YAKIMA, Wash. -- Three Washington State University faculty members, a grower and a fruit company executive received Washington State Horticultural Association awards at the association's annual meeting in December in Yakima.

Eugene Kupferman, horticulturist and postharvest specialist at the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, received the Silver Pear Award for 35 years of contributions, including research on how pears ripen. He developed the Tree Fruit Postharvest Journal to communicate with packinghouses and researchers and started the Washington Tree Fruit Postharvest Conference.

Dain Craver, of Royal City, received the Silver Apple Award for innovation in organic tree fruit production. He does consulting work for organic and conventional growers. His diversified operation delivers fruit to 13 packinghouses.

David Granatstein, WSU Extension educator and sustainable agriculture specialist of WSU's Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources in Wenatchee, received the first Organic Industry Service Award. His research has focused on organic weed control, orchard floor management, compost, mulches, soil quality and biological pest control.

Gwen Hoheisel, WSU Extension educator in Prosser, received the Women's Leadership in Science Award. She is conducting trials to evaluate spray application technology for specialty crops to help growers increase profits.

Barbara Larson Walkenhauer, chief financial officer at Larson Fruit Co., Selah, received the Women's Leadership in Service Award.

-- Dan Wheat

Online

Washington State Horticultural Association: www.wahort.org

WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee: www.tfrec.wsu.edu