02/12/08 Governor's Ag Award Winner, Fallahi

Essie Fallahi grew up on a one thousand acre farm in Iran where he earned his bachelor's degree in horticulture before coming to the United States 33 years ago. Fallahi settled in southwestern Idaho and is honored for his technical innovation work in the University of Idaho orchards and vineyards near Parma. FALLAHI "There are many crops that we have been growing in Iran for many years and they are not tried here." Fallahi is always looking to alternative crops and niche markets for Idaho growers. FALLAHI "I decided to have a strategy of addressing short term needs of growers, medium and long term need at the same time looking farm in the future." Fallahi says if the political situation improves he'd like to bring gene banks from Iran back to the US. Many of the fruits we know today originated in Iran where they have disease and pest resistance. FALLAHI "And improves the quality of our fruit and to bring the application of pesticide down drastically. It is a winning card for us." Essie Fallahi, Governor's Award Winner for Technical Innovation. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott