Fruithill Inc., of Yamhill, Ore., has been honored by the Oregon State University Austin Family Business Program for excellence in family business.

The multi-generation family business grows cherries, plums, hazelnuts, wine grapes and other crops and performs on-site processing.

The family expanded its frozen fruit processing facility over the past two years to run multiple processing lines simultaneously and expand its IQF, or Individually Quick Frozen, product line.

Fruithill was joined by Coelho Winery of Amity, Ore., as farm winners in the 2012 Excellence in Family Business Awards celebration.

According to its website, the Austin Family Business Program fosters "healthy family businesses through innovative tools, hands-on learning opportunities and honest talk."

The program was founded in 1985.

--Mitch Lies