Glen Gibbons, Milton-Freewater

With the backdrop of the Blue Mountains in Northeast Oregon, a vibrant tree fruit industry continues to operate in the Milton-Freewater area. Perhaps no individual has done more to ensure its success than Glen Gibbons, who spent nearly a half a century associated with Blue Mountain Growers– a grower-owned cooperative. Glen’s efforts and support of the Northwest fruit industry on a state and national level has paid off for all growers.

Born on a wheat farm in the Blue Mountain foothills, Glen grew up in Milton-Freewater as part of a family that grew apples, prunes, and cherries. Two years following high school graduation, Glen married Fran, and the next decade was all about farming and raising a family.

In 1952, Glen became packing manager at Blue Mountain Growers. Two years later, he became general manager at a time when the co-op needed his leadership most. Blue Mountain was at the brink of bankruptcy. Then came the big freeze in November of 1955, when the temperature dropped from 72 degrees to minus 19 in one day. There was virtually nothing left of the tree fruit industry in Milton-Freewater, nothing for the co-op to pack. Glen directed the recovery. As new trees were planted and growers waited for them to bear fruit,  Gibbons convinced growers to produce tomatoes, retooling the packing plant, and developing a successful tomato market in the Pacific Northwest. With cash flow at hand, it wasn’t long until apples were back on line.

Glen traveled to Washington DC to get congressional help for growers in the form of no-interest loans to help recover from the freeze. That would not be the last time he would get involved in the nation’s Capitol on behalf of agriculture.

Glen modified his position as general manager to include sales. It wasn’t enough just to grow and pack the fruit. Glen traveled to domestic and foreign markets. His hard work helped locate buyers for the high-quality fruit produced in the local area.

Whenever issues would arise that impacted the tree fruit industry, Glen would help find a solution. He helped establish legislation that created funds for inspection services by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. He helped create a chemical control district in East Umatilla County, setting up a restricted area for pesticides used in wheat fields that might drift into orchards. He has worked on labor issues and other concerns that directly impacted agriculture, often traveling to Salem or Washington DC to help get things done.

Serving in a variety of positions and boards ranging from ODA’s Shipping Point Advisory Committee to apple committee of the Northwest Fruit Exporters, Glen has continued to stay active despite his retirement from Blue Mountain Growers well into a new millennium.

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These are authentic stories from real farmers.  Any editorial content does not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Agri-Business Council of Oregon or our members.