Q4 2024
Q4 2024 |
01/05
Judge Rules in Favor of USApple: Issues Nationwide Injunction of Key Parts of April H-2A Rule
On November 26, a federal district court in Mississippi found the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) lacked the authority to issue certain parts of regulations of the H-2A visa program it issued in April 2024. USApple is a plaintiff in the case along with several other agricultural organizations. The provisions that have been overturned were the most problematic parts of that rule including requiring agricultural employers to allow H-2A workers to unionize. The judge issued a stay of the regulations effective date precluding the DOL from enforcing the regulations nationwide.
This ruling follows an August decision in Georgia which enjoined the rule in its entirety in the 17 states that brought that suit. In response the DOL decided to continue to enforce the regulations in the other 33 states not covered by that court’s injunction. USApple submitted formal comments when the regulations were first proposed by DOL, questioning the lawfulness of the proposed regulations and also raising many practical concerns about the added administrative burdens and expenses. A summary of the April rule can be found here.
Q4 2024 |
02/05
USDA Announces Economic Assistance for Specialty Crops Including Apples
On November 19, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced a $2 billion economic relief package for specialty crop growers. The official announcement with details and the application can be found here. This is a very short turnaround with applications accepted December 10 through January 8. Checks will be mailed in early January.
This new program is a direct result of the work of USApple, its leaders, and our coalition partners. Our outreach to Congress and Secretary Vilsack has focused on the impact of spiraling labor costs and reduction in returns. When the USApple Board met with Secretary Vilsack in March they drove home these points and most recently CEO Jim Bair reiterated the severity of the situation when we met with the Secretary again in October.
USApple provided input to the Department and key Congressional offices regarding the best way to distribute these funds. We emphasized the importance of simplicity, stressing the diversity within the specialty crop industry and the lessons learned from previous programs. The program is modeled after CFAP2 from which apple growers received more than $300 million.
Q4 2024 |
03/05
Meeting with USDA Secretary Vilsack
In October, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack hosted USApple and other agriculture associations to discuss key issues with an emphasis on challenges facing growers in the H-2A program. The meeting was a follow-up to the joint meeting that Secretary Vilsack and Department of Labor (DOL) Acting Secretary Julie Su hosted in May. USApple and our coalition partners will continue to engage with Secretary Vilsack’s team to identify areas where we can work together on behalf of growers.
Jim Bair (L) and Secretary Vilsack (R) talking before the meeting.
Q4 2024 |
04/05
2024 Harvest Visits
USApple hit the road this harvest season to meet with growers, packers, storage teams, marketers, and cider makers, gathering insights on the opportunities and challenges facing our industry. These face-to-face conversations are invaluable since each grower and region is unique, and our industry is constantly evolving. A huge thank-you to our members who took time out of their busy schedules to meet with us at this critical time in the season. Your dedication fuels our mission and strengthens our collective voice.
Jessa Allen (L) and Lynsee Gibbons (R) with Marshall Saunders of Saunders Brothers Inc. in Piney River, VA.
Chris Gerlach (second from L) with folks from Grobe Fruit in the Lake Erie region of OH.
(L to R) Diane Kurrle with Congresswoman Slotkin (MI-D), and Diane Smith of Michigan Apple Committee.
Q4 2024 |
05/05
USApple Comments to EPA on Mancozeb
USApple submitted comments to EPA regarding the fungicide mancozeb. Our comments urge EPA to reconsider its proposed action to prohibit hand-thinning when mancozeb is used. Read our full comments here.
USApple is also a member of the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance (MCFA), a coalition representing the pesticide interests of specialty crop growers. USApple’s legal counsel – Ed Ruckert – is also counsel to the MCFA, ensuring comprehensive coverage for USApple members in this important area.
Q3 2024
Contents
Outlook 2024
Industry Outlook 2024 Report
USDA Makes Another Section 32 Purchase of Fresh Apples
USApple Welcomes New Board Members and Slate of Officers
Ag Labor Social Media Campaign
USApple Board Meets with Top FDA Food Regulator
USApple Submits Ziram Comments to EPA
NextGen Launches USApple Pop-Up E-Store
USApple Pushes Farm Bill Priorities and Labor Reform
Q3 2024 |
01/09
Outlook 2024
In August, we had a record-setting Outlook 2024 conference in Chicago, which attracted the largest audience in the event’s history. We also had record sponsorship support. It’s clear that Outlook has become a cornerstone of the apple industry.
By welcoming attendees with a sunset cruise and offering ample networking opportunities over the following two days, no other conference brings together such an elite group of apple industry executives for collaboration and engagement.
USApple’s Chris Gerlach kicked off with the much-anticipated Industry Outlook 2024 forecasting the 2024/25 crop.
Keynote sessions from Succession Planning and AgTech advances to an update from the Farm Credit Council CEO and Walmart’s Senior Sourcing Manager were a hit with attendees. And back by popular demand, two industry-led panels – one on collaborative marketing and another on social media – were also very well-received.
See all photos from Outlook here! If you share photos, please give proper attribution to USApple.
USApple staff at Outlook.
Attendees mingling before a session starts.
Huge thank you to all of our Outlook 2024 Sponsors!
Q3 2024 |
02/09
Industry Outlook 2024 Report
Each year in mid-August, the USDA releases their crop production estimates for the top seven apple producing states. Following that release, USApple puts together its Industry Outlook report which provides the most up-to-date data and analysis on U.S. and global apple production, utilization and trade. Authored by USApple Vice President of Insights and Analytics, Chris Gerlach, the report takes an in-depth look at the trends and forces – from political headwinds to weather events – that shape the U.S. apple industry.
Chris presents the report at the annual Outlook conference, and then USApple members meet to discuss the USDA estimates and adjust them accordingly. Bolstering the government data with up-to-date information on growing conditions and adverse weather events that may impact the quality and quantity of the incoming crop makes the USApple estimate the most extensive available anywhere.
According to USDA, the largest apple states will produce a combined 264.5 million bushels – a 2.2% decrease from last year’s final revised totals. Based on input from growers across the major U.S. apple regions, USApple’s estimate for the top seven states is 241.8 million bushels – a difference of 22.7 million bushels or 8.6%.
The size of production outside of the top seven apple growing states is significant and growing. States like North Carolina and Wisconsin now have more bearing acreage than Oregon (one of the states included in the USDA sample) with Ohio rapidly gaining, too. USApple has been estimating production from these other states since USDA discontinued its more comprehensive data collection in 2018.
By adding back production from these other states, the new USApple 2024/25 forecast increases to 259.5 million bushels – a decline of 10.1% from last year’s production totals and down 3.6% from the five-year production average.
At the varietal level:
- Gala is expected to retain the top spot with more than 48 million bushels produced, accounting for around 17% of the U.S. apple market.
- Red Delicious (12.3%)
- Granny Smith (10%)
- Honeycrisp (9.8%)
- Fuji (9.4%)
Read more about variety and region dynamics in the report.
These estimates will be reevaluated in December 2024 when inventory from the USAppleTracker monthly storage report will be used to gauge their appropriateness. The final production figures will not be known until the USDA releases its revised figures in May 2025.
Q3 2024 |
03/09
USDA Makes Another Section 32 Purchase of Fresh Apples
In September, USDA purchased 1,011,668 cartons of apples as part of another Section 32 solicitation. Throughout the spring and summer, USApple advocated for additional government purchases of U.S.-grown apples to support the market and provide fresh produce to Americans in need. We worked closely with USDA AMS, supplying data on surplus varieties and sizes to optimize the positive impact of the purchase. On August 6, AMS announced it would be purchasing 3-lb bags, 37-40 lb cartons, and 600-lb bins of apples.
We also provided advice on specifications for the first-ever USDA purchase of fresh apples to be delivered to food banks and similar destinations in 600 lb tri-wall corrugated containers. Parties outside the apple industry pushed for shipping the bins directly from the orchard and bypassing the packing house. We saw potential risk to the industry from a food safety and industry reputation standpoint, and successfully advocated for those containers to be filled after washing, inspection and grading. That purchase was for another 936,000 lbs.
Q3 2024 |
04/09
USApple Welcomes New Board Members and Slate of Officers
At the conclusion of Outlook 2024, Brett Baker became Chair of the USApple Board of Directors for the 2024-25 term.
We also welcomed a handful of newly elected Board members as well as re-nominated Board members. Please visit this webpage to see all USApple Board members.
USApple’s 2024-25 elected board officers include:
- Chair: Brett Baker, President, United Apple Sales LLC; NY
- Vice Chair: Steve Smith, Vice President, Marketing, Washington Fruit; WA
- Secretary: Philip Glaize, III, Head of Operations / Sales, Glaize Apples, VA
- Treasurer: Kaari Stannard, President & CEO, New York Apple Sales; NY
- Immediate Past Chair: Steve Clement, CEO, PNW Tree Fruit; WA
Welcome Brett, we look forward to a great year with you as our Chair! Read more in our Press Release.
Steve Clement (L) passes the “apple gavel” to Brett Baker.
New USApple Secretary, Philip Glaize, III, stands when an Outlook speaker recognizes growers.
New USApple Vice Chair, Steve Smith, during an Outlook networking break.
Q3 2024 |
05/09
Ag Labor Social Media Campaign
Throughout the summer, USApple shared information about the industry’s labor challenges on social media to continue making the case for Ag labor reform. The compelling data shared is primarily based on USApple’s analysis of the recently released USDA Ag Census. Per our analytics, we saw better-than-normal performance and engagement on this series, meaning it resonated well with followers and was shared broadly.
Post 1 highlighting how labor is typically distributed on an apple orchard and how that impacts finding workers.
Post 3 highlighting that the sharp rise in wages for the H-2A program, which apple growers rely on, is a major reason why input costs have outpaced returns.
Post 4 highlighting that with so much manual labor involved throughout the growing process, labor expenses have been at an all-time high.
Q3 2024 |
06/09
USApple Board Meets with Top FDA Food Regulator
On July 17, USApple Board of Directors met with Jim Jones, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, and members of his staff on a virtual call. Jones briefed apple leaders on FDA priorities including microbiological contamination, agricultural water, traceability, import inspections, and the definition of ‘healthy food’ labels. Jones stressed the importance of collaboration and transparency. Toward that end, USApple reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to food safety as Job #1, and to helping the agency better understand the apple industry whenever possible.
Q3 2024 |
07/09
USApple Submits Ziram Comments to EPA
EPA published a proposed interim decision for the fungicide Ziram and requested public comments. USApple submitted comments in July, explaining that fungicides are a valuable tool for apple growers, and Ziram is one of the few effective multi-site fungicides available to treat apple scab, bitter rot, and various other rots and molds.
As growing seasons continue to lengthen, USApple said in its comments, it is important that growers continue to have access to the tools needed to supply a safe and healthy product to consumers. We will keep members updated on next steps from EPA.
Q3 2024 |
08/09
NextGen Launches USApple Pop-Up E-Store
For their 2024 class project, the NextGen Fellows partnered with USApple to create and launch an online store stocked with USApple-branded swag. This month-long pop-up store allowed anyone to order merchandise delivered straight to their door, with all proceeds supporting the NextGen program and its mission to empower the next generation of apple industry leaders. The Fellows also pre-sold shirts and made them available at Outlook 2024, further driving support for the initiative. If you didn’t order USApple swag this time, please look out for the next time the store pops up in the future!
NextGen Fellows working the t-shirt and e-store table at Outlook 2024.
NextGen Fellows promoting and demoing items from the store.
A snapshot of items on the USApple pop-up company store.
Q3 2024 |
09/09
USApple Pushes Farm Bill Priorities and Labor Reform
While press attention has focused on the November elections, USApple continued to push for our top legislative priorities throughout the summer, with extensive meetings and outreach to congressional offices and Administration officials. USApple led efforts of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance both in D.C. and with grassroots and Member visits to farms to ensure the “wins” achieved in the House Farm Bill – such as increased funding for research and export promotion programs – stay in the final product. Apple members of Congress championed these improvements on a bipartisan basis and as a result they were included in the House Bill and are supported by the Senate Committee leadership. Leadership of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees hope they can get a Farm Bill across the finish line post-election.
Election year politics make broad agriculture labor reform unlikely, so we focused efforts on targeted incremental improvements, including a two-year pause on increases to the AEWR and rolling back onerous new regulatory burdens imposed on H-2A users. Both are a big lift, but have bipartisan support with 120 House members voicing support for the wage freeze. The wage freeze and regulatory improvements were included in the House funding bill for the Department of Labor, but that is the first step in a long process. Bipartisan legislation has also been introduced. USApple and our coalition partners will keep pursuing any and every opportunity available to give even nominal relief.
USApple's Diane Kurrle (third from right) with other Ag leaders at a meeting with Congressman Don Davis (D-NC).
PA Ag leaders with Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) during a visit to Hollabaugh Bros.
Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI, middle) with USApple Board Member Kim Kropf (R) and Chris Kropf (L) of Hart Farm. He joined a round-table with other ag leaders to talk about ag labor.
Q2 2024
Q2 2024 |
01/05
USApple facilitates Research Outing with EPA & USDA
In April, Rod Snyder, the Senior Advisor for Agriculture to the EPA Administrator, visited USDA’s Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, WV at the invitation of USApple. Jim Bair and Mitchell Liwanag from USApple attended the tour, as well as Virginia grower and USApple Board Member, Philip Glaize III, and West Virginia apple grower, Don Dove.
The group discussed important climate-related apple research being conducted at the station. Projects include carbon sequestration in orchards, root architecture and implications for healthy trees, and rapid apple decline. USApple continues to work with EPA to ensure they understand the realities and challenges of the apple industry. Getting federal officials in front of growers and researchers is a great educational opportunity.
We sent a press release announcing the visit on saw press pick-up in these trade outlets:
- Fruit Growers News: EPA, USApple tour USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Station
- American Ag Network: EPA’s Senior Agriculture Advisor Visits Fruit Tree Research Station with USApple and Growers
- Fresh Plaza: EPA’s senior agriculture advisor visits Fruit Tree Research Station with growers
- Perishable News: EPA’s Senior Agriculture Advisor Visits Fruit Tree Research Station with USApple and Growers
L to R: Andrew Bierer (USDA Research Soil Scientist), Rod Snyder (EPA), Phillip Glaize III (Grower).
L to R: Lisa Tang (USDA Research Horticulturist) describing ongoing root research, Tracy Leskey (USDA Supervisory Research Entomologist), Rod Snyder (EPA).
USApple, Rod Snyder, growers, and researchers in front of the research station.
Q2 2024 |
02/05
Apples4Ed Winners Selected
USApple awarded Apples4Ed grants to five schools from around the nation for the 2023-24 school year. Each $5,000 grant will support initiatives that expose students to a wider variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and teach students about healthy eating.
The five winning schools are:
- Coral Reef Senior High School: Miami, FL
- Hoover Elementary: Yakima, WA
- Throop Elementary: Paoli, IN
- Pine Haven Elementary: Jamestown, TN
- Trailridge Elementary: Lee’s Summit, MO
USApple’s Apple4Ed committee juried over 45 applications to select the winners based on the level of creativity, longevity, student impact, logistics, and community involvement of the program. Thanks to the committee for their hard work! Read more about each winner here.
Pine Haven Elementary students and teachers celebrate their Apples4Ed grant, with apples!
Trailridge Elementary students celebrate their Apples4Ed grant with the Garden Club advisor, Dan.
Coral Reef High Senior High School Ag students flanked by the Principal, Nicole Bergé-MacInnes (left), and Career & Tech Ed Supervisor for Agri-science, Angela Darling-Miller (right).
Q2 2024 |
03/05
NextGen Launches T-Shirt Sale for Class Project
The 2024 NextGen Apple Fellows chose to design and sell t-shirts for their class project, with all proceeds feeding back into the NextGen program – supporting the development of future industry leaders. The theme of the shirts is to promote eating more apples – a cause the industry has been excited to get behind this year.
Gear up and give back – if you’re going to Outlook, order your shirt today for pickup in Chicago! If your company wants to do a bulk order mailed directly to you, please fill this out.
Q2 2024 |
04/05
USApple Presents at Premier Apple Forum
USApple attended the 2024 Premier Apple Forum in Syracuse, NY. Chris Gerlach presented a comprehensive history and forecast of U.S. and Canadian apple crops, while Diane Kurrle provided an update on the activities in Congress and the Biden Administration that are, or will be, impacting the apple industry. We always look forward to the engaging discussions at this annual event.
Continuing their New York travels, USApple’s Chris, Diane, Jessa, and Lynsee headed west to visit several USApple members, including Motts, United Apple Sales, Orchard Dale Fruit Co., and Lake Ontario Fruit Inc.
At Orchard Dale, USApple facilitated a meeting between apple growers and Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY 24). Orchard Dale owners Beth and Bobby Brown, along with many local growers, effectively highlighted key issues and advocated for the needs of apple growers.
Chris and Diane present to Premier Apple Forum attendees.
USApple team with local growers and industry members during an orchard visit by Rep. Claudia Tenney.
USApple team tours the Keurig Dr Pepper manufacturing facility in Williamson, NY.
Q2 2024 |
05/05
USApple Webinars
On April 4, USApple hosted a Weather Webinar featuring Drew Lerner, who has been forecasting international weather for agriculture for 44 years. He shared predictions for potential weather events and trends from spring bloom into the summer that could impact 2024 apple production. We had record attendance with close to 500 registered for the live event or who watched the replay.
On May 14, Chris Gerlach, USApple’s Director of Industry Analytics, presented the revised and final USDA production data from the 2023/24 season and looked ahead to the coming 2024-25 harvest. The webinar took a deep dive into the recent trends in U.S. apple storages, movement, trade, prices, and more. This webinar also saw great attendance and participation.
Drew Lerner discusses preciptation trends on USApple's annual Weather webinar.
Chris Gerlach presents the final production numbers from 2023/24 season – up 15% from USDA's estimate in August.
Q1 2024
Q1 2024 |
01/08
Conference Circuit
Busy with the winter conference circuit, USApple attended and presented at myriad sessions throughout the U.S:
- Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Expo in Hershey, PA
- 2024 Ohio Produce Network conference in Columbus, OH
- IFTA 2024 Annual Conference in Yakima, WA
- Cornell Cooperative Extension, Western NY Fruit Conference in Rochester, NY
- Southeast Winter Apple School in Hendersonville, NC
- Winchester Regional Commercial Tree Fruit Production School in Winchester, VA
Jim Bair speaking at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Veggie Expo in Hershey, PA
Diane Kurrle speaking at the Southeast Winter Apple School in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Chris Gerlach speaking at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Western NY Fruit Conference.
Q1 2024 |
02/08
Government Affairs Committee Meeting
In January, USApple’s Government Affairs Committee met in Washington, D.C. to discuss legislative issues and set priorities for the year. Chaired by USApple Vice Chairman, Brett Baker of New York, the Committee includes representatives from Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and California. Agriculture labor and the upcoming Farm Bill debate dominated the discussion.
Steve Smith, VP of Marketing for Washington Fruit Company, speaks at the committee meeting.
At the top of the table, the Chair of the Gov't Affairs Committee, Brett Baker, President of United Apple Sales, leads the meeting alongside Diane Kurrle, SVP of USApple.
Mike Preacher, VP of Marketing for Domex SuperFresh Growers, speaking at the committee meeting alongside Elizabeth Pauls of Wittenbach Orchards.
Q1 2024 |
03/08
Cinnamon Applesauce Recall
USApple has stayed on top of the national recall of cinnamon applesauce pouches, informing members of any updates to the FDA’s investigation and keeping our Backgrounder updated with the latest. In February, USApple engaged with the New York Times newsroom, citing concerns about the Times’ headlines not accurately highlighting that cinnamon, not apples, led to the adulteration of these products.
Q1 2024 |
04/08
Health and Nutrition Campaign
In February, USApple kicked off “Core Health” – a social media campaign promoting the health benefits of eating apples.
All of February and March, we posted every Friday highlighting a new health benefit with a short, fun, shareable video. The focus was on nutritional aspects that are of great interest to consumers – like cancer prevention, boosting brain health, and fighting depression.
We encouraged members to repost and engage with USApple’s channels, or to post the videos directly to their own channels using our toolkit.
Q1 2024 |
05/08
New Class of NextGen Apple Fellows
In January we announced the 2024 Class of NextGen Apple Fellows:
- Amanda VanBergen
Laboratory Technician, Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc. (MI) - Austin Benson
Export Sales, Chelan Fresh (WA) - Brannon Frankel
Fixed Asset Manager. AgriMACS, Inc. (WA) - Joseph Strippoli
Orchard Manager, Geig’s Orchard (OH) - Madison Schaefer
SafePod Account Manager, Storage Control Systems, Inc. (MI) - Max Farrell
H-2A Account Executive, Seso Labor (Texas) - Shelby Miller
Marketing & Sales Specialist, Applewood Fresh (Michigan)
With the help of the USApple NextGen Advisory Committee, chaired by Liz Pauls, each fellow went through an extensive application and interview process. We received many highly-qualified candidates this year. The class kicked off their program in Washington D.C. for Capitol Hill Day. We introduced each fellow on our Instagram.
Introducing the new class!
The 2024 NextGen Fellows in front of the Lincoln Memorial during their kick-off trip to Washington, D.C. in conjunction with USApple's Capitol Hill Day.
The 2024 NextGen Fellows after their Media Training at the American Farm Bureau Federation in D.C.
Q1 2024 |
06/08
Capitol Hill Day
On March 19, more than 70 apple leaders across 12 states gathered for USApple’s annual Capitol Hill Day in Washington D.C.
Briefing Breakfast: The day kicked off with a breakfast briefing from Senator John Boozman, the senior Senator from Arkansas. Senator Boozman is the Ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee and will become the Chairman if the Republicans win the Senate in November. He provided an update on the status of work on the Farm Bill and acknowledged the challenges facing specialty crops, like apples, particularly with labor. Attendees shared examples of rapidly increasing labor costs impacting their viability.
Capitol Hill: Collectively, apple leaders met with nearly 75 House and Senate offices, making a strong case for agriculture labor reform, a robust Farm Bill, and the importance of the export market.
USDA Meeting: The USApple Board of Directors met with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, and key members of his senior leadership. They discussed market access issues and the need for agriculture labor reform. Read more in our press release or see the following press coverage of the event:
- Growing Produce: USApple Board, USDA Chief Take on Labor and Trade Issues
- The Packer: USApple board talks trade, labor with agriculture secretary
- Fresh Plaza: USApple Board meets with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
- Produce Bluebook: USApple board meets with agriculture secretary to discuss trade, labor
- Perishable News: USApple Board Meets with Agriculture Secretary to Discuss Trade, Ag Labor
PAC Reception: After Capitol Hill Day, attendees were invited to attend a USApple Political Action Committee (PAC) reception. Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-WA) was our guest this year. Congresswoman Schrier is a pragmatist who works with both Republicans and Democrats and is a leader in our Farm Bill and agriculture labor efforts. It was a successful event. Our PAC helps us try to re-elect Members of Congress who have proven themselves to be supporters of the apple industry.
Social Media Promotion: We were very pleased to see so many attendees share pictures and social media messages about the need for ag labor reform, utilizing the hashtag #USApple24Flyin. We were able to amplify our messaging on Capitol Hill in the digital space, reaching more people – power in numbers!
The Washington delegation on the steps of the Capitol.
The New York delegation with Representative Marc Molinaro (R-NY).
L to R: USApple Board Members Bob Mast, Kristin Kershaw Snapp, James Foreman, Brett Baker; Secretary Vilsack’s Senior Advisor for ag labor, Silvia Fabela; and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
Q1 2024 |
07/08
New USApple Charts
As USApple members took their message directly to lawmakers on Capitol Hill during the fly-in, brand new charts from USApple Director of Industry Analytics, Chris Gerlach, quickly and effectively communicated the urgency and severity of the current challenges facing the industry.
The charts illustrate the following: As this industry knows very well, production is increasing, exports are declining, and prices are falling too. Unfortunately, production costs to grow those apples – already paid for before harvest – have been going through the roof. The primary factor driving those costs are the sizable and inevitable increases in the H-2A labor rates – the only currently viable source of skilled, seasonal employment. The industry has been pushed past the tipping point where, for many growers this season, expenses will far exceed revenues. This is not sustainable and it is in the power of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to come together and make the necessary changes.
You can also find and download the high-res PDF here. We encourage use back at home in conversations with friends, neighbors and especially lawmakers at all levels of government.
Key Industry Metrics
Q1 2024 |
08/08
Third Largest
Apple producer worldwide
10.5
Billion
Billion
U.S. production in lbs
295,000
Acres of apple trees require pollination each year
26,000
U.S. apple producers represented
$23 Billion
Economic output
$8 Billion
In total wages