Meet Your Grower
Stennes overlooking the Methow & Columbia River near Pateros
Mark Stennes
Meet Mark Stennes. He is a 26-year-old, fourth generation orchardist in Pateros, Washington. Mark’s great-grandfather homesteaded in 1894 and planted his first apple trees in 1900 on 55 acres. The original orchard began to expand in 1984 and now he operates 250 acres of fruit trees. In addition to 60 acres of apples, he grows pears, cherries, plum and pluots. He grows six varieties of apples: Fuji (organic), Honey Crisp (organic), Gala, Granny Smith and Golden Delicious.
Mark’s father, Keith, is still working, but has turned over most operations to Mark and his twin brother, Kevin. Mark handles all the orchard operations and Kevin runs their retail businesses, as well as handling all the fruit sales.
Both Mark and Kevin completed the tree fruit program in Wenatchee at the Wenatchee Valley College and got business degrees in 2005 from Central Washington University (in Wenatchee). They wanted to complete their education in Wenatchee (60 miles from Pateros) so they could still be involved in the orchard during their years in college.
Mark Stennes
Mark was introduced to his wife, Robin, by his field man and they were married in 2005. They have a 2 year old daughter Aubree, and a son Caleb, born in October of 2008.
His favorite part of the job is developing new orchards because he likes to try new varieties and new growing techniques. Mark feels the biggest issue he will face in the future is labor costs. “We’re not the most efficient operation out there since our orchards are spread out over 55 miles,” he notes. Seventy percent of their budget is labor costs. They employ 13 workers year round, 6 of them having been with the Stennes family for more than 20 years.
Mark credits his father for his desire to follow in the family business. “Dad made it fun; he didn’t use us for slave labor. We were allowed to help make decisions, even in high school,” he states. He also enjoys the flexibility of running his own business. He would definitely encourage his children to follow in the family business too, “I hope we get four more generations in the business!
View Archived Visit an Orchard articles:
Learn about Washington Orchards:
- Regions
While our growing regions appear quite dissimilar, they all share ideal growing conditions -- weather, soil and water. - Seasons
Each season of the year plays a role in growing apples. - From Orchard to You
From pruning to your home, learn about the process for preparing apples for you. - Core Facts
Learn about crop facts, care and handling, pesticides and more. - Washington Apple History
In the fertile valleys and plateaus of America's far west, growers tend orchards that produce the world's best apples.