Northwest Hort Expo coming to Wenatchee Dec. 8-10

The Northwest Hort Expo has outgrown its space.  

“Historically, this show has only been in the (Wenatchee) Convention Center,” said Event Coordinator Dawn Milne. “Now we’ve opened it up into the (Town) Toyota Center as well. Typically, we used to only have 150 exhibitors, but now that we have more room, we’re getting some new types of industry people because we have more space.”  

The two locations are about a mile apart, Milne said, so the expo is offering a shuttle to get attendees back and forth.  

“The shuttle is also huge for parking,” Milne said. “The Convention Center is a little shy on parking, so we have additional parking over at the Toyota Center, and they just go back and forth between the exhibit venues.”  

The expo rotates between the three big fruit-producing regions, Milne said. This year it’s in Wenatchee; next year it will be in Kennewick and the year after that in Yakima.  

The Expo coincides with the annual meeting of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, and showcases the fruits that made Washington great: apples, pears and cherries. Washington is the leading producer of all three fruits in the U.S., according to a Washington State Department of Agriculture report, and the second-largest producer of apricots, raspberries and grapes.   

Speakers will include experts from Washington State University and a number of private-sector ag companies.   

At press time, there were more than 200 exhibitors, with booths set up at both venues.  

“It’s everything horticulture,” Milne said. “Any industry that’s supportive of the tree fruit industry is going to be there. There’s equipment representatives from all the major brands. We have some international people there as well as local engineers and manufacturers. It’s very broadly representative. That covers the packing lines, equipment in the orchards, straddle carriers, transportation, all of the equipment. And we also have all of the products, anything that’s applied to the trees, to the soil, both conventional and organic.”  

Of particular interest are the seminars in pesticide application, which provide credits for application certification. Those are free, Milne said.  

“So, you don’t have to pay to get your pest credits from the Washington State Department of Agriculture,” she said. “We have four sessions, focused on the major crop challenges in the tree fruit industry. We have fire blight, which is a big issue, especially in the pear-growing areas. And we also have codling moth, which is huge.” 

The codling moth session is sponsored by ProAg, Milne said.  

“We have Tory (Schmidt) with the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Center. He’s talking about chemical thinning, which is huge for the success of farmers to manage their crop loads. And then we have orchard sprayer calibration. We have some people coming up that actually build and manufacture sprayers and nozzles as well. That’s such an economic savings if those tools are used properly.”  

Anywhere from 1,340 to 1,800 people usually attend the Hort Expo, Milne said, not counting exhibitors.  

“It depends on the year, what’s going on, the weather,” she said. “(If) you can still prune, they might not send in as many people, or the owners might be out in their orchards. But if it’s rainy …  then people want to come in.” 

Speakers:

Megan McArdle, Keynote Speaker, is a columnist for the Washington Post and the author of “The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success.” Her work has appeared in Bloomberg, Newsweek, The Atlantic, The Economist, Businessweek, the Guardian, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.  

Michael Schadler is the President of the Washington Apple Commission, appointed in September 2024. Schadler previously served at the Florida Tomato Exchange, Florida Tomato Growers Exchange and the Florida Tomato Committee. At WAC, he oversees international advertising, promotions, education, and market development for Washington’s fresh apple crop. Schadler works closely with the Commission’s international marketing team to develop and implement strategies that enhance the global reach and reputation of Washington apples. 

CarrieAnn Arias is the President and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest, appointed in July 2024. According to USA Pears, she brings over 20 years of experience in fresh produce and consumer packaged goods marketing. Prior to joining the Pear Bureau, she held leadership roles at Naturipe Farms and Dole Food Company, and founded her own marketing consultancy, TableSpark. Arias is recognized for her expertise in brand development, digital marketing, and sustainability. At Pear Bureau Northwest, she leads efforts to promote and increase consumption of USA-grown pears domestically and internationally, aligning with the organization’s mission to support pear growers and shippers. 

Diane Kurrle is the Senior Vice President of the U.S. Apple Association, where she leads government affairs and public policy initiatives. Since joining USApple in 2004, she has worked closely with federal lawmakers and agencies to advocate for the domestic apple industry. Diane manages the USApple PAC and participates in coalitions addressing key agricultural issues.  

Doug Field is the Chairman of the Washington State Fruit Commission Board. He plays a key leadership role in guiding the Commission’s efforts to promote Washington-grown soft fruits –including cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, prunes, and plums. Doug has been actively involved in the fruit industry and Commission governance since at least 2014, when he joined the board. As chairman, he helps oversee strategic planning, grower education, and international marketing initiatives that support Washington’s fruit growers and processors. 

Dr. Gregory Lang is a retired research scientist who served over four decades at NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory and earned his MSE in Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dr. Lang contributed extensively to environmental science, focusing on Great Lakes ecosystems and water quality.  

Dr. Raj Khosla is the Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of Washington State University’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. He is a globally recognized expert in precision agriculture, known for pioneering geospatial technologies to enhance crop productivity. Prior to joining WSU, Khosla led the Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University, overseeing research and outreach across crop sciences, soil science, and climatology. His leadership spans academia and international collaboration, including founding the International Society of Precision Agriculture. At CAHNRS, he brings visionary guidance to advance sustainable agriculture and interdisciplinary innovation. 

West Mathison, President and CEO of Stemilt Growers, was honored as the 2024 Apple Citizen of the Year by the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival. A fifth-generation leader of the Wenatchee-based company, Mathison has guided Stemilt’s growth into a global leader in fresh fruit production. He’s recognized for his commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community engagement. The award celebrates his contributions to the apple industry and his support of local initiatives. Mathison’s leadership reflects a deep-rooted dedication to agriculture and the Wenatchee Valley, where he continues to champion economic development and youth programs that strengthen the region’s future. 

 Welcome Sauer is a data consultant affiliated with Washington State University’s Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center (TFREC) in Wenatchee, Washington. He joined Tobin Northfield’s lab in 2023, contributing to research on tree fruit entomology and integrated pest management. Sauer supports projects focused on codling moth resistance and Little Cherry Disease, providing analytical expertise to enhance pest control strategies in organic pome fruit production. Sauer’s work is part of broader efforts at TFREC to support Washington’s fruit industry through science-based solutions. 

Tianna DuPont is a Tree Fruit Extension Specialist with Washington State University, based in Wenatchee. She supports growers through research and outreach focused on sustainable orchard management, including pest and disease control, soil health, and organic practices. Her work emphasizes integrated strategies for managing pear psylla, fire blight, and codling moth, as well as improving orchard floor ecology. Dupont will speak about fire blight management and new research. 

Ryan Benson is Director of Business Development at OmniLytics Inc., the company behind AgriPhage, a leading bacteriophage-based biopesticide. He plays a key role in advancing sustainable agriculture by promoting biological solutions for bacterial disease management in specialty crops. Benson advocates for integrated pest management strategies that reduce reliance on copper and antibiotics, emphasizing rotation with AgriPhage to combat pathogens like bacterial spot and fire blight. Benson will speak about the use of bacteriophages to control fire blight. 

Aaron Gale is the Pacific Northwest Technical Sales Representative for Nichino America, Inc., based in Malaga. With over a decade of experience at Nichino, Gale supports growers across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho by providing expert guidance on crop protection solutions tailored to regional needs. His work focuses on integrating Nichino’s innovative insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides into sustainable pest management programs. Gale will speak about product application and management. 

Robert Curtiss is a Research Professor at Washington State University’s Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center. Specializing in entomology, Curtiss contributes to sustainable tree fruit production through research on integrated pest management and biological control strategies. His work supports Washington’s apple and pear industries by addressing key challenges in insect ecology and pesticide resistance. Based in Wenatchee, he collaborates with growers, scientists, and extension educators to develop practical, science-based solutions for orchard health.  

Sarah Hallyburton specializes in sustainable agriculture systems and soil health. She earned her M.S. in Soil Science from Washington State University. Sarah brings a diverse background of experience in PNW agriculture including certified organic systems, seed production, and specialty crops. 

Tory Schmidt is a Project Manager at the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, leading research in crop load, canopy management, and pesticide residues. Schmidt joined WTFRC in 1998 and spearheads key research programs supporting Washington’s tree fruit industry. He manages studies on crop load and canopy management, and pesticide residues in apples and cherries. A member of the Washington Tree Fruit Extension Team, Tory holds a B.A. in Biology from Pacific Lutheran University and an A.T.S. in Tree Fruit Production from Wenatchee Valley College. 

Gwen Hoheisel is the Regional Tree and Small Fruit Specialist and Benton County Director for WSU Extension. She holds an M.S. in Entomology from Pennsylvania State University and a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Maryland. Based in Prosser, Gwen focuses on viticulture, tree fruits, high-value specialty crops, entomology, and sprayer technology. She contributes extensively to WSU’s outreach and education efforts, including co-editing the Pest Management Guide for Grapes in Washington. 

 This guide was created with the assistance of Copilot for Microsoft 365.  

    Matt Yaeger, right, makes a point during a panel on technology in the orchard at the Washington State Tree Fruit Association annual meeting Dec. 11. Panelists all have orchards, but also work in the ag business.
 File photo