Applications are open in the United States for the 2026 NextGen Apple Fellowship, a program providing training, mentoring, and industry engagement for early-career professionals working across the apple supply chain. Recipients will be announced in February, according to USApple, the national trade organization that sponsors the initiative.
Steve Smith, chair of USApple's board and vice-president of marketing for Washington Fruit in Yakima, described the fellowship as an entry point for younger professionals seeking sector knowledge. "It's a way for young entrants in the industry to develop an informational background on the industry," Smith said.
Applicants must be 35 years old or younger and currently working in the apple industry. The program is open to growers and individuals in related fields such as packing, shipping, marketing, labor relations, retail, product development, and beekeeping. Previous cohorts have included participants from Michigan, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Texas, Ohio, and Washington State.
The fellowship evolved from USApple's Young Apple Leaders program. According to Lynsee Gibbons, USApple director of communications, the NextGen structure expands on earlier programming. "The YAL used to attend our annual Capitol Hill Day. The NextGen group attends Capitol Hill Day as well as two other travel events and monthly virtual meetings."
The program runs from February through December. It begins with a spring meeting in Washington, D.C., followed by attendance at USApple's annual Apple Outlook conference in the summer, with a third meeting in the fall. Participants also meet monthly in virtual sessions.
A mentorship component pairs participants with an industry professional for one-on-one engagement. The curriculum includes exposure to federal regulatory and legislative issues and meetings with sector leaders. Participants also complete a group project, produce a video for USApple's video series, contribute to social media updates, and carry out individual assignments.
Applicants must submit a one- to two-minute video explaining their interest in the program, along with a letter of recommendation from an industry, community, or academic leader. Applications should be sent to [email protected].
Source: Columbia Basin Herald
