Hispanic presence in tree fruit industry reflected at annual meeting

KENNEWICK — As the presence of Hispanic workers, managers and growers has increased in Washington’s tree fruit industry, so have efforts to provide training and support. The Spanish-language sessions at the Washington Horticultural Association annual meeting earlier this week reflect that. Jacqui Gordon-Nuñez, director of training, education and member services for the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, said the Spanish-language sessions have grown a lot since the first class in 2011. “They began with a tiny room of 50 people with a couple of talks, and now it’s the biggest session in the hort convention,” Gordon-Nuñez said. “It’s evidence of how much the Hispanic community wants to get educated, and wants to get the trending information of the industry.”