in this issue new york apple association grower … york apple association grower forums scheduled...

Cynthia Haskins discusses ex-pectations for new U.S. Secretary of Agriculuture....................................... Page 3Frank Gasperini on apples in the Trump administration....................................... Page 5

Gene-altered Arctic apple to be test-marketed....................................... Page 7New York hard ciders earn national awards....................................... Page 8

Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard celebrates a milestone....................................... Page 9

New York Apple Association hosts food safety talk..................................... 0World apple production hits record levels..................................... Page 16Printed labels onto fruit on the rise..................................... Page 16

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In this Issue

7645 Main StreetPO Box 350Fishers New York 14453-0350

Official Newspaper of the New York Apple Association Volume 5, Issue 9 February 2017

Inside: USApple, N.Y. Farm Bureau set priorities for 2017.

Page 13

New York Apple Association Grower Forums Scheduled

New York Apple Association President Cynthia Haskins will conduct grower forums the week of March 13 for the purpose of meeting apple growers, packing house staff, processors and industry. The Forums will serve as listening sessions as well.

The dates and locations are listed below.

RSVP To Joan Willis (585-924-2171 or [email protected]) by MARCH 6. Light refreshments will

be provided.District 1, Champlain Valley

Monday, March 13, 1:30 p.m.Cornell Coop. Ext.6064 Route 22, Ste. 5Plattsburgh

Districts 2 & 3, Eastern& Western Hudson Valley

Tuesday, March 14, 3 p.m.Hudson Valley Research Lab3357 Route 9WHighland

Districts 4 & 5Central & Lake Country

Wednesday, March 15, 3 p.m.Wallington Fire Department7863 Ridge RoadSodus

District 6Niagara Frontier

Thursday, March 16, 3 p.m.Tillman’s Restaurant14369 Ridge Road WestAlbion

NYAA Promotes Ciders

As shown here in downtown Syracuse, NYAA’s billboards promote New York state sweet and hard ciders, using images from the new videos. Story, Page 8

Young Apple Leaders

Crist Jones

Mulbury Murphy

New York Apple AssociationThe USApple Young Apple Leaders

program equips the next generation of American apple growers and leaders with an understanding of federal regulatory and legislative apple issues, and provides an opportunity to learn from peers and apple leaders from around the country.

Young apple growers who are at the start of their career through approximately age 35 are eligible to participate.

Young growers also involved in apple packing, shipping, sales and marketing

are encouraged each year to join the program. We are fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated group of young growers and industry members to represent New York state this year.

Our New York leaders will attend USApple’s Capitol Hill Day and the association’s other apple meetings in Washington, D.C. in March 2017.

Congratulations Joel Crist, Marcus Jones, Jesse Mulbury and Matthew Murphy.

See YAL, Page 14

Core Report® February 2017

Albertsonsno longer tryingto buy Price ChopperSyracuse.com

SYRACUSE -- The giant supermarket company Albertsons has reportedly dropped its efforts to buy Schenectady-based Price Chopper.

In November, Albertsons Companies Inc. was reported to be in “advanced talks” to acquire the Price Chopper chain for around $1 billion.

But Food Trade News says several financial sources have told it that Albertsons is no longer interested in Price Chopper, preferring instead to focus on its plan, announced in July 2015, to take the company public.

Price Chopper is owned by Golub Corp. Golub operates 136 Price Chopper and Market 32 stores New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It operates four Price Chopper stores in Onondaga County.

Based in Boise, Idaho, Albertsons is one of the largest food and drug

retailers in the United States, operating more than 2,200 stores in 33 states and the District of Columbia. The stores operates under 18 names, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market and Carrs.

Lawsuit aimsto block AldiSyracuse.com

CAZENOVIA, NY - A Cazenovia lawyer concerned about the upcoming construction of an Aldi supermarket along Route 20 in the village has filed a petition in state Supreme Court to try to block the project.

Barry Schreibman, a Cazenvoia resident and attorney, is asking the court to rescind the approval given to the project by Cazenovia village planners in late November.

The lawsuit is filed against the village planning board and the two developers involved in the project - New Venture Assets LLC and Sphere Cazenovia LLC.

The 18,700-square-foot Aldi is slated

to be built at 2392 Route 20 East at what village officials call the eastern gateway to Cazenovia. Aldi would be the anchor tenant in a development which will include a drugstore, bank and 32 apartments for seniors.

The Aldi would be on 3.3 acres in the middle of a 10.7-acre parcel near McDonald’s and down the road from a new Hampton Inn hotel.

Schreibman, who lives at 5 Burton St. in Cazenovia, said the Aldi project will cause him “direct injury” due to noise, air pollution and groundwater contamination. He also says the project will cause the value of his property to decline, according to the court papers.

He also says the project - objected to by some residents at village meetings - should not have been approved because the zoning in the area is designed to encouraged “desired” development. The community has said this project isn’t “desired” and and doesn’t reflect the area’s historical character, Schreibman said.

Cazenovia village officials have said another grocery store choice would benefit residents.

In a telephone interview, Schreibman said he believes the village went against

its policy by changing the zoning to accommodate the developer.

Retailer test markets sustainability tagsThe Baltimore Su

A tag that says simply “Best” hangs next to a price tag for Dr. McDougall’s oatmeal on a shelf at Giant Food. A tag below Diamond sliced almonds reads “Good,” while another below a can of Amy’s Organic Soups says “Great.”

The designations are part of a ratings system the Landover-based grocer is testing in nine of its stores that measures the sustainability of food, both fresh and processed.

Giant’s pilot program, developed by Brooklyn, N.Y.-based HowGood, comes as more and more consumers want to know how their food is grown and made, and retailers are looking for ways to give them information in a digestible way. One grocery analyst dubbed 2017 the year of sustainability for groceries as consumers begin to embrace the idea much as many started seeking organic products in recent years.

Retail ReviewNews from the retail marketing industry

February 2017 Core Report®

By Molly [email protected]

As I look out the window on one of the coldest days we have had in weeks, I actually see snow on the ground which means it is Ruby Frost season.

We’ve had r e t a i l e r s

promoting these beautiful apples right

away with demos, digital coupons and nice incremental displays. While there are always challenges getting the stores to keep the displays stocked and looking aesthetically pleasing for the consumer, we have to have a little trust in our partners to move the fruit quickly and while it is still eating well.

I was in my local grocery store this week and saw a very nice incremental display of bulk Empires as well as an additional display of Ruby Frost. These were free-standing displays with…..SIGNAGE that were away from the normal apple section; kudos to that

By Cynthia [email protected]

With the recent announcement of Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue as

secretary of agriculture for United States D e p a r t m e n t of Agriculture, many are w o n d e r i n g what this s u r e l y c o n f i r m e d appointment will bring to our industry.

P e r d u e ’ s roots stem

from farming and he has been a strong supporter of agriculture. Additionally, he founded a global trade and export firm after leaving the Georgia statehouse in 2011. We hope his interests in exports will assist in motivating President Trump, whose views on trade have appeared to be more restrictive, to be receptive to trade agreements that will benefit apples growers.

We have yet to know his view on the Hunger-Free Kids Act, our nation’s child nutrition policy, but his new role will place himself front and center in child nutrition as USDA administers federal school meal programs through its Food and Nutrition Services division.

Congress passed the Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010 to help ensure every American child had access to the nutrition they need. One goal of the law was to reduce health risks for students and reduce obesity by providing balanced meals so children had access to healthy foods during the school day. At first, there was quite a bit of push back regarding the Act by industry and even by the school children as they voiced their complaints for eating a healthier meal.

Over time, the children came around and began enjoying the newer healthier offerings. In fact, a Harvard study concluded that kids are now eating 16 percent more vegetables and 23 percent more fruit at lunch. We need nutrition programs that motivate

increased consumption of fresh fruit and New York Apple Association looks forward to working closely with schools for their New York apple procurement needs.

With immigration on everyone’s mind, some may be concerned on what Purdue will do since Georgia approved tough immigration laws while he was Governor. Perdue signed some of the toughest laws against undocumented immigrants in Georgia in 2006 and 2008. Senate Bill 529 and Senate Bill 350 penalized employers that failed to check the employees’ immigration status and limited state-administered benefits to individuals and families without all proper documentation, and also required that police officers check the immigration status of the individuals they arrest. Many have not forgotten the losses in the agriculture industry during his term due to the lack of workers in the field. The fruit industry continues to be labor intensive and we need the immigration worker process to be easier and not burdensome for apple growers.

All that said, Perdue was often praised for his ability to tackle the tough issues and is considered a leading authority on education, economic development, transportation, and agriculture. He is known for turning Georgia’s stage budget deficit into a substantial surplus—no easy task. He is a results oriented person and has numerous accomplishments under his belt. And, if forgotten, many will soon remember that Purdue was the Governor who led hundreds of people at the state capital in Georgia in a prayer service for rain back when their state was incurring serious drought; something many states have gone through over the last few years.

Recently, Trump said in a statement regarding Sonny Perdue: “From growing up on a farm to being governor of a big agriculture state, he has spent his whole life understanding and solving the challenges our farmers face, and he is going to deliver big results for all Americans who earn their living off the land.”

Secretary Perdue, we are counting on you and support the positive steps you will take for our apple industry.

Core Report® is published monthly by the New York

Apple Associationas a member service.

New York Apple Assn.Contact

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

StaffCynthia Haskins, [email protected] Zingler, Director of [email protected] Willis, Executive [email protected] A. Mykins, Accounting Department [email protected] Sarlund, Northeast Account [email protected] Stewart, PR Director and NYAA Spokesperson [email protected]

Core Report onlinewww.nyapplecountry.com/core-report

Board of DirectorsWill Gunnison, District 1, Crown Point(518) 597-3363, [email protected]

Jay Toohill, District 1, Chazy 518-846-7171, [email protected] Chiaro, District 2, Hudson (518) 828-1151, [email protected]

David Jones, District 2, Germantown 518-537-6500, [email protected] Albinder, District 3, Milton (845) 795-2121, [email protected]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cynthia Haskins

Branching Out

Molly Zingler

Agriculture countson new Ag Secretary

Industry Insights

See Frost, Page 14

Frost season heats up


By Paul [email protected]

This winter for many of you will be very demanding. The stress of unprecedented low rainfall and less than exciting returns has left

many of you frustrated. In my experience I have found such years the ones that demand you to be at your very best. When the markets are at their most d e m a n d i n g it is time to tighten your management skills.

Labor last year was in my observation at its most stressed level. I do not know one single operation that reported having to turn away labor. The exact opposite was the case. If operations were not in the H2A program they

were each morning awaiting the arrival of a very uncertain workforce. Workers were in high demand and they took full advantage of the opportunity. Shortages at key times in harvest were a huge reason why many apples were picked too late. The low resulting pressures have led to low returns this winter.

Farms of all types are looking for the first time at H2A. This is happening across the nation. Washington, California, Georgia, Michigan and Florida, the largest user of this system are increasing the usage of this program. It will be interesting to see if the bottle neck in Chicago will be staffed to hand this increase. If you are intending to use this program you need to begin today and take full advantage of the time you are allowed to complete the multiple steps. Expect delays as Chicago simply does not have the manpower to make this a quick and easy turn around.

If this were not enough for you to be concerned about you need not look any further than to your state capital in Albany. Earlier in the month my

board was in Albany and we learned of a bill S.2721 introduced by a freshman Senator from Manhattan. Senator Alcantara has introduced the most demanding bill in my memory for reform of farm Labor in New York State.

This bill has all of the previous requests for collective bargaining, days of rest and more. In the past years such bills have reached out for overtime after 10 hours per day and after 60 hours per week for farm employees. This bill is asking for overtime after 8 hours each day and 40 hours per week. Needless to say this would be the most aggressive farm labor program in US history if passed by the State.

In talking with the Governor’s office they say “do not be too worried about this.” I find such a bill quite a worry and one we need to gear up to confront. We must present reasons why such a bill would do enormous long term damage to not only the farming but entire Up State economy.

I went into Senator Alcantara’s office to discuss this bill. I met with her chief of staff. I asked what was the underlying

reason for her pressing his bill? The answer was that she had heard that there were many Spanish workers in Up State New York that were not being treated and paid fairly. She herself is of Spanish origin so this was her way of reaching out to protect them. I asked if she has actually ever had a discussion with any of these workers. The answer was she had not personally ever met or talked to any. This type of emotional agenda is extremely dangerous. If passed I need not explain what it would do to your operations and employees.

I leave you with the reality that despite low returns each of you must discover how to do a better job in 2017. If labor is tight this may be the year to remove marginal orchards. You must be creative in managing and sourcing your employee recruitment. Many of you have wished to remain politically silent. I suggest that with the new Trump administration and what potentially could come out of Albany you simply must voice your concerns. To not do so is to offer power to those who do not have the most distant understanding of your operations.

Baker

The Hort ReportNews from the New York State Horticultural Society

Winter of many changes

Specialty Crop Block Grant availableNew York State Department of

Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball has announced that the Department, in partnership with the New York Farm Viability Institute, is accepting applications for projects to utilize up to $600,000 under the Specialty Crop Block Grant program through a competitive bid process.

The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Department and NYFVI are seeking proposals for research and grower education projects that aim to enhance the competitiveness of New York’s specialty crop producers and increase the long-term success of the State’s agricultural industry. New York State’s specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, hops, maple syrup, honey, horticulture and nursery crops. Since the USDA began the program in 2006, the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets has provided $9.76 million for 107 specialty crop projects across the State.

The full Request for Proposals for the 2017 Specialty Crop Block Grant program and online application are available at http://www.nyfvi.org.

Commissioner Ball said, “The Specialty Crop Block Grant program has been key to the State’s ability to fund important research and education projects that not only help our farmers increase their ability to compete in

the marketplace but have also led to innovative practices that have helped to increase efficiency and reduce costs. I’m pleased about the progress we’ve made so far with this funding support and look forward to another round of great projects.”

For the second year, the annual grant application process will begin earlier than in years prior to better align with the off-season for the review process. Opening the application period in January allows NYFVI to coordinate its review of similar research projects submitted to its other grant programs.

Individual projects can be awarded up to $100,000.

Proposals may address a wide range of challenges and opportunities related to the competitiveness of the State’s specialty crop industry, including research and grower education projects that will increase efficiencies, reduce costs, foster innovation and enhance the long-term viability of specialty crop agri-businesses across the State.

The following priority areas have been identified:

• research and/or education addressing a key conventional or organic production problem or need specific to New York State;

• developing and increasing the utilization of Integrated Pest Management strategies and programs;

• prioritizing and addressing native and exotic pests and disease threats through development of pest risk

assessments;• supporting plant breeding for

the development of specialty crops resistant to exotic and native pests;

• applied research and development to extend the growing season of New York specialty crops through new technologies, improved management practices, or other innovative production strategies; and

• developing new seed varieties and specialty crops with optimal performance under New York State conditions.

President of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation Jim Tresize said, “The Specialty Crop Block Grant program has been very important and valuable to the New York grape and wine industry and research community that helps to improve business.

“We are grateful for the program to help grow business so that we can, in turn, contribute more to the state economy.”

Administrative Director of Long Island Farm Bureau Rob Carpenter said, “Specialty crops make up an important component of New York State agriculture. It is so imperative that research funding be utilized to solve issues within the industry so that specialty crops can continue to thrive, and be economically viable for our farmers. Existing farmers as well as many new and beginning farmers grow specialty crops, and if we want to see agriculture continue in New York, we

need to provide the ability for these operations to be successful. From fruit and vegetable growers, to hops, grapes, maple syrup, nursery and flowers and all other specialty crops, the diversity of agriculture in New York makes it vital we support these industries with research and grower education dollars.”

The Specialty Crop Block Grant program is administered through the Department in coordination with the NYFVI. The NYFVI will evaluate the proposals and submit its recommendations to the Department for inclusion in the agency’s application to the USDA.

Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, not-for-profit educational institutions, and local and Indian tribal governments. Grant funds will only be awarded to applicants whose projects have statewide significance to the specialty crop industry and do not propose to only benefit a single organization, institution, individual or commercial product. Applications are due Tuesday, February 14, 2017. Projects must be completed within two years from the award date.

For more information on the Specialty Crop Block Grant program, please visit: http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AP/slide/SpecialtyCrop.html. For application details, please visit: www.nyfvi.org.


Frank GasperiniNational Council of Ag Employers

I am writing this month’s column in the middle of inauguration week. Fortunately, for me, I was in Omaha to visit with many of you mid-week, then in Charlotte to speak to the cotton industry folks later. Therefore was not caught up in the obligatory traffic, pedestrian, news, and ideological gridlock that always ensues this week no matter who is being inaugurated. This year does pose some extra thought, extra challenges, and we hope extra opportunities; but it is very different and it is hard to read or predict.

Despite rural America being largely credited with electing President Trump, until this week there was great concern over the fact that the Secretary of Agriculture designate was the last cabinet nomination. For some time, it appeared there were as many “leading candidates” as there are awards in a pre-school athletic event. There were several outstanding candidates, a few who one presumed were named as honorable mentions, and at least one who appeared to be opening campaigning for the role. In the end, we, agriculture, may have come out in first-place with our cabinet designee in Sonny Perdue. Perdue, former governor of Georgia, hails from a state where labor intensive agriculture is recognized as a very important part of the state’s agriculture and overall economy and who saw the damage done his state by ill-informed enforcement only policies on immigration. He has a deep agricultural background including having been part of economically viable and sustainable agricultural business, we expect he will respect the value of commercial size and economically viable agricultural production businesses; as opposed to

urban gardens and a vision of American food p r o d u c t i o n being shifted to small farms that re barely more than s u b s i s t e n c e o p e r a t i o n s . In short, we expect that his vision of successful and s u s t a i n a b l e

American agriculture will include those of you who produce 80 percent of the produce, fiber, livestock, and ornamentals necessary feed and clothe American and the world. We will continue to work to get USDA more involved in labor intensive ag issues as an advocate in government for us, because of his background and connections to many leaders in labor intensive agriculture, we are optimistic.

On the labor side the nominee, Andrew Puzder, although relatively unknown in our agricultural circles does bring great promise. As the chief executive of a family of major fast-food restaurants, he has faced what is probably the most similar set of labor, immigration, and regulatory issues of any other industry as ours. So, although still relatively unknown, the business challenge similarities and the fact that he is the first Secretary of Labor who has actually been the working CEO of a major employer, thus being responsible for the welfare, prosperity, and sustainability of the employer and the employees in the process, is another cause of optimism.

On our side, competing for a shrinking demographic of able, willing, and available workers; we remain cautiously optimistic but very concerned with where cabinet

members, the new President himself, and other policy makers will take us in the realms of immigration policy, immigration enforcement, potential tariff wars, and overall timing. Some of the nominees appear to be relatively one-dimensional and/or unprepared, but we will attempt to educate them with help from all of you.

We do have a list of things that we believe the federal government could to, if they are willing, that would significantly strengthen America’s labor intensive agricultural industry while improving US domestic GDP and overall security at the same time. New York Apple Association members, through your national U.S. Apple Association membership are deeply engaged on their own, and with the large agricultural coalition working on these issues in Washington, D.C. These actions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Offer business/agricultural em–ployers at least a level playing field.

• Acknowledge the importance of robust ag economy to the whole GDP, to America’s moral place in the world, and to Americas security.

• Recognize what “economically viable and sustainable” mean in agriculture (scale, productivity, economics, etc.) Base federal government decision making and regulation on the needs of those who produce 80 percent of our agricultural products.

• Resist enforcement only, knee-jerk options to pander to the base at the expense of America’s long term interests and agricultural sustainability. NCAE and most our agricultural leaders will oppose mandatory e-verify and other enforcement-only proposals that are not coupled with the necessary reforms and resources to assure a stable, able, predictable, and sufficient agricultural work-force.

• Protect the interests of workers and

employers.Proper and legal means for us (U.S.

agriculture) to continue to employ our current domestic workforce, including the 50 percent or more who are likely falsely documented at present.

Resources and the will/intent to make the current legal foreign worker programs work as intended. Congress must be specific on what they intend these programs to do, prescriptive enough that they do not become political footballs with each new administration, and include provisions to adequately fund their ongoing management. As part of this need, we continue to advocate that the USDA have clear primacy and responsibility for agriculture programs, including foreign worker certification.

Upgraded/improved, market driven, non-immigrant programs for the future that supply able, willing, available workers in the numbers required when they are required reliably and predictably (and competitive in the global economy for the long term.)

This is what we hope for from the federal government. We must all work together to hold the feet of our elected officials to the fire to deliver these results. We cannot afford for the elected majority in both houses of Congress and in the White House to shift back into reelection-fundraising mode or business as usual gridlock again next month. There is a majority in both houses and in the White House, presumably put there in large part by rural America. It is time for them to produce.

Frank Gasperini is the executive vice president/CEO for the National Council of Agricultural Employers. NCAE is the national trade association representing Agricultural Employers in Washington, D.C., since 1964. He can be reached at [email protected] or at 202-629-9320.

Gasperini

Apples and the Trump administrationOpinion

Bryan Silbermann closes his career at PMABy Tom KarstThe Packer (updated)

With 34 years at the Produce Marketing Association behind him, the finish line is just ahead for Bryan Silbermann.

His last day with PMA and professional ties to the industry ended on Jan. 31.

“He is very excited and we are excited for him,” said Kathy Means, PMA vice president of industry relations.

“I told staff and the board here that when I was a young man I ran track, and if you know anything about running sprints, you are going faster at the end when you approach the tape than when you start,” Silbermann said Jan. 25. “This is the way I would like to finish off here.”

A native of South Africa, Silbermann was hired by then PMA president Bob Carey in 1983 to provide a global perspective to PMA and develop market research.

He immediately showed an affinity for working with technology.

Silbermann was instrumental putting in place standardized Price Look-Up/Universal Product Codes for

fresh produce at retail, said Jan DeLyser, the Irvine, C a l i f . - b a s e d C a l i f o r n i a A v o c a d o Commission’s vice president of marketing.

She met Silbermann for the first time in the mid-1980s.

“He took on that PLU project and worked closely with Dick Spezzano and the industry to make that happen,” she said. “That was a giant thing to do and the impact it has had on the industry has been incredible.”

Silbermann became PMA president and CEO in 1996, succeeding Bob Carey, who had been president for 38 years.

Bruce Peterson, president of Arkansas-based Peterson Insights Inc., met Silbermann in 1990 when Peterson was a produce director for Baker’s supermarket in Omaha, Neb. Peterson said he has marveled at the

way Silbermann took the reigns of PMA after Bob Carey retired.

Carey led PMA in an old-school, “slap on the back” kind of way, while Silbermann was very cerebral and Oxford educated, Peterson recalled.

Still, Silbermann found a way to make a smooth transition from one era to another.

Peterson recalled Silbermann created a buzz with his drum playing at Bob Carey’s going away party at the 1996 Fresh Summit in Atlanta. Silbermann quickly showed his versatility and strengths as PMA’s leader, Peterson said.

“One thing that he has always been able to do is that he has been extraordinarily thoughtful in terms of change management,” he said.

“If you look at PMA today and the produce industry today versus when he took over the job in the mid-1990s, it is a different kind of industry,” he said.

Buyer-seller relationships are different and Silbermann has taken PMA to a place where it has a global perspective.

PMA’s has influenced produce marketing in a variety of countries around the world.

“Fresh Summit is still the biggest show in the U.S. and he has been able to manage that while at the same time not appearing as if he is a one-man army trying to do it,” Peterson said.

Silbermann assumed the sole title of CEO when Cathy Burns was hired as PMA president in 2013 as part of the association’s succession planning.

After a big send off by industry leaders at PMA’s Fresh Summit in October in Orlando, Fla., Silbermann said he has enjoyed the time since then in mentoring staff, recording some of the history of the association and working with United Fresh Produce Association Tom Stenzel on the associations’ joint responsible labor committee.

“It has been very good for us personally and for the associations too,” Silbermann said, speaking of his recent work with Stenzel on the labor issue.

Peterson said Silbermann has been excellent in posing the right questions.

“He is extremely good at articulating the issue,” he said. “That’s the great

Silbermann

See PMA, Page 15


By Julia [email protected]

The nation’s first genetically modified apples are now heading to market in a small test. Snack-sized packages of fresh-cut slices made from Okanagan Specialty Fruits’ Arctic Golden apples will be test marketed in the Midwest in February and March, according to media reports.

OSF spokespersons declined to name the retailer(s), leaving it up to the retailers whether to announce. The slice packages will be branded as Arctic, with a scannable bar code to provide shoppers with more information.

News of the test market has received widespread coverage in consumer-focused press, including ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, Good Housekeeping and Washington Post. Coverage by consumer outlets has been neutral. Reaction from non-GMO and organic organizations and their media outlets has been overwhelmingly negative.

NYAA will continue to monitor Arctic’s progress and consumer market reaction, coordinating with U.S. Apple Association as the apple industry’s national spokesgroup.

Both groups generally support the industry’s access to a wide range of scientific tools for problem-solving and market development, and are ready

to address concerns if and when they arise.

Arctic apple varieties have been genetically modified to not brown when the fruit is cut, bitten, bruised, etc. The Arctic technology suppresses,

or turns off, the four apple genes that cause browning. To date, the U.S. government has deregulated three Arctic varieties: Arctic Golden,

Arctic Granny and Arctic Fuji. All Arctic apples and apple products are proprietary to the vertically integrated OSF.

FEBRuARY 6, 2017LOF Fruit SchoolNiagara County CCE Training CenterLockport

FEBRuARY 7, 2017LOF Fruit SchoolNewark Garden HotelNewark

FEBRuARY 13, 2017Northeastern Commercial Tree Fruit SchoolFort William Henry Hotel& Conference CenterLake George, NY

FEBRuARY 14-15, 2017Hudson Valley Tree Fruit SchoolBest WesternKingston, NY

FEBRuARY 19-23, 2017IFTAWenatchee, WA

FEBRuARY 28, 2017Agri-Assistance Meeting

FEB. 28 & MARCH 1, 2017NYAA Board of DirectorsMeetingAlbany, NY

MARCH 2-3, 2017LOF Pruning Demos (WNY)

MARCH 6, 2017NYFB Taste of NYLegislative ReceptionAlbany

MARCH 7, 2017NYFB Lobby DayAlbany

MARCH 13District 1 Apple Industry ForumMeet NYAA President Cynthia HaskinsCCE – Plattsburgh, 1:30 p.m.

MARCH 14Districts 2 & 3 AppleIndustry ForumMeet NYAA PresidentCynthia HaskinsHVRL - Highland, 3 p.m.

MARCH 15Districts 3 & 4 AppleIndustry ForumMeet NYAA PresidentCynthia HaskinsWallington Fire Dept., Sodus3 p.m.

MARCH 16District 6 Apple Industry ForumMeet NYAA PresidentCynthia HaskinsTillman’s Restaurant, Albion3 p.m.

Calendar

Gene-altered Arctic apple slicesto be test marketed in Midwest

Top row: slices of a conventionally grown apple. Bottom row: slices of a non-browning Arctic apple.

Core Report® is online at:www.nyapplecountry.com/core-report


NYAA cider ads hit screens, billboardsWith a notably smaller 2016 fresh

apple crop to market, the New York Apple Association has dialed up its promotion of the state’s sweet and hard cider offerings to keep the industry in front of consumers.

New videos – one promoting sweet cider, another spotlighting hard cider, and a third combining a celebration of sweet and hard cider – are now airing as television commercials in the state’s largest consumer markets. The videos have also been posted to NYAA’s main consumer website, NYAppleCountry.com, and to NYCider.com – and to NYAA’s YouTube channel (“newyorkapples1”). Display billboards

have also been created that feature still images from the videos.

“When consumers think about New York state apple ciders, they necessarily think about apples too,” NYAA spokesperson Julia Stewart said.

N.Y. hard ciders earn national Good Food AwardsFive New York state hard apple

ciders have received 2017 Good Food Awards, earning top honors in their craft in a national competition.

These New York state hard ciders won Good Food Awards:

• Bad Seed Hard Cider Co.’s IPC (Wilklow Orchards)

• Eve’s Cidery’s 2015 Darling Creek• Finger Lakes Cider House’s

Goodlife Barrel Rye• Orchard Hill’s Cider Mill’s Ten66

Pommeau (Soons Orchard)

• Slyboro Cider House’s La Sainte Terre (Hicks Orchard)

The Good Food Foundation’s national Good Food Awards competition recognizes the country’s best craft food and beverage producers who excel in both taste and sustainable practices in the production of their products.

In all, 19 foods from New York in 19 categories including cider were selected from more than 2,000 entries from more than 30 states.

Entries are first evaluated in a blind

tasting of more than 220 expert judges, including top chefs and food industry representatives.

Entries that scored the highest in the blind tasting are then assessed on a wide variety of criteria, including use of local and nutritious ingredients and sustainable and environmentally sound practices.

This is the award program’s seventh year.

New York’s apple industry has been bolstered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s

support for the state’s craft beverage makers, and as a result the category has experienced tremendous growth in recent years.

In addition to passing new regulations or updating existing ones, and leveling the playing field of alcoholic beverage taxes, the Cuomo administration and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets have funded promotional and marketing campaigns to showcase New York’s craft beverage industry to consumers.

Honeycrisp Hard Cider launchedLAFAYETTE — 1911 Established, the

award-winning Central New York cider and spirits company based in Central New York announced the launch of its newest product, Honeycrisp Hard Cider. 1911’s Honeycrisp Hard Cider is one of the first single varietal ciders available in six packs.

“For us, having Honeycrisp become our first single varietal was a no brainer given the apple’s popularity with consumers” 1911 co-owner Eddie Brennan said. “We’ve been growing Honeycrisp apples on our family orchard since their inception and they are always a crowd pleaser because of their delicious taste.”

Although the idea of creating 1911 Honeycrisp cider was an easy one to come up with, execution was left up to head cider maker Yann Fay, “Honeycrisp hard cider lends itself to a sweeter taste profile but, making a single varietal cider can often pose a

challenge.”1911 Established parent company,

Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards grows and presses the apples on site, “Honeycrisp cider is a challenge to the traditional view among cider makers on what apples are ‘appropriate’ to

use. By defying conventional wisdom we have been able use 100 percent fresh pressed Honeycrisp apples from our surrounding orchard and with the Honeycrisp’s naturally high sugar content it translates well to the fermentation process” said Yann Fay.

1911 Established Honeycrisp Hard Cider will be available in 12oz/6 packs in retail outlets mid February.

1911 Spirits was formed in early 2013 as a division of Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards. This fifth generation family owned and operated business has always been known for quality and innovation and the 1911 Established brand of hard cider, wine and spirits continues with that tradition. Located on just under 1000 acres in Lafayette, the orchards surrounding the 1911 cider house boast over 350,000 apple trees. Using their family grown apples their fresh pressed cider is made on site and fermented in their on-site cider house. “Tree to Bottle’ their complete vertical integration ensures quality throughout the process.

Their visitor campus and tasting facilities are located in Lafayette. You can also visit them at 1911established.com.


By Bill MichaelsThe Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard

just completed its 160th pressing season celebrated by a major renovation and cookbook publishing that continue the theme that change is always happening in Fly Creek. Last year’s renovation included an additional second-level area expanding the viewing of the historic, water-powered cider press while introducing a modern and efficient grinding area.

The historic structure built in 1856 and the 1972 addition are all that remain after all other additions were removed and rebuilt. The two main goals of the build were improved energy efficiency and visitor traffic flow. New high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, spray-foam insulation, and LED lighting reduce energy consumption with the addition of a solar array. Visitors now enjoy more open space to view the historic equipment and shop the Mill’s wide array of specialty foods and gifts. The popular pack-your-own apple display room has also been expanded.

During the renovation the exterior skin of the historic Mill was removed exposing the timberwork and then cocooned within a new learning center. This larger space is augmented by additional windows and glass flooring for customers to see the entire process from apple washing to bottling. “Last fall visitors had the opportunity to witness what we do best, make great-tasting cider on historic water-powered equipment.

“The big change now is that they can see everything happening from multiple angles, something we have wanted to do for years!” says Bill Michaels, Co-owner of the Mill.

While apples, cider, cheese and fudge are the Mill’s core products, the Michaels decided to put their history and flavors down on paper and partner with Agate Publishing/Surry Books of Evanston, Ill., to publish a cookbook. “The Fly Creek Cider Mill Cookbook: More Than 100 Delicious Apple Recipes” captures the history of the Mill through stories, photography and a diverse collection of apple and cider-based recipes.

The 200 pages of recipes are divided into nine sections: Basic Recipes, Breakfast, Starters & Snacks, Soups & Salads, Sides, Main Courses, Breads, Desserts and Drinks.

The Cookbook will help readers recreate recipes, many of which come from the kitchens of the Mill’s Staff and friends own homes. Recipes include:

The Official New York State MuffinCider Baked BeansThai Chicken-Apple SkewersFly Creek Cider Mill’s Famous Pot

RoastNew York Cheddar & Apple Soup

The Mill’s Famous Molasses CrinklesThis book appeals not only to home

cooks in search of nostalgic goodness, but also to those who are interested in the history of a resilient American enterprise and the farm-to-table movement.

Book sales are available at the Mill, Fly Creek Cider Mill On-Line Store, through national book sellers and Amazon.

The Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard’s winter hours are Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is located just minutes from Historic Cooperstown in Fly Creek and 22 miles south of Herkimer.

Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard renovates, publishes cookbook to mark anniversary Innovation, change are what keeps historic mill alive

Grower’s Voice

Above: The renovated mill at Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard. Below, Bill and Brenda Michaels, authors of the cookbook, below left.

Hudson Valley orchard for sale in the heart of Ulster County’s “apple belt’ in Marlboro:

Well-established 113-plus acre orchard features wide varieties of

traditional and “Club Member” apples along with pears and stone fruits - plums, apricots, and cherries.

Turn-key operation with highly efficient storage and packing

facility with CA rooms and office, garage workshop with office, farm worker housing, residential rental opportunities. Ninety minutes to New York City and easy access to major

roadways.Contact Ana Ortega Johnson,

Coldwell Banker Village Green Realty, cell number: 845-505-0288.

Orchard for Sale

Hard cider mac and cheese — one of the recipes included in the recently published ‘The Fly Creek Cider Mill Cookbook: More Than 100 Delicious Apple Recipes.’


NYAA hosts food safety talkBy Cynthia [email protected]

The New York Apple Association sponsored a talk by Ines Hanrahan of Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission at last month’s Empire State Producers Expo, to discuss how to manage orchards to restrict foodborne pathogen contamination and proliferation.

Hanrahan reminded attendees that the 2015 foodborne illness outbreak linked to caramel apples took our industry by surprise. The multi-state outbreak reached 12 states and resulted in 35 illnesses, 24 hospitalizations and three directly-related deaths; four other deaths could be attributed to pre-existing conditions. This outbreak of listeriosis demonstrated the risk that Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) poses to pregnant women in particular; 11 of the illnesses involved pregnant women, and one lost her pregnancy.

Initially, consumers, media and industry thought the caramel had been contaminated. “We were wrong,” Hanrahan said.

On Jan. 6, 2015, Bidart Bros. of Bakersfield, Calif., voluntarily recalled Granny Smith and Gala apples because federal testing at the company’s packinghouse revealed Lm contamination. FDA later confirmed that the Lm strain found at the packinghouse was highly related to the outbreak strain.

While this contamination occurred in California, Hanrahan noted the

whole apple industry felt it; some geographical areas felt it stronger than others. Just like any major foodborne illness outbreak, media coverage was intense, and buyers scrambled for information from their suppliers. Some consumers became confused between caramel apples and fresh apples, so they opted to buy neither. There are no dividing lines when it comes to food safety, we were and are all in this together.

Hanrahan cautioned that Listeria is abundant in the environment, and is readily transported and transferred through water, compost, harvesting

equipment, packinghouses, processing and packaging equipment, facility structures, drains, floors, walls, cooling units, transportation equipment, truck tires, forklifts, produce harvest and handling containers, pallets and more.

Hanrahan espoused a “putting principles into practice” approach to food safety.

She shared information from hands-on workshops developed by Washington State University for sanitation supervisors and packing line managers on best practices for packinghouse cleaning and sanitation. Those workshops explained the risks associated with Listeria, and the importance of cleaning and sanitation to prevent and remove it. The workshops also included hands-on

demonstrations of effective cleaning and sanitation practices, how to identify areas of risks within facilities, how to handle especially challenging areas such as drains, proper use of cleaning equipment and products, and strategies for successful sanitation program implementation.

Ines Hanrahan gave the New York apple industry members in attendance solid, practical information. NYAA is grateful she shared her expertise with us, and opened the door for bringing together food safety science and real-world solutions.

She underscored what we should all hold true: our industry must put growing and supplying healthy and safe food paramount in our minds and hearts.

The Lake Ontario Fruit program will hold a Spanish tree fruit school on two Saturdays in March.

The dates are:March 4, 1 to 4 p.m. in Orleans County

(Nesbitt Fruit Farms, Waterport).March 11, 1 to 4 p.m. in Wayne County

(VanDeWalle Fruit Farm, Alton).This meeting will include the basics

of tree nursery production, together with information on grafting and pruning.

There will be hands-on demonstrations.

For registration details and program specifics please contact Mario Miranda Sazo for more details at 315-331-8415 or [email protected].

CCE LOF Spanish Fruit Schools

Cornell to conductsurvey on ‘16 droughtCornell University

As you know, the summer of 2016 was a period of lower than average rainfall combined with higher than average temperatures that led to a drought of moderate to unprecedented severity in New York and much of the Northeast.

A 2016 NY drought survey is being conducted and we need your input.

Please go to the following link: https://cornell.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9FDNwygyIV07kXP

The survey is an attempt to capture information on regional impacts and how you coped with this situation, so

that farmers and those institutions and industries that support farmers will be better prepared in the future. This is associated with research being conducted by NatureNet Science postdoctoral fellow, Shannan Sweet, working with professor David Wolfe on a project focused on NYS water resources and agriculture.

Thanks for your help.Questions or comments? Contact:

Shannan Sweet ([email protected]; 607-255-8641) or David Wolfe ([email protected]; 607-255-7888)

For more details on the drought see: http://climatechange.cornell.edu/drought-takes-its-toll/

Ines Hanrahan’s food safety talk at the Empire State Producers Expo in January was sponsored by NYAA.


This New York Apple Association advertisement recently appeared in the trade publication Produce News.

Taste for all seasons


President Trump freezes federalagencies’ regulatory work By Julia [email protected]

Immediately after his inauguration, now-President Donald Trump’s administration ordered all federal departments to freeze non-emergency regulatory activities, to include the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Specifically, the directive freezes new and pending regulations until the new administration has time to review them. It postpones the effective dates for previously published regulations that have not yet taken effect. The order does not affect existing regulations; that would require congressional action. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus signed the order.

EPA immediately announced that as a result of the White House directive, it was delaying the effective date of 30 regulations including its new rule regarding certification of pesticide applicators to at least March 31. Time will tell how the directive might

impact ongoing regulatory activity of interest to the fresh produce industry, such as FDA’s implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act, and EPA’s ongoing registration reviews of chlorpyrifos and other

organophosphates. The administration’s order

to freeze regulatory work was characterized by Washington insiders as “a fairly standard move” for a new administration, while the incoming

administration communicates its platform to agency career staffers. The Trump White House public communications gag order on the agencies was also characterized as standard procedure.

By Tom KarstThe Packer

Seeking to move the H-2A program from the Department of Labor to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Republicans Elise Stefanik and Chris Collins of New York have introduced the Family Farm Relief Act of 2017.

“When I travel the district speaking with our farmers, I often hear about how unnecessary delays in worker visas lead to difficulty meeting production goals,” Stefanik said in the release. “This commonsense legislation simply puts the H-2A agricultural visa program in the hands

of those who best understand the specific needs of our farms.”

Collins said in the release that the program would help streamline and improve the H-2A visa program for growers and dairy farmers.

The Family Farm Relief Act of 2017 would allow visa applicants to fill out H-2A applications on paper or online and end requirements on advertising and prevailing practice surveys.

The proposed legislation would be a good partial fix for the H-2A program, said Frank Gasperini, executive vice president of the Washington, D.C.-based National Council of Agricultural Employers.

“Moving the (H-2A) program to USDA is one of the key points of the big game that a lot of people are talking about,” Gasperini said Jan. 25.

Still, he said the bill does not go far enough.

“We need the whole issue of either fixing H-2A so that it is sufficient and complete and can provide the number of workers we need when we need them predictably and flexibly — which the current program is challenged with — or we need a new program,” he said.

Bill calls for H-2A move to USDA

See H-2A, Page 15

USApple leaders set 2017 agenda New York Farm Bureau

New York Farm Bureau in January released its 2017 state priorities that seek to address a significant loss in farm income across the state.

These priorities will include supporting reinvestment into the state’s family farms as well as opening up new markets for New York farm products.

The past two years agriculture has been under additional economic pressures with low commodity and milk prices and rising labor costs. The governor has been quick to highlight when times are good for the agricultural economy, but new numbers just released by National Agricultural Statistics Service show the value of farm production in New York dropped by a billion dollars in 2015 to $5.33 billion. That is a significant loss in farm income, and anecdotally Farm Bureau members are saying that farm income will likely drop even further when 2016 numbers are released.

“The 16 percent drop in farm income highlights why it is imperative that New York Farm Bureau advocate for common sense laws, regulations, and tax policies that support the state’s family farms,” said David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau President, in a press conference call with reporters this morning.

The first priority for the organization is to enact a refundable investment tax credit for farmers. Because of the down farm economy and the weather-related crop losses many farmers experienced last year, farmers are extremely short on cash flow and many do not have the savings to reinvest back into their businesses. This initiative would incentivize farm

investment to meet the needs of global competition.

“It is important for farms and the rural economy, that farmers stay on top of equipment needs, structural repairs and new technology in order to meet consumer demands and business needs. We cannot let our farm infrastructure take a hit during an economic downturn,” said Fisher.

Another top priority is doubling the minimum wage tax credit for farms, from $30 million to $60 million. The first step of the wage hike climbed at the beginning of the year on its way to $15 for farms on Long Island and $12.50 for upstate farmers. New York Farm Bureau led the way in opposition to the hike last year, resulting in a $250 tax credit per employee for this first year of the increase. That will cover only a small fraction of what it will cost family farms to implement the wage hike. The minimum wage increase will also push all wages up across the board, including for those who currently make well above the minimum. The average farm wage in New York is around $12.40/hour.

“Farms cannot just increase their prices to make up for that growing gap. They have to compete against farms in neighboring states and around the world. If the state is going to force a higher wage on farms, they should be

NYFB releases legislative priorities

U.S. Apple AssociationUSApple leaders gathered in

Washington, D.C., Jan 25-26 for a meeting of the association’s officers followed by a strategy meeting of the Government Affairs Committee.

Jon Alegria of Washington State is the current Chairman and New York grower Kaari Stannard serves as the association’s aecretary. She will chair the association in 2018.

USApple Vice Chairman Mark Boyer of Pennsylvania chairs the Government Affairs Committee which includes representatives from all the major apple states. New York was well represented at the meeting with committee members Mark Nicholson, Paul Baker, and Cynthia Haskins in attendance.

There was a robust discussion of key legislative issues impacting the industry including agriculture labor, immigration reform and trade policy.

USApple is taking a proactive approach to the new Administration to maximize opportunities while working to mitigate potential harm. The bottom line is that we as Association staff and grower leaders will need to be nimble in this new environment.

There was broad consensus that labor is tight and those in the H-2A program continue to experience delays and other problems. There is significant concern that the new administration will increase enforcement measures through the Departments of Labor, Homeland Security and Justice. This could mean an increase in I-9 audits, social security no match letters and potential raids.

USApple is working with Congress to underscore the importance of passing labor and H-2A reforms before

increased enforcement is implemented by the Administration or legislative action is taken such as mandatory E-Verify. In addition, USApple is taking a leadership role in efforts to convince the Department of Labor to grant some regulatory relief to H-2A users similar to those instituted during the Bush Administration.

There was strong consensus amongst committee members that long-term and short term reforms are needed and will be pursued aggressively by USApple.

Regulatory reform is viewed as a potential bright spot and USApple is taking an active role in industry coalitions working to roll back regulations at the Environmental Protection Agency including the Waters of the U.S. and advocating for a return to sound science.

Another top priority, trade issues were discussed at great length, with an emphasis on the potential impact of President Trump’s policies. In addition to officially withdrawing from the Trans Pacific Partnership, President Trump and many of his surrogates have stated plans to renegotiate the

See NYFB, Page 15See USApple, Page 14


Joel CristCrist Bros. Orchards Inc.WaldenJoel Crist is a fifth-generation

farmer at Crist Bros Orchards in Walden. He graduated from Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences where he specialized in agribusiness and strategy. Before joining his sister and parents in the Hudson Valley at the family business, he worked for a food marketing company. He is happy to be back at the family business and has the taken the lead in packing, shipping,

and sales. Crist is excited about the new variety mix in the marketplace and is focused on increasing fruit quality and incorporating new, advantageous technologies into the business. He enjoys hiking with his dog, cooking with his wife, and traveling.

Marcus JonesGeorge W Saulpaugh & Sons, Inc.GermantownMarcus is a second-generation

apple grower. Starting work in the apple orchards at an early age he has continued to stay with the farm over the years. After high school, he went on to earn an associate’s degree in math and science from Columbia-Greene Community College. Today he helps his father run the business as assistant general manager and head of food safety and security. Taking on tasks such as sales and shipping are among some of the other jobs he maintains active in on the farm. Other than farming, Jones keeps up with his interests in technology by keeping up with the many computer software programs on the premises. Gaining new interests in the industry every day he plans to make a career in farming.

Jesse MulburyNorthern Orchard Co., Inc.PeruJesse is a third generation farmer

born and raised in the town of Peru in the Champlain Valley. He is a graduate of Cornell University with a major in agricultural science. Since graduating,

Mulbury has returned to his family farm, Northern Orchard Co. in Peru, where he now works alongside his father Albert, his mother Cynthia and as of the fall of 2016 his sister, Jenna. Currently, Jesse Mulbury oversees the storage of fruit throughout the winter and spring, as well as the field operations, IPM program and food safety program for the orchard. He and his sister also manage a small but growing vegetable and berry farm. Now in his fourth season, Mulbury hopes to continue to update Northern Orchards’ acreage to high density plantings while preserving the history and wide variety of unique apple cultivars on the farm planted by his father and grandfather.

Matthew MurphyRed Jacket OrchardsGenevaMurphy is from Vestal. He grew up

growing produce on his grandparents dairy farm in Pennsylvania. He is a recent graduate from Cornell University, majoring in viticulture and enology and plant sciences. After graduation he started working as the assistant farm manager at Red Jacket Orchards located in Geneva. There he specializes in helping grow around 300 acres of apples and several other fruit crops. Murphy also helps with harvest operations, new plantings and general orchard care and maintenance to name a few. When he isn’t working, you can often find him waterskiing on Seneca Lake.

store for their support.In addition to a great presence in

stores, a new video has been released by Fowler Farms showcasing Ruby Frost apples and salads. In speaking with David Williams, VP of Sales and Marketing for Fowler Farms, he said the video was made by their marketing/social media partner Farm Star Living and the actual recipe was developed

by Courtney Buchanan who manages social media and content for Farm Star Living.

The recipe was developed as a way to help advance the RubyFrost brand and give consumers a chance to use RubyFrost in a salad that was equally delicious as it is healthy.

Playing off the New Year with consumers on diets and looking for ways to include vitamins and fiber into their meal prep, the video showcases salads prepped and ready to eat in a Mason jar. Shot at the Studios of Farm

Star Living in Atlanta, distributed on the Facebook pages of Fowler Farms and Farm Star Living, featured “Food Spotlight” item for January on the Farm Star Living Website and on the all new Fowler Farms website.

Between the sites the video has had over 7,000 views. Take a look for yourself at https://www.facebook.com/Fowler-Farms-257642121236329

Kudos to all of our growers and marketers in our state, and also to Crunch Time for helping create excitement for such a great apple.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Canada and Mexico are the two largest export markets for apples, accounting for an average of more than $450 million in sales annually.

There was wide agreement from the Committee that disruption of those markets would be devastating to the industry. USApple is teaming up with other agricultural groups to send a strong message to President Trump that agriculture’s contribution to NAFTA and its impact on rural economies and jobs cannot be reversed or ignored.

Implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act, the Farm Bill, and federal nutrition policy are just a few of the other issues that USApple will work hard to ensure we contribute to and are a part of the dialogue.

The priorities and positions affirmed by the Committee will form the basis for the 2017 Legislative Priorities that USApple leaders will bring to Capitol Hill on March 23. Please consider joining us for this important event. 2017 is already shaping up to be a busy year and your voice will be needed.

2017 Pruning DemonstrationsLake Ontario Fruit Program

As we begin this winter’s dormant pruning season, we invite you and your employees to attend two pruning demonstration sessions in Orleans and Wayne Counties.

The dates are Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Kast Farm in Albion, Orleans County, and Wednesday, March 1, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Datthyn Fruit Farm in Sodus, Wayne County.

Each workshop will be organized as a mini-tour (2 stops) to discuss the benefits of proper pruning, minimal pruning, limb renewal pruning, precision pruning, and the transition from 3-D to 2-D canopies via manual pruning and hedging.

Special emphasis will be given to pruning of young and mature Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, NY1, and NY2 trees, on several dwarfing rootstocks. Please contact Mario Miranda Sazo ([email protected]; cell phone 315-719-1318) for additional details and directions for the two-stop pruning tour at each farm.

USAppleContinued from Page 13

FrostContinued from Page 3

YALContinued from Page 1

USApple online at www.usapple.org


lesson in leadership, it is not about knowing the answers,” Peterson said. “If you understand teamwork, you must articulate the questions, and Bryan is extraordinarily good at that; he causes you to think.”

Dick Spezzano, owner of retail-focused Spezzano Consulting Service in Monrovia, Calif. praised Silbermann’s contributions to PMA.

“He turned out to be just an outstanding CEO,” he said. “Bob Carey did a wonderful job with PMA and Bryan took PMA to the next level,” he said, citing PMA’s strong financial footing and its investments in the Center for Produce Safety, the Center for Growing Talent by PMA and other programs.

Silbermann’s strength as a manager also is reflected in the long-term stability of PMA’s staff, Spezzano said.

Besides Silbermann’s strong global and technology bent, Means said he also brought great qualities to the PMA

workplace.“He is funny, he is smart, he is

caring, all those things you hope for, not just for your CEO, but in your coworkers.”

DeLyser, who was chairwoman of the PMA Board in 2012-13, said Silbermann is unmatched in connecting with the industry, whether in the U.S. or around the world.

“He was the quintessential association executive and really looks after his volunteers, he really listens to the volunteers and he responds.”

Silbermann said he is looking forward to retirement.

He plans to play more music — he had a gig on Jan. 20. He and his wife Patty, also retiring soon, are looking forward to working on a new house and making travel plans at home and abroad, he said.

Silbermann said he has been invited by PMA to attend Fresh Summit 2017 in New Orleans to be on hand for the first awarding of the Bryan E. Silbermann Collaboration Award. The award was established last year to recognize Silbermann’s contributions to PMA and the industry.

Congress may take up the issue only one time, so any fixes need to be complete, he said.

“We are very reluctant to individually support small pieces of it, because we need it all in one bill,” he said.

Gasperini said agricultural employers need a way to keep their current undocumented workers to be able to remain in the country, at least for a period of time. The industry also needs a foreign worker program that can provide enough workers — perhaps close to 1 million — to compensate for stepped up enforcement at the border and increased audits at companies. The H-2A program brought in 160,000

guest agricultural workers last year, he said.

“If we try to bring 1 million people just for seasonal agriculture field work such as fruit and vegetable harvest and planting, the current program doesn’t have the resources, even if it is at the USDA,” he said. The USDA would also have to build capacity in staff and technology to absorb the H-2A program from the Department of Labor, Gasperini said.

prepared to offer greater assistance, especially when farm income is down 16 percent,” Fisher said.

Securing state funding for critical farm programs is also a top priority for New York Farm Bureau. The governor included a number of positive things in his budget plan, which will be beneficial to agriculture. This includes strong funding for the Environmental Protection Fund, which will assist farms with water quality, conservation and farmland protection programs. There is also money to support agricultural education and FFA programs that will assist in job and skills training to meet future employment demands in agriculture.

New York Farm Bureau will also work with the legislature and Governor to restore important funding for things like research, technical assistance and promotion dollars that support the diversity of New York’s farms. In addition, the organization is hopeful the Governor’s $2 billion plan to improve the state’s water infrastructure and water quality will include significant money for conservation projects on farms across the state.

“New York Farm Bureau has pushed for this important investment with the administration. It will improve on our strong record of environmental stewardship in New York,” said Fisher.

The buy local movement continues to grow across the state, and New York Farm Bureau believes New York residents should not be the only ones to turn to their farmers first. The State of New York should do so as well.

That leads to the organization’s fourth priority, advocating for legislation that will provide a procurement preference for New York grown food for state institutional purchasing. This would be for food served in universities, prisons, and other New York run facilities. There has been a greater focus on procurement by the administration, but we believe more should be done to make New York products a priority.

“This will this open up new markets for New York’s farmers. For only pennies more, the state can support its farmers and get more fresh, local food into the state system,” said Jeff Williams, New York Farm Bureau’s

public policy director.Finally, another top priority for

farmers is a state tax credit for donations of locally grown food by farmers to food banks. The governor has vetoed this bill twice. While he expressed support for the idea, his major objection was that the legislature passed it outside of the budget. New York Farm Bureau is asking the governor to fund it this time around.

The tax credit would be for 25 percent of the wholesale value of the donated food and no more than $5,000 per farm. The impact to the overall budget will be quite small in comparison to the $152 billion spending plan. We estimate it would be around $700,000. However, its impact will be far reaching.

“It will help farmers offset a portion of the costs of picking, packing and transporting the food to regional food banks. More importantly, it will allow more locally-sourced food to be shared with those in need all over the state,” Williams said

In 2016, farmers donated more than 13-million pounds of food to their regional food banks, which is more than 10 million meals. This is a new record for the state’s farmers and demonstrates their generosity. However, the “Farm to Food Bank” bill would incentivize even greater food donations and that record number would climb even higher.

New York Farm Bureau establishes its priorities every year. Members of 52 county Farm Bureaus voice their opinions and vote on public policy resolutions at the county level. Those make their way to the State Annual Meeting each December where farmer delegates cast their votes that determine the organization’s positions on legislative issues. The State Board of Directors then establishes the priorities for the year.

uses a concentrated beam of light to remove pigments in the outer layer of the product’s skin. Labelling only uses light and only at the outer surface of the product. According to Nature & More, it has no influence on flavour or shelf life. The fruit can be consumed as desired, with or without skin. Even the labelled spot can be eaten without any objection. According to Nature &

More, the method has been approved and deemed safe by the independent Dutch organic certifier Skal, and by all authorities responsible for food safety.

Nature & More thinks this manner of labelling can also combat food waste. Organic products can now be offered loose and, despite that, will still be recognisable as organic products. In that way, supermarket customers can buy as many avocados, sweet potatoes and other products in future as they actually need without having to choose larger packaging amounts, which then partially ends up as waste.

PMAContinued from Page 5

LabelsContinued from Page 16

H-2AContinued from Page 13

NYFBContinued from Page 13 ‘Farms

cannot just increase their prices to make up for that growing gap.’

—David Fisher,NYFB President

E-mailingCongressTo find your

Congressperson’sWeb site, visit:

www.house.gov orwww.senate.gov.


World production hits record levelsFresh Plaza

In the 2016-17 campaign, the world apple production reached record levels for at least the last five years, as revealed by updated data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reports “APK-Inform: Vegetables and Fruits”.

According to the estimates made available, the world’s gross apple harvest in the current season amounted to 77.54 million tonnes, compared

to 76.4 million tonnes in the 2015/16 campaign.

According to experts, the growth of the global harvest is a consequence of the rising production in China, which has traditionally been the world’s undisputed leader in terms of apple production.

Thus, this season, Chinese growers have achieved the largest apple harvest in five years, totaling 43.5 million

tonnes, compared to the 42.6 million tonnes harvested last year.

Second in the ranking is the EU, where USDA analysts have noted a slight decline in apple production, down to 12.6 million tonnes. They recall that last year’s apple harvest in the EU reached 12.7 million tonnes. In any case, experts point out that the decrease in production in Central and Eastern European countries could be offset by the positive dynamics in Poland.

The top three is closed by the United States, whose gross apple production in the 2016-17 campaign stands at 4.65 million tonnes, 3 percent more than in

the previous season. The experts stress that the situation in the country has varied depending on the area. Frosts in April and drought in the summer had a negative impact on the production volume in the eastern states; however, the increases in the gross production achieved in the western and central regions have not only compensated for the loss, but have also led to a nationwide increase.

Other world leaders in the production of apples are Turkey and India. The total harvest in these countries has remained stable compared to last year and stood at 2.7 million tonnes and 1.9 million tonnes, respectively.

Labels without packaging increasingly hit the marketFresh Plaza

Organic fruit and vegetables are often packaged in plastic.

That is hardly very sensible and often, the only reason is to apply the label. The Dutch organic trade company Nature & More wants to end this and has developed a method which can apply the printed label directly to the fruit and vegetables — and it is edible and organically certified. Nature & More, with Swedish supermarket chain ICA, wants to market organic fruit and vegetables with natural labelling, and save millions of plastic packagings this way, according to German website utopia.de.

Avocados and sweet potatoes should be the first products to have logos but no packaging in the ICA shops. Nature & More has calculated how much saving potential that can have:

in 2015, the company sold 725,380 packagings with organic avocados to Swedish ICA supermarkets. To that end, 217 kilometres of plastic film with a width of 30 centimetres was used. That is 2,042 kilograms of plastic. The C02 emissions created by this amount to one car driving around the globe 1.3 times.

It is therefore not hard to imagine how much the saving potential could be if the entire sector throughout Europe were to switch to this method.

But for now, the labelled products will only be available in Sweden — in cooperation with ICA. However, Nature & More parent company Eosta hopes that they will also be able to expand this technology to other countries.

The new method of ‘natural labelling’

See Labels, Page 15

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