Don Nugent
Don Nugent has been president and CEO of Graceland Fruit, Inc., since its inception in 1973. Mr. Nugent initially formed Graceland Fruit Cooperative to provide local processing plant facilities for tart cherry growers and began drying cherries for the food manufacturing industry after an abundant season produced a bumper crop. Since then, Mr. Nugent has grown a 4-person cooperative to a thriving corporation that has become the world’s largest producer of infused dried fruits and vegetable ingredients.
Mr. Nugent’s past industry involvement includes: co-founder and past officer of Cherry Central Cooperative, Inc. (1973 to1994), member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Farm Bureau (1972 to 1986), member of the Board of Directors of the U.S.D.A. federal cherry marketing order of the Cherry Administrative Board (1970 to 1978), member of the Board of Directors and past president of the Benzie-Manistee County Horticultural Society, and member of the American Farm Bureau Fruit and Nut Advisory Commission (1972 to 1986). He was also appointed to the Michigan Commission of Agriculture from 1990 to 1994, serving for two years as chairman. He is a member (and the immediate past chair) of the Board of Trustees of MSU. He is the founder and president of the North American Fruit Trading Alliance, which imports and exports agricultural products. He is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a life-member of the Michigan Horticultural Society, and a member of the Board of Directors of American Frozen Food Institute. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Frozen Food Processors Association.
He has been honored as Master Entrepreneur of The Year by the West Michigan office of Ernst & Young and has received the distinguished service award of the Michigan State Horticultural Society. Mr. Nugent was also the recipient of the 1999 Michigan's Manufacturer of the Year title and the 1999 NAAMO Award.
A graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in agriculture, Mr. Nugent was co-founder and is chairman of the Board of Directors of West Michigan National Bank and Trust. He is past chairman of the Traverse Bay Economic Development Corporation and a fellow and Strategic Task Force member of Northwest Michigan College. He and his wife, Gail, own Nugent Farms, consisting of approximately 1,100 acres.
