In this Issue - NY Apple Association · that it will sell its Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco,...

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

Orchard Management Summit planned....................................... Page 4Horticultural Society has busy agenda for winter months....................................... Page 6

NYAA joins with partners nation-wide on RosBREED program....................................... Page 8NYAA dietician Linda Quinn re-sponds to fructose study..................................... 2Governor’s budget proposal en-couraging for agriculture..................................... Page 13

Association’s winter ad keeps fo-cus on the future....................................... Page 9

PRESORTEDFIRST CLASS MAILU.S. POSTAGE PAID

ALBANY, NYPERMIT #370

7645 Main StreetPO Box 350Fishers New York 14453-0350

Official Newspaper of the New York Apple Association Volume 1, Issue 9 February 2013

Inside:FDA seeks comment on rules changes.

Page 7

This New York apple display from Keesler Air Force Base in Missouri was one of the winners of the New York Apple Association/Marzetti Defense Commisary Agency (DeCA) Display Contest.

Excellence on display• NYAA, Marzetti recognize winners of annualDeCA Display Contest

By Molly [email protected]

The co-sponsored NYAA and Marzetti & Co. New York apple display contest with the Defense Commissary Agency

took place from Oct. 22 to Nov. 3, 2012.

Broken out into three sales band judging segments, two winners were chosen from each sales band, for a total of six Grand Prizes being handed out. This year’s contest boasted a Grand

Prize to the 2013 PMA Fresh Summit in New Orleans, complete with airfare and accommodations.

Normally executed in the month of February, we changed the dates out of concern of the crop size this year. With not only the challenge of our crop to deal with, we also were faced with two other display contests coinciding with ours --- making for what is usually a large turn-out of entries into one that had a 21 percent participation rate amongst the

Patrick Air Force Base in FloridaSee Contest, Page 14

New report:Fresh fruit istop snack foodFood Management

Fresh fruit is climbing the charts. It’s the top snack food consumed in America, and also the fastest growing, according to the recently released Snacking in America report by The NPD Group.

Growing concerns about health and a stronger focus on eating right are the main contributors to the increasing popularity of fruit as a snack, the report concludes.

NPD’s study, conducted during a two-year period, found that fresh fruit was consumed as a snack in 10 more snack occasions a year than is chocolate, the next top snack food, and on 25 more occasions than potato chips, the third most popular snack food.

One reason is that fruit is eaten throughout the day—resulting in its inclusion in many more snack occasions than other foods, according to the report.

Another factor in fresh fruit’s status is that it appeals to all ages: Consumers 65 and older eat the most fruit, followed by children under 12, with teens (ages 13 to 17) eating the least amount of fruit. The research also shows that if the fruit habit is developed early, consumption picks back up as teens get older.

Consumers with a greater interest in healthful choices, who are shown to snack more often, count fresh fruit as their go-to snack.

The research also found that snack-food consumption is motivated by several different needs: health and weight, hunger satiety, on-the-go/convenience, routine/habit, cravings, and as a treat/reward when watching TV, visiting with friends or other social activities. Fruit is at the top of the list on each of those categories.

“Fresh fruit is a top-of-mind snack with most consumers,” says Darren Seifer, NPD food and beverage industry

analyst. “Among the opportunities this trend presents to producers and produce retailers to market and merchandise fruit around the activities during which it is most likely to be eaten, usage can be expanded with packaging innovation and promotions for on-the-go activities when it’s least likely to be consumed.”

Supervalu selling Albertsons, four other store brandsThe Produce News

Supervalu Inc. announced Jan. 10 that it will sell its Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Market stores and related Osco and Sav-on in-store pharmacies to AB Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of a Cerberus Capital Management L.P.-led investor consortium, in a transaction valued at $3.3 billion.

The sale to AB Acquisition includes 877 stores for $100 million in cash. Additionally, the group will assume $3.2 billion in existing debt, according to a press release issued by Supervalu.

Supervalu will be headed by grocery retail veteran Sam Duncan, who will assume the role of president and chief executive officer. He replaces the current president, CEO and chairman, Wayne Sales.

Food Lion sales rise, but storesstill closingSalisburypost.com

Food Lion’s parent company, Belgium-based Delhaize Group, has announced an uptick in sales boosted in part by revamping Food Lion stores in the United States.

Delhaize’s sales were up 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012, including a 1.9 percent growth in U.S. sales.

A spokeswoman for Delhaize America confirmed the company will close eight underperforming Food Lion stores, including one in Belmont, three in South Carolina and four in Virginia. Delhaize closed 113 Food Lion stores last year and pulled out of Florida.

Delhaize America also will close 33 underperforming Sweetbay Supermarket stores, all in Florida, Christy Phillips-Brown said today.

“We are pleased to announce that organic revenue growth improved during the fourth quarter, in particular as a result of positive volume growth at Delhaize America,” Pierre-Olivier Beckers, president and CEO of Delhaize Group said in a statement. “Food Lion reported positive volume, transaction and comparable store sales growth for the quarter and recorded its best quarterly performance since 2006.”

Food Lion began revamping stores in 2011 and has completed 703 makeovers so far. The company has more than 1,100 stores total.

New Delhaize America CEO recently shook up upper management at Food Lion, removing Cathy Green Burns as president and two senior vice presidents based in Salisbury. Fifteen Food Lion and Delhaize America officers lost their jobs last week, including nine based in Salisbury.

UK chain opens drive-thru storeChichester (England) Observer

Shoppers with busy lifestyles no longer have to leave their car to pick up groceries – thanks to the arrival of a new-style drive-through.

Tesco Extra has become Chichester’s first drive-through supermarket, helping customers who can’t wait at home for their shopping to be delivered.

Matt Fielder, store manager, said: “We are very excited to be able to offer this new service to our customers.

“I speak to them every day about their shopping experience and this new drive-through will now offer even more choice in how they buy their shopping. Customers who are stretched for time can now buy the same products at the same prices without having to leave their car.”

Shoppers can order their groceries online then choose a two-hour collection slot.

They then drive to the collection point where they need to show staff their reference details and shopping is then packed into the boot by supermarket staff.

Core Report® February, 2013

Retail ReviewNews from the retail marketing industry

Fan mail for N.Y. apples

The letter above was received at the New York Apple Association office in Fishers.

Februrary, 2013 Core Report®

Core Report®

is published monthlyby the

New YorkApple

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] Golden, Director of Marketing, [email protected] Willis, Executive & Communications AssistantCathy Jadus, Administrative & Retail AssistantEllen A. Mykins, Accounting Dept.John McAleavey, Northeast Account ManagerLinda Quinn, Nutrition Spokeswoman

Board of DirectorsWill Gunnison, District 1, Crown Point, (518) 597-3363,

[email protected]

Adam Sullivan, District 1, Peru, (518) 643-2374,

[email protected]

Kenneth A. Migliorelli, District 2, Tivoli, (845) 757-3276,

[email protected]

Fred D. Sherrington, District 2, Hudson, (518) 755-6448,

[email protected]

Michael Boylan, Vice Chairman, District 3, Gardiner,

(845) 255-5300, [email protected]

Frank Donato, District 3, Modena, (845) 883-7037,

[email protected]

Joseph Porpiglia III, District 3, Marlboro,


Peter Fleckenstein, District 4, Lafayette, (315) 677-5105,

[email protected]

Douglas DeBadts, Jr., District 5, Sodus


Chris Hance, District 5, Pultneyville, (315) 589-4212,

[email protected]

Brian Nicholson, Chairman, District 5, Geneva,


Phil Wagner, District 5, Wolcott, (315) 521-7548,

[email protected]

Kevin Bittner, District 6, Barker, 716-778-7330,

[email protected]

Kaari Stannard, District 6, Medina, 518-477-7200,

[email protected]

Mike Zingler, District 6, Kendall, 585-659-4019,

[email protected]

Your AMO assessments fund all of theactivities 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.

President’s Message

By Jim [email protected]

That does not make sense; or does it? Bing maps say that Beijing, China, is 11,657 miles from Ithaca, N.Y., not 2,731!

If I was in Yakima, Wash., one might accuse me of standing d o w n w i n d of the newly l e g a l i z e d r e c r e a t i o n a l use of Cannabis to write such a ridiculous heading to this column.

I can assure you that I am not in Yakima

and the air is clear here in Fishers; but using Yakima as a point of reference is not by mistake. Because just a mere 2,731 miles west of here sits, perhaps, the largest threat to the economic future of the fresh apple industry in the United States. I am in no way disparaging the Washington apple industry; I am just stating the facts.

For years we have been shuttering with disbelief about apple production levels in China, while our domestic levels are skyrocketing. Both in Washington and here in the East, the only secrets held about increased plantings are restricted to the number of trees and the planting preferences.

The fact that commercial nurseries have to place customers on waiting lists for new trees and the inability to hide examples of new orchards in Washington, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania, offers all the evidence of where the domestic production is headed.

While it is easy to look west and say that their planting is out of control, it is fair to say that the entire industry has enjoyed a robust period of re-investment and expansion recently. From bricks and mortar, finely tuned stainless steel machines governed by state of the art electronic brain chips, to wire, posts and plastic pipe, the growth is phenomenal. With this of course, could the threat of having too much be experienced?

A few years ago I talked about the “tipping point,” as the time when we fall over the thin line of having just enough to having too much. Understanding and being ready for the “tipping point” has and will become a critical point for our apple industry. Do we fear China more than our own production levels? I would guess that many or most would say, “yes.” They would say that they could do to the apple market what they did to just about everything else; from garlic to clothes, to Wal-Mart to the Christmas Tree Shop, they have taken it over lock, stock and barrel. It would be hard to deny those facts.

But at the same time, strong

Jim Allen

Branching Out

NYAA gearing upin hopes of great ‘13By Molly [email protected]

Not to jinx the current weather situation, but it seems as though Mother Nature is steering us down the path to a normal(ish) winter season.

T e m p s , although they have dipped to lows that even my North Country blood is not a c c u s t o m e d to, have been s e a s o n a b l y cold; giving a glimmer of hope that our beloved New York apple

trees will stay in their slumber for a few months longer. With the prospect of a large prosperous crop to market in the near future, we here at the NYAA office are looking to new and better ways to

promote our apples in the retail market. As I make my retail visits in the

upcoming weeks, I am going to be asking the ever-important open-ended questions to better understand the mindset of the buyers. What promotional tools are important to them? How can we better partner with them to maintain market share, grow revenue for them and gain incremental business for our marketers? We need to engage them in our marketing plans. We need to know what gets the produce retailers excited.

We are poised and ready to hit the ground running and remind the retailers that New York state is and continues to be the largest producing apple region in the East. We have the varieties that consumers look for and will continue to look for in the future, and our growers are continuing to expand and grow their portfolios to keep up with the ever-changing marketplace that is the produce world.

Molly Golden

The new Chinais only 2,731 miles ... to WEST!

Molly

See Allen, Page 15

Cornell Fruit TeamApple production has become

increasingly complex and not all practices are equal in their impacts on business profit/loss. Identifying and

improving key orchard management practices can boost the profitability of every grower operation.

Have you asked yourself: “How much money am I leaving on the table by missing these opportunities and

how can I better use technology to improve my profitability?”

Are you ready for precision orchard management? Learn where within your business you can increase profitability by improving your precision.

The Cornell Fruit team is organizing an “Eastern Apple Precision Summit” of apple growers, researchers, and extension leaders from Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, Virginia and other eastern production areas.

The Summit will serve as a vehicle for fruit industry leaders to hear presentations on apple orchard design and precision orchard management technologies and then discuss where the greatest opportunities lie for research and implementation on farms in the East to increase orchard income and grower profitability.

The Summit will be held in March 14-15 at the Ramada Geneva Lakefront, Geneva. The one and a half day conference will include nine sessions followed by grower discussions, and networking time during lunch and dinner included in the registration fee.

Precision SessionsThursday, March 14

Morning sessions: Session 1, “What is Precision Orchard Management;” Session 2, “Where are the Economic Opportunities of More Precise Orchard Management;” Session 3, “Precision Thinning and Crop Load Management.”

Core Report® February, 2013

Letters to the EditorDear Editor,I am writing this letter in support of

the Apple Marketing Order.As a large grower of apples and other

fruit, it is very important to continue the AMO. The funds that are collected are very important to the marketing promotion, etc. of the many varieties of apples that we are able to grow.

New York may be the second largest apple-growing state, but the Board of Directors, along with the staff of the New York Apple Association are number one.

Please vote in favor of the AMO, so we can continue our great apple program.

Daniel W. Sievert,President

As a very strong supporter of the New York Apple Association, I encourage you to vote in favor of the New York State Marketing Order this spring.

Why do we need the Marketing Order? As the population in New York state and around the country increases, more people are leaving rural areas and less are pursuing a career in

agriculture. We are losing members in the state and national congress concerned with agricultural issues. It is imperative that we stick together and support our industry organizations (e.g., New York Apple Association, U.S. Apple Association, N.Y. Horticulture Society, Farm Bureau, U.S. Apple Export Council, to mention a few). The Marketing Order (AMO) is the funding vehicle that helps us support our organizations.

I have had the privilege of representing New York apple growers on the U.S. Apple Board. I have had a chance to see and work with other state apple associations like ours from around the country. We have the BEST. Under the leadership of our NYAA board of directors and great staff, we are the envy of the rest of the country. When our president of NYAA Jim Allen speaks, others listen.

Our NYAA works for us in many ways. It organizes strong promotional programs, educates consumers, retailers, government representatives and the media about the benefits of eating apples and apple products, and advocates for us on the issues that affect the apple industry (immigration, food safety, the farm bill, pesticides, and crisis communication).

This spring when you receive the ballot to re-vote on the New York State Marketing Order (AMO), please join me in voting YES in favor of continuing this very valuable tool.

Yours for a strong and healthy apple industry,

John TeepleApple grower in Wayne County

Open letter to New York Apple Growers;

The time has come again, as it does every eight years, for the Apple Marketing Order revote.

All New York apple growers who pay marketing order assessments are eligible to vote and should exercise this right! Allow me to review a few points regarding the Order and the investments made by growers.

All assessment money is collected thru the Apple Marketing order by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The New York Apple Association is the sole receiver by annual contract of these funds after budgets are presented and reviewed. By law these funds are to be used for marketing, information and education. Simply stated, the New York Apple Association has the

comprehensive role of encouraging consumers to buy, eat and utilize more New York apples, apple products and apple cider, to grow the New York apple industry. This role takes many roads with the team working together in conjunction with growers to drive forward the marketing and information programs as planned and outlined. One example would be touting the many health benefits attributed to apples and apple products in a daily balanced diet, creating “consumer pull” through the market place.

The association stands ready to address the instant press of today be it positive or negative. They can speak with a unified voice either offensively or defensively in a moment’s notice on behalf of the industry.

The Apple Marketing Order is unchanged. The New York Apple Association evolves and changes continually to better serve New York apple growers, the trade and consumers. I would ask your positive vote to continue the Apple Marketing Order and reaffirm the commitment of each grower to the New York Apple Association.

James H. VerbridgeNew York Apple Grower

Precision Orchard Management Summit planned

See Summit, Page 15

By Paul BakerLast month, Reps. Ann Marie

Buerkle, R-Onondaga Hill, and Congressman Mike Kelly, R-Pa.,

conducted a two-location hearing in the district on “Regulatory Impediments to Job Creation in the Northeast.”

This is a result of these two members serving on the House Committee on

Oversight Reform Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending. Nice name for a committee that I think the primary role is to determine in lay terms, “Now that the horse is out of the barn, who should have closed the door?”

I think if the effort is real and not political fodder, that this is a good committee in truth. I do think it is important in business or government to actually see if your intended plan is working as you had hoped or has it caused undue consequences? I do find it suspect that we have two Republicans assessing the practicality of our Democratic administrative driven programs.

I encourage always first what is best for the nation and a distant second what is good for their party. We are suffering deep economic wounds currently as we are forced to deal with decisions made for political rather than economic reasons.

The testimony for our industry was given by John Teeple and Tom DeMarree. They articulated the flaws in federal policies that have made it very difficult and too risky often to staff their operations. In the Rochester location, Cathy Martin and Jonathan Taylor offered compelling testimony as well in regard to their vegetable and dairy operations. Labor was an issue regardless of the type of agribusiness venture.

The issue was simply how to secure in a legal way their workforces necessary for their operations without risking being out of compliance with the federal government. Difficult task when the only intervention by the federal government was to act as a watch dog rather than an asset to finding

a workable s o l u t i o n . The federal g o v e r n m e n t sees their role in these farms as one to audit against labor r e g u l a t i o n s versus offering s t i m u l a t i n g legal ways to create labor e c o n o m i c opportunities

for business.There was one point in the discussion

that was in my opinion dangerous!Buerkle presented the open question

to the three members in front of her, “If the issues are as grave as you report, why has the federal government done little to correct the issue?” I must admit there was a very long pause before a reply came from the group. To their credit they said the politically correct reply.

I think the answer that is out there is more like this but we dare not accuse the Congress of such inappropriate considerations. I always remember the famous line issued by Al Pacino in The Godfather when he was confronted with answers that were obviously flawed, “it insults my intelligence and it makes me very angry.” I think he was right and I think it is time for our side of the story to be told. To not do so is to insult our intelligence.

To begin, America has the greatest diversity of year round food at the

Core Report® February 2013

The Hort ReportNews from the New York State Horticultural Societyand Ag Affiliates

Winter updateBy Paul [email protected]

It is a very busy time of year for the New York State Horticultural Society

We officially will start 2013 by attending the Ag Society annual meetings in Syracuse. Here is a great place for us to network with current and past leadership in our industry. The following day, also in Syracuse, the Council of Agriculture Employers will place their final stamp of approval on action items that have been discussed and approved by unanimous approval.

This is an excellent organization because it focuses on issues that will positively impact the entire agriculture economy in New York.

The winter fruit schools will be in full swing soon across the state of New York and we will be present to

bring each of you up to date on what is happening out in the industry. Once again my excellent board will be present and often taking the leadership in discussing issues with you. We plan to be present at all four fruit schools across the state. I will address the NYS Expo fruit school in Syracuse as well.

The Becker Forum was held Jan. 21in Syracuse. I hope each of you took the time to review this excellent program and will take full advantage of the opportunity to hear and exchange ideas with your peers on the topic of labor. I feel this is one of the most complete programs of its type anywhere in the nation.

The board will not stop there. We all left the Expo in Syracuse on Wednesday and met in Albany for a dinner meeting. The following day we had a very full calendar of visits where

we will ask for matching funds for our apple research programs. The short crop in 2012 means the ARDP funding will suffer.

Every one of us has seen enormous gains from the excellent applied research programs we have funded. Our goal will be to get the legislature to step up and match your contribution to the ARDP. While in the various offices I have no doubt some comments will be rendered as to the need for a positive guest worker environment in New York.

In mid January I was in Washington, D.C., to attend the Public Affairs meeting with the U.S. Apple Association. This is a very important committee that will basically set the agenda for the staff to work on Capitol Hill in 2013. Topics ranged from research, MAP, labor, Farm Bill and trade policy. While in

D.C., I set meetings with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.’s, office to go to Risk Management Agency to discuss the programs for apple insurance.

I also planned to stop in the office of our new Congressman from the 27th district to help get him headed in the right direction. I think Chris Collins is already doing just fine by his sitting on both the Agriculture and Small Business committees in the House. Collins will be the third representative from New York to be sitting on the Agriculture Committee.

The next planned meeting was to travel to Kearneysville, W.Va., to chair the review on planned work to be done at the USDA Station in 2013. This review is critical to help keep those in

Opinion

Remember the advice of ‘The Godfather’

Baker

See Hort, Page 15

See Baker, Page 14

February 2013 Core Report®

By Joan MurphyThe Produce News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Produce companies, farms, ranchers and other agricultural operations looking to move beyond an overhauled H-2A visa program to fix the worsening labor situation have banded together and created the new Agricultural Workforce Coalition.

Groups, including the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, National Milk Producers Federation, United Fresh Produce Association, U.S. Apple Association and Western Growers Association, formed AWC to make sure that any immigration-reform legislation moving this year in Congress meets the needs of agricultural employers with seasonal labor, such as produce farms, and year-round employment, such as dairy farms.

“Having a stable and viable workforce has never been more critical for our nation’s fruit and vegetable industry, and we must continue to fervently educate lawmakers about agriculture’s crucial labor needs,” Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of United Fresh, said Jan. 11, the day the coalition was unveiled.

WGA President and CEO Tom Nassif agreed, saying, “We have an unprecedented opportunity now that Democrats and Republicans are having a serious conversation about the critical need for immigration reform —

an opportunity that cannot be wasted.”Dairy farmers, like other agricultural

employers hit hard by labor shortages and federal enforcement crackdowns, also see the new Congress in 2013 as an opportunity to move legislation on immigration reform.

“After seven years of hard but fruitless work on this issue, dairy farmers have a rare opportunity in 2013 to achieve a comprehensive solution to the immigration policy challenge,” Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, said Jan. 11.

AWC is floating a two-part proposal based on an earned adjustment status for current farm workers and another program to ensure producers have access to a workforce when current agricultural employees move on to other jobs.

Specifically, AWC is promoting an uncapped Agricultural Worker Visa Program that allows employers and employees two options:

“At-Will’ employees would have

Opinion

Wintermeetings,p lann ing timeBy Frank A. GasperiniNational Council of Ag Employers

Like many of you I have spent the end of December and virtually all of January attending industry meetings and shows while planning for the

coming action of 2013.

In 2014 N a t i o n a l Council of Agr icu l tura l Employers will celebrate its 50th birthday, so in December of 2012 our officers held a retreat to discuss our direction for the next 50

years. Like many of you with your orchards and support businesses, we are trying to accurately assess what the “market” demands from us, how best to deliver that, and how to plan for the financial and management future of our organization, all the while running as fast and hard as we can to address the needs of the day.

It is a marathon that all of you run for your business every year, every day. We invite and welcome our readers to let us know how we can serve you better for the next 50 years, and we also want to be sure that all of you know we would welcome you as members too.

Most of you have heard about the formation of a broad-based “Agricultural Workforce Coalition” in Washington, D.C., that hopes to move the needle on agricultural workforce immigration action in Congress this year. NCAE and many of our members, including many Core Report® readers, have been working on this issue for years.

We are proud to be part of an even larger and broader-based coalition of widely diverse agricultural groups, whose common denominator is that all are dependent on the availability of willing, able, experienced workers who can be legally hired and available when needed, where needed, and for as long as they are needed. We need predictability, stability, and quality to continue to feed and provision the United States, and the world with food, ornamental crops, and all the other output of labor intensive agriculture. For more on the AWC, including information on how to get your associations signed-on, visit the website at: www.agworkforcecoalition.org/

Among the January agriculture group meetings was the 2013 Becker Forum in Syracuse. It is always a privilege to come to New York, even in winter, and my wife and I took advantage of the opportunity to visit our New York-based family in the same trip, and load the car with New York apples to take home.

I enjoyed visiting with many of you

Gasperini

Coalition seeks comprehensive labor fix

See NCAE, Page 16

See Labor, Page 15


RosBREED holds advisory panelBy Jim [email protected]

The RosBREED research project that is being funded through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, held its fourth and final advisory meeting last month in San Diego, Calif.

The mission statement of the project is “we will develop and apply marker-assisted breeding, based on improved knowledge of industry value and consumer preferences, to accelerate and increase the efficiency of rosaceous cultivar release and successful cultivar adoption.”

The four-year project is supported with $7.2 million in SCRI grants and $7.2 million in matching funds from the industry. The project leader is Dr. Amy Iezzoni, from Michigan State. The simple explanation of the research is to bridge the chasm between genomics knowledge and marker-assisted breeding to more efficiently develop new cultivars.

The goal is to identify favorable markers early in the process so they can be introduced into specific breeding programs to obtain quicker results. In doing this, not only time but money can be saved and better cultivars can be commercialized sooner.

This collaboration across the Rose Family allows information and data to be shared and explored. Identifying the marker that determines the deep red color of a plum may be linked to a similar marker in apple breeding. Having this knowledge would lead to more efficient trials and crossings.

The Rosaceous family (often called the Rose Family) is made up of apples, cherries, peaches, strawberries, raspberries and plums.

New York is well represented from an academia level as well as the advisory committee. Working in the apple breeding segment are Dr. Susan Brown and Kenong Xu; both are from Cornell and are team members. Ben Orcheski from Cornell is a project associate. Gennaro Fazio, who works for the USDA-ARS Plant Genetic Resource Unit at the New York State Experiment Station in Geneva, is involved with the Breeding Information Management system.

The RosBREED project has three advisory panels that represent different sections of the industry. I sit on the Industry Advisory Panel, along with other apple folks from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington. Dr. Chris Watkins from Cornell is on the Extension Advisory Panel and Lailiang Cheng of Cornell sits on the Scientific Advisory Panel.

Slide No. 1 (above) shows the ‘Jewels of the Genome’ which are now available because of RosBREED. They range from fruit color to sweetness and

acidity, to fruit condition and fruit size.As this project winds down over the

next 12 months, a new grant request

will be submitted to continue the work and to expand into RosBREED 2.

Slide 2 acknowledges the universities

and associations, including the New York Apple Associaiton, who are involved with RosBREED.

Sliced N.Y. apples attend inauguration eventBy Jim [email protected]

The New York State Society sponsored an inauguration party last month and took the opportunity to showcase sliced New York-grown apples.

The New York State Society contacted

our office earlier in the year before the e l e c t i o n took place to ask if

we could supply fresh apples for the event. Along with New York apples, other great New York products such as

cheese, wine and maple syrup were on display.

The New York Apple Association contacted Jeremy Dygert of Champlain Valley Specialties, who graciously agreed to ship his sliced, bagged “Grab Apples” to Washington DC for the Jan. 21 event. In addition to the fresh apples, Apple Country® variety guides and health brochures were on display

and passed out. The New York State Society of

Washington D.C., is a 501(c) non-profit, non-political organization that is governed by an Executive Board and volunteers. The Society’s goal is to foster and promote friendly relations among its members through social, educational, cultural, charitable, civic and social programs and events.

The objective in this advertisement is to let the retail trade know that New York will rebound back next season. We will be sending this message to the trade from now until the first New York apple is delivered next August.


Priming the apple pump for 2013


US Apple Association is online atwww.usapple.org

New McDonald’s adfeatures growerMlive.com

Apple grower Mike Dietrich was at the head of the line for a commercial watching party at the McDonald’s restaurant in Sparta, Mich., last month.

Dietrich, of Leo Dietrich & Sons Orchard in Conklin, is being featured along with other family members in a series of McDonald’s commercials that highlight the fresh apple slices featured on the menu of 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants in the United States.

“I’m in it and two of my nephews are in one,” said Dietrich, who saw one of the 30-second commercials when it debuted Sunday evening during the Golden Globe Awards.

Dietrich said his son and father, Leo, also will appear in some of the commercials. “They made several versions of it,” he said.

Record cropchallengesWashingtonBy Dan Wheat(Salem, Ore.) Capital Press

WENATCHEE, Wash. — Ten years ago, Washington apple shippers and marketers worried if they could successfully handle crops of 100 million boxes or more.

When the 2004 crop came in 24 percent (25 million boxes) larger than the 2003 crop, the average annual wholesale price of all varieties fell from $17.92 to $13.25 per 40-pound box.

Many growers yanked out orchards and went out of business after years of low prices mostly blamed on too many apples, especially the Red and Golden Delicious varieties.

But as the mix of apple varieties and other factors improved, the industry has turned a corner and logged at least five strong years out of the last nine with crops ranging from 100 million to 109 million boxes.

With crop volume jumping 15.5 percent this year, the industry is in the midst of another quantum leap. Can it maintain good sales and prices with a new norm of 120-million-box crops and larger?

Some of the largest shippers, leaders of industry organizations and a longtime economic observer offer a mix of optimism and caution in their answers.

“It will be tough. With $8 per box freight to the East Coast our ability to be competitive with the local crops in the Midwest and population centers in the East will be a challenge,” said Mark Zirkle, president of Zirkle Fruit Co., Selah.

This year’s 129.2-million-box crop has been selling well at good prices because weather wiped out much of the crops in the Midwest, East Coast, Canada, Mexico and Europe. The season-to-date average of all varieties on Dec. 22 was $27.08 per box compared with $23.46 a year earlier and $20.28 two years earlier. Average costs of production range from $15 to $17 per box.

But when crops in those areas return to normal levels the resulting abundant supply “will surely suppress prices,” Zirkle warned.

Exports and increasing consumption are the keys to maintaining profitability, he said.

By Linda Quinn, MS,RD With the lack of sunshine, less

mobility outdoors and cold and flu season, many of us are in need of an emotional and nutritional boost to get us through to spring.

New York apples are a great place to start. Whether you prefer an old fashioned applesauce or apple crisp, or any of the great recipes that appear on our website you will get a blast of the vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients you need to feel your best.

Experts recommend that winter is an important time to bolster your immunity by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.

According to research conducted at Cornell University just one medium apple provides an antioxidant boost equal to 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C. Additionally, apples are very important for lung function and can be an important tool in decreasing risk of asthma.

But did you know the aroma of apples, cinnamon and nutmeg wafting through your home may provide an emotional boost as well? This is no

surprise to marketing researchers who use apple pie scent to sell homes and appliances. Having an apple pie baking in the oven at an open house can actually put people in a better mood and more interested in buying.

In fact, according to Notable Scent Branding and Scent Marketing Research, an appliance chain in the Southeast, H.H. Gregg, used the faint smell of apple pie to help boost sales 33 percent in their new stores. International research has also shown that the stimulating properties in cinnamon can help fight mental fatigue and improve concentration and focus.

So if you need a pick me up on a cold winter day, try baking our delicious McIntosh Apple Crisp. It may just add a slice of sunshine to your day.

A New York Apple Country® Recipe

McINTOSHCOUNTRY APPLE CRISP

INGREDIENTS4 cups (4 apples) sliced McIntosh

apples2/3 cup packed brown sugar1/2 cup all-purpose flour1/2 cup oats1/3 cup margarine, softened1 tsp ground cinnamon1 tsp ground nutmegDIRECTIONSHeat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange apples in a greased 8”

square pan.Mix remaining ingredients,

sprinkle over apples.Bake until topping is golden

brown and apples are tender, about 30 minutes.

Serve warm.

By Linda Quinn, M.S., R.D. All fructose is not equal! Combined

with fiber, apples’ fructose doesn’t contribute to weight gain.

This winter, news media have extensively reported on a new research report suggesting that eating fructose may contribute to weight gain and obesity. According to that research, the brains of study participants who drank fructose didn’t trigger a response to curb participants’ appetite, whereas the brains of participants who drank glucose did trigger that appetite-blunting response.

The study was published in the Jan. 2, 2013, edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association and summarized in a WebMD article found at http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20121231/fructose-hunger.

What you should know: While apples do contain fructose (as do many fruits), eating apples shouldn’t contribute to weight gain – in fact, the opposite should occur. That’s because that fructose is delivered in a high-fiber apple package. The fiber in apples acts like a time-release control, causing fructose calories to be released more gradually than when fructose is consumed without fiber. Eating fiber also triggers a signal to the brain that we’re full. In fact, several published studies have reported that adding apples to our diet can help promote weight loss.

Further, there are several problems

with this study. The number of participants was very small, not necessarily representative of the population in general. Further, we seldom consume fructose alone or glucose alone, or in the quantities that the study participants did.

The takeaway: Apples can be an important part of your diet, and of your weight control/weight loss plan! You should be eating more apples, not fewer. Don’t change your diet based on the findings of any single study; look at the weight (pun intended) of all the research evidence taken together. As noted in the WebMD article, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics instead recommends reducing added sugars from our diet.

If you have questions about nutrition or would like to book Linda Quinn, e-mail [email protected].


Steady as you go on marketing frontBy John McAleavey

Winter is alive and well, finally! Temperatures are settling in where they should be for the first time of the season and hopefully will stay there for the next few months.

Homeowners in North New Jersey, Staten Island and Brooklyn are still recovering from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy. Some have lost homes and others will not be able to get back to what is left of theirs until late spring or early summer. The two Metro

New York Food Banks continue to do t r e m e n d o u s work in helping those in need with scores of v o l u n t e e r s pitching in.

As you will recall, last July and August we

preached to the trade to stay positive and stay with us, and that is just what has happened. We’ve seen higher prices and retails and are told that pricing has now found its level.

Prices are higher and volume might be off slightly, but dollar sales are up due to the higher retails. Everyone says that business is steady and that quality is not an issue. As New York varieties finish up in the coming months, the West will be strongly promoting its various special packs. POS and bins will

be available to move product. For now, they have not been overly aggressive in pricing.

This is the first year in decades where a Washington apple has better retails then New York state in all varieties and organics.

While this has affected our movement, we are still holding up. We are letting the buyers know that we will be back stronger than ever next season. We are committed to the New York state apple industry. McAleavey

All fructose is not equalWarm up withNew York apples

Core Report®is online at:

www.nyapplecountry.com/core.htm


Governor’s budget unveiledNew York Farm Bureau

ALBANY – Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed his third Executive Budget, and the overall tone of it is positive for New York agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets core funding remains intact, and several of the “line item” programs that are relied upon by growers – from the Apple Association supplemental funding to Integrated Pest Management – were funded at the same level as proposed in the Executive Budget last year.

While there’s still some room to supplement existing programs, given the tremendous rebuild costs from Hurricane Sandy still and the fact that tax receipts are not flowing into state coffers at the rate expected due to the continuing economic slow down, the governor’s continuation of the same level of funding for agriculture is a good step forward.

The New York Apple Association received $206,000 from the governor’s Executive Budget, which was the same amount as received last year.

One of the governor’s new proposals for agriculture also shows great promise of working with the New York Apple Association, along with the New York Wine and Grape Foundation’s, existing promotional efforts. Called the “Taste New York” program, it will provide some additional matching dollars for promotion programs and may be tapped into to help market next year’s expected bumper crop of apples. Of course, New York Farm Bureau is very concerned about the New York Apple Association’s core funding and will be advocating for a one-time increase in funding to sustain apple promotion as we head into the next marketing season.

To that end, NYAA President Jim Allen and NYFB Public Policy Director Julie Suarez spent some time in Albany

this month to educate lawmakers and key supporters about the challenges being faced by the Association. Since so much of this year’s apple crop was wiped out, the association is facing a reduced collection from the Apple Market Order next year. One of the issues that the association will face, however, is a question of priorities When apple farmers come to Albany, it’s important to stay united and convey the same strong collective message that the apple industry’s priority is restoring NYAA promotional funding – otherwise the message is likely to be mixed and the ability of success is more questionable.

A few other points of note for growers are the inclusion in the governor’s budget of an increase in the minimum wage to $8.75 an hour, effective in July. While this minimum wage increase does not contain the awful index to inflation that a few other states in the nation have, it comes at a time of challenge for growers and farmers grappling with a challenging cost structure and health care implementation costs coming down the pike.

NYFB is opposed to an increase in the minimum wage, and while maintaining our opposition to it will be advocating for a few issues that might soften the blow for growers if it comes to fruition – like a training wage for youth workers for all sectors of industry to utilize, and an end to counting the value of housing towards the premiums paid for workers comp and UI, as well as a cessation of the UI premium on H2a

workers. Please keep an eye on this issue, and help convey your concerns about it to your representative.

Growers may be interested to know that while as of this writing the Senate and Assembly majority member appointments to committees had not been made, the minority appointments to committees in both houses have been.

So in the Senate, we have a new ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Terry Gipson, D-Rhinebeck, who replaced former Hudson Valley Sen. Steve Saland. NYFB looks forward to working with Gipson, who represents an apple growing area in the state Senate. Returning to the Assembly Agriculture Committee as the Ranking Member is Assemblyman Ken

Blankenbush, R-Black River, from the North Country and an excellent supporter of New York agriculture. NYFB believes as of this point that both Sen. Patti Ritchie, R-Huevelton, and Assemblyman Bill Magee, D-Nelson, will be re-appointed as chairpeople of the Senate and Assembly Agriculture Committees, but again there is as of this writing no official confirmation. Since both representatives have been doing a stellar job for agriculture, NYFB would hate to lose them as our committee chairpeople.

As the legislative session goes on, please stay informed by checking the NYFB website at www.nyfb.org or our Facebook site for updates, and please do take the time to be involved and advocate for agriculture.

By Julie [email protected]

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in the summer that he supported a Minimum Wage increase, and followed that up with a call for an increase to $8.75 an hour in his State of the State message.

While clearly the last two years have seen improvements in the business and regulatory climate for agriculture with a 2 percent property tax cap, long-term pension relief for cash strapped municipalities, and various regulatory changes for agriculture, an increase in the minimum wage will certainly be detrimental for New York agriculture along with other small

b u s i n e s s e s . N i n e t y - n i n e percent of New York’s farms are family owned and operated, and many of our direct market o p e r a t i o n s rely on youth workers (high school juniors

and seniors and college students) who do not rely on a minimum wage to support their families.

New York’s farms, according to a

Minimum wage debate heats up in Albany

See Wage, Page 15

Suarez

Technology News

Freshplaza.comThe use of ultra-violet light

(UV) is well established for water treatment, air disinfection, and surface decontamination, nevertheless its use is still limited in food treatment, and in particular on fresh produce as postharvest technology.

The ability of UV light to sanitize and delay microbial growth on the fresh-cut produce surface without altering its quality has been demonstrated. UV light may be more effective in reducing microbial growth than chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, or ozone.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the UV light treatment may be an effective tool to extend the shelf-life of fresh produce. Generally, UV light wavelength ranges from 100 to 400 nm; this range can be further subdivided into UV-A (315-400 nm), UV-B (280-315 nm), and UV-C (200-280 nm).

UV-C light is effective in blocking microorganisms development by altering their DNA, furthermore UV-C irradiation at low doses (0.25-8.0 kJ/m2) can induce beneficial reactions in

the plant, such as a defence response against pathogens attack, thus phenomenon is known as hormesis.

The aim of hormesis is stimulating an antimicrobial response in fruit and vegetables, many studies have demonstrated that the application of UV-C irradiation at low doses can control many storage rots of fruit and vegetables and delay the fruit ripening during postharvest storage. UV-C light can stimulate in the plant the synthesis of enzymes or compounds with antimicrobial activity.

In 2012, a review on ‘UV radiation effects and its potential application as postharvest technology to preserve fresh fruit and vegetables during storage’ was published on Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture.

Some examples on the antimicrobial and hormetic effects of UV radiation treatment on fresh produce include, for apples: UV-C radiation applied at the dose of 1.2 kJ/m2 can sanitize the apple surface, stop the oxidative enzymes, prevent tissue browning and off-odors development.

UV light showspotential for produce Agroprofssional.com

The U.S. EPA has granted registration to Madex HP, the first granulosis virus approved for use in North America that controls the larvae of both the codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and oriental fruit moth (Grapholita molesta).

The product, from Certis USA, will be commercially available to apple, pear, stone fruit, almond and walnut growers in the spring of 2013.

The treatment is essential to enable export to take place to countries that do not have the pests. Japan closely scrutinizes imported fruit and nuts to prevent the introduction of codling moth; Mexico takes similar measures against oriental fruit moth. Even a few infested apples or walnuts may result in rejection and quarantine of an entire shipment.

Certis’ Michael Dimock said, “The introduction of Madex HP is important on a number of fronts. It is an effective, sustainable product ideal for IPM production systems. It is one of the very few insecticides available to fruit and nut growers

which is exempted by EPA from residue tolerance, meaning that it will not increase the residue load on crops grown for export. Producers greatly need products that meet these criteria in order to market their crops globally.”

The active ingredient of Madex HP is an isolate of a naturally occurring codling moth virus (Cydia pomonella granulovirus or CpGV) selected for its ability to infect and kill larvae of both the codling moth and oriental fruit moth. Larvae only need to ingest one or two virus particles to cause a lethal infection.

The potency of Madex HP is similar to CYD-X HP insecticidal virus from Certis USA, therefore it can be used at ultra-low rates — as low as 0.5 ounces per acre — making it a highly cost-effective control product. Madex HP provides growers with an economical alternative for managing insecticide resistance and residues. Because it is tank-mix compatible with most other insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers, no additional trips across the orchard are required.

Certis USA to launchvirus insect control strategy

Core Report® January 2013

Stamp features Northern SpyBy Christina DiMartinoThe Produce News

The office staff of the New York Apple Association in Fishers, N.Y., was bubbling with excitement on Jan. 17 when the U.S. Postal Service notified them that the Northern Spy apple, an older but beloved cooking apple, was chosen as one of four U.S. apples to represent a new postcard stamp collection.

Molly Golden, director of marketing for the NYAA, told The Produce News that the association had no pre-notice, nor was there an application process.

“We were notified that this classic New York apple would be among the four postcard stamps that form the collection,” she said. “More than 100 apple varieties are produced for commercial sale in the United States, so this is quite an honor. To celebrate, we suggest consumers, ‘bake a pie with Spies,’ and any other great New York apple variety.”

The Northern Spy apple is dear to the NYAA because it was discovered and produced about 15 miles outside of Rochester, near to where the association office is in Fishers.

It is a larger tree, and over the years most large commercial trees have been replaced by smaller trees that produce more apples.

Despite that, the NYAA office still receives phone calls from consumers wanting to know where they can buy the Northern Spy, claiming that it is the only apple that can makes their family apple pie or other cooked apple recipe perfect.

“The Northern Spy is not too hard to find at greenmarkets or farm markets,” Golden said. Hopefully those growers will continue to make it available for those consumers who love it.”

Other apple varieties that complete the stamp collection are the Golden Delicious, the Baldwin and the Granny Smith. For more information on this and other non-circulated stamps can be found at www.usps.com/stamps.

The Northern Spy, top left, is one of four apples honored in a new collection from the U.S. Postal Service.

lowest percentage of their annual income of any people on the globe. While we as agriculture see the storm clouds brewing that can cripple our industry if nothing is done to rectify the need for a federal guest worker policy, Congress ignores us. The food supply lines are full so in their political world why disrupt a system, while flawed, that is producing? No one in the last

decade wishes to touch anything to do with immigration or guest worker visas. Unemployment and recession are lead topics on the news. Today $6.00 gas seems to be the relevant topic.

Last year, we heard stories where giant corporations such as General Electric paid zero tax dollars on their income taxes (GE reported earnings last year of $14 billion). So if GE is not supporting the bottomless money needs of the federal government who is? Well the Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy, a prestigious, nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization

that reports on federal, state and local tax policy issues reported that the undocumented are way larger tax contributors than the GE’s of the world. Ironically the vilified undocumented population among the poorest and most vulnerable are paying their taxes.

ITEP estimates that households headed by undocumented immigrants paid $11.2 billion in state and local taxes. That included $1.2 billion in personal income taxes, $1.6 billion in property taxes and $8.4 billion in sales taxes. Do we need to remind you of the money they add to the Social Security funds?

New York is fourth in the nation in tax revenue from this group, $662.4 million. California, Texas and Florida collect more than does New York from this “unwanted” population. What is ironic is that it is this population that is the backbone of supply to jobs in the United States that would not be here if it were not for this population.

So, yes, I held my breath and I guess I was happy with the answers given by the panel to the Congresswoman from New York. But at some time I feel like the Godfather. Do not insult my intelligence.

BakerContinued from Page 6

DeCA commissaries involved.The logical timing of a display contest

is to increase sales of New York apples later in the season, rather than at peak selling time. As we move forward to the new season, we will be looking to get back on track with this popular promotion.

Winning entries included:Columbus Air Force Base,

Mississippi.New Orleans Naval Air Station Joint

Reserve Base, Louisiana.Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.Keesler Air Force Base, Missouri.Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.Hurlburt Field Air Force Base,

Florida.

ContestContinued from Page 1

Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida.

New Orleans Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Louisiana. Hurlburt Field Air Force Base in Florida.

study by Northeast Farm Credit, are already compensating employees well, with New York having the second highest payroll costs in a survey of the top 10 agriculture states. New York is behind only California for labor compensation, even though our ranking nationally in terms of production is 27th.

This demonstrates that New York farmers are committed to their workforce, but also shows that farms have little room to absorb an additional increase when so many of our main agricultural competitors in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, let alone our global competitors, would have lower minimum wages than New York’s if this proposal goes through.

Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, has a proposal to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour but it includes an annual

increase to inflation – which would further exacerbate inflation should we return to a period of time like farmers experienced in the ‘80s with high inflation rates.

At the time of this writing there were no introduced proposals on the minimum wage increase in the Senate; however, Sen. Jeffrey Klein, D-Bronx, leader of the Independent Democratic Caucus, has long supported the measure and carried bills to adopt an increase with a yearly increase for inflation.

New York Farm Bureau remains strongly opposed to an increase in the state minimum wage beyond the federal, and many years ago supported linking the farm worker wage to the state minimum wage in statute so there is no exemption for agriculture in paying the state minimum wage rate. NYFB members recently passed new policy at the 2012 State Annual Meeting that expresses support for creating a training wage that would give farms an opportunity to pay a lower wage in the initial employment of a new hire during the time when they are being trained for the position, and would be available for employees under 18.

This policy is not strictly in relation to farms, but proposed for all businesses throughout the state.

January 2013 Core Report®

FEBRUARY 4, 2013 LOFWinterFruitSchool NiagaraCountyCCE,Lockport

FEBRUARY 5, 2013 LOFWinterFruitSchool WallingtonFireHall,Sodus

FEBRUARY 6-8, 2013 FruitLogistica Berlin,Germany

FEBRUARY 11, 2013 UpperHudson-Champlain TreeFruitSchool FortWilliamHenry Hotel&Conf.Center,LakeGeorge

FEBRUARY 12-13, 2013 UnitedFreshFruit&Vegetable GovernmentCounci CommitteeMeeting&HillVisits Washington,D.C.

FEBRUARY 12, 2013 HudsonValleyFruitGrowers Schools,HolidayInn,Kingston

MARCH 1-3, 2013 SouthernExposureProduceExpo CaribeRoyaleResort&Conf.Center Orlando,Fla.

MARCH 4, 2013 NYFBTasteofNYReception& IssuesForum EmpireStateConventionCenter Albany

MARCH 12-13, 2013 NYAABoardofDirectorsMtg. TheDesmond,Albany

MARCH 20, 2013 USAECMeetings

Washington,D.C.

MARCH 21-23, 2013 USAppleCongressionalvisits Washington,D.C.

Calendar

arguments can be made to defend the U.S. apple market against imported fresh Chinese apples. Be advised that these are only arguments and perceptions and could not be defended in a legal procedure. I would argue we could easily defend our market because of our higher fruit quality. I would also argue that consumer perception of Chinese food products is low and that our increased food safety priorities would trump anything that China could produce. For consumers who are concerned about sustainability, the environment, social responsibilities and the carbon footprint, I would be so bold as to say they would never knowingly support Chinese imported food. Throw in the present thoughts or perceptions of different views on human rights, equality and labor practices, and I think that this list of “questionable practices” start to influence consumer purchasing decisions.

In my opinion, this concerned consumer base or group is not decreasing and will only become more of a buying factor in the future. So how about cheap prices; how can we argue

against cheap food, when after all, our economy thrives on cheap food! Again, I would argue because of most of the “questionable practices” I identified above that are perceived to take place in China, are the reasons for cheap everything. Perhaps a customer buying a hand carved nutcracker at the Dollar Store may not care; but if it’s food, I think they will care. Most importantly, how could Kroger or Publix or Safeway or any retailer begin to defend any of this to their customers? I don’t think a retailer would dare point out why Chinese can produce cheaper apples based on cheaper input costs.

So I have presented and argued my case on the many reasons and perceptions that consumers could arrive at about Chinese apples in the marketplace. Some are obvious thanks to the perceptions that the public has, while others start to ‘go political’ which can be a risky line to cross. It could be said that some of our best defenses are those perceptions.

Back to Yakima … hard to argue or present unfavorable perceptions about Washington State apples in the market place. After all, they follow the same rules as we do but with five times as many apples!

“How do you like them apples?”

Good luck,

AllenContinued from Page 3

Jim

Lunch included and afternoon sessions: Session 4, “Precision Nutrient, Water, and Weed Management;” Session 5, “Efficient Planting Systems for Pruning, Thinning, and Harvest.”

Dinner included and evening session: Session 6, “The Orchard of the Future! Using All Available Tools to Reduce Risk and Improve Efficiency.

Friday, March 15

Morning sessions: Session 7, “Precision Spraying and Using Weather Data;” Session 8, “Precision Harvest Management;” Session 9, “Final Discussion of Where Are the Opportunities and Rankings by growers, extension, and researchers.”

Speakers include: Terence Robinson, Alison De Marree, Steve Hoying,

Lailiang Cheng, Kerik Cox, Art Agnello, Robert Seem, Jordi Llorens, Rod Farrow, Jim Eve, Deborah Breth, Mike Fargione, and Mario Miranda Sazo.

Registration is $125/person for New York and out-of-state residents. Registration fee includes proceedings, coffee both days, lunch and dinner on March 14, breakfast on March 15. Advance registration is required; deadline is March 8, 2013.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Ramada Geneva Lakefront (www.genevaramada.com, 1-800-990-0907 or 315-789-0400) under the name of Cornell In-Depth Fruit School; the rooms will be held until March 1, 2013. The hotel rooms are $79 per city side room and $89 per lake side room.

Register online at http://tinyurl.com/beaeu6e; or contact Gemma Osborne at 315-787-2248 or e-mail [email protected].

SummitContinued from Page 4

research in touch with the real world. The interchange at these meetings is extremely helpful to both sides. The knowledge I gain personally at these meetings help me advocate often for support of federal research funds for the apple industry. Often we see those same funds being used right here in the Cornell Geneva Station.

The last visit I will share with you is that I will be in Washington, D.C., again the first week in February to attend the annual meeting of National Council of Agriculture Employers.

This meeting will have two days of speakers and Hill visits as we work to advance the work place on our farms. With the 113th Congress just installed and a second term for our President, policy issue will be front and center. I am planning to take a group of those from New York to Capitol Hill while at these meetings.

HortContinued from Page 6

WageContinued from Page 13

the freedom to move from employer to employer without contractual commitments. They would have an 11-month visa with USDA-registered employers, followed by 30-day return home periods, and no caps on the number of visas.

Contract employees, who commit to work for an employer for a fixed timeframe, would receive a 12-month visa (renewable indefinitely) and conditioned upon a commitment to return to their home country for at least 30 days over a three-year period.

For the current workforce, AWC supports an adjustment of status for experienced but unauthorized agricultural workers who currently reside in the United States. These workers would be obligated to work for a set number of days annually in agriculture over several years to obtain permanent legal status and the right to work in other industries.

When there has been high demand for foreign workers, agricultural businesses have turned to the temporary worker program known as H-2A to hire workers, but the program is not meeting employer needs.

LaborContinued from Page 7

Chile: Low temps hurt cropSimFRUIT

The harvest of Chilean apples for export is bound to be smaller than last season’s due to unexpected weather conditions.

This should give good marketing opportunities to the national industry.

Chilean apple exports this year are likely to reach a total of approximately 708,000 tonnes; 7 percent less than last year, according to Decofrut’s initial estimates.

Low temperatures and rains during the flowering period negatively affected the setting stage; in late December, rains and hailstorms also had a significant impact on the major apple cultivation areas, which could lead to lower performance and quality of the fruit.

Canada: Aid money not as expectedBetterfarming.com

Ontario apple and tender fruit growers both say they appreciate the $2 million announced in January to map strategies for dealing with future weather disruptions, but they won’t be happy if that’s all there is.

“If there is a next step, that will be perfect,” said Phil Tregunno, chairman of the Ontario Tender Fruit Producers Marketing Board. “Without getting the next step,” he said, “the first step doesn’t seem that effective.”

That first step, announced in a joint news release by federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Ontario Agriculture Minister Ted McKeekin, offers producers money “to develop mitigation strategies to address frost damage.”

U.S. looks to end apple dispute with IndonesiaThe Seattle Times

The United States is stepping up pressure on Indonesia to resolve a trade dispute that has seen export of Washington apples stall over the last two months. A formal dispute-resolution process via the World Trade Organization was commenced in January

by U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. If talks fail to settle the problem then Kirk’s office has already stated that a settlement panel may be requested.

There are claims that the regulations blocking the trade are protectionist.

Mark Power, vice president of the Northwest Horticulture Council, says there has been a 63 percent fall in exports since November last year. Year-to-date sales to Indonesia are 430,000 boxes. Annual shipments to that country have averaged 2.4 million boxes over the past several years.


Export Report

Washington exports

to hear your needs and concerns for the coming Congressional and regulatory year while in Syracuse. The day flew by too fast and I regret not having been able to spend time with all of you. We will use what we have heard from you and from other recently visited constituent groups to tailor the final messages for the Hill visits at our own Feb. 6 Congressional fly-in coming up as part of NCAE’s 49th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Based on what I have heard at winter meetings, our priorities will include getting action on agricultural worker immigration reforms that allow current workers to adjust status and remain employable in agriculture, while providing a new, workable, and reliable program to fairly and efficiently facilitate availability of much needed foreign workers.

All of you in New York are painfully aware that the Canadian program appears to work much more smoothly than our broken H-2A program. The new proposals move past older proposals because with the prospect of mandatory e-verify looming, the simpler solutions of the past, including simple renovation of H-2A are just not adequate. NCAE will work side-by-side with the other AWC participants to make a newer and better solution possible.

The two other most significant issues I have heard from you about are what to expect from enforcement agencies this year, and what about Health Care implementation. We will hear in detail from government agencies and legal experts on both topics at our Feb. 5-7 NCAE meetings. Because there is an expected health care reporting requirement at the end of March 2013, possibly another poster to make available to employees from the US DOL, next month’s column in this space will be a PPACA (Obamacare) update with implementation schedules

written by NCAE’s Regulatory Issues & Member Programs Manager, Matt Coffindaffer.

Until next month I wish you good weather, good crops, and safety.

Contact information for Frank

Gasperini, information about NCAE, and NCAE Membership information can be seen on our website, currently in process of being upgraded, at www.NCAEonline.org . You can reach Frank directly by e-mail [email protected] , or phone 202-579-0171.

NCAEContinued from Page 7

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