Fourth Leaf flies independent flag

摘要

Generally speaking, Ed Webster is happy with his packing company. Still, every year, he finds a block of fruit to shop out to a competitor, just to test the waters. This year, he'll do that with Fourth Leaf Fruit Co., a Washington packing house tryingto reinvent itself by relying on its unusual position of custom packing exclusively. The company, known as Holtzinger for the past 100 years, is one of only a few in the United States that doesn't own its own orchards."I think I'll give them my Galas," said Webster, owner of Rothrock Farms, a small orchard north of Prosser, Washington.