After Stella Otto received her B.S. in horticulture from Michigan State University, she worked at one of largest tree fruit nurseries in the United States and a tart cherry orchard near Traverse City, Michigan, the cherry capitol of the world. She and her husband eventually started their own diversified fruit farm in northern Michigan. Author of the award-winning The Backyard Orchardist and The Backyard Berry Book, she has written articles for numerous magazines, appeared on the Discovery Channel, and been interviewed on NPR and other gardening radio programs. She can be found cultivating fruitful information at her website The Backyard Fruit Gardener.