Peerbolt Crop Management

Tom Peerbolt, Senior Consultant, created Peerbolt Crop Management Incorporated in 1992 and began working with small fruit growers in Southwest Washington and Oregon the same year. Since that time, we have steadily expanded the number of acres under contract and expanded our research program. Our emphasis has been on increasing the profitability and sustainability of our clients through integrated pest management, on-farm research, and increasing the communication and cooperation between growers, processors, industry representatives, and public sector institutions (WSU, OSU, USDA). On-going education is also a factor in our business. Our participation has grown steadily in the off-season schedule of workshops and conferences.Tom Peerbolt has over 30 years experience in horticulture, including a plant science degree from UC Davis in 1987, ownership of a retail nursery and experience in wholesale nursery management.

Anna Peerbolt worked as a journalist, and in PR and marketing in New York City, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Winters, CA. before she and Tom moved to Oregon in 1992. Once settled, she opened a marketing business until, in 1999, in response to the growth of PCM, she joined Tom, taking on the responsibilities of the office and the bookkeeping. Through the years, she had picked up an understanding of computer-Internet-networking technology, and soon added web site design and maintenance to the business, allowing PCM to offer new services, including broadcast emailing for the Small Fruit Update newsletter, this business web site and the informational www.nwipm.info site.

Julie Pond is the Scout Supervisor and Research Technician at Peerbolt Crop Management. She has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Horticulture and a minor in Biotechnology from the University of Saskatchewan in 2006. Along with supervising field scouts, she is also assisting in ongoing research projects. Much of her past experience involves plant pathology research, microbiology testing, and nursery production. She has been employed at Peerbolt Crop Management since March 2008. 

 

 

Beth Robinsonhas been in the office since November 2007. Beth provides administrative and website support and handles the mapping and GPS aspects of Peerbolt Crop Management. A returned Peace Corps Volunteer, she spent 2 and a half years experience in the Natural Resource Management and Agriculture sectors serving Mali, West Africa. She has a Bachelor of Arts in French and English with a minor in History from Loyola University New Orleans and is currently enrolled in PSU’s Geographic Information Systems Graduate Certificate program. 

Every year, PCM hires seasonal workers with a background in agriculture and/or science to scout clients' fields and also help with research projects. The PCM services are offered to growers from the Woodland area, north of Vancouver, Washington, to the Salem/Woodburn areas south of Portland, Oregon. We are also in the process of developing long-distance services that incorporate email and Internet interaction as well as scheduled on-farm visits. In addition, PCM is involved in on-farm research. If you are interested in further information, please contact us.

2008 Scouts

Michelle Cushing is our Southwest Washington field scout technician this season. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Soil & Crop Science from Colorado State University in 2005, emphasizing her studies in Environmental Soil Science. She will be scouting all of SW Washington strawberry and caneberry fields for the season. With her passion for sustainable agriculture and past experience in field scouting, her keen eye will help throughout the scouting season.

Sarah Grubin is a field scout technician who obtained a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Affairs from Lewis & Clark College in 2002 with a focus on Northwest Fruit Crop Production. In the past year, she has continued her education with some graduate level entomology course work at Oregon State University. She will be scouting Sauvie Island, blueberry and strawberry fields in SW Washington, and some of the caneberry fields in the Willamette Valley. She enjoys all aspects of entomology, which will prove to be a great asset to this fruit season. 

Emily Scott is the Willamette Valley Fruit Company scout for the season. She graduated in 2007 from the University of Oregon, with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Geography, with a focus on Agriculture. She plans to apply to graduate school in the next year and is using this season’s field experience to increase her current scouting experience. She is dedicated to keeping in touch with the Willamette Valley Fruit Company office as well as updating the office Grower Bulletin Board on a weekly basis.

Will Unger is the Field Coordinator for Oregon Berry Packing, Inc. Farmer from birth, he has a wealth of experience with NW berry crops and will be scouting OBPI’s growers’ fields this year. We are excited to have his collaboration with Peerbolt Crop Management this season.