The annual Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under Forty awards program celebrates individuals who are the next generation of leaders, representing the best in the industry. The following 40 honorees were selected because they are truly making, positive marks in our industry.

Join us in celebrating the Class of 2024 in person at the Great Lakes Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in December.

Thank you to Stoke Seeds for supporting this year’s 40 outstanding individuals by sponsoring this year’s Fruit + Vegetable 40 UNDER Forty awards.


Class of 2020

Aaron Libby
Libby & Son U-Picks

Amy Metrick
Metrick's Harvest View Farm & Market/Penn State Extension

Andrea Kirchoff
Tim Campbell Farm

Ariana Torres
Purdue University

Ben Smith
Michigan State Horticultural Society

Benjamin Keim
Keim Orchards

Benjamin Sklarczyk
Sklarczyk Seed Farm LLC

Brett Blaauw
University of Georgia

Charles Hamilton
Grow West, Inc. & Pressley Ranches, LLC.

Cory Blumerick
GreenStone Farm Credit Service

Creela Hamlin
Lake Michigan Berry, LLC

Dario Chavez
University of Georgia

Darren Sinn
Berry Fresh LLC

Donald Seifrit
Pennsylvania State University Extension

Drew Afton
Nestle/Gerber

Emily Pochubay
Michigan State University Extension

Felipe Pacheco
Georgia Department of Labor

Hannah Burrack
North Carolina State University

John Price
Archlynn Farm

Jordan Rasch
Green Tree Orchards LLC

Josh Pagura
Pagura Farms LLC and Slocum Farms LLC

Justin Morgan
Morgan Composting

Kari Molter
Molter Produce

Kevin Bittner
Bittner Singer Orchards

Kyle Wafler
Wafler Farms, Inc

Laurie Swanson
Great Lakes Ag Labor Services, LLC

Margaret Worthington
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

Melissa Morlock
MM Farms LLC

Nathan Bender
Tasteful Selections, LLC

Nicholas Tipper
Application Insight

Nick Oomen
Oomen Brothers, Inc.

Rob Glover
Rob Glover Farming, LLC

Sarah Reel
Double R Farm

Shannon Higginbotham
Cheyenne’s Road Market & Farm

Steve Rachut
Steve's Sweet Corn and Century Growers

Susan Colucci
HM Clause, Inc./Harris Moran Seed Company

Trevor Hardy
Brookdale Fruit Farm

Wenjing Guan
Purdue University

Yi Wang
University of Wisconsin - Madison, Department of Horticulture

Zack Hayden
Michigan State University Department of Horticulture

Current Issue

Fruit Growers News November 2024 cover image

Michigan Ridgefest: Industry consumption push drives Ridgefest apple updates

Water quality management in orchards: Maintaining grove water

Grove insights: IFTA summer tour

Plum factors:  Successful varieties offer growers opportunities

2024 Great Lakes EXPO: Juice processing, berry fertilization and new crop nutrition techniques to be highlighted

40U40 honorees

2025 Fruit & Nut Buyers’ Guide

Anaerobic soil disinfestation: Researchers study natural method to help strawberry growers

Washington tree fruit growers react to H-2A ruling

Organic Grower: Blue Bird Fruit 

Fresh Views: Team approaches to disease management

Farm Market & Agritourism: Market channel assessment

Ag Labor Review: Candid discussions regarding ag labor dilemmas

 

 

see all current issue »

Be sure to check out our other specialty agriculture brands

produceprocessingsm Organic Grower