, who work tirelessly; this award may have my name on it, but it represents a lot of people.
The Packer has presented this award annually since 1964.
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