New USApple officers & board members seated

The official apple gavel was passed from 2013/14 U.S. Apple Association (USApple) Chairman Chris Britton (BK Partners, Modesto, CA) to incoming chairman Mark Nicholson (Red Jacket Orchards, Inc., Geneva, NY) at the association’s annual Apple Crop Outlook and Marketing Conference in Chicago, IL.

Other incoming officers joining Nicholson are Vice Chairman Mike Wade of Columbia Fruit Packers, Inc., Wenatchee, WA, and Secretary Jon Alegria of CPC International Apple Co., Tieton, WA. John Graden of Crunch Pak, LLC, Cashmere, WA, will remain treasurer, and Britton will continue to serve as immediate past chairman.

Mark Boyer (Ridgetop Orchards, LLC, Fishertown, PA) joins USApple’s executive committee, and Steve Clement (Sage Fruit Company, Yakima, WA) comes on the board. Clement fills the vacancy of outgoing board member Dale Foreman, who has a long history of serving the industry, including as chairman of both USApple and Washington Apple Commission (WAC) and being honoured as the 2013 Apple Citizen of the Year at the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee.

Diane Smith (Michigan Apple Committee, Lansing, MI) replaces Todd Fryhover (WAC, Wenatchee, WA) as this year’s state association board member.

Please visit U.S. Apple Association (USApple) website for more information.