WENATCHEE, WA - Scott McDougall of McDougall & Sons, a Co-Owner of CMI, has been named U.S. Apple Grower of the Year for 2016 by American Fruit Grower magazine.
Each year the magazine recognizes a U.S. grower that exemplifies progressive leadership in the fruit industry. According to the magazine, McDougall was selected based on his family's “bold approach” to investing the development of high flavor, new variety apples.
Bob Mast, President of CMI, explained that Scott McDougall is unquestionably deserving of the title, Apple Grower of the Year. “Scott and his brother Stuart had a clear vision that American consumers were hungry for new varieties of great tasting apples,” said Mast. “They staked the future of the success of their orchard operations on finding the most progressive direction to take for future plantings and it’s been a huge success for them as well as the entire CMI organization. We couldn’t be happier for Scott and the entire McDougall family.”
Scott and his brother Stuart are the owners of McDougall & Sons, an apple, pear, and cherry growing and packing company formed over 40 years ago with their late father, Bob McDougall. Today the company is known for developing the Ambrosia™ apple in the United States as well as being early adopters in planting Jazz™, Envy™, and Pacific Rose™ varieties. With over 4,000 acres of conventional and organic apples, pears, and cherries, McDougall & Sons provides packing and storage services for approximately 100 local growers, according to a press release.
Mast added, “Ambrosia™ has become a best-seller in the U.S., largely because of the vision of Scott and Stuart McDougall as well as their expertise in the orchard and warehouse.” Scott will be formally presented with the Apple Grower of the Year award later this month at the U.S. Apple Association annual outlook conference in Chicago.
Congratulations to Scott for a year of award-winning apple growing!
