The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) named Baker, president of United Apple Sales LLC , as chair for the 2024-25 term.

Baker succeeds 2023-24 USApple chair Steve Clement, CEO of PNW Tree Fruit in Yakima, Washington.

The gavel was officially passed from Clement to Baker at USApple’s Aug. 14-16 board of directors meeting in Chicago at the completion of its Outlook conference on Friday, the show’s last day.

Raised on a fruit and vegetable farm in Ransomville, New York, near the shores of Lake Ontario north of Buffalo, New York, Baker follows a unique legacy, both in the apple business and in this esteemed industry leadership role, according to a news release.

Also located close to Lake Ontario, United grows and ships a large number of varieties of conventional apples and pears as well as organic Golden Delicious, Crispin and Ida Red apples.

In addition to Baker, other USApple’s 2024-25 elected board officers include:

• Vice chair: Steve Smith, vice president, marketing, Washington Fruit, Yakima, Washington
• Secretary: Philip Glaize III, head of operations/sales, Glaize Apples, Winchester, Virginia
• Treasurer: Kaari Stannard, president & CEO, New York Apple Sales, Glenmont, New York
• Immediate Past Chair: Steve Clement

Baker’s father, Paul Baker, was chair of USApple in 1989.

“This is a pivotal time to have someone with Brett’s experience and deep-rooted passion for agriculture at the helm of our board of directors,” Jim Bair, USApple’s president and CEO, said in the release. “His leadership will be essential to driving innovation and addressing challenges.”

Prior to joining the Lyndonville, New York-based United Apple Sales in 2010, Baker graduated from Cornell in 1999 and spent a handful of years on the family farm. Then, he went into the grocery retail business with Aldi for nine years.

“It’s an honor to be elected as the chair of USApple,” Baker said in the release. “I am committed to continuing the work of my predecessors – including my own late father – to advocate for our industry, foster innovation, and overcome the challenges we face. As an industry working together, we can enact meaningful change through USApple.”

PNW Tree Fruit is associated with Sage Fruit, which grows, ships and markets conventional apples, pears, cherries and stone fruit and organic apples and pears.

United grows and ships a large number of varieties of conventional apples and pears as well as organic Golden Delicious, Crispin and Ida Red apples.

USApple is a national trade association representing all segments of the apple industry. Members include 36 state and regional apple associations, representing 26,000 apple growers throughout the country and more than 3,700 apple-related companies. USApple’s members collectively grow more than 10 billion pounds of apples a year on average, supporting about 150,000 jobs and generating more than $8 billion in total wages and $23 billion in economic activity.

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The forecast estimates the state will produce 2.2 million barrels of cranberries, a 12% rise from last year’s yield. Nationally, cranberry production is expected to reach 8.24 million barrels, up 2% from 2023.

Brian Wick, executive director of Massachusetts Cranberries, expressed cautious optimism about the harvest, despite recent hot and humid conditions that may affect fruit development. Wick noted that while the crop’s final size and quality will be influenced by upcoming weather, favorable conditions could still lead to a successful harvest.

Massachusetts is the second-largest cranberry-producing state in the U.S., with cranberries being the largest food commodity in the Commonwealth. The industry contributes $73.4 million annually and supports nearly 6,400 jobs.

For more details, visit cranberries.org.

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CDM was reported the week of Aug. 5 on cucumber crops by growers in Franklin County, Massachusetts, which is the southern border of New Hampshire’s Cheshire and Hillsborough counties, according to a report from Cornell University.

With recent rainy weather and rain events spread throughout the forecast, there is likely a high risk for CDM pathogen spreading from Massachusetts to southern and central New Hampshire, and perhaps beyond. If infection occurs, expect symptoms to start to appear in 5 days, according to the alert.

CDM can infect more than 60 different hosts, including cucurbits such as cucumber, cantaloupe, watermelon, squash and pumpkin. Producers of these crops should employ protectant fungicides for CDM prior to any future storms. These are listed in the New England Vegetable Management Guide under the crops tab and select the appropriate cucurbit crop(s).

Chlorothalonil or copper products (organic options) are protectant fungicides that most growers probably already possess. Once CDM occurs in a grower’s area, it will be important to switch from protectant fungicides to fungicides with specific activity against CDM, according to the report. These are also listed in the New England Vegetable Management Guide.

Any conventional grower who was not able to get a protectant spray down prior to the rain and who has not sprayed within the past week and is feeling concerned because they did receive rain, Meg McGrath from Cornell suggests applying a locally systemic fungicide such as Curzate (cymoxanil) as soon as possible.

Growers suspecting CDM infections should take photos and send them to their local Extension specialist or the University of New Hampshire Plant Diagnostic Lab via email at unh.pdl@unh.edu, or submit samples to the UNH Plant Diagnostic lab for confirmation.

Read more about CDM here, including a recorded teleconference on managing downy mildew.

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There is a team of us that operate more than 300 acres. I, my wife Julie, my father Lenny Jr., farm managing partner Andrew, and a lot of great seasonal help are involved. Our three children each help with daily tasks: Lydia (7) helps with customers in the market, Leo (5) tends to the animals and Tucker (2) keeps us in smiles all day.

We also have a roadside market and “pick your own” operation.

Roadside market offers diversity

In addition to seasonal fruits and vegetables, the market offers a variety of products such as bedding plants in the spring, a large selection of home-grown animal feed year- round and winter storage crops such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, cabbage and apples. We also carry honey from several local apiaries and a large selection of canned goods, jams and jellies.

During the summer months, the market is packed with all kinds of fruit and vegetables — especially our sweet corn. 

Plus, our pick your own operation has adapted crops to meet the needs of local residents and now consists of a variety of peppers, corn, eggplant, tomatoes, beans, cabbage and squash.

Business does matter 

Over the years, we have learned that being able to juggle the paperwork that comes with running a business — payroll, accounting and current regulations — along with the daily general farm work, is a task in itself, and that keeping all of these things current and organized must be a priority.

Keeping up with current guidelines and requirements is also essential for the value seen by both inspectors and customers alike. 

Staying ahead and being prepared for what is to come helps keep things running smoothly. We have found that the ability to properly manage all aspects of the business could be a determining factor for success or failure.

Customer satisfaction 

We know that listening to customer requests plays a large role in the retention and expansion of our customer base. Making customers believe that they have been heard and their needs met helps bring them back frequently and leave with a positive experience they want to share with friends and family. Our ability to supply an ever- changing demand in the fresh produce industry has led us to more customers and a larger market.

Collaboration 

Working with neighboring farmers as friends is also a crucial part of our success. There are plenty of mouths for all of us to feed in today’s world that we need to lift each other up when we can.

Share in hard times and plentiful times. Large or small, conventional or organic — we need to work together for a better future for agriculture. 

We believe that the future for agriculture, both large- and small-scale, is bright if you are willing to maintain the important old traditions and keep an open mind to modern advancement and changes in your operation.

Burger’s Farm was settled on our land in 1889. So much has changed since then, except our dirt. That will remain while our generation is here to farm it, and hopefully many generations to come

Written by Leonard Burger, Burger’s Farm 

Lenny Burgess III is part of the five generations of success at Burger’s Farm and a member of the Fruit + Vegetable Class of 2023 40 Under Forty honorees. For more information, visit Burger’s Farm at burgersfarm.webnode.page.

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The expansion brings the Omakase and Koyo berries to markets in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C.

“We’re excited to join these vibrant local food communities,” said Rita Hudetz, chief commercial officer at Oishii. “Oishii may be the future of farming, but we are still a farm.”

Grown in indoor vertical farms, Oishii’s berries are pesticide-free, non-GMO and available year-round. A tray of Omakase berries costs $11.99, while Koyo berries are $9.99.

The move follows Oishii’s growth, including a $134 million Series B funding in February and the opening of their largest farm in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, in June. This new facility enhances production capacity by over 20 times using advanced AI and robotics.

Information on farm market locations is available online.

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Growers and industry individuals can participate virtually.

The BTI’s 2024 Centennial Symposium is scheduled for Aug. 8-9 at its Ithaca, New York, headquarters.

The special two-day event promises to be an enriching experience filled with insightful talks, engaging discussions, and opportunities to connect, according to a news release.

“Our Institute only turns 100 once, and we would be honored to have you join us for this special occasion, either in-person or virtually,” according to the release.

Speakers include:

• Alexa Schmitz, co-founder & CEO of REEgen, a startup that uses bacteria to extract rare earth elements (REEs) from low-grade sources at low temperature and pressure.

• Daniel Voytas, professor at the University of Minnesota

• Eddie Watkins, professor of Biology at Colgate University

Career panel speakers:

• Eddie Watkins, professor of biology at Colgate University

• Julian Avila Pacheco, research scientist at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT

• Mariko Matsuda Alexander, editorial manager at Bio-Rad Laboratories

• Daniel Evanich, development scientist at New England Biolabs

• Rebecca Povilus, USDA geneticist and vegetable germplasm curator

Founded in 1924, the Ithaca, New York, institute is an independent nonprofit research institute affiliated with Cornell University that promotes plant science research to advance discoveries in plant sciences to develop sustainable and resilient agriculture, food insecurity and improve human health.

Read more about the symposium here.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded the funds for the institution to develop more sustainable ways to implement climate-smart agriculture (CSA) strategies.

The CSA strategies work to expand farming and food production while enhancing economic opportunities, providing important ecosystem services like clean water and air and creating healthy communities in New England, according to a news release.

“Approximately 75% of New England is made up of forests which can be challenging when trying to expand farming opportunities to meet the growing need for more sustainable ways to produce locally grown food,” Heidi Asbjornsen, a UNH professor of natural resources and the environment and principal investigator for the project said in the release. “But those forests also need to be preserved because they are a globally important carbon sink that absorbs and stores about 4.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year. We’re looking to develop ways to expand agriculture opportunities while also preserving that carbon storage which is crucial when addressing climate change.”

The five-year project, Promoting Climate-Smart Sustainable Agriculture in New England through Regionally Adapted Agroforestry Systems, is known as ADAPT. It will study agroforestry — the practice of integrating crop and animal farming in forested areas — to blend the two farming strategies into one united solution that reduces impacts on ecosystems and balances sustainable agriculture with climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience.

ADAPT will focus on three types of agroforestry suitable for the New England landscape:

• Silvopastures, which combines trees, pastures and livestock on the same land to provide multiple goods and services.

• Polycultures, which refer to systems that integrate trees and shrubs with diverse non-woody plant species to promote interactions that can increase productivity and resilience in urban food-forests and home gardens. Examples include alley cropping, windbreaks and buffers along waterways that can protect nearby rivers, streams and wetlands.

• Forest farming systems, where intermediate-to high-shade tolerant crops are cultivated beneath a forest canopy so landowners can harvest timber as well as non-timber products, including medicinal plants, tree syrups, mushrooms and other wild edible and floriculture crops.

In the long term, researchers anticipate the project will contribute to increasing local food production in New England by 15% and annual carbon sequestration by five million tons, will foster new agroforestry market opportunities; and will enhance New England’s capacity to balance food production with the benefits that forests provide, according to the release.

“Other regions in the country have done similar research on agroforestry but there really hasn’t been a lot of related research here in New England which makes it challenging to make informed decisions,” Asbjornsen said in the release. “One of our goals with this project is to establish a center for agroforestry research, education, and extension, which would also offer a training program in agroforestry for landowners, producers, managers, educators and other decision makers focused on adapting agroforestry practices to the New England landscape.”

UNH will partner with Dartmouth College and Yale University to bring a range of complementary resources and expertise. The three-prong approach is to co-develop, implement and evaluate climate resilient agroforestry systems. UNH’s Cooperative Extension forestry and agricultural teams will provide training and technical support in agroforestry practices across diverse populations. Researchers will provide education to enhance knowledge of agroforestry as a climate-smart strategy to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, increase market opportunities and enhance regionally appropriate climate adaptation and resilience, according to the release.

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The funding is part of $300 million allocated to 66 U.S. organizations under the USDA’s new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), designed to build demand for American food and farm exports in high-potential markets worldwide.

Fruit concerns include:

• Washington Apple Commission, $7 million
• Pear Bureau Northwest, $4 million
• California Cherry Marketing and Research Board, $750,000
• Cherry Marketing Institute, $450,000
• U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, $1.3 million,
• Cranberry Institute, $1 million
• California Table Grape Commission, $3.3 million
• California Prune Board, $4.2 million
• California Fresh Fruit Association, $1 million
• California Agricultural Export Council, $1 million
• Washington State Fruit Commission, $900,000
• New York Wine and Grape Foundation, $1.3 million,
• Northwest Wine Promotion Coalition, $2.4 million
• Organic Trade Association, $2.5 million

The full list of recipients is here.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack authorized $1.2 billion in Commodity Credit Corp. funding in launching RAPP to help U.S. exporters expand their customer base beyond established markets, focusing on regions including Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.

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The over 70,000 square foot facility will be named the National Grape Improvement Center and will house the ARS Grape Genetics Research Unit and ARS Plant Genetic Resources Unit. In addition, four Cornell grapevine research projects will move into the research facility.

“Ag research conducted by USDA and Cornell University will both enhance U.S. grape production and ensure farmers are better able to fight the impacts of climate change,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. “The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to work with Leader Schumer to invest in the USDA-ARS National Grape Improvement Center, which in turn helps maintain our nation’s food security while also building a stronger and more resilient food system.”

ARS and university employees will focus on research to advance grape production through interdisciplinary research, breeding and technology transfer. Their work will aim to enhance grape production efficiency, profitability and sustainability for the United States grape industry.

“The USDA-ARS National Grape Improvement Center will provide an excellent platform for deepening the productive synergies in grape research between ARS and Cornell University and will offer tremendous opportunities for collaboration,” said ARS Administrator Dr. Simon Liu. “This facility will provide our researchers with greater resources to continue the pioneering work that has cultivated a legacy of innovation and enhanced grape quality worldwide.”

The partnership between ARS and Cornell University brings together researchers with diverse skills and knowledge to develop technology that will solve agricultural challenges impacting farmers, producers and consumers nationwide.

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Then, they await the arrival of one of the most vital contributors to the success of many crops … the bees, which along with other pollinators (butterflies, bats, birds) are responsible for billions of dollars in economic value within the U.S.

Articles have been printed, including “The Value of Pollinators To The Ecosystem And Our Economy” (Forbes, October 2019), that discuss the economic importance of pollinators related to food production.

Pollinators and plants rely on one another for mutual survival. A similar symbiosis occurs between the farmer, their community and the consumer. Pollination is the tie that binds us.

We, and most apple packers, have firsthand knowledge of the domino effect that a “light set,” or poor pollination, has on an apple crop. Not only does it affect the livelihood of farm families, but it also has a direct impact on businesses that support the farms, market availability, food supply and the local economy.

Many agricultural segments rely on hives of European honeybees for pollination. However, a thriving population of native pollinators has been recognized as a sustainable supplement to the honeybee. We can support native pollinators by growing indigenous species of plants.

Evolved to be the best suited for our respective soil, climate and seasons, native plants attract and feed native pollinators. When natural habitats thrive, the creatures that provide pollination stay close and do their best work.

Having this type of knowledge made me ask myself what steps we could take to improve the likelihood of consistent successful pollination, as well as make sure that pollinators of all kinds were not just able to survive, but to flourish.

Through this exploration, I discovered the concept of a pollinator sanctuary. Behind the Rice Fruit Company packing facilities, there was a patch of land — once an orchard — that proved to be the perfect setting for phase one of our pollinator sanctuary.

What used to be a vacant field is now bordered by newly planted crab apple trees, a collection of native trees, grasses, and flowering perennials and annuals. Not only does this space encourage the mutually beneficial relationship between native plants and pollinators, it also provides an attractive green space within walking distance for our employees’ enjoyment.

For phase two and three of the project, we will partner with The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay for a lawn-to-forest planting as well as a lawn-to meadow conversion. The lawn-to-forest planting will consist of regionally specific trees that will create a riparian forest buffer.

Riparian buffers are vegetated areas next to streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands that protect water quality by intercepting sediment and other pollutants before they enter the water. Within the Chesapeake Bay Area Watershed, reduction of water runoff into local streams and rivers is extremely important.

The converted meadowlands will serve as bonus habitat sanctuary, as well as reducing the need for lawn mowing. Between the pollinator sanctuary, the forest buffer and the meadowlands, the end goal is to have something growing undisturbed during all seasons.

While bees hibernate and butterflies migrate, having shelter and a food source always available will help give native pollinators a running start when spring begins. We know that the growing season is a marathon, not a sprint … but that kickstart can make all the difference in the end.

One of the questions we’ve gotten in the past in response to this project was, “Do you really expect one pollinator habitat to make a difference?”

I believe that as a small business and a member of a rural community, Rice Fruit Company helps to set the tone for environmental priorities within our local area.

Perhaps this inspires a neighborhood to start a community garden or encourages another business to make their own pollinator sanctuary garden. By taking small steps in protecting these vital insects and their habitats, we can create more sustainable environments for our food sources.

Over time, these little changes add up to big change — and do you know what that is called? The butterfly effect.

By strengthening our common ties, we can ensure the long-term vitality of our food sources. The results of taking initiative, educating yourself in the value of these relationships and supporting the creatures that allow us to continue to grow and provide food is a benefit to everyone: cleaner air, purer water, more fruits, more vegetables … more of the good stuff.

About the author

Valerie M. Ramsburg is the digital and print marketing manager for Rice Fruit Company, and a member of the Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under Forty Class of 2023 honorees. She is also a member of the U.S. Apple Communications Committee and is responsible for the implementation of the Rice Fruit Company pollinator garden initiative.

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