Valent U.S.A. Presents 2017 Apple Grower of the Year Award

August 24, 2017

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.—Valent U.S.A. LLC today presented the Apple Grower of the Year award to Rod Farrow of Lamont Fruit Farms in Waterport, N.Y. Farrow was presented the award at the annual U.S. Apple Association’s Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference in Chicago.

The Apple Grower of the Year award honors an influential apple grower who has gone above and beyond the confines of the orchard to make a tangible impact on the industry through their involvement and leadership. The award is presented by American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazines and is sponsored by Valent.

"The Apple Grower of the Year celebrates the tenacious spirit of the American apple industry today and tomorrow," said Mark Mason, tree fruit crop manager with Valent. "Growers face a host of challenges every day. It’s growers like Rod Farrow who face these challenges head-on, look for proactive solutions and inspire the rest of us to do the same."

Nominated by his fellow growers and tree fruit researchers, Farrow has made a name for himself in the apple industry as a co-owner of Lamont Fruit Farms in Waterport, N.Y. Farrow also serves as the current president of the International Fruit Tree Association. Farrow was chosen as the 2017 Apple Grower of the Year recipient because of his business acumen for growing and maximizing returns, as well as his innovative approach to educating the next generation on the orchard.

Farrow has been called the "Grady Auvil" of the East for his progressive approach to growing. By envisioning the bigger picture and investing correctly, Farrow and his team have developed quality partnerships and incorporated new growing methods that in turn yield better results and allow the team to build long-term success.

"Most apple growers were born to it, but Rod wasn’t. He chose growing apples as his career, and that passion shows in everything he does," said Jim Bair, President and CEO of the U.S. Apple Association. "Because he had influential mentors along the way, he pays it forward by sharing every bit of technical knowledge he’s learned. The apple industry is richer for his generosity."

Valent is committed to the apple and pome fruit industry, and develops products that increase marketability of fruit for growers. Valent produces more than 20 products for apples and pome fruit, all designed to optimize size, shape and quality of the crop.

For more information on Valent apple solutions, visit valent.com/pomefruit or contact your local Valent sales representative.

About Valent U.S.A. LLC
Valent U.S.A. LLC, headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., develops and markets products in the United States and Canada that protect agricultural crops, enhance crop yields, improve food quality, beautify the environment and safeguard public health. Valent products include a well-known line of quality herbicide, insecticide, fungicide and plant growth regulator products for agricultural, seed protection and professional use. Valent is a leader in marketing and sales of both traditional chemical products and also biorational products developed by its affiliate, Valent BioSciences LLC.

For more information about Valent or our full product line, please call 800-6-VALENT (682-5368) or visit valent.com.