Bruce Allen -- Chairman of The Board
Bruce is President of Columbia Reach Pack in Yakima. He also owns, or is in partnerships, farming 1,800 acres of apples, pears, and cherries. He has served on the Tree Top Board since 1994. Bruce earned a B.A. degree in Economics from Whitman College and attended the State University of New York at Albany. He is a past Chairman of both the Washington Horticultural Association and the Washington State Apple Commission, and has served on the Tree Fruit Research Commission. Bruce is a member and past President of the Yakima Pom Club and a graduate of the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Leadership Program. Bruce also serves on the Highland School District Board.

Tom Auvil
Tom is a research horticulturist with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission and is also active in the management of the family’s 50-acre orchard. He previously supervised Field Services for the Trout/Blue Chelan Cooperative for 21 years. He has served on the Tree Top Board since 1988 and served two years as Chairman. Tom received a B.S. degree in Horticulture from Washington State University. Tom is a member of the North Central Washington Fieldmen’s Association, the Washington State Horticultural Association, and the International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association. Tom served on the Orondo School Board for 16 years, 1986-2002.

Ray Colbert
Ray is a lifelong resident of Okanogan County. He grows apples, pears, and cherries near Tonasket. Ray owned and managed his own packing firm for 14 years. An active grower since 1952, he has also served 12 years as a Public Utility District Commissioner, 7 years as a hospital board member, and is a 50-year Kiwanis member. Ray is the senior member of the Tree Top Board of Directors, having served since 1972, including two years as Board Chair.

Dick Cowin
Dick is an owner in a 245-acre fruit growing, packing, and storage operation located near Wapato. The operation, which focuses on apples, pears, cherries, nectarines, and apricots, was started by his grandfather, Earle Cowin, in the early 1900’s. He also owns, or is partner in, an additional 320 acres devoted to tree fruits. Dick has served on the Tree Top Board of Directors since 1987 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Washington State University. Dick is a past President of the Washington State Horticultural Association, the Cherry Institute, and the Yakima Pom Club. He is also a past Cherry King.

Ray Keller
Ray manages the family-owned Apple King, LLC., in Gleed. This grower-packer-shipper operation raises apples, pears, and cherries on 750 acres. Ray has been a Tree Top director since 1987 and is a past Chairman of the Board. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Economics from Washington State University. Ray is past chairman of the U.S. Apple Association and past President of the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association. He is also past Director of United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, the Washington Growers League, and Farm Credit Services, and has served on the Highland School District Board.

Ed Kershaw
Ed is a fourth generation grower, shipper, and marketer from Yakima. He is vice president of the family-operated Kershaw Companies that incorporate vertically integrated growing, packing, and marketing. Kershaw also serves as CEO of Domex, the marketing arm of Kershaw Companies. Domex represents Northwest growers and shippers to the global marketplace. Kershaw is past Chairman of the Northwest Horticulture Council and the Washington Apple Commission. Currently he is a Trustee of the U.S. Apple Association and is a Board Member of the Produce Marketing Association. For his industry service, he was awarded the Packer Publication’s “Apple Person of the Year” in 1999. Kershaw has served on boards of Yakima Chamber of Commerce, Providence Hospital, and Pioneer National Bank. A native of Yakima, Kershaw received his BA in economics in 1961 from the University of Washington in Seattle, followed by a tour of duty in the US Army.

Warren Morgan
Warren is an orchardist with ownership interest in more than 300 acres of apples, cherries, and apricots in the North Columbia Basin. In addition, he serves as the General Manager of Double Diamond Fruit and has been a stockholder in the apple packing operation since its founding in 1986. Warren’s family has a long history with Tree Top; his grandfather, Victor Morgan, was on the original Board of Directors, and the family has been active members for more than 40 years. Warren grew up in Quincy, earned a degree in Horticulture from WSU in 1981, and returned to Quincy, where he lives with his wife and two children. He currently serves on the Apricot Marketing Committee, is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Growers Clearinghouse, as well as a Past President of the Washington State Horticultural Association.

Michael Smith
Mike farms over 1,700 acres operated by four farming entities, including several apple varieties, cherries, hops, alfalfa, and apricots. He is one of the founding members of Olympic Fruit, along with three other fruit growing families. Mike also participated in the organization of Sage Fruit Company, providing apple marketing and sales services for Olympic Fruit, Valley Fruit, and Larson Fruit. He currently serves as a member of Sage’s Executive Committee. Mike is also a founding member of Yakima Chief, Inc.; is a past member of the East Valley School District Board of Directors; and serves on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of Banner Bank. Mike attended Washington State University, where he studied Agricultural Economics.

Randy Smith
Randy is an orchardist who owns and leases 125 acres of apples, pears, and cherries near Cashmere, which he has operated for the past 32 years. He graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in Sociology. Randy is a past Cashmere School Board Member; as well as past chairman of the following organizations: Washington State Horticultural Assn.; WA Growers Clearing House; WA Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation; Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences at WSU; and the WA Ag. President’s Group. Randy currently serves as a Chelan County PUD Commissioner, as the national vice-chairman for the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching, and is active in his local Rotary Club.

Doug Stockwell
Doug is a Partner and the General Manager of the Highland Partnership, a 1,000+ acre fruit growing operation located near Bridgeport. He also owns and manages Orondo Orchards, which includes 100 acres of apple and cherry orchards near Orondo. He has been a Tree Top Director since 1994 and served as Tree Top’s Chairman of the Board from 2000-2002. Doug holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Washington State University. He is President of the Cameo Apple Marketing Association.

Roger Strand
Roger is President of Strand Apples, Inc., a family-owned corporation with several hundred acres in the Tieton-Cowiche area. The warehousing portion of the operation handles fruit for approximately 40 additional growers. Roger previously taught in Seattle Public Schools for nine years. Roger has served on the Tree Top Board since 1983 and is a past Chairman. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Washington. Roger belongs to the Washington State Horticultural Association, the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association, and is a Director of the Washington Apple Education Foundation. Roger is a former member of the Washington State Apple Commission and served 20 years on the Highland School Board.

Fred Valentine
Fred owns and operates 15 acres of apples and pears near Wenatchee. He is also employed by Van Well Nursery. Fred’s previous experience includes Field Man for Stemilt Growers, Field Man for Dole Northwest for eight years, and Production Manager for Blue Star Growers for 30 years. He has served on the Tree Top Board since 1983. Fred attended Wenatchee Valley College. He is past President of both the Washington State Horticultural Association and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission. Fred is currently a member of the North Central Washington Fieldmen’s Association.