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2010 Apple Citizen of the Year

Tim Smith

Queen Margaret Robinson and Tim Smith

Tim Smith has been named this year’s Apple Citizen of the Year. The Apple Blossom Festival Queen Margaret Robinson and Festival Administrator Darci Waterman presented Tim with the award at a reception Wednesday. The Apple Citizen of the Year award began in 1981 to honor the roots of the Festival and the leaders that make this the Apple Capital of the World.

Tim graduated with a Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Eastern Oregon University. He then transferred to Washington State University where he graduated with a Masters degree, magna cum laude, in 1975, specializing in plant pathology. He began his Extension career that same year in Ephrata at the WSU Grant-Adams Area Extension office, working with potato growers. In 1982, he took a position with WSU Douglas County Extension with his office in Wenatchee at the Chelan County Extension office, serving the tree fruit growers in North Central Washington. His is a member of the WSU Extension Tree Fruit team that serves the entire state, concentrating on Eastern Washington.

The first major issue he addressed in his new duties was orchard replant disease, since he observed the effect of not fumigating and because there was no one else working on the issue. The problem is the poor recovery of replanted trees into old orchard ground, slowing the time needed for growers to again be in full production. He tested all the available products and established demonstration plots so growers could see the benefits of fumigation for themselves in typical orchard settings. He showed them how to fumigate and helped calibrate the rates of application. It has been a slow process, but with the current atmosphere of changing varieties to adapt to a fast changing customer palette, it has more than proven its worth. The estimated value of his work over the years on this issue alone exceeds $2.5 billion dollars to the industry.

Tim next addressed the problem of fire blight, a disease primarily affecting pears and apples. He gave growers a model to better predict when they should spray to protect their crop. He called his model “CougarBlight” – an obvious reference to his employer – and it soon spread across the nation. Today, Tim’s CougarBlight model is recognized around the world as probably the best predictive model available. He is often asked to speak on the use of the model in countries around the world.

Over the past several years, Tim has taken on the control of cherry fruit fly. Many of the products traditionally used by growers were to be banned by the EPA and growers needed alternatives. Tim did some applied research of his own and discovered bait that had been in use in California for other fruit. He tested the product and determined the appropriate application rates for cherries, then had to devise a new application method. This new material is now registered for use in several states and is approved for organic growers as well – good thing because they had no truly effective alternative to control this pest.

Tim has been a prolific and highly effective user of technology over the years. His web site is one of the most highly visible and visible on the WSU system, receiving thousands of visitors each month to download his recommendations on everything from when to spray to how to calibrate their sprayers.

Tim and his wife Pam have been married 41 years. They have 2 children: a son, Mathew and daughter, Carrie, and 5 grandchildren.

Tim will be honored at the All Service Club Luncheon on April 29^th, and will also ride in the Stemilt Growers Grand Parade on May 1.