NEW YORK STATE — Some people work tirelessly for their region’s produce industry and are well-respected for it, but they don’t make headlines or earn shiny accolades — and it isn’t until they’re gone that others realize their impact.
With deep, personal roots in agriculture, Paul Baker, an industry veteran and longtime advocate for New York growers, died May 26, after an automobile crash.
Baker, 73, was the executive director of the New York State Horticulture Society for about 16 years, lobbying legislators in Albany, N.Y., and Washington, D.C., on behalf of the state’s agriculture industry and fighting for apple research funding.
“Paul singlehandedly got state funding to support apple research in New York State, and that was critical. He worked very hard to get that funding. The New York apple industry owes him a debt of gratitude,” said Jim Allen, retired vice president of marketing for New York Apple Sales and former president and CEO of the New York Apple Association.
Allen has known Baker since the early 1980s, when he bought fruit from Baker while working at Keystone Fruit Sales, Greencastle, Pa.
Baker had a great sense of humor and was very kind, but he didn’t hold back, Allen said.
“We would go into congressional offices, and those who wouldn’t support agriculture reform, he’d say ‘That is just not acceptable.’ He was really forthright with his opinions. He’d let legislators know when they were not on the right page of agriculture. That took some guts,” Allen said.
Ward Dobbins has known Baker as a friend, colleague and fellow board member for more than 20 years. Dobbins is president of Lyndonville, N.Y.-based United Apple Sales, H.H. Dobbins Inc., Thruway Produce and H.H. Dobbins and Son.
“Paul was a really gregarious, genuinely nice guy. He didn’t care who you were in the business or judge you by the company you worked for or owned,” Dobbins said. “He was an advocate for growers in New York State, whether they grew 1 acre of hops or 1,000 acres of apples, because he grew up in it. We had a lot in common and similar perspective.”
As executive director of Agricultural Affiliates for 15 years, Baker helped New York state agricultural employers comply with state and federal labor laws.
In her 2013 book, Labor and the Locavore: The Making of a Comprehensive Food Ethic, author Margaret Gray cited Baker for his work to support growers in getting the farm labor they needed.
And as executive secretary of New York State Berry Growers for almost 14 years, Baker promoted the state’s berries and worked in government relations.
Before accepting these roles, Baker was an agricultural advisor in the New York State Senate.
Baker started with a firm foundation in farming.
For 18 years since 1984, Baker ran his family’s multigenerational fruit and vegetable farm in Ransomville in western New York, called Baker Farms.
Born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., Baker earned a bachelor’s degree in economics-marketing from Cornell University and then a master’s degree in financial management from University of Buffalo.
Baker attended more children’s baseball games than anyone else, as well as hockey matches and dance recitals, to cheer on his eight grandchildren, Dobbins said.
Baker’s son, Brett, works as executive vice president of United Apple Sales with Dobbins. Baker used to visit all the time.
“Everyone says nice things when someone is gone, but I would’ve said it a week ago too,” Dobbins said. “He was always willing to serve on whatever board or committee he was asked to, and he would stand up in a meeting and whether you agreed with him or disagreed, fine. He was willing to discuss it, which is something I really respect about him.
“He’s a guy that, well, they don’t come around much.”
