Washington State Fruit Commission president passes at the age of 60
The Washington State Fruit Commission has announced the passing of its long-time president, BJ Thurlby, who died at the age of 60 on 10 January, following surgery for cancer.
In an obituary shared by Northwest Cherries, Thurlby was described as a steadying presence in an industry of continual change.
“Thurlby’s professional passion was serving growers,” it said. “He did so with humour, patience and grace for 30 years, lending an ear and support to the 2,200 growers the Commission has represented – people he respected immensely in this industry – in any way he could until his retirement on 31 December 2025.”
Washington State Fruit Commission board chair Doug Field said Thurlby was a great ambassador for the industry.
“The positive impacts of his passionate efforts to promote our cherries and soft fruits in the US and around the world will be felt long into the future,” said Field.
Thurlby served as the Commission’s domestic marketing manager for five years before being promoted to president. As president, he oversaw domestic and international marketing for Northwest Cherries. In his 25 years as Washington State Fruit Commission president, Thurlby helped to grow international markets for sweet cherries by more than 300 per cent, with exports going to 29 countries.
Northwest Cherries said he was a staunch advocate of research for the health benefits of cherries and led efforts to highlight those benefits in cherry promotions industrywide.
Thurlby was a proponent of industry education, hosting the annual Cherry Institute event to provide the latest horticultural research and market insights to growers, as well as the publication of Good Fruit Grower magazine and its Spanish-language edition Good Fruit Grower en español.
“Personally, Thurlby was deeply devoted to his family and spoke of them lovingly and often,” the obituary said.
“Our love and support are with his wife, Maggie; older son, Griffin, and his fiancée, Lauren; daughter, Kenzie, and her husband, Riley; and younger son, Greyson; as well as the extended family, many friends and colleagues who have respected, loved and will miss him.”
