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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 VOLUME 90, NUMBER 6 WWW.CAPITALPRESS.COM $2.00 A VOICE for the tree fruit industry For 36 years Chris Schlect has worked behind the scenes at home and abroad to protect the interests of Northwest fruit growers. By DAN WHEAT Capital Press AKIMA, Wash. — It was a spring day in 1980. Chris Schlect, a 29-year-old deputy prosecuting attorney for Ya- kima County, looked forward to a career in private prac- tice, maybe eventually becoming a judge. That day at the local bar association luncheon he sat next to Anyone in my a distinguished, white-haired gentle- job has to be man who appeared to be about 70 and looked every bit like a judge. diplomatic and That chance meeting marked a turn- forceful. Shippers ing point in Schlect’s career. The white-haired gentleman was have strong views Ernest Falk, a former assistant U.S. that have to be attorney who in 1947 had become the fi rst president of the new Northwest communicated Horticultural Council, an organization but in a way set up with the broad purpose of han- dling trade, transportation and other that’s thoughtful issues confronting the burgeoning tree and respectful, fruit industry in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. not creating “He told me he worked on trade and more problems.” federal issues, and I thought that was fairly interesting,” Schlect said. — Chris Schlect Falk learned that Schlect grew up on an orchard west of town, obtained his law degree from Gonzaga University and was involved in policy issues in his work for the county. Nearing retirement, Falk was looking for someone to take his place and asked Schlect to apply. Y Courtesy of Schlect family Chris, Kurt and Neal Schlect with a load of apple bins at their family orchard west of Yakima, Wash., in about 1985. TOP PHOTO: Chris Schlect, president of Northwest Horticultural Council in Yakima, Wash., worked on the agreement that set up the World Trade Organization in 1995, among the many issues he faced during his 36 years at the council. Photo by Dan Wheat/Capital Press “ Christian E. Schlect Age: 65 Birthplace: Yakima, Wash. Education: Graduated West Valley H.S., 1969; bachelor’s in political science, WSU, 1973; law degree, Gonzaga University, 1977 Family: Wife, Janet, three children, four grandchildren Work history: Schlect 74, Brothers Orchards, 1973-4; deputy Yakima County prosecuting attorney, 1977-80; president, Northwest Horti- cultural Council, 1980-2017 Memberships: Washington State Bar; USDA/USTR Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee; board of Center for Produce Safety; board of Alliance for Food and Farming Honors: Apple Man of the Year, International Apple Institute, 1992; Silver Apple Award, Washington State Horticultural Association, 1998 Source: Capital Press research Capital Press graphic Turn to SCHLECT, Page 12 Warm, dry spring ahead for PNW, weatherman says By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press Douglas said. March will be “exceptionally warm” all through the Western U.S. Conditions will cool off in April and warm up again in May, he said. “Every single month in the spring is warmer than normal,” Douglas said. He said warmer and drier condi- tions will continue into the summer across the West. The main heat is likely to come in June and August, he said. “A good situation for harvest comes late June and July, but the main concern is developing drought as we go into this new El Nino,” he said. El Nino is more likely to raise drought concerns in late summer and into next winter, Douglas said. Douglas said the current weather pat- terns are most similar to the years 1951, 1961, 1994, 1995, 2001 and 2015. Turn to WEATHER, Page 12 Market demand leads grower rush to organics Some wonder if something is lost in industry’s growth By ERIC MORTENSON Capital Press PORTLAND — The escalating mar- ket demand for organic food has result- ed in “almost a gold rush mentality” among producers seeking to transition their acreage and get certifi ed, a speaker at the Oganicology gathering here said. “When anything approaches main- stream, we know what happens,” said Drew Katz, who coordinates Oregon Tilth’s work of helping farmers transi- tion from conventional to organic pro- duction. “When it becomes really popu- lar it loses its intrinsic value.” In workshops and presentations during the Feb. 2-4 event, other speak- ers repeated multiple concerns. Perhaps chief among them: Organic’s rapid growth might come at a cost as big com- panies elbow their way into the market. Katz said some Oregon growers are concerned that more organic production means they won’t be able to fi nd sources of chicken manure, for example, or will get outbid for it. More worries? Some U.S. farmers missed an opportunity tied to the soaring Turn to DEMAND, Page 12 Drew Katz EVER WONDERED WHAT TO DO WITH THAT OLD, WORN OUT COMMODITY TRAILER? Our Rebin Program can turn your old trailer into a new trailer! We will remove all working mechanical parts, and replace the bin with a new Stainless Steel STC Bin on your existing running gear. All parts deemed reusable are reinstalled on the new bin. All of this at the fraction of the cost of a new trailer! WWW.STCTRAILERS.COM 494 W. Hwy 39 Blackfoot, ID 83321 208-785-1364 6-2/#16 Art Douglas SPOKANE — El Nino will return to the Pacifi c Northwest, bringing with it a warm, dry spring, weather- man Art Douglas says. Douglas said the El Nino weather pattern began developing in January as surface temperatures in the eastern Pacifi c Ocean began to increase. A ridge of high pressure off the West Coast will also develop, block- ing storms from reaching the Pacifi c Northwest, Douglas said. He spoke at the Spokane Ag Expo on Feb. 7. “Even though this developing El Nino’s going to favor ... presumably warmer temperatures, we’re going to have to melt the snow fi rst to see that climb,” he said. “Rather than warm- ing up in February, we’re going to have to wait until later in March.” Temperatures will average 1 to 2 degrees above normal through spring,
