Meet the New Hort Communications Director

Meet the New Hort Communications Director. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

If you have been in the tree fruit industry for some time, chances are you have met Stephanie Chance. Stephanie is the new Communications Director for the Washington State Horticultural Association.

CHANCE: I actually grew up in East Wenatchee. My parents have an apple orchard and so I grew up in the industry and of course at the time when I was working in the orchard, all year long - every year until I went off to college, I thought I’m not moving back to Wenatchee, and I’m not going to work in the industry. And when I got out of college I had a great opportunity to work for export marketing specialist for the Washington Apple Commission.

That allowed her to do some traveling and gain a lot of experience.

CHANCE: Then was offered a really great job with Stemilt and so I worked there for 6 years in the sales office and then...now here. So I just thought when I was a kid having to work in the orchard I didn’t think it was something I wanted to come back to but I stayed in the industry.

Chance says she has a very unique perspective on the apple industry.

CHANCE: I definitely think growing up in the industry and just knowing. You know my dads a farmer, I hear everything from all angles of farming from him and then working in a sales office you get that different side of it. It definitely gives you a different look and appreciation into all aspects of the industry and now being on this side of it where you’re really trying to educate and be proactive within government and making things really work and happen for the farmers.

Chance has also taken on the ultimate responsibly recently of being a new mom. Congratulations.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.