The Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under 40 Awards honor 40 outstanding individuals making their marks in the industry.

These 40 young professionals represent the best in the industry. The Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under 40 Class of 2023 will be honored at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO, and recognized in the October 2023 issues of Fruit Growers News and Vegetable Growers News.

Thank you to the sponsors who support the 40 Under 40 recognition program: AgBiome Innovations, Miller Chemical, Stokes Seeds and Huma.


Class of 2019

Alexander M. Duffy
Timac Agro USA

Amanda McWhirt
University of Arkansas

Amaya Atucha
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Andy Ferguson
Ferguson’s Orchards

Ann Swanson
Hendrick House

Ben Werling
Michigan State University Extension

Brandon W. Wade
Alma Nursery & Berry Farms

Cain Hickey
University of Georgia

Charlie Thompson
Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc.

Chris Alpers
Red Path Orchards

Christopher Grant
New England Vegetable & Berry Grower’s Association

Colleen Forestieri
Van Buren Conservation District

Dale Woolf
Woolf Farms

Erin M. Lizotte
Michigan State University Extension

Gerrit Herrygers
Herrygers Farms LLC

Henry DeBlouw
Mike Pirrone Produce

Hillary Thomas
Naturipe Berry Growers, Inc.

Isaiah Soule Wunsch
Wunsch Farms

Jake Milarch
Truly Michigan Vines

James A. Stahl
Harvest Lane Farm

Jason Ruhlig
Ruhlig Farms

Jayesh B. Samtani
Virginia Tech

Jenna Oesch
Bayer Global Vegetable Seeds

Jeremy Coventry
Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch

Jocelyn Bridson
Rio Farms

Julie Ann Bolyard
Appalachian Orchard Company

Justin Oomen
Oomen Farms/Crystal Valley Organics

Kristin Kubiszak
Brookside Farm

Kristin Oomen
Bejo Seeds Inc.

Matt Haak
Price Cold Storage & Packing Co.

Nancie Oxley
St. Julian Wine

Nate Wilson
Williams Orchards

Nicole Ward
Forgotten Ciders

Pat Whitwood
Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc.

Ricardo Hernandez
Grafted Growers LLC

Sarah Lott Zost
Bonnie Brae Fruit Farms

Stacey Mullen
The Berry Farm & Orchard

Stephen L. Meyers
Mississippi State University

Tom Heeman
North American Strawberry Growers Association

Will Bristol
Brookwood Fruit Farm

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