Board Spotlight: Robin Hansen
The tree fruit industry has always moved through cycles: years of growth, years of challenge, and constant adaptation in between. Robin Hansen, COO of Columbia Fruit Packers and a fourth‑generation member of the tree fruit community, understands those cycles deeply.
Robin grew up in the orchards and the warehouse, shaped by a multigenerational farm family where the industry wasn’t just a livelihood; it was community, responsibility, and shared purpose. Like many from agricultural families, she stepped away for education, earning a law degree and gaining early professional experience before returning home to join Columbia Fruit. As Robin puts it, the dirt gets in your blood—it’s in your bones.
Today, Robin is a leader at Columbia Fruit Packers, bringing a steady, thoughtful perspective shaped by lived experience across generations and roles. That perspective carries directly into her service on the Washington Apple Education Foundation Board of Directors. She cares about the families WAEF serves, the donors who invest in its mission, and the importance of strong governance as the industry navigates change.
Robin’s connection to WAEF began through her company’s scholarship program, one of the first scholarships administered by WAEF. Participating in scholarship interviews quickly became one of the most meaningful days of her year. Listening to students share their goals, curiosity, and resilience reinforced her confidence not only in the students themselves, but in the long‑term value of investing in education.
From Robin’s vantage point, WAEF’s role goes far beyond scholarships. Regardless of whether the industry is experiencing strong markets or tight margins, its strength depends on community. A resilient, multi‑generational community is what sustains agriculture through every business cycle. WAEF helps build that community by supporting students who gain education and perspective and who often return to strengthen the places they come from.
What gives Robin confidence in WAEF today is the seriousness with which the organization approaches the future. Strong leadership, an engaged board, and long‑range planning ensure WAEF isn’t reacting year‑to‑year, but preparing for the next decade and beyond. As the industry grows and changes, WAEF remains committed to growing and changing alongside it.
