News

Apple Festival honors Apple Grower of the Year

Kenny Barnwell accepts the 2016 Apple Grower of the Year award.

By Bill Moss, Published: September 2, 2016

At its official kickoff on Friday morning the North Carolina Apple Festival honored the 2016 Apple Grower of the Year, a sixth generation farmer who is also a leader on agriculture issues in the region and state.
Kenny Barnwell, who grows 150 acres of apples in Kenny Barnwell Orchards and packs and stores apples through Ridgeview Apple Packers in Edneyville, is known as a progressive farmer who uses best management practices and environmental stewardship. He is a leader in food safety practices, and was among the first in the county to achieve GAP certification (Good Agricultural Practices).
“He works through science, exploration and through other organizations just to make things better for now and for the future,” said Fair Nabers Waggoner, city president of United Community Bank, the award sponsor. “This morning he was at Hendersonville Elementary giving out apples just to plant the seed.”
A sixth generation Henderson County farmer, Barnwell is the current president of N.C. Apple Growers Association, chair of the USDA Farm Service Agency county committee, chair of Agribusiness Henderson County and vice chair of the Henderson County Agriculture Advisory Committee. Barnwell often represents the interests of all Henderson County farmers in local, regional and state forums on such issues as agriculture funding, food safety, environmental regulations, farm labor and crop insurance.
Barnwell told the crowd that he was honored to receive the award.
“I think back to the people that came before us and it is something to be very very proud of,” he said. “I’m very proud to be part of agriculture in Henderson County, not just the apples. With the support from the county commissioners, extension service and the research station, we in Henderson County are able to grow some of the best and safest food in the United States and the world, and that’s something we really need to be proud of. We need to celebrate what our local farmers and what are local agriculture does for this county.”