Two young men from Ohio are among 21 individuals recently named to the U.S. Apple Association’s (USApple) class of 2019 Young Apple Leaders. Members of the group, including Alex Buck of Fruit Growers Marketing Association in Kent, and Jim Norkus of Norkus Orchards in Salem will join with, and learn from, USApple leaders as they discuss important issues affecting growers and the $15 billion-per-year apple industry.

The 2019 class will hit the ground running on March 13 as part of USApple’s Capitol Hill Day. Joining USApple members from across the nation, the young leaders will meet with members of Congress to discuss hard-hitting issues affecting the apple industry’s future.

“The 2019 Young Apple Leaders class is the largest in USApple history, and the industry is fortunate to have so many bright young people who want to be involved,” says Jim Bair, president and CEO of USApple. “These young leaders are enthusiastic and eager to make a difference. Whether it is tariffs that are damaging our export markets, or the need for labor to harvest our crops, they understand what is being debated and decided in Washington today will have long-term implications for the next generation of apple producers; and they want to be in a position to help shape that policy.”

The YAL program is designed to equip the next generation of American apple growers and leaders with an understanding of federal regulatory and legislative apple issues, and it provides an opportunity to learn from peers and apple leaders from around the country. Young apple growers and individuals in apple-related businesses who are at the start of their career through the age of 35 are eligible to participate. Now in its 10th year, the YAL program has been a great success in grooming future leaders. Several previous participants have already worked their way up through committees and onto the USApple board of directors.

Sponsors of the 2019 YAL program include: California Apple Commission, Columbia Fruit Packers, Domex Superfresh Growers, Farm Credit East, Hudson River Fruit Distributors, Knouse Foods Cooperative Inc., the Michigan Apple Committee, New York Apple Sales Inc., the Ohio Apples Marketing Program, Northwest Farm Credit Services, Sage Fruit, Wilbur-Ellis and Yakima Fresh.

Source: USApple, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.