WOLCOTT, NY - It is with deep sadness that Fowler Farms announced the passing of John V. Fowler, one of the fifth-generation owners of Fowler Farms and President of Fowler Brothers. He passed away last Sunday at the age of 76, after a brave battle with cancer.
Throughout his time with Fowler Farms, John’s vision and enduring execution helped catapult the company into a leading apple grower, packer, and shipper. He was among the first to bring high-density apple orchard planting systems to a commercial scale in the United States. He pioneered and advanced high-density plantings and developed multi-row tree planters and custom orchard sprayers. This focus eventually led to the motto: Grow the apple, not the tree.
John’s belief in this motto furthered his belief in finding a better-eating apple. As he and the team grew the company’s operations and transitioned fully to high-density plantings, they were bolstered by that motto and its promise to be a win-win for consumers.
Aside from expanding Fowler Farms, John enjoyed vacationing and spending time with his wife of 46 years, Virginia (“Ginny”) and their three grandchildren: Chloe, Morgan, and Olivia. He was an avid skeet shooter and enjoyed woodworking. When he was younger, he raced snowmobiles, and snowmobiling always remained a hobby. His true passion, though, was being out on the water, boating and sailing, in particular. John competed internationally, skippering his 8-meter sailboat, Natural, on several continents.
John is survived in business by his son JD, nephew Austin, and brother Bob. Friends are invited to attend his Memorial Service Thursday, August 22, 2019, at 4 PM at the Living Word Assembly of God Church, 2344 Ridge Rd, Ontario, New York. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to make contributions can do so to Pines of Peace, 2378 Ridge Rd, Ontario, NY 14519.
The ANUK team offers our deepest condolences to the Fowler family and company team during this time.
