IFTA Awards

IFTA’s Annual Awards are presented at the Annual Conference to those members furthering IFTA’s mission and the fruit tree industry.

Award categories

IFTA‘s awards are given in the following categories:

Hall of Fame

The Association’s highest honor, reserved for those that have made a lasting impact on IFTA, IFTA members, and the fruit tree industry.

Industry Service

Presented to an IFTA member that has distinguished himself/herself in IFTA or IFTA Foundation service.

Outstanding Researcher Award

Given to recognize excellence in applied research.

Outstanding Extension Educator Award

Reserved for members of Extension services that demonstrate a deep commitment to horticultural education and serving the needs of the tree fruit grower.

Carlson Lecturer

Each year, a special session at the IFTA Annual Conference is given by the Carlson Lecturer. This honor was named for Dr, Robert Carlson, the Michigan State University professor of horticulture, who in 1958 was appointed by department chair H.B. Tukey to provide management services to the newly formed Dwarf Fruit Tree Association (which later became IFTA). He created Compact Fruit Tree, the association’s publication, and organized the tours that took IFTA members around the world to evaluate high-density fruit systems.

2023 Outstanding Extension Award to Leslie Huffman (left)

Dr. Jim Luby, University of Minnesota, delivers the Robert Carlson Lecture on “The Heritage of Honeycrisp” at the 2023 IFTA Annual Conference

2023 IFTA Award Recipients

Outstanding Grower Award - Joe Rasch

Extension Award - Leslie Huffman

Researcher Award - Dr. Jim Luby

Industry Service - Don Armock and Pat Chase

Carlson Lecturer - Dr. Jim Luby

Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture - Dr. Rich Marini

Phil Schwallier, IFTA Hall of Fame Inductee, 2020 (with Harold Thome, left and Ed Wittenbach).

Photo: Fruit Grower News

Hall Of Fame

Michigan State University educator Phil Schwallier is the recipient of the 2020 Hall of Fame Award.

Past Recipients

Harold Thome
Dr. Terence Robinson
Dr. Arthur Thompson
Gary Mount
Dr. Robert Carlson
Evan Milburn
Dr. Steven H. Blizzard
Dr. Paul J. Rood Jr.
Wallace E. Heuser

Awards By Year

2022 IFTA Award Recipients

Outstanding Grower Awards - Ridgetop Orchards and Weaver's Orchards

Extension Awards - Dr. Jim Schupp and Dr. Kari Peter

Researcher Awards - Dr. Wes Autio and Dr. Tracy Leskey

Industry Service - Wanda Gale-Heuser and Adams County Nursery, Inc.

Carlson Lecturer - Dr. Ian Goodwin

Wallace Heuser Presidential Lecture - Dr. Lailiang Cheng

2020

Extension Award – Dr. Bill Shane, Southwest MI Research and Extension Center
Grower Award – Don Rasch Family FarmsResearcher Award – Dr. George Sundin, Michigan State University
Industry Service – Mr. Jim Schaefer, Storage Control Systems
Carlson Lecturer – Luis Asin, Institute of Agrifood Research & Technology (IRTA), Barcelona, SpainWallace Heuser Presidential Lecture Award – Luca Corelli-Grappadelli, University of Bologna, Italy

2019

Extension Award – Mario R. Miranda Sazo, Cornell University
Grower Award – Paul Wafler, Wafler FarmsResearcher Award – Dr. Alan Lakso, Cornell University
Industry Service – Good Fruit Grower, Meister Media, Fruit Grower News
Carlson Lecturer – George Kantor, Carnegie Mellon UniversityWallace Heuser Presidential Lecture Award – Mr. Nick Dokoozlian, E & J Gallo

2018

Extension Award – Craig Hornblow, AgFirst New Zealand
Grower Award – Richard Hoddy, Vailima Orchard
Industry Service – Apple and Pear Fruit Breeding Team, New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd.
Carlson Lecturer – Dr. Lee Kalcsits, Washington State UniversityWallace Heuser Presidential Lecture Award – Mr. Steve Saunders, PlusGroup Horticulture Ltd.