New Jersey fruit grower inducted into International Fruit Tree Association Hall of Fame

Gary Mount, co-owner of Terhune Orchards in Princeton, N.J., received the International Fruit Tree Association’s Hall of Fame award at the international organization’s annual conference and tour recently in Santiago, Chile.

Mount is a 10th-generation farmer who has been involved New Jersey agriculture since purchasing Terhune Orchards in 1975. He and his wife, Pam, were in Chile for the association’s 55th annual conference January, but did not know about the award until his name was announced at the organization’s awards banquet.

“It is really great to be honored by an organization I’ve been involved with for 36 years, and to be recognized by my peers all over the world,” Mount said. "To realize that the award has only been given four times in 55 years is humbling."

Mount served on the association’s board of directors for 11 years and has been on the IFTA research committee for 20 years – its chairman for 18. He recently helped found the IFTA Research Foundation, which will provide the fruit tree industry with more research and grant funds, and now serves as its secretary.