A22-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 8, 2003 Outstanding Growers, Marketers Take Banquet Center Stage ANDY ANDREWS Dave Benner, along with wife Editor Pam and family, gathered on the HERSHEY (Dauphin Co.) P°d ium to celebrate the honor of Several awards were presented to named the state s outstand . . .. mg growers by the State Horti outstandmg growers by an array cu it ura j Association of Pennsyl of fruit and vegetable organize- vania (SHAP). tions Tuesday evening here at the The Benners operate El Vista Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Orchards, Fairfield. The Benners Convention. manage 700 acres of fruit trees, Billy Brent, Brent’s Orchard, was presented with a Farm Show honor. At left is Kim Johnston, Pennsylvania Apple Queen. AH photos by Andy Andrews, editor Shy tfk 3kd 3!a»l smm Skidding, Mxtiemd& Grandrib 3®PLUS >rs 0f... ribut Dis Equus Hprse Stall Systems Equus Dutch Door Systems Plyco Sliding Door Components Fabral Metal Roofing and Siding Complete Building Packages, Trusses And Glue-Laminated Timbers 717-866-6581 781 E. Linden St. Richland, M 17887 including 400 acres of apples and 100 acres of peaches, plums, and sweet cherries. They operate nine different farms with 11 full-time and 85-90 seasonal employees. Dave is called by some the “answer man,” who can provide information for growers on a va riety of topics. Benner, on accepting the awards, noted that, “without a doubt, this is a breathtaking ex perience,” and thanked every body, including state agricultural colleges and universities for their input. Benner maintains a close asso ciation with the state’s apple marketing board and is active on several commodity boards and organizations. At the banquet at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center Tuesday evening, about 200 growers and industry representa tives were on hand to recognize many other individuals. John Mason, Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association, spoke about how the industry was “blessed” in the past six years by an individual who helped create and implement the Simple Delicious Pennsylvania Produce marketing program. Recognized for his work, “per sonal energy, time and interest,” Mason noted, was former Penn sylvania Secretary of Agriculture Sam Hayes. Mason noted how Hayes also helped get crop insurance on the must-do list for many producers. When Hayes began, one in 20 producers were signed up. Now, half of the state’s growers are signed up. “I don’t know why we’re not at 100 percent,” Mason (Turn to Page A 24) , C » v ■* T s Mjp fsl|h Mml Warranty 10 Layers of Protection Up to 50% Stronger . jiticker ' Steel ** 25% - 50% More Galvanized Coating # 301-334-3977 1283 Joni Miller Rd. Oakland, MD 21550 Sam Hayes, former secretary of agriculture, left, re ceives special recognition from the state vegetable grow ers from John Mason. Roger Wood, Atwater, Calif., center, won recognition from the National Peach Council. At left is Charles Walk er, organizational director, NPC and at right, John Lott, president, NPC, Aspers. Petersheim’s Cow Mattresses 117 Christiana Pibo (Rte. 372), Chi is*-ana, PA 17509 610-593-2242 Serving DE, MD, N), PA, and western NIY for 9 years!
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