USApple attended the 2026 Premier Apple Cooperative Forum in Syracuse, NY, where eastern and midwestern industry leaders gather annually to discuss market dynamics and issues impacting the region. USApple’s Chris Gerlach presented an analysis of U.S. apple production trends, and USApple Senior Vice President Diane Kurrle detailed key developments in Congress and the Trump Administration. … Continued

USApple continued its webinar series this spring, providing apple industry members with timely insights on weather and market conditions shaping the 2026 season. In April, agricultural meteorologist Drew Lerner shared his outlook for spring bloom and summer weather across major U.S. apple-producing Also in April, USApple Vice President of Insights & Analytics Chris Gerlach joined … Continued

Throughout the quarter USApple supported several Specialty Crop Research Initiative and USDA research proposals addressing challenges and opportunities across the apple supply chain. Projects supported by USApple include research focused on automated harvesting technologies, advanced crop load management, DNA-based diagnostics to accelerate cultivar innovation, and the impacts of Extended Producer Responsibility packaging policies. These proposals … Continued

In May we announced the 2026 Class of NextGen Fellows: With the help of the USApple NextGen Advisory Committee, each fellow went through an extensive application and interview process. We received many highly qualified candidates this year. The class kicked off the program virtually and will meet for the first time in-person for Outlook ’26 … Continued

USApple continued to elevate the importance of extending the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) through media engagement, coalition advocacy and direct outreach to federal decision-makers. USApple President & CEO Jim Bair was featured in Agri-Pulse discussing why long-term trade certainty matters for apple growers, whose orchards require significant upfront investment and remain productive for decades. USApple also helped … Continued

USApple launched SLICE, a new quick-video companion to the monthly USAppleTracker storage report. Following each USAppleTracker release, Vice President of Insights & Analytics Chris Gerlach provides a brief video highlighting key findings, trends, and takeaways from the latest data. The new format is designed to make USApple’s industry analysis more accessible and easier to consume, whether … Continued

On April 30, the House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026, known as the Farm Bill. Nearly all Members of Congress representing major apple-growing districts supported the legislation, including several Democrats. USApple advocated for passage of the bill throughout the year, including during Capitol Hill Day, when apple industry … Continued

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives to reform the H-2A agricultural guest worker program. The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA), introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA) with 50 original cosponsors, including many representing apple-growing districts, includes several long-standing USApple priorities. Read our statement here. The bill would: The bill marks … Continued