IFTA hands out awards

The International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA) gave its 2013 Extension Award to Jon Clements and Win Cowgill during its recent conference in Boston.

“We have never had a tie before when selecting the recipients of this award, but this year we do,” said IFTA President Mo Tougas, who gave the presentation. “These two guys have done a lot for our industry in the Northeast, and have worked closely together for the past 20 years to do it.”

Cowgill, a Rutgers University professor/area fruit educator, and Clements, a University of Massachusetts Extension educator, co-founded the Apple-Crop Listserv in 1994 and the Virtual Orchard website in 1995. They also established a pruning and training website for cherry trees, www.giselacherry.com, Tougas said.

IFTA handed out other awards during the winter conference:

• Hall of Fame: Arthur Thompson
• Researcher Award: Dave Rosenberger
• Grower Award: Tougas Family Farm
• Industry Service Award: Elwin Hardy

IFTA also announced that Ed Wittenbach, a Belding, Mich., fruit grower, was retiring from its board of directors.