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IN THIS ISSUE
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April 5, 2017
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Apple Leaders Make Mark in Washington, DC 
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On March 23, apple leaders from a dozen states gathered in Washington, DC for USApple's Capitol Hill day. Participants included veteran apple advocates, first timers and seventeen young apple leaders (YALs). Washington Congressman Dave Reichert addressed the group at the kick off breakfast, providing updates on agriculture labor and trade issues. Reichert is a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee where he chairs the Subcommittee on Trade.
Attendees advocated for the USApple
legislative priorities
as determined by the Government Affairs Committee in January. Agriculture labor, H-2A issues, and concerns about increased enforcement topped the agenda followed by trade and the upcoming Farm Bill.
Many USApple leaders attended a reception that same evening to benefit the USApplePAC. Funds raised go to support our strongest advocates in the House and Senate on a bipartisan basis. To learn more about the PAC and how you can support these efforts, click here.
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Congressman Reichert speaks to the group before they head out for Capitol Hill meetings.
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Class of 2017 Young Apple Leaders
L-R: Brett Monson, Monson Fruit Company (WA), Spencer MacQueen, MacQueen Orchards Inc. (OH), Jordan Bachman, Sunny Hill Fruit Farm (OH), Clint Edwards, Frosty Ridge Orchards (WA), Hailey Wertenberger, Sage Fruit Company (WA), Jake Walkenhauer, Larson Fruit Company (WA), Megan Wade, Columbia Fruit Packers, Inc. (WA), Cristy Warnock, Rainier Fruit Co. (WA), Gunnar Berg, Yakima Fresh, LLC (WA), Tabitha Francis, California Apple Commission (CA), Joel Crist, Crist Bros. Orchards Inc. (NY), Ryan Rasch, GreenTree Orchards LLC (MI), Matthew Murphy, Red Jacket Orchards (NY), Jordan Youngquist, Youngquist Farms (MI), RJ Simons, BelleHarvest Sales (MI). Not pictured: Jesse Mulbury Northern Orchard Co. (NY) and Marcus Jones, George W. Saulpaugh & Sons (NY)
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Washington Delegation with Congressman Newhouse at USApplePAC Reception
L-R: Jon Alegria, CPC International Apple Co., Bob Price, Price Cold Storage & Packing Co., Inc, Rep. Dan Newhouse, Steve Clement, Sage Fruit, and Mike Preacher, Domex Superfresh Growers
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Envy Apples Take the Crown in the 'Apple Madness' Bracket Tournament
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The Envy apple was the envy of apple and bracket lovers nationwide as it took the top spot in the U.S. Apple Association's (USApple) fiercely competitive "Apple Madness" bracket tournament, a five-week, five-round online competition spotlighting 32 apple varieties and fresh health facts.
Throughout March, which is National Nutrition Month, Apple Madness earned more than 31,000 consumer votes, a 20% increase from last year's inaugural tournament.
Along the way, USApple shared apple facts, recipe ideas and health research data with millions of consumers on social media. Last week's "National Chomp-ionship" round pitted "Hoops" Honeycrisp against ultimate top vote getter "Energizer" Envy.
Throughout the tournament, voters entered to win apple-related prizes from members including Borton Fruit, Chelan Fresh, Domex Superfresh Growers, the Michigan Apple Committee, New York Apple Association, New York Apple Sales, Oppy, Rainier Fruit Company, Red Jacket Orchards, Ridgetop Orchards, Riveridge Produce Marketing, Sage Fruit Company and the Washington Apple Commission.
A huge thank you to this year's sponsors and to members that participated and recruited others to take part in the fun campaign!
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Agriculture Groups Write Trump
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Late last month, USApple worked with the members of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) Steering Committee to send a letter to President Trump in response to his remarks on immigration to the joint session of Congress. President Trump stated
"I believe real and positive reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: to improve jobs and wages for Americans, to strengthen our nation's security, and to restore respect for our laws." We let the President know that we found these words to be "encouraging" and that "we stand ready to help."
The AWC letter summarizes the importance of maintaining the current workforce and fixing the broken H-2A guestworker program. We made the strong case that agriculture's "contribution to the U.S. economy and American jobs fall in line with your comments."
In addition to the steering committee members a total of 70 agricultural organizations signed the letter.
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EPA Denies Petition to Remove Chlorpyrifos from Market - Science Cited in Decision
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On March 30, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied an activist organization's petition to remove an important crop protection product, chlorpyrifos, from the market. Claims in the petition were based on unreliable information. Agricultural organizations active on the chlorpyrifos issue are hopeful that EPA's decision to deny the petition may indicate the agency is returning pesticide policies that are transparent and based on sound science.
Apple growers use chlorpyrifos to control the Rosy Apple Aphid, San Jose Scale, and the Wooly Apple Aphid. Because chlorpyrifos does less harm to beneficial insects, it is widely used as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. USApple was an active participant in several industry coalitions urging the EPA to return to the science-based process that is required under law. The decision by the agency to deny the petition based upon the science is a hopeful sign that science is once again at the center of the evaluation process.
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Gilbert Testifies Before House Subcommittee
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Sean Gilbert, Gilbert Orchards, Yakima, WA was in Washington March 9 to testify before the House Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research. While on Capitol Hill, Gilbert spent the day advocating for apple issues with multiple members of the House Agriculture Committee in USApple-arranged meetings. He also met with Dan Newhouse, his Congressional Representative.
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L-R: Sean Gilbert with Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN),
top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee |
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USApple Team Visits Washington State Growers
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USApple President and CEO Jim Bair, Director of Consumer Health and Media Relations Korenna Wilson and Director of Membership and Communications Jessa Allen traveled to Washington, March 13-16 for industry meetings and grower visits.
The USApple team began the week in Yakima where they toured Washington Fruit & Produce Company's packing facility. Wilson attended Northwest Horticultural Council's Food Safety Committee Meeting while Allen and Bair visited Borton & Sons. Then the group toured TreeTop's processing facility in Selah.
Next, they headed to Wenatchee where they visited several packing facilities and marketing operations including Stemilt, McDougall & Sons, and Chelan Fresh. They also visited with the team at the Washington Apple Commission. The USApple staff used the week's meetings and events to update Washington leaders on our key issues as well as to hear more about their challenges and concerns.
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Apple Leaders Dinner in Wenatchee hosted by Mike Wade
L-R: Jim Bair, USApple, Doug Pauly, Northern Fruit Co., Pete Van Well, Van Well Nursery, Greg Lyons, AgroFresh, Jessa Allen, UApple, Brian Focht, Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers, Mike Wade, Columbia Fruit Packers, Megan Wade, Columbia Fruit Packers, Gary Snyder, C&O Nursery, Korenna Wilson, USApple, and Josh Heinicke, Columbia Fruit Packers
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Visit to the McDougall & Sons packing facility in Wenatchee
L-R: Jessa Allen, USApple, Bryon McDougall, McDougall & Sons, and Korenna Wilson, USApple
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Tour of TreeTop's Juice and Sauce Plant in Selah
L-R: Korenna Wilson, USApple, Jessa Allen, USApple, Sharon Miracle-Harris, TreeTop, and Keith Gomes, TreeTop
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Making Headlines: Newsroom Chatter
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Boyer and growers addressed key issues including what growers believe is the overreach of the federal Waters of the United States and the importance of building on the Market Access Program to bolster exports, and research funding. He said he wants the federal government to take other steps to ease the labor constraints it puts on the system. Boyer said he had to tell the U.S. Department of Labor three weeks ago how many migrant workers he would need to get visas for the apple harvest - this fall. The process needs to be streamlined, he said.
- USApple Vice Chairman Mark Boyer sharing conversations he had with members of Congress during the March fly-in, to his hometown paper the Bedford Gazette.
"It was a productive and insightful experience. I will walk away having learned a lot from both the lawmakers we met and the other members of the U.S. Apple Association."
- USApple Young Apple Leader, Megan Wade, talking about her participation in Capitol Hill Day to Good Fruit Grower.
Farmers are turning to it for the reassurance of having a legal workforce, despite the fact that it is a cumbersome, costly program that has a history of problems. Last year, some farms experienced significant delays in having their workers arrive in the country because of a backlog of processing H2A applications caused by the federal government. Delays ranged from two to four weeks. "With a six-week harvest, that can put you out of business," said Red Jacket co-owner Mark Nicholson. "Delays mean huge costs."
- USApple Board Member, Mark Nicholson, explaining the need for an overhaul of the H2A program with the New York based newspaper, Daily Messenger.
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The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is the only organization solely dedicated to addressing the needs of the national apple industry. USApple is committed to providing all segments of the industry the means to profitably produce and market apples and apple products. We serve the entire industry, representing it on national issues, increasing the demand for apples and apple products and providing information on matters pertaining to the apple industry. USApple is the national voice of America's favorite fruit.
Not a USApple member yet? Learn more about the benefits of membership. |
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