3 Blueberry Industry Luminaries Honored With NABC Awards
FOLSOM, Calif., Oct. 8, 2024 – Three blueberry industry thought leaders were recently recognized by their peers with prestigious awards from the North American Blueberry Council (NABC). The awards were handed out at a dinner and reception during The Blueberry Summit, Sept. 25-27 in Denver.
Mark Villata, former executive director of the NABC and U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC), received the NABC Hall of Fame Award, which celebrates blueberry leaders, growers and suppliers who have made a lasting impact on the blueberry industry in North America. The award is the council and industry’s highest honor.
Previous winners of this award include Denny Doyle and Art Galletta of Atlantic Blueberry Co. in New Jersey, as well as NABC’s founding members.
Andres Armstrong, executive director of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, and Keith Mixon, president of Mixon Family Farms, were honored with the Alex Wetherbee Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the blueberry industry in marketing and promotion. Each year, this honor goes to blueberry industry standouts who have contributed to the awareness and market success of blueberries, and have demonstrated leadership and innovation promoting the blueberry industry.
The 2023 winner of the award was John Shelford, strategic adviser for Naturipe; the 2022 winner was Whitesbog Preservation Trust.
Gene J. Galletta, Ph.D., a renowned agricultural scientist, was honored posthumously with the Duke Galletta Award, which recognizes excellence in blueberry horticultural research. Winners of this award have demonstrated leadership in research within the blueberry industry and have contributed to blueberry industry development.
The 2023 winner was Ridley Bell, owner of Mountain Blue Orchards; the 2022 winner was Gerard W. Krewer, professor emeritus at the University of Georgia.
“It was an honor to recognize the efforts of these thought leaders who have contributed in innovative ways to the success of the blueberry industry,” said NABC President Kasey Cronquist. “These awards shine a light on the many ways they have helped cultivate, nurture and promote blueberries, and give us a chance to say thank you for their dedication.”
NABC honors three blueberry industry luminaries each year. Nominations for the 2025 awards will open next summer.
About the North American Blueberry Council
Since 1965, the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) has been the voice of the blueberry industry in the U.S. and Canada. NABC’s members represent approximately 70% of the North American highbush blueberry crop. NABC was instrumental in the establishment of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHABC), a federal agriculture research and promotion program with independent oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Learn more at nabcblues.org.