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CapitalPress.com
September 22, 2017
People & Places
Pollen as a cash crop
Pollen Collection
and Sales helps
farmers, chefs with
their unique needs
Established 1928
Board of directors
Mike Forrester
Steve Forrester
Kathryn Brown
Susan Rana
Mike Omeg
Corporate Officer
Heidi Wright
Chief Operating Officer
Western
Innovator
By JULIA HOLLISTER
For the Capital Press
VISALIA, Calif. — In
the 1930s, Washington state
native Mina Firman came up
with the revolutionary idea of
collecting tree pollen.
“I am sure everyone
thought she was crazy,” said
Gary Woolley, general man-
ager of Pollen Collection and
Sales. “She was the grand-
mother of the company’s
founder, Rebb Firman, and
worked with a science profes-
sor on this innovation.”
Today the company col-
lects and sells various types of
fruit and nut tree pollen to help
farmers achieve maximum
production in their orchards
and groves. In addition, a sis-
ter company, Pollen Ranch, is
the only company in the U.S.
that processes the fennel pol-
len used in restaurants world-
wide, Woolley said.
In the beginning, collect-
ing and extracting pollen from
tree flowers was labor-inten-
sive. It still is, but today the
company has refined the pro-
cess with more automation.
The company began in the
Yakima, Wash., area with sup-
plying pollen to cherry grow-
ers. It has since expanded to
supply pollen to growers of
such trees as almond, avoca-
do, pistachio, kiwi, plum and
others.
Capital Press
Gary Woolley
Residence: Exeter, Calif.
Occupation: General man-
ager, Pollen Collection and
Sales and Pollen Ranch
Quote: “We really think
about the customer and de-
liver high quality and value.”
Courtesy of Gary Woolley
Gary Woolley, general manager of Pollen Collection and Sales, has carved out a special niche. The
innovative California company collects and sells pollen.
“There are two divisions of
the company: the Collection
and Sales is the agricultural
part and the fennel encom-
passes the Pollen Ranch spice
division,” Woolley said.
Most pollen does not taste
like much, but fennel pollen
is a notable exception. The
fennel plant itself is prized for
the licorice flavor of its leaves
and seeds. That flavor carries
over to its pollen with a but-
tery, sweet richness.
The pollination season for
the spice begins in Febru-
ary and extends to the end of
April, Woolley said.
Pollen Ranch collects the
fennel pollen from fields in
Northern California. One field
on Mare Island in the Delta
has 50 acres of fennel. The
fennel is collected by hand,
cleaned of debris and dried
and put into containers at the
company’s nearby Lemon
Cove plant.
“The pollen collection
division of the company is
quite different,” Woolley said.
“We have arrangements with
growers (50-75 in the state)
to have access to their cherry,
pistachio, almond and other
orchards.”
The pollination season
takes place during the “pop-
corn stage” when the petals
are closed around the pollen
anther. Large crews hand-pick
the petals and take them to the
processing facility in Goshen,
near Visalia.
“Workers put the petals
into a machine that we de-
veloped,” Woolley said. “The
petals are removed and pollen
anthers fall into a screen.”
After sorting, the pollen
is put in a controlled drying
facility. From start to finish,
the process takes two to three
days, he said.
“The process does not
harm the orchards, it increas-
es the pollen yield,” Wool-
ley said. “We go through the
fields once. There are tons of
flowers in an orchard.”
“Controlled
pollination
with almond, pistachio and
other crops is helping the bees
along,” said Duncan Smith,
who has farmland in Sacra-
mento County. “It’s becoming
more and more acceptable.
... We are losing farmland.
Gary’s process helps increase
yields.”
The clean pollen is stored
in plastic freezer bags. Grow-
ers can call and request addi-
tional pollen when necessary.
The procedure typically in-
creases pollination by 10-20
percent.
“The biggest challenge we
face is not drought but being
able to get enough pollen to
fill the orders,” Woolley said.
European court sides with Italian farmer on GMOs
Capital Press Managers
Joe Beach ..................Editor & Publisher
Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director
Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor
Jessica Boone ........ Production Manager
Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager
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By VANESSA GERA
Associated Press
BRUSSELS — The Eu-
ropean Union court has ruled
in favor of an Italian activist
farmer who has defied his na-
tion’s laws by planting geneti-
cally modified corn.
Italy has prosecuted Gior-
gio Fidenato for cultivating
the corn on his land, citing
concerns the crops could en-
danger human health.
But the European Court
of Justice ruled Sept. 13 that
a member state such as Italy
does not have the right to ban
GM crops given that there is
no scientific reason for do-
ing so. It noted the European
Commission in 1998 autho-
rized the use of the specific
maize seeds Fidenato planted,
finding “no reason to believe
Calendar
Paolo Giovannini/Associated Press
In this 2010 photo, Giorgio Fidenato holds a raw ear of genetically
modified yellow corn at his office in Pordenone, Italy. The Euro-
pean Union Court of Justice has ruled in favor of Fidenato, saying
Italy had no right to ban GMO crops given that there is no scientific
evidence they are hazardous.
that that product would have
any adverse effects on human
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Sept. 24
Washington State Fair. 10 a.m.-
10 p.m. Fairground in Puyallup, 110
9th Ave. SW, Puyallup, Wash. The
Washington State Fair, commonly
referred to as the Puyallup Fair, is
the largest single attraction held
annually in Washington. Website:
www.thefair.com/
Saturday, Sept. 23
15th Annual Yamhill-Carlton
FFA Alumni Benefit Dinner and Auc-
tion. 5-9 p.m. Carlton Legion Hall,
158 East Main St., Carlton, Ore.
Social hour and silent auction start
at 5 p.m. Dinner and live auction are
at 7 p.m. Tables for eight may be re-
served for $100 and individual tick-
ets may be purchased the night of
the event for $15. All proceeds from
this event directly benefit the Yam-
hill Carlton FFA Chapter through
the funding of scholarships, student
leadership training, travel to events
and more. To reserve tables contact
Doreen Van De Grift at 503-319-
1948. For more information contact
us at ycffa.alumni@gmail.com
Goat Education Day. 8:30
a.m.-4 p.m. OSU Southern Oregon
Research and Extension Center
health or the environment.”
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vation of the corn, and pros- To get information published
ecuted Fidenato and other
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P.O. Box 2048
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ance.
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Letters to the Editor: Send your
GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE
www.oxarc.com
Auditorium, 569 Hanley Road,
Central Point, Ore. Choose four
classes from a selection of 11,
two in the morning and two in the
afternoon, for $35. Or choose two
morning classes and cheesemak-
ing in the afternoon for $50. Class
topics are geared to both beginner
and advanced goat owners from
Getting Ready for Kidding Sea-
son and Holistic Goat Care to the
foundations of Nutrition and Feed
and the Making of Goat Milk Soaps
and Lotions. Presenters include Dr.
Charles Estill, OSU veterinarian;
Gianaclis Caldwell, author; and
Christina Strickland and others from
the Rogue Valley Dairy Goat Asso-
ciation. Register online at http://bit.
ly/JacksonGoatEdDay2017 or call
541-776-7371. Ask about a youth
discount. Cost: $35 to $50. Web-
site: http://extension.oregonstate.
edu/sorec/SF-classes
younger, to receive a hands-on en-
dorsement of their ATV riding skills.
They must possess an endorsed
All-Terrain Safety Education Card
to ride on public lands. Before
registering the child must take an
online class to get their OPRD ATV
Safety Education Card. The course
is found at: rideATVoregon.org. For
more information contact instructor
Robin Galloway, Linn County 4-H
faculty, at 541-730-3469, or robin.
galloway@oregonstate.edu. Leba-
non, Ore. Cost: $25. Website: http://
www.oregon.gov/oprd/ATV/pages/
hands_on_training.aspx
Beef Quality Workshop. 8 a.m.-
2 p.m. Sierra Foothills Research
and Extension Center, 8279 Scott
Forbes Road, Browns Valley, Calif.
General beef quality assurance,
transporting cattle, rangeland-pas-
ture water quality self-assessment
and handling cattle in the corral
are on the agenda. Cost: $15 per-
son, $20 per ranch. Website: http://
ucanr.edu/bqasurvey
Sustainable Community Stew-
ards Volunteer Training. 6-9:15
p.m. McCollum Park, 600 128th
St. SE, Everett, Wash. Cost: $30
Website: http://extension.wsu.edu/
snohomish/wp-content/uploads/
sites/7/2012/11/2017-SCS-Applica-
tion-form.doc
Youth ATV Certification Class-
es. 10 a.m.-noon. Oregon ATV
Safety is a youth rider endorsement
program, started in response to the
rising number of ATV-related inju-
ries and deaths. Oregon state law
requires youth, 15 years of age and
in Pordenone, northeastern It-
aly, became persuaded of the
benefits of genetically altered
crops during a visit to the
United States in the 1990s,
seeing that they require few-
er chemicals than traditional
crops and produce higher
yields and profits.
But he has faced huge
opposition in Italy, where
many are fearful that genet-
ically altered foods are less
natural than traditional crops
and could be dangerous. He
has faced both fines from the
government and the wrath of
anti-GM activists who have
destroyed his crops.
The current case dates to
2013, when Italy asked the
European Commission to
adopt emergency measures
prohibiting the planting of the
seeds, which are produced by
Sunday, Sept. 24
Summer Farm Day. Noon-4
p.m. Ruby & Amber’s Farm, Dore-
na, Ore. Sponsored by the Willa-
mette Farm & Food Coalition. Web-
site: willamettefarmandfood.org
Wednesday, Sept. 27
Thursday, Sept. 28
Willamette Valley Oilseed Pro-
ducers Association Annual Meeting.
7:30-10 a.m. Roth’s West Salem,
1130 Wallace Road NW, Salem,
Ore. Join us for our annual meeting
and learn about canola production
in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
A complimentary breakfast will be
provided beginning at 7:30 a.m.
20 Northwest Locations
RSVP to Kathy Hadley at 503-559-
5901 or kathyfree17@aol.com.
14th annual Oregon Farm Bu-
reau Classic Golf Tournament.
12:30-6 p.m. Stone Creek Golf
Club, 14603 S. Stoneridge Drive,
Oregon City, Ore. A fundraiser for
the Oregon Farm Bureau PAC.
Website:
http://oregonfb.org/
events-2/
Friday, Sept. 29
Fall Forestry Educational Semi-
nar. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Cowlitz Regional
Conference Center, 1900 Seventh
Ave. SW, Longview, Wash. Spon-
sored by the Washington Tree Farm
Program, this seminar includes in-
formation on managing and main-
taining tree farms. ATFS certified
tree Farmers are $70 ($105 with
spouse), others are $80 ($120 with
spouse). Register by Sept. 8. Web-
site: watreefarm.org
Tuesday-Wednesday
Oct. 3-4
Drone World Expo 2017. San
Jose Convention Center, 150 W.
San Carlos St., San Jose, Calif. The
Expo will feature a robust exhibit
floor, visionary keynote speakers,
timely and industry-leading edu-
cational programs and networking
events. The business-to-business
event attracts over 3,000 profes-
sional attendees from a variety of
industries from agriculture to law
enforcement. Website: www.drone-
worldexpo.com
Wednesday, Oct. 4
Sustainable Community Stew-
1-800-765-9055
ards Volunteer Training. 6-9:15
p.m. McCollum Park, 600 128th
St. SE, Everett, Wash. Cost: $30
Website: http://extension.wsu.edu/
snohomish/wp-content/uploads/
sites/7/2012/11/2017-SCS-Applica-
tion-form.doc
Friday, Oct. 6
Goat workshop. 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Creswell Community Center, 99
S. First St., Creswell, Ore. Basic
health topics such as diseases to
be aware of, vaccinations and hoof
health. Nutritive values of feeds
including browse, hay, grains, and
protein and mineral supplements.
Poisonous plants for goats and
methods for weed management.
The presenters will be Dr. Charles
Estill, Shelby Filley, OSU Extension
Service Livestock and Forage Spe-
cialist and Melissa Fery, OSU Ex-
tension Service small farms agent.
Website: http://smallfarms.oregon-
state.edu/south-valley/events
Saturday, Oct. 7
Hoop House Production Work-
shop. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Western Ne-
vada College Fallon Campus, 160
Campus Way, Fallon, Nev. Taught
by a seasoned professional with a
background in research and com-
mercial production, the workshop is
ideal for intermediate or advanced
growers. Attendees will learn about
best practices that apply to all hoop
house production, the eight most
profitable crops, best practices for
vining, fruiting and leafy crops and
advanced practices and tech-
niques for hoop house production.
Website: www.wnc.edu/special-
ty-crop-institute
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Index
California ...............................11
Dairy .................................... 14
Idaho .................................... 10
Livestock ............................. 14
Markets ............................... 13
Opinion .................................. 6
Oregon .................................. 9
Washington ........................... 8
Correction
A story published in the Sept.
15 editions of the Capital Press
understated the amount of grass
straw exported each year from
the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
More than 600,000 tons of straw
is exported each year.
The Capital Press regrets the
error.
Correction policy
Accuracy is important to Capital
Press staff and to our readers.
If you see a misstatement,
omission or factual error in a
headline, story or photo caption,
please call the Capital Press
news department at
503-364-4431, or send email to
newsroom@capitalpress.com.
We want to publish corrections to