The NextGen Class of 2025 wrapped up their program year in December in Wenatchee, WA, where Fellows attended the Washington State Tree Fruit Association Annual Meeting and Northwest Hort Expo, connected with industry leaders, toured key apple operations, and attended social events. Tours included visits to Crunch Pak, McDougall & Sons, CMI Orchards, and Stemilt, … Continued

This year marked important progress on ag labor reform after decades of USApple advocacy on this critical issue. USDA announced it will discontinue use of the flawed Farm Labor Survey to underpin the H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). It now relies on Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data going forward. Under the new system, … Continued

USApple attended the Washington State Tree Fruit Association Annual Meeting and Northwest Hort Expo in Wenatchee in December. USApple SVP Diane Kurrle presented key federal policy issues impacting the apple industry during the conference. In addition to the education sessions and expo, the team toured several operations. Thanks to the teams at CMI Orchards, McDougall & Sons, … Continued

In what has become a must-attend end-of-year presentation for the apple industry, Chris Gerlach, USApple’s Vice President of Insights & Analytics, reviewed August production estimates alongside updated storage and movement data—helping the industry recalibrate for the remainder of the marketing year. These data are critical to understanding where we are relative to prior seasons and … Continued

USApple hit the road again this past harvest season to meet with growers, packers, storage teams, marketers, and cider makers to hear directly about the opportunities and challenges facing our industry. During a visit to the Hudson Valley in New York, we met with members at a key point in the season. Input from these … Continued

Mexico and Canada remain the top two export destinations for U.S. apples. In 2024, growers shipped 17.6 million bushels to Mexico and 7.2 million bushels to Canada – an export value of $555 million. Tariff-free access and the agreement’s predictability are critical to maintaining these markets. USApple is part of a large, coordinated effort to … Continued

In December, USApple helped lead an effort that resulted in more than 100 bipartisan House Members urging Congress and the Administration to deliver immediate and equitable farm aid for specialty crop producers. In the letter, lawmakers pointed to actions taken under both the Trump and Biden Administrations, when programs were created or adjusted to ensure specialty … Continued