PULLMAN, Wash. H.R. Spinner Corp., one of the oldest produce packaging distributors in Washington, is supporting the state’s tree fruit industry with an investment in Washington State University’s research orchards.
The Yakima-based company has made a $75,000 investment to support development of three acres of research orchard. One acre is located at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, and two are located at WSU’s Sunrise Research Orchard outside Wenatchee.
“This investment helps to move us closer to completion of what really are the living laboratories for our scientists and students,” said Jay Brunner, director of WSU’s Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center at Wenatchee. “We are grateful to H.R. Spinner for their support of WSU and of tree fruit growers throughout the state.”
H.R. Spinner President Ed Jewett said the company’s gift is aimed at supporting the entire spectrum of the tree fruit industry.
“While our company focuses on packaging solutions, we absolutely recognize the importance of a healthy tree fruit supply chain, beginning with the planting of trees to the apple arriving to consumers,” said Jewett. “This investment reflects our support of the grower supply chain as well as the industry’s investment in research and extension.”
Apple and pear growers throughout the state voted in September 2011 to make a historic investment of $27 million over the next eight years to support tree fruit research and extension at WSU. It is the largest single gift in the university’s history and part of WSU’s $1 billion comprehensive fundraising initiative, “The Campaign for Washington State University: Because the World Needs Big Ideas.”
H.R. Spinner was founded in 1916. Spinner has an office and warehouse in Wenatchee and recently acquired wooden pallet and bin manufacturing capabilities in Naches.
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Contacts:
Benjamin McLuen, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, 509-335-4172, benjamin_mcluen@wsu.edu
Benjamin McLuen, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, 509-335-4172, benjamin_mcluen@wsu.edu
Jay Brunner, WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, 509-663-8181, jfb@wsu.edu
Terie Ellis, H.R. Spinner Corp., 509-453-9111, teriee@hrspinner.com
Kathy Barnard, Marketing, News and Educational Communications, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, 509-335-2806, kbarnard@wsu.edu