One Last Run - NY Apple Association Price Chopper for around $1 ... David Jones, District 2,...

Ad support critical to promoting 2016 crop....................................... Page 3Horticulture Society has a busy winter ahead....................................... Page 4Jim Allen reflects on his years at the New York Apple Association....................................... Page 5Busy program planned at NYS Fruit and Vegetable Expo....................................... Page 7

USApple asks citrus promoter to pull defamatory TV ad....................................... Page 8Mark Nicholson named to new USDA panel....................................... Page 8

Big Apple Salad Challenge is a big success..................................... 1Judge blocks federal overtime rule..................................... Page 11Agriculture groups begin to as-sess presidential election result..................................... Page 12NYAA hosts visitors from China on reverse trade mission..................................... Page 13

Your AMO assessments fund all of the activities of the New York Apple Association, helping to encourage profitable growing and marketing of

New York apples. Stories and photos with this logo

specifically highlight how your AMO dollars

are being put to work for you.

In this Issue

7645 Main StreetPO Box 350Fishers New York 14453-0350

Official Newspaper of the New York Apple Association Volume 5, Issue 7 December 2016

Inside: National appleholdings up, N.Y. down.

Page 10

Four of five members of 2016 Team Allen munch a McIntosh, the marathon’s official apple.

One Last RunBy Jim Allen

This year my four children and niece all ran in the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon, to honor

my last year as president of NYAA and NYAA’s continued involvement in this amazing New York City event.

Their commitment, dedication, training and preparation to run this race was truly a most emotional and memorable. And they all finished with great times!

Two of my children live on the West Coast and two live in New York City. Thanks to today’s social media, they were able to train together. As they each ran numerous races throughout the year on both coasts, they cheered each other on. After each 10K, 15K, half marathon or just training runs in the park, they would post their times and get high fives from Team Allen. It was just amazing to follow them all year.

My oldest, Matthew, is a first sergeant and medic in the U.S. Army. He is stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. His training was courtesy of the U.S. Army, and this was his second New York City Marathon.

Second child Melissa Allen Powell, a mom of an 18-month son and 4-year-old daughter, ran her first-ever marathon. Melissa works for Microsoft, and somehow juggled parenting, her career and training over the last year. That in itself was a marathon.

Child number three is the veteran

Team Allen celebrates at the finish line of the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon. From left, Melissa, Kate, Marshall, Tenley and Matthew. BELOW: Retiring NYAA President Jim Allen with his four children after the 2016 marathon. Not shown: Allen’s niece Kate Golden.

See Run, Page 14

Core Report® December 2016

Walmart to double sales of locally grown produceThe Produce news

Walmart is doubling sales of locally grown produce in the United States, and expanding and enhancing sustainable sourcing to cover 20 key commodities, including bananas. Doug McMillon, Walmart president and chief executive officer, was expected to make the announcement at today’s Net Impact Conference as he outlined a roadmap that will guide the company’s role in society on critical issues over the next several years, pointing to a “new era of trust and transparency.”

Walmart also will implement a new plan designed to achieve science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The roadmap adds fresh detail to Walmart’s sustainability agenda and contains new commitments that reflect a wider recognition of the company’s impact on communities and the planet.

Walmart is one of the first retailers

with an emissions-reduction plan approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative, in alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement in December 2015. Under the approved plan, Walmart will use a combination of energy-efficiency measures, together with a commitment to source half of the company’s energy needs from renewable sources, to achieve an 18 percent emissions reduction in its own operations by 2025. Additionally, Walmart will work with suppliers to reduce emissions by 1 gigaton by 2030, equivalent to taking more than 211 million passenger vehicles off of U.S. roads and highways for a year.

The roadmap builds upon the three environmental sustainability goals Walmart set in 2005: to create zero waste in company operations, to operate with 100 percent renewable energy, and to sell products that sustain natural resources and the environment. Those aspirational goals have guided how Walmart engages on those vital issues and progress has been made toward them. The new roadmap builds on progress to date, but also broadens the company’s vision of its role in society.

Walmart will double the sales of

locally grown produce in the United States by 2025 and work with suppliers and its own private brand products to remove certified synthetic colors and artificial flavors in products where customers don’t expect to find them, as well as reduce sodium, added sugars and saturated fat where possible. Additionally, Walmart will expand and enhance sustainable sourcing to cover 20 key commodities, including bananas, grapes, coffee, and tea.

Albertson’s in talks to acquire Price Chopper

U.S. supermarket chain Albertsons Companies Inc is in advanced talks to acquire closely held grocery store operator Price Chopper for around $1 billion, people familiar with the matter said last month.

A deal would underscore the wave of consolidation sweeping the U.S. grocery industry, as regional chains struggle to compete against online retailers such as Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), big box stores such as

Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N), and discount chains such as ALDI Inc.

These challenges put pressure on the Golub family, which has owned Price Chopper for more than eight decades, to explore a sale. Lewis Golub, a Russian immigrant who arrived at New York’s Ellis Island in 1900, started a wholesale grocery warehouse in 1922, which his two sons launched as a supermarket chain in 1932.

The sources, who asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential, cautioned that it is still possible for the deal negotiations to fall through. Albertsons and Price Chopper declined to comment.

Schenectady, N.Y.,-based Price Chopper operates roughly 130 stores across the U.S. Northeast, including New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Earlier this year, Scott Grimmett took over from Jerry Golub as chief executive of Golub Corp, the Golub family’s company. He is the first non-family member to hold that position.

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons, which is controlled by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, operates more than 2,200 supermarkets.

Retail ReviewNews from the retail marketing industry

December 2016 Core Report®

By Molly [email protected]

As the holidays approach I tend to make more trips to the grocery store

than usual, as I am sure most people do.

I have m e n t i o n e d before that I am bad about grocery lists; either I make one and purchase all of the list items and then some, or I completely forego the list

and wing it (can you hear the cha-ching of the register?). Both shopping styles are not the most fiscally responsible way of feeding my family; but I do love to bargain shop for other items, so I guess it all evens out.

Three days before Thanksgiving I was standing in line to check out at my usual grocery store and I chuckled to myself as the woman ahead of me was talking to the cashier about that being her second trip for her feast items. I was on trip number three as I had found a dessert recipe online that I HAD to try for our Thanksgiving dinner and needed the ingredients.

This is my new hobby, online recipe searching. I used to collect cookbooks and read them from cover to cover; and while I still love to thumb through a great one, the ease of technology is making life less clutter-some.

In the age of smartphones, I have the world’s cultures and cuisines at my fingertips. I can print out a recipe, for

Core Report® is published monthly by the New York

Apple Associationas a member service.

New York Apple Assn.Contact

7645 Main St., Fishers, NY 14453-0350Phone: (585) 924-2171, Fax: (585) 924-1629www.nyapplecountry.com

StaffJames Allen, President,[email protected] Zingler, Director of Marketing,[email protected] Willis, Executive& Communications AssistantEllen A. Mykins,Accounting Dept.Susan Sarlund,Northeast Account ManagerJulia Stewart, Public Relations Directorand NYAA spokesperson, [email protected]

Core Report onlinewww.nyapplecountry.com/core-report

Board of DirectorsWill Gunnison, District 1, Crown Point,(518) 597-3363, [email protected] Toohill, District 1, Chazy, 518-846-7171,[email protected] Chiaro, District 2, Hudson, (518) 828-1151,[email protected]

David Jones, District 2, Germantown, 518-537-6500,[email protected]

Alisha Albinder, District 3, Milton, (845) 795-2121,[email protected]

Kurt Borchert, District 3, Marlboro, 845-236-7239,[email protected] Sarah Dressel, Vice Chairwoman, District 3, New Paltz,(845) 255-0693, [email protected] Torrice, District 4, Oswego(315) 342-3793, [email protected]

Richard Endres, Treasurer, District 5, Sodus(315) 483-6815, [email protected] Furber, District 5, Sodus(315) 483-8529, [email protected]

Chris Hance, District 5, Pultneyville,(315) 589-4212, [email protected]

Abram Peters, District 5, Pultneyville,(585) 455-3600, [email protected]

Kevin Bittner, District 6, Barker, 716-795-3030,[email protected] Stannard, District 6, Medina, 518-477-7200,[email protected]

Jason Woodworth, Chairman, District 6, Waterport, 585-682-4749, [email protected]

Branching Out

Molly Zingler

Feast for the eyes

See Zingler, Page 14

Ad support is keyBy Susan Sarlund

In spite of the weather effect on the 2016 crop, we have had a good season in Metro New York. Displays have had a consistent supply of our New York varieties and ad support from early September through the present has been steady and strong.

As the Northeast Sales Manager calling on many unique chains in the marketplace, it is always exciting for me every season to see our New

York Apple logo in print across the multitude of retailers’ circulars. Even better than that when one of the retail representatives I call on gets just as excited or more about the New York apple ads they place.

This was no more evident this season than when Wayne Kovacs of Key Food featured our totes at $.99/lb, New York Honeycrisp and SnapDragon at $2.99/lb., and bags of Lil’ Chief McIntosh at $1.99.

The topper was that Wayne himself was pictured in the circular in front of a bin of New York apples in the middle of Hudson River Fruit Distributors’ orchard endorsing our New York apples and local, family owned farms. Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Sarlund

ABOVE: SnapDragon-stuffed acorn squash. BELOW: New York apple stuffing.


Frank A. Gasperini, Jr.National Council of Ag Employers

We all look forward, with a various degrees of concern or elation, to working with the administration of President-Elect Donald J. Trump and the soon to be seated 115th Congress in 2017.

Agriculture expects, and will offer, a level of respect and cooperation by all for the President-Elect to obtain the information and briefings he needs to start work for the American people, all of us. We are all working hard building relationships, educating the transition team on the issues and needs of Agricultural Employers, and working together within our agricultural coalitions to present a unified message. Once again we remind ourselves that agriculture must hang together, or

as Benjamin F r a n k l i n f a m o u s l y said; “or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

T h e appointment of sitting RNC Chair Rience Preibus as WH Chief of Staff points to potential for

a more ordered political process than some had feared. Here is POTUS-Elect’s website where information on the transition planning/execution process will be posted as it evolves. https://www.greatagain.gov/

The 115th Congress will have

Republican majorities in both the House and the Senate. They must deal with the potential of filibusters and the risk of continuing disunity among House Republicans issues between factions, but we generally expect Congress to implement conservative agendas quickly because history suggests potential for a turnover in 2018. There will be significant pressure to run as fast as possible toward the agenda, and the opposition will see their role as slowing things down as

much as possible. If the President-Elect truly sees

his role as “Making America Great Again” then our role in engaging with the incoming Administration and Congress will be to do everything we can to assure that we “KEEP America’s Agriculture Great” by assuring that the needs of agricultural employers are not lost in the shuffle.

By Paul [email protected]

Outside the temperature suggests that life has slowed and is in a dormant status. Here at the Horticulture Society we see 2017 as one of the most challenging years to date. Let us break down some of these in a brief review:

Research and FundingThe summer of 2016 in my opinion

created more questions than answers for growers. Water again played a huge role. Typically the water comes in the form of hail. This year it simply never came in any form. The result was we all were learning how high density plantings with limited root structures would respond? The question gave way to the need for more trickle systems perhaps. Another question has to be when is the most critical stage of apple development for this water? In short we need research to help us deal with the new planting systems in order to maximize our returns.

This is not to suggest that we do not need to continue to improve all of our horticultural practices. Questions remain on fruit thinning, weed control, how to deal with a shrinking inventory of pesticides and many more. The partnership between you the grower and the NYS legislature is critically important, as we try to unravel the secrets of Mother Nature. We have as one of our top priorities to first thank the legislature and then request continued funding to support this industry.Conference Jan. 30 in SyracuseWe will be working in full with

Agriculture Affiliates to present the most up to date information on your labor searches in 2017. The reality is that the border will most likely be much tighter moving forward. This means

we will have a much tighter pool of foreign workers to man all of our farms. If one is to reach out to sourcing labor from outside the US borders you need to begin to understand the rules of play. This

conference will offer you the most current information on how and what you need to do to land a competent and legal work force on your farm in 2017. Each of you need to mark this date and spend the day with us in Syracuse.

We will offer a good mix of topics and speakers. This once again will be a good meeting to bring your office managers to listen and learn. See each of you at the Doubletree in Syracuse on Monday, Jan. 30.

Labor Policy?Each of you may have an opinion

as to what Albany and Washington will do with this topic. Like the recent Presidential election it will happen in real time. Until the leaderships in both capitals set a direction we are all in the dark. Will Albany push for overtime in 2017? Will Washington make sourcing of farm employees more or less user friendly? These are simply two topics that no matter who you ask can guarantee an answer for you. What we do know is each will be highly discussed and debated. Unless we are there to offer your perspective along with other groups such as Farm Bureau, US Apple, NCAE and Agriculture Affiliates your opinions may not be heard.

TradeThis topic will be very much in play

this winter. I know the industry is not all in concert on many of these topics. Many feel we need to review NAFTA and the much discussed Trans Pacific Pact. Washington State is nervous over each of these because to alter either may impact sales to Canada, Mexico and Pacific-rim nations. We all want increased sales opportunities. This

will require we work collectively with our competing States to come up with a sound trade package under the new administration.

I hope we all can agree we need more MAP funding regardless of the source of the apples.

In short we see these any other topics as areas we need to weigh in on to boost your opportunities back on each of your orchards.

Baker

The Hort ReportNews from the New York State Horticultural Society

Busy winter ahead for the NYSHS

Gasperini

DECEMBER 6-8, 2016NYFB Annual MeetingAlbany

DECEMBER 13-14, 2016NYAA Board of Directors MtgCrowne Plaza, Syracuse

Calendar

By Paul [email protected]

On Jan. 30 at the Doubletree Inn in Syracuse, we will hold a full day conference on the protocol to prepare to use foreign labor on the farm. The emphasis will be heavy to H2A but any principles will be usable for anyone sourcing labor from abroad. The topics of housing, visas, deductions such as state and federal taxes and more will be discussed. The initial legislation is a constant but we have seen that the interpretation of this legislation depends on who lives in the White House. Executive orders have made compliance on such needs a moving target at best.

With the obvious new administration soon to be seated in Washington, D.C., I have invited Craig Regelbrugge, from the American Horticulture to join us and give his view from inside the Beltway.

Craig is both informative and a very interesting speaker. The rest of the program is shaping up as I draft this report. I plan to have a good mix of topics to hold your interest. This will be another program where I think it would be very wise to bring your office managers to listen and learn.

The Board of Directors met in mid- November and set our priorities for the next year. With the November elections now setting the tables in both Albany and Washington we

New President, New Congress, Same Employer Issues?

See Gasperini, Page 14

Conference to focus on foreign labor

LabormattersNews fromAgriculturalAffiliates

See Baker, Page 15


The Last WordBy Jim Allen

Seems like the word “last” is being used a lot recently, at least for me it has. But I’m thinking that “last” is okay, because hopefully it means the successful finishing of a task, or completion of an assignment – or just that it’s done!

We all remember back in school working hard on a term paper, and then being relieved to say that at last, it’s finished! I also remember as if it was yesterday, working on my Dad’s farm loading 100-pound sacks of seed potatoes on a trailer truck headed to Florida. Every time that last sack came off the conveyor belt, we would all fight for it just so we could yell, finally, “the last one!”

So, writing now that this is the last time I will share a word in Core Report® has been 20 years in the making – and it’s time to go.

Since I announced I would step away from association life, several folks have asked why, and why now, I am too young. I am flattered that some think I’m too young to retire. But since I used to watch a TV show that was on from 1960 to 1966, called Route 66, I think deciding to retire at 66 is appropriate. That, and a few other more important reasons, led me to the final decision to retire.

Before I go, I want to share just a few thoughts that after 20 years I have come to believe. Association life can be very demanding, sometimes stressful and often disappointing. I know that the same can probably be said for any job, not just this one. Your jobs growing apples obviously have many challenges, so I am in no way disparaging or belly aching about the prestigious position I’ve held. “Demanding” is part of the job description, and I fully anticipated it. But sometimes those demands came without warning, and so many of them were often outside of our purview, beyond our ability to influence.

The ironic thing is that even if NYAA could not rightfully act in those situations, I wanted to. And that is when the disappointment would set in. I would get a call on a Sunday night that a container of New York apples in Israel had been rejected, the caller asking me to do something, anything to remedy that situation. Or I would get a call from a packer who had seen a store display of Empires packed by another packinghouse as McIntosh apples, what was I going to do about it? (That complaint was daily at times! And honestly If I could have, I would have called the offending packers and given them hell…. but who am I do that?)

Perhaps these are small examples, but they illustrate the frustration and stress of the job at times. Trying to be idealistic about an industry for 20 years – believing and preaching that there is no room or excuse for cutting corners or pushing the envelope in the marketplace – has been a Herculean task. Fact is, the reality of this business is that what is not always preferred is often practiced.

Another disappointment when I accepted this job 17 years ago was the immense lack of trust and cooperation within the industry. Back then, interstate competition and fragmentation was prevalent. The willingness to work together as an industry was weak at best. I knew then that this would be a huge obstacle to overcome.

And we did. One person who should be credited with most of that accomplishment is of course George Lamont, for his efforts to develop a strategic plan for the New York apple industry. I hope that folks would agree that I also had a small part in that effort, and that I always tried to manage the association with those goals in mind.

Today, the industry does work together for the good of the industry, in most cases. NYAA has played an important role on this front, and being in a position to lead this cause has been most rewarding and satisfying for me.

After 20 years, the rewards, the benefits, the relationships, the successes, and the interactions with growers, customers, politicians and national organizations, have GREATLY outweighed my few complaints. The saying “when you love your job, you never go to work” fits me. I attended a colleague’s retirement gathering last winter; he remarked that he could not remember a time when he didn’t want to get up and go to work. I thought then that was a huge testament to his passion for his work. I have always

felt the same way about mine. While I may have decided on some of those rare rougher mornings to not get up quite as early, I always got up and went to work.

My greatest joy has been the people! First and foremost, the numerous growers who chose to serve as board directors during my tenure, from 1996 when I started, to 2000 when I was named president, to now. By serving, each one of you brought your talents, your convictions, your opinions and your presence to NYAA. You brought forward your concerns and your suggestions to help the good of the entire industry.

As I step away and folks graciously compliment me on my career, I sincerely deflect those comments back to our past and present directors who have served this industry. I was the hired man, working for the association that is owned by you. I have been blessed to work for great directors over the years, who always treated me fairly, with respect and with support. To you, I will forever be grateful.

To go back and answer the question why I’m retiring now, I give several reasons. It may sound a bit overplayed, but I personally believe that I have finished this gig and now it is time to move on. It was not an easy decision, but somehow you just know when it’s time, you can feel it. As changes take place that I can’t control, faces change, priorities start to shift, it grows more and more obvious to me that old thoughts should be replaced with new ones.

I want to close my last column with some forward-thinking comments. The New York apple industry has enjoyed several years of growth and prosperity. That is evident in the huge re-investment in orchards, infrastructure, new varieties – the list goes on. Our state’s production is rising (excepting 2012 and 2016), and national production is exploding. Reacting to and addressing this trend will become the number one priority for this association moving forward. New management must embrace this.

A restructuring of the entire apple marketing order (AMO) will be in order, to recognize and accommodate the trend of increased production of managed varieties. This is a huge shift that if not addressed could lead to the eventual demise of marketing orders as we know them today. As these varieties grow in volume, the generic approach to promote New York apples will not get the job done.

Over the last few years, it has been increasingly difficult to attract retailers to generically promote New York apples, and increasingly difficult to use grower dollars to support their promotions. It kills me to write this: The generic cash cow varieties such as Empire, McIntosh, Jonagold, Cortland and Macoun are diminishing in the marketplace. They are being replaced by private-label brands and club varieties. Koru®, SweeTango®, SnapDragon®, RubyFrost®, EverCrisp® and Pazazz™ – the list keeps growing. Meanwhile, more and more packers are introducing creative packaging and specialty packs that support their individual investments. Using AM0 dollars to promote someone’s exclusive Little Apple Bites or

Pie Ready Apples (those are fictitious examples) will become very difficult or even not permissible. The entire promotional structure of NYAA may see major changes in the future.

Other issues that will continue to be major challenges ahead, sadly are also old news: labor and food safety.

One of my biggest disappointments for the last 20 years is Congress’ failure to address immigration reform and to provide adequate migrant labor for our industry. Our collective industry from East to West and the many organizations that represent us have spent more time, more money and more effort to try to shape and fix this issue than any other. All that we have accomplished is to win a few compliments on the good fight we have put forth – with no results! And now post-election, who has a clue what will really happen in 2017?

On food safety, I will pick my words carefully here so as not offend anyone. It seems to me that the biggest mistake made in writing the new federal food safety laws was to allow the Tester Amendment that excludes small farms from having to adhere to the same standards as larger ones. This absolutely scares the crap out of me! All I will say is that it only takes one bad apple to spoil the barrel for our entire industry; whether that problem apple comes from a farm market, green market, or a retailer, the damage will be the same.

I appreciate and have compassion for smaller growers (my Dad was one), and I understand that the cost of complying with regulations can be burdensome. But I also value consumer protection, and fear the adverse consequences for everyone when that consumer is let down. I am confident that the clear majority of our industry agrees with me that producing safe food is a priority, and I know that major packers in New York are quickly adopting practices to safeguard their apples. But they shouldn’t be the only ones shouldering this responsibility; everyone must follow the same steps, big and small.

So NYAA is facing a lot of demands and challenges, all of which will take time to address – more time than I have to offer. I have confidence that whoever replaces me can fulfill those demands and meet those challenges. Your search committee has carried out an extensive search to find the right person. Your new president has been selected based on their ability and experiences, and thoroughly vetted and scrutinized. As I write this column in November, my successor has not been announced but by the time you read this edition in December it should be known.

So, this is it, thanks for reading. I apologize for the long rambling “last word” (words), but hey! 20 years is a long time.

I am sincerely thankful for the opportunity to serve this great New York apple industry, and hope to see you down the road!

Good luck, God bless and thanks, Jim


This year’s New York State Fruit and Vegetable Expo on Jan. 16 in Syracuse, New York will feature the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course.

The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires “At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.”

The trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules:

Introduction to Produce SafetyWorker Health, Hygiene, and

TrainingSoil AmendmentsWildlife, Domesticated Animals, and

Land UseAgricultural Water (Part I:

Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)

Postharvest Handling and SanitationHow to Develop a Farm Food Safety

PlanIn addition to learning about

produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.

The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:

• Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm

• How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm

• Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one

• Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.

After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a

certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course.

To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the

appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS COURSE IS SEPARATE FROM THE EXPO REGISTRATION.

Further details will be available at https://nysvga.org/expo/information/

Produce Safety Alliance grower training course available in January

By Julia [email protected]

New York Apple Association is proud to sponsor a talk on apple food safety by Dr. Ines Hanrahan at the Empire State Producers Expo next month.

During the expo’s afternoon horticulture session on Wednesday, Jan. 18, Hanrahan will discuss orchard management practices that growers can use to restrict contamination by and proliferation of foodborne pathogens, with a focus on Listeria.

“I heard Dr. Hanrahan speak about apple safety at Center for Produce Safety’s Research Symposium in June, and thought then that the New York apple industry must hear what she can teach us,” said NYAA President Jim Allen. “NYAA is proud to sponsor her appearance at the expo.”

Hanrahan will also discuss best cultural practices for Honeycrisp at the expo, covering how to increase packout, storability and fruit quality of this popular variety.

Hanrahan is project manager for Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, where she oversees fruit quality improvement programs. Her doctorate degree is in postharvest physiology.

For more information and to register for the Empire State Producers Expo, visit nysvga.org/expo/information/.

Apple food safetyon agenda for Expo


USApple takes on Halo for defamingapples in television ads

A screenshot from a recent Halo commercial. In the ad, a girl declines an apple described as “full of poison” from a witch in favor of a Halo. While the ad is intended to be humorous, recent research shows that low-income consumers in particular are dissuaded from consuming healthy foods when negative associations are made about those foods.

By Julia [email protected]

U.S. Apple Association has requested that The Wonderful Company immediately stop using a television

advertisement that markets its Halo-brand mandarin oranges by defaming apples.

In the ad, a young girl declines a poison apple being offered by a witch in favor of a Halo.

The advertisement disparages apples’ healthy profile by stating apples are “full of poison.” After seeing the Halo ad, New York Apple Association staff contacted USApple requesting a national response.

“Yes, we are aware the ad is intended to be humorous. Nonetheless, the apple industry would never attempt to increase consumption of our product at the expense of your Halos, or any other fruit,” USApple President Jim Bair wrote to The Wonderful Company Chairman Stewart Resnick.

“There is room for all on the plate, and consumers would be healthier for it.”

Bair wrote to Resnick on behalf of USApple’s more than 7,500 U.S. apple growers and their 1,000+ downstream partners in packing, shipping, marketing, processing and exporting.

“In the current marketing environment, anything that casts a

shadow on a food, no matter how innocent or joking the content, can do very real damage to the market and cause some consumers to avoid that food. This is not an assumption, this is fact,” Bair wrote. He cited recent research showing that low-income consumers in particular are dissuaded from consuming healthy foods when negative associations are made about those foods.

USApple requested that The

Wonderful Company stop airing the advertisement, and remove it from the Halo website.

“We understand that it was produced at significant expense, but frankly that’s not our problem,” wrote Bair, who wrote Resnick that the company should have been more thoughtful in the ad’s development and execution.

At Core Report’s press time, Bair was scheduled to speak by phone with a senior Halo official.

The newly appointed USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee met Oct. 25 -26 in Arlington, Va.

The apple industry continues to be

well represented on the committee. Helen Dietrich of Ridgeview Orchards in Michigan and Diane Smith, Executive Director of the Michigan Apple Committee were reappointed and Mark Nicholson, former USApple chairman and Co-owner of Red Jacket Orchards in New York was newly appointed.

The charge of the committee is to provide advice and input to the Secretary of Agriculture on issues under the jurisdiction of USDA impacting the fruit and vegetable industry.

Topics covered last week included updates on implementation of the GMO labeling bill and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) as well as discussion of the upcoming Farm Bill and transition to a new Administration. USApple Sr. VP Diane Kurrle attended the Tuesday meeting.

Nicholson joins USDA advisory panel

Nicholson


The New York Apple Association advertisement featured in the “Results” issue of the TCS New York City Marathon Magazine.

It All Adds Up


Fresh U.S. apple holdingsat 134.8 million bushelsBy Jim Allen

The U.S. Apple Association Market News table shown here publishes Nov. 1 U.S. holdings for fresh and processing apples by state. In both categories, national holdings are up compared to last year and to the 5-year average.

That is not the case for New York state; our crop is down 28 percent compared to Nov. 1, 2015. That is a considerable decrease, and as you know all too well, we have freeze and drought to blame.

Our good friend Mark Seetin at USApple who compiles Market News takes much pride in trying to collect and report accurate information. Certainly not an easy task, when some of the largest players in the industry choose not to report their holdings to USApple. Mark is quite resourceful and has found different ways to get at the needed information.

Mark has also determined from several years of experience how to very accurately extrapolate what the final 2016 crop size for New York might be.

Mark has determined that year in and year out, our state’s November 1 holdings represent 38 percent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s final crop estimate that is issued the following July.

Using this knowledge, Mark has calculated that the final 2016 New York state crop will come in at 23,392,075 bushels.

If that estimation of our final crop number holds, the 2016 crop will be the second smallest crop in decades, second only to 2012. At USApple’s annual conference back in August, our 2016 New York crop was forecast to be 30,000,000 bushels. Jot down these numbers on your July 2107 calendar, and compare it with the final USDA estimate when it comes out next July. If it is close, you read it first here, thanks to Mark Seetin.

U.S. Apple Holdings as of Nov. 1, 2016

U.S. Apple Association Market News

Weather woes hit New York growersBy Mark Seetin,U.S. Apple Association

VIENNA, Va. — The U.S. Apple Association recently released the first report on inventories of fresh and processing apples from the 2016 crop in the November edition of Market News.

The report is a summary of inventory reports from more than 250 storage facilities in all major apple producing states as of Nov. 1.

Highlights of the report include:U.S. fresh-market apple holdings of 134.8 million

bushels on Nov. 1, 2016, are 14 percent more than the November 2015 holdings of 118.2 million bushels, and 13 percent above the five-year average of 119.0 million bushels.

Total processing apple holdings as of Nov. 1, 2016, stood at 44.3 million bushels, 3 percent higher than those on Nov. 1, 2015, and3 percent higher than the five-year average for that date.

The total number of apples in storage on Nov. 1, 2016, was 179 million bushels, 11 percent more than last November’s total of 161 million bushels.

The November storage report reflects a distinct regional difference in the 2016 production environment compared to the 2015 growing season. The Northeast in general, and New York in particular was hit with cold weather at blossom time and a persistent drought during the growing season.

New York’s Nov. 1, 2016, inventories are 28 percent below the November inventories of last year.

Appalachian and Southeast growers were also affected by the tough growing conditions, but to a lesser degree than New York. In contrast, Michigan growers experienced more favorable growing conditions reflected by inventories that are 17 percent more than those of Nov. 1, 2015. Combined, East and Midwest November 1, 2016, inventories were roughly 10

percent less than those at the same time last year. Western growers generally experienced more

favorable growing conditions in the 2016 growing season. Nov. 1, 2016, Western state holdings, led by Washington State were 17 percent higher than those of Nov. 1, 2015. Total U.S Nov. 1 inventories are 11 percent higher than at the same time last year.


Big Apple SaladChallenge a successBy Molly [email protected]

The latest NYAA sweepstakes has concluded and we were extremely pleased with the consumer participation!

Beginning Sept. 1, consumers from eight surrounding states were eligible to enter the Big Apple Salad Challenge (BASC) online via www.nyapplecountry.com where entrants had the opportunity to submit photos of their favorite salad using New York apples as an ingredient.

The BASC, developed by Julia Stewart, Molly Zingler and Linda Quinn, MS RDN, with the help of Mason Marketing and Mason Digital, was a

“programmed learning” sweepstakes. Entrants were required to answer the following questions before being able to hit the submit button:

• What is your favorite NY apple?• What is a unique salad ingredient

you like to add when making a salad

See Salad, Page 15

Judge blocksfederal OT ruleAmerican Farm Bureau Federation

On Nov. 22, a federal judge in Texas granted a preliminary nationwide injunction delaying implementation of a regulation slated to go into effect Dec. 1 that would have extended overtime eligibility to an estimated 4.2 million workers.

The Obama administration’s overtime rule proposed that those who earn less than $47,476 a year would automatically qualify for overtime pay of time-and-a-half if they work more than 40 hours a week. Currently, those who earned more than $23,660 were exempt from overtime pay. The new rules would affect 4.2 million workers in the U.S. (It is important to note that farm workers who are not paid on a salary basis are not subject to this rule.) This rule would apply to exempt workers (those paid on a salary basis) who are engaged in executive, professional, and administrative duties,

i.e. Highly Compensated Employees (HCEs). (Please note New York state has a different minimum salary level - $675 per week/$35,100 annually - to be exempt from overtime.)

In his decision, Judge Amos Mazzant, of the Eastern District of Texas, concluded that the Fair Labor Standards Act did not grant the U.S. Department of Labor authority to require employees subject to the white collar exemptions to be paid a minimum salary, or to implement an automatic indexing mechanism for such salary level. Accordingly, the court granted the motion for preliminary injunction sought by twenty-two states and enjoined the overtime rule on a nationwide basis.

The status of the final rule in view of this decision and the results of the Presidential election leaves a number of questions open. We will keep you posted as this matter develops.

USDA conducts food safety surveyUSDA’s Economic Research Service

is researching how the produce industry will fare economically under the Food Safety Modernization Act, and grower participation in the National Agricultural Statistics Service 2016 Vegetable Chemical Use Survey is vital to the success of the study.

Questions on grower food safety practices are included at the end of the survey. These questions will help identify aspects of FSMA compliance that may be challenging to produce growers and will help develop guidance for growers on how to comply with the

regulations.NASS is conducting the survey now

until Jan. 13, 2017. Survey responses are completely confidential, as required by Federal law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified. NASS removes all personally identifiable information before providing basic data to ERS.

For information, contact Gregory Astill, USDA-ERS, [email protected], or Nathanial Warenski, USDA-NASS, [email protected].


WAC Head: Trump win ‘worrisome’for Washington apple tradeFreshportal.com

The head of the Washington Apple Commission has expressed concern about what may lie in store after Donald Trump takes office, but highlighted there may well be some positives to look forward to.

Speaking to www.freshfruitportal.com, the organization’s president Todd Fryhover also said the current season had been p r o g r e s s i n g very well and was set to see the second-largest crop in history.

One of the key issues for the Washington apple industry in the wake of the U.S. presidential elections will undoubtedly be trade, given around a third of production is exported to 60 countries worldwide.

He said it seemed fairly clear “Mr. Trump is not pro-trade, so as an industry that relies on international trade it is worrisome, there’s no doubt about that”.

Trump’s lack of support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and his stated goal of renegotiating or withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are also ‘concerning’ for Fryhover, but he highlighted the President-elect’s focus seemed to be more on manufacturing than agriculture.

“In a broad stroke you might be a little bit concerned about trade in the future, but when you get down into the detail I think the new administration is a big supporter of agriculture,” he said.

“I think we’ll have some great picks in terms of the Secretary of Agriculture and some other positions that will be appointed by the president, so I think there’ll be some strong agricultural leadership in there.

“Until he takes office and corrects a few of the bigger issues – which he has to deal with before trade becomes too much of an issue – right now I think

we’re just in a wait-and-see type of mode.”

Trump’s criticism of China in some areas has also worried Fryhover, as the Asian country is among the state’s top five export markets and current expectations are for strong future growth.

“We put a lot of focus on China as being one of the solutions to increasing our exports in the future. The current rhetoric the President-elect has expressed on currency manipulation and those things are definitely worrisome and could create opportunities to close markets,” he said.

“But certainly we’re going to keep our head down, we’re going to continue

to work hard, focus on that middle to upper-class consumer in China and offer them everything we can, and if things change we’ll have to adjust.

“We hope that things don’t change, but it’s definitely something that we need to take under consideration in the future.”

In terms of labor, which has been one of the biggest challenges for the Washington tree fruit industry over recent years, Fryhover said the prospects may not be as negative as some might imagine.

“We’re always a big supporter of legal immigration, there’s no question about that and there needs to be a solution. We’re always in support of that, and certainly we know what Mr. Trump’s

position is on that,” he said.“However, I think a bare component of

the discussion for the tree fruit industry is Mr. Trump is a businessman, he is looking for opportunities to streamline work, to eliminate paper work, to make business easier to execute, and that’s a good principle, especially when you talk about the industry’s reliance on the H2A program.”

The program establishes a means for agricultural employers who want to bring in non-immigrant foreign workers to the U.S. on a temporary basis.

“The H2A program is not necessarily

A final electoral map (with states proporionately sized) from the Associated Press.

INSIDE:More about exports.

Page 16

Trump’s impact on ag predictedBy Christina HerrickGrowing Produce

The election of Republican candidate Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States has the food and agriculture sector awaiting clarification on his policies and positions. The Rabobank Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory (FAR) group has authored a report on the possible implications of the election.

“Republican-controlled Executive and Legislative branches could mean swift action when the new administration takes office,” notes Pablo Sherwell, Rabobank head of Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory, North America. “Our analysts and others around the world are keeping a close eye on trade, labor, the upcoming Farm Bill, and regulations impacting production agriculture, as these areas are where potential policy changes could have longer-term implications

on the industry as a whole.”While President-elect Trump’s

policies are yet to be clearly defined, his statements during the campaign suggest drastic changes from current policy could be on the horizon. Acknowledging that any change, and the subsequent impact, is uncertain, Rabobank analysts dissect key areas to watch, both short and long-term:

In the short term, agricultural markets may be affected by foreign exchange volatility, as well as changing business appetite and consumer confidence.

Looking toward the next year, it will be critical to watch potential revisions to trade agreements, labor policies and business regulations, as well as the effects these elements will have on economic growth.

Short-Term Implications: The lack of market information creates uncertainty, and uncertainty generates market volatility. We saw this first-hand

last week when an initial uncertainty over President-elect Trump’s policy direction resulted in a short-term sell-off reaction by markets.

“Currently, the export share of U.S. agricultural production represents more than 20 percent in volume and value terms, making U.S. price formation highly dependent on foreign trade and therefore foreign currency,” Sherwell said.

Longer-Term Implications: Trade agreements, agricultural policy, and labor will act as key areas where potential policy changes could have longer-term implications on the industry as a whole.

Trade Agreements: As the No. 1 global agricultural exporter, the U.S. F&A sector is one of the main drivers of global agriculture and trade, reaching nearly $125 billion in 2016. Currently, the U.S. exports commodities that complement the rest of the world’s food supply—any change to U.S. agricultural

trade agreements will not only affect global prices and trade dynamics but also U.S. farmer margins.

Farm Bill 2018: The current Farm Bill is scheduled to be renewed by 2018. Because the Republican Party holds the majority, the development, approval, and implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill is likely to be a smoother process than that of the previous bill. Regulatory reductions have been a policy direction advocated by President-elect Trump during his candidacy, and it is likely that the direction will shift even more toward an environment of reduced regulation.

Labor: The U.S. food and agriculture industry is highly dependent on migrant labor, particularly in sectors such as produce, animal protein, and foodservice operation. If immigration laws are enforced more strictly, business owners may face labor shortages, which would pressure their margins.

See WAC, Page 16


NYAA hosts reverse trade mission from ChinaBy Jim Allen

Last month, during western New York’s first major snow storm, NYAA President Jim Allen and U.S. Apple Export Council’s Kurt Gallagher hosted a quick one-and-a-half-day reverse trade mission to showcase different New York state apple varieties to prospective Chinese apple buyers. Seven importers, along with USEAC’s in-country representative in China, Barbara Lee, visited two western New York apple packinghouses to taste and sample New York apples.

The group visited Michigan on Saturday and Sunday, and arrived in Buffalo on Sunday afternoon. Their first stop was to visit Niagara Falls on Sunday afternoon. Waterfalls are considered sacred and symbolic in Chinese tradition, especially when they are as massive as our Niagara Falls.

The visitors represented major companies from China that already import apples, cherries and other fruits from Washington state and around the world. Included in the group were representatives of huge online trading companies, such as Tmall Global, part of the world’s largest online trader Alibaba Group.

On Monday, the group visited United Apple Sales in Lyndonville, where they sampled SnapDragon, Empire, and Red Delicious apples. They all were very impressed with SnapDragon because of its high sugar levels. Chinese taste preference is for sweet, which does not

exactly fit our Empire profile. From Lyndonville, the group moved

on to Childs to the historic Village Inn, to enjoy traditional western New York food specials such as Beef on Weck. NYAA Board Chairman Jason Woodworth of Lamont Fruit Farms, along with John Russell from Lake Ontario Fruit, Bret Baker and Ward Dobbins of United Apple Sales, and Colleen O’Brien of New York Apple Sales, Inc., all attended the luncheon.

After lunch the group toured Lake Ontario Fruit and tasted more varieties. Here the group was impressed with the sweetness and crunch of New York Jonagold and Gala. They tasted and

tested apples for flavor, appearance and sugar levels.

To finish the day, a tour of the Wegmans flagship store in Pittsford certainly impressed everyone, as usual. The group departed from Rochester that evening for Washington, D.C., to visit Virginia on Tuesday. The group flew back home to China on Wednesday. The entire mission was very tightly scheduled, as the group visited packing facilities in three states in four days.

The Chinese market is unknown to U.S. apple exporters except those from Washington state. The tour’s objective was to sort out the preferences and

the profiles that Chinese customers will accept, and to showcase our abilities to export to China. Since packinghouses must be registered and special protocols must be followed in orchards during the growing season before fruit can be exported to China, determining what the market will take should happen a season ahead.

Allen is immediate past chairman of U.S. Apple Export Council, which represents five U.S. apple producing states: California, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. USAEC members collaborate to promote apples grown in these states in foreign markets under the USA Apples brand.

State launches ag job training for veterans programALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo

last month announced the launch of an on-the-job training program for military veterans interested in careers in the agricultural industry.

This training opportunity expands the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs’ On-the-Job Training initiative to allow veterans to use their military benefits while obtaining useful job skills on the farm. With assistance from Cornell Small Farms Program, Western New York’s Kreher’s Farm in Clarence, has been approved as the first farm in the state to offer this program to veterans. Additional farms across the state are encouraged to apply to participate in the program.

“Veterans across New York have sacrificed so much for the safety and liberty of this state and country. It is our honor to support these brave men and women who answered the call to protect our nation and the principles it was founded upon,” Cuomo said.

“This program will open new doors and not only offer on-the-farm training for veterans, it will support increased agricultural production to provide local food to communities across the state. I congratulate Kreher’s Farm for participating in the program and encourage other farms across the state to join.”

The New York State Beginning Farmers Workgroup, established by Governor Cuomo in 2014, identified the need for an on-the-job training program for veterans who want to pursue careers in farming and agriculture.

The Workgroup’s discussions lead the Farm Ops initiative of the Cornell Small Farms Program to work with the DVA to expand its existing On-the-Job Training (OJT) program to include New York farms. Prior to this, OJT was utilized almost exclusively by electricians, plumbers, and other skilled trades. The program

offers veterans rewarding career opportunities as they transition out of military service, while also providing employers with qualified workers. During their training, veterans are paid wages and also receive their Military Housing Allowance through their GI Bill benefits, which helps offset the cost of living.

Interested farms must submit an application and training outline to the DVA. The outline should include skills that will be learned and duties the veteran will complete during training. The training period will last from six months to two years and farms should be in a position to hire the veteran full-time at the end of their training. Staff with Cornell Small Farms will assist farmers in applying for the program. Once an application is approved, Cornell Small Farms will also help match those farms with interested veterans.

Learn more about the program

and how to participate here. Farmers interested in offering on-the-job training are encouraged to contact Cornell education support specialist Dean Koyanagi at [email protected] or 607-255-9911.

Last month, the DVA approved Kreher’s Farm as the first New York farm to offer an on-the-job training program. Kreher’s Farm is a leading egg operation and the largest organic grain producer in the state. Veterans looking to apply for an OJT position at Kreher’s Farm can apply online here.

Funding for this program is provided by the New York State Legislature through the work of Senator Pattie Ritchie, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, New York State Farm Viability Institute and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.

Chinese apple importers visit United Apple Sales in late November.


marathoner, and the catalyst that pulled this team together for the last run. Tenley has run a total of seven marathons, including five New York City Marathons and one Chicago marathon. Last year she ran the Chicago race in October and the NYC marathon in November! One of her NYC marathons was an unofficial one in 2012, with a group of dedicated runners, after Storm Sandy cancelled the official marathon.

And last, but certainly not least, child Marshall ran his first and longest-ever race. Marshall recently graduated from Columbia University, earning a Masters degree of Architectural Urban Planning and Design. He spent the hottest summer in decades in New York City, training and working at the United Nations on an urban planning project.

Kate Golden, our niece, ran her second New York City Marathon with her cousins. Her first was two years ago with Tenley.

The proud finishers crossed the line very close to each other. Tenley and Melissa were first to cross, arm and arm, at 4 hours, 47 minutes; Kate followed at 4:49. Matthew came in around 5:01 and Marshall crossed at 5:08. Just an amazing accomplishment.

And they were just six of more than 50,000 runners who all ran just to get a McIntosh apple as a reward!

I have noted many times over the years what a wonderful event the New York City Marathon is, and all the recognition and publicity that the New York McIntosh apple receives as a result. It is by far the premier

promotional tool for Mac apples that the association carries out each year. For over 18 years we have built tremendous equity with our brand and our variety through our presence on ABC-7, our in-store and online promotions, print media, and our Jumbotron impressions on the largest electronic billboard in NYC (at Fresh Direct).

Measuring the success of sponsorships is not an exact science, and it ishard to put hard quantitative numbers to it. For me, measuring the qualitative results has been most successful.

Each year that I have helped hand out apples at the finish line, or just walked up to people to say, “Hey, that’s my apple! Did you like it?” has always been rewarding. Honestly, that most common answer is, “They are delicious,

it hits the spot right now!”I could not think of a better way to

end my relationship with NYAA than to see my four kids and niece with

gold medals around their necks and a McIntosh apple in their hands. I hope that NYAA continues to sponsor this landmark event long into the future.

While we will not be ready for full-scale, in-depth, analysis of what 2017 offers us until we see who lands in what jobs in the White-House, the regulatory agencies, and key Congressional staff & Committees, we do know that we will be working with a Republican administration, a Republican Senate, and a Republican House in 2017. Remember that legislation cannot go into effect until regulations are written; and regulations cannot be simply repealed, something must be written to take their place and even going back to an old regulation will require some notice and comment period. This poses huge opportunities AND challenges for agricultural employers including but not limited to:

Congress may move to address border security and employment verification relatively quickly. This may provide the opportunity we need to address labor needs and agency bureaucracy. We will be challenged to counter “amnesty” claims in any initiative to addresses the current workforce and to assure that there is not a “gap” between a shift to enforcement and provisions to assure worker availability. Some of the advisors who have emerged to date are not only outspoken opponents of unlawful immigration, but of guest worker programs as well.

Foreign trade issues will bring concerns and opportunities. Many of our fruits, vegetables, and other labor intensive agricultural products are dependent on free trade, the bottom line is that there may be winners and losers.

The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) will be repealed or substantially

changed. Trump, while campaigning, had promised to repeal the ACA on day one of his presidency. Now we a hear it may need to be improved instead and are left wondering what that means. The President-Elect has also promised that if the ACA is repealed and replaced, there will be no gap between coverage under ACA and the “new’ program. So, will congress repeal ACA or tweak it, what will the replacement or tweaks look like, how long will they take, what provisions can be included for seasonal workers in agriculture, and what will it all cost ? Oh yes, and who will pay?

We will see a new Cabinet, policy and enforcement priorities will shift, political appointees will change, some career people will be shuffled or moved out, and we must rebuild our road - maps and bridges with regulatory agencies. Opportunities include policy and enforcement priorities and attitudes in many agencies. As Ag Employers we are most interested in the US Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Homeland Security and US Customs and Immigration (DHS/USCIS), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the US Environmental Agency (EPA.) Opportunities may be balanced with risks in some cases, particularly in the directions DHS takes relative to aggressive employer sanctions.

We expect the new Congress will move quickly on issues of worker verification, possibly universal e-verify and other employer mandates; internal security which may include resumption of ICE audits, and border security. We must work with that Congress to assure that agricultural employers will have access to legally work-authorized workers available to them without delay.

We all look forward to engaging with the new administration and the

115th Congress to represent the needs of U.S. agricultural employers. There is much work ahead of us. We will be facing a climate in Washington, D.C., that we have not seen for many years starting just about the time of NCAE’s Annual Meeting (February 7-9, 2017). All are welcome to join us there and get involved in the “whole new ballgame” of the Trump Administration and the 115th Congress.

The author is Executive Vice President of the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE.) NCAE is the national trade association representing Agricultural Employers in Washington, DC. Visit NCAE’s website at www.NCAEonline.org for Membership information and continuing updates.

GasperiniContinued from Page 4

MarathonContinued from Page 1

ABOVE: The New York Apple Association sponsorship reflected on jumbotron during the pre-race Blue Line Reception.. BELOW: New York apples are included in bags given to finishers.

example a Russian dessert with apples (one that I would never have access to years ago), make it and share it with family and friends either with pen and recipe card or through social media like Instagram and Facebook.

When I cook with apples in my home (as I most often do), I always think of the recipe; would it be easy to recreate in a retail demo? Could we include this on our website? I now take photos of the cooking process and utilize an app my kids introduced me to called PicCollage to showcase the recipe. If it’s a hit, I then am able to post to our Facebook page to share with consumers and keep encouraging them to buy and cook with New York apples.

ZinglerContinued from Page 3

Molly


will need to be present to offer your perspectives on possible legislative and executive actions.

In Washington, D.C., we have heard of many sweeping changes in health care and immigration. (guest worker) I do think we are in a very good position to have your opinions heard as the new Trump administration has already reached out to many New York Congressmen such as Chris Collins and other Washington voices we are in good with. We need to be present to offer our perspectives. Here in New York we also have a strong ear with the new leader of the minority party in the Senate in Chuck Schumer. We will be working with both NCAE and US Apple on the Hill.

Albany will again be a very volatile area for us to watch. The Assembly and the Governor have clearly a different perspective on many issues that will impact your operations. The Senate with the Republican majority and Independent seats is the one area we will need to be in close contact to help bring some stability to new legislation. We accept that this area will be one of grave concern as the winter and spring roll on.

In short we are preparing to be present to speak for you on labor, health care and guest worker topics. It is critical that your side of the equation is heard as these topics become public.

with apples?• Can you name a favorite NY

apple orchard you visit or have visited in past years?

We had 1,719 entrants for this sweepstakes and almost all entrants answered the questions (meaning they didn’t just type yes or no to get past the question portion). It was pretty neat to see all of the different New York orchard names pop up and the comments from consumers.

This sweepstakes was a successful way of encouraging consumers to eat local, eat better and eat healthy with New York apples.

Geneva scientist oversees nationalag practices programThe Finger Lakes Times

GENEVA — A Cornell scientist at the New York State Agricultural and Experiment Station plays a big role in a program aimed at ensuring the food we buy is local, safe and produced to a higher standard.

Launched in August, the New York State Grown & Certified program requires participating farmers to take part in programs supporting good agricultural practices and environmental management.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Nov. 14 that $1.5 million is available through the Environmental Protection Fund to help farms implement an Agricultural Environmental Management plan, and that a reimbursement of up to $1,000 is available for growers who participate in third-party audits of safe food-handling practices.

That’s where Betsy Bihn, director of the Produce Safety Alliance at Cornell University’s Department of Food Science, comes in.

As the director of the national Good Agricultural Practices Program, she will be conducting program training.

“Funding that supports growers having a third-party audit will help keep farms viable in the marketplace,” she said. “Many fruit and vegetable

buyers are requiring that farms successfully complete an audit before they will buy produce from the farm.”

Administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state Department of Agriculture and Markets Good Agricultural Practices program verifies that safe food-handling practices are being used on farms, from growing and harvesting to packaging and handling. The Good Agricultural Practices program certifies the fresh fruit and vegetable farms that have implemented the necessary steps in their operations to minimize the possibility of product contamination and food-borne illness in accordance with USDA regulations.

Cuomo said the program is a benefit for farmers and consumers.

“New York farms produce world-renowned, high-quality food, and the New York State Grown & Certified program strengthens the link between producers and consumers and promotes environmentally sustainable and safe practices,” he said. “This funding will help more farmers certify their products to these higher standards and access the many opportunities offered by New York State Grown & Certified.”

Bihn agreed.“Funding, such as that announced

by Gov. Cuomo, that goes directly to

growers to support and encourage the implementation of GAPs is a positive step towards meeting market demands for produce safety,” she said.

Cuomo said the Good Agricultural Practices program is significant for buyers. By purchasing products from a farm that is certified, there is a reduction in the potential for future food-safety recalls, which can be costly to buyers and also impact consumer confidence and loyalty. Many consumers are looking for reassurance that the items they purchase in the supermarket have been properly handled on the farm, he said.

The state Department of Agriculture and Markets, through a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, is providing up to $1,000 to reimburse farms for Good Agricultural Practices audits.

Cornell holds online courses and in-person training throughout the year to help producers learn about the program and write their own safe food-handling farm plan prior to the third-party audit.

Cuomo also announced $1.5 million is available for the implementation of an Agricultural Environmental

Management plan to assist fruit, vegetable and other specialty crop growers in producing their products in an environmentally responsible manner.

Assisting specialty crop farms to produce foods with the highest environmental standards will protect and improve New York’s natural resources, including water and soil quality, he said.

For growers, said Cuomo, participation in Agricultural Environmental Management and Good Agricultural Practices certification allows for greater access to programs, especially New York State Grown & Certified, which includes a major marketing campaign to promote New York producers who meet the program standards.

The Good Agricultural Practices certification also provides producers access to the Farm to School procurement pilot program, which requires growers selling to school districts to be certified. The program also helps farms prepare for potential regulations from the Food Safety Modernization Act, Cuomo said.

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SaladContinued from Page 11


Fresh PlazaPresident-elect Donald Trump

has outlined his priorities for when he takes office, announcing that the United States will quit the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal on his first day in the White House.

The BBC reports that the TPP trade deal was signed by 12 countries which together cover 40 percent of the world’s

economy.The massive trade deal was agreed

in 2015 by nations including the US, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico, but is not yet ratified by the individual countries.

Its aim was to deepen economic ties and boost growth, including by reducing tariffs. There were also measures to enforce labour and environmental standards, copyrights,

patents and other legal protections.But its opponents say it was

negotiated in secret and it favoured big corporations.

During the presidential election campaign, Trump gave broadbrush arguments against the pact, and used plenty of colourful language.

In June 2016 he described it as “another disaster done and pushed by special interests who want to rape our

country, just a continuing rape of our country”. In another speech he referred to the TPP as “the greatest danger yet”.

But while there was plenty of talk about “taking back control” of the U.S. economy, there were few specifics.

Announcing the plan to pull out of the TPP, he said that the U.S. would “negotiate fair, bilateral trade deals that bring jobs and industry back onto American shores.”

Export Report

Value of global apple exports dips from 2014 to 2015

Trump to ditch TPP trade deal

Fresh PlazaApple exports by country totaled $7

billion in 2015, down by an average of 2 percent for all apples shippers over the five-year period starting in 2011.

Year over year, the value of global apple exports dipped 8.3 percent from 2014 to 2015.

Among continents, European Union countries accounted for the highest dollar worth of apples exported during 2015 with shipments valued at $2.8 billion or 39.1 percent of the global total.

In second place were Asian exporters at 19.3 percent while 15.2 percent of

worldwide apple shipments originated from North America. Latin America (excluding Mexico) furnished 10.3 percent worth of goods, 6.3 percent came from Oceania countries (Australia, New Zealand) and 6 percent originated from African suppliers.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of apples during 2015:

China: $1 billion (14.7 percent of total apple exports)

United States : $1 billion (14.6 percent)

Italy: $960.3 million (13.7 percent)France: $616.2 million (8.8 percent)

Chile: $591.5 million (8.4 percent)New Zealand: $432.2 million (6.1

percent)South Africa: $386.5 million (5.5

percent)Poland: $319 million (4.5 percent)Netherlands: $187.6 million (2.7

percent)Belgium: $141.6 million (2 percent)Belarus: $111 million (1.6 percent)Japan: $110.7 million (1.6 percent)Serbia: $104.1 million (1.5 percent)Spain: $101.4 million (1.4 percent)Lithuania: $96.2 million (1.4

percent)

The listed 15 countries shipped 88.4 percent of all apples exports in 2015 (by value).

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing apple exporters since 2011 were: Belarus (up 305.7 percent), Lithuania (up 79.7 percent), Serbia (up 58.2 percent) and New Zealand (up 51.6 percent).

Netherlands led decliners with a -45.9 percent drop in value from 2011 to 2015, followed by Belgium’s -31.7 percent deterioration and France’s -16.9 percent slowdown.

Source: worldstopexports.com

the best option available, but it’s the only options available. If we could see some streamlining of that process to make it easier and more flexible, it could be of great impact to our industry and be very beneficial,” he said.

“Most people feel Mr. Trump is very supportive of streamlining and making current systems more efficient and effective, so there actually could be some positive on labor for our industry. But overall immigration is definitely clouded at best – no doubt about that.”

Growing seasonWhile there may be positive and

negative changes in store for the industry over the coming years, for now growers are enjoying a strong campaign with good volumes and fruit quality.

“Everything has been going well. The harvest is pretty much over, and it’s been a perfect growing season,” Fryhover said.

“We had no weather events to speak of, so we’ve got some pretty high quality fruit and some larger sizes as well.”

He said production forecasts had increased from earlier estimates of 134 million 42-pound-equivalent cartons to 137-138 million, which would make it the second-largest crop in history.

The increase is not necessarily an issue, according to Fryhover.

“It’s really not about the number it’s about what makes up the number. We have more Honeycrisp, more Cripps Pink – more proprietary varieties. So it really is a good season in terms of overall quality and diversification of fruit varieties,” he said.

Domestic marketing has been ‘relatively slow’ for the initial part of the deal – as is often the case until around November – but Fryhover said shipments were now picking up ‘fairly dramatically’.

“We need to move somewhere between 2.6 and 3 million cartons a week and we’re right in the wheel house – we’re really close to that. On the international side of course there’s a lot of competition this time of the season,” he said.

The state is also seeing rapidly rising volumes of organic fruit, he added.

“We’ve gone from a little over 8 million boxes last year to 11.5

million boxes this year, so it has seen significant growth, and we expect that to continue,” he said.

“The organic category is going to become a larger and larger percentage of the Washington apple offering. It’s just because of the climatic conditions that we enjoy to really do a great job on organic fruit.

Looking at the export season of growers on the other side of the country, a representative of the US Apple Export Council (USAEC) said the campaign into Europe had been a cause for celebration.

The USAEC works with growers from New York, Michigan, California, Pennsylvania and Virginia which collectively export around 40-45 percent of their crop, according to European representative Ian Forbes.

“It’s a good year for Europe, and in particular a good year for the United Kingdom,” he told www.freshfruitportal.com at the recent Amsterdam Produce Show.

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