The Fruit Growers News

This letter is in response to Matt McCallum’s editorial in the March issue. I too, do not believe Michigan apple growers are very well informed. As a member of the Public Affairs Committee I was a guest at the recent U.S. Apple Association (USApple) board meeting. I was shocked to learn that the Michigan Apple Committee is no longer a team player. The issue is the proposed increase in the USApple assessment. When I attended my first NAI (now USApple) meeting in 1962, the assessment was two mils. Today it is four mils, certainly far short of the increase in inflation. The New York assessment for fresh apples has gone up over five times during that period, so there is no question that the national assessment has not kept pace.

Over the same period I have worked with many outstanding leaders of the Michigan apple industry, from Ivan Stein to Ed Wittenbach. They have always been team players, willing to subordinate their own position for the greater good of the team. If we read the minutes of the last executive committee meeting of the Michigan Apple Commitee, not only is Michigan not supporting the increase, but certain individuals are playing the “dog in the manger,” causing considerable disruption in the organization’s procedures.

Several years ago there was a proposal put forth to do a joint Empire promotion between Michigan, Western New York Apple Growers, and New York – New England Apple Institute. This proposal was shot down by Michigan. I have often wondered if the success the Empire has enjoyed in New York could have been duplicated in Michigan if that program had been carried out. The average returns for Empires, the number-one variety, from one of the larger packinghouses in New York this season was $146 per bin for apples packed through Dec. 31. I’m sure many Michigan growers would have killed for that number.

I certainly hope, as Matt suggested, that the Michigan Apple Committee members did not know what they were voting on. If they did, they were following a Pied Piper. These are the most difficult times I have seen in the apple business. And there are more coming. If the U.S. apple industry is to survive, we must work together at the national level. After all, as Jack Kennedy said, “A rising tide raises all boats.” For Michigan to try to play the last man standing game at this time would not be wise. Washington may be bloodied, but they can still produce a high quality product very cheaply. They’ll still be standing when the commercial industries of both New York and Michigan are gone. Yet they are smart enough to choose not to play that game. Wake up Michigan! The world has changed! The only way for any of us to survive is to build a strong national organization. We will either hang together or we will hang separately.

The directors of the New York Apple Association, at their meeting March 14, amended their previous position on the increased USApple assessment. They are now supporting the increase without the contingency that all major regions also support it. In essence, they said to Michigan “we’re not going to let you wreck the national program.” Michigan apple growers, what’s your response?



		New York Won’t Let Michigan Wreck the National Program This letter is in response to Matt McCallum’s editorial in the March issue. I too, do not believe Michigan apple growers are very well informed. As a member of the Public Affairs Committee I was a guest at the recent U.S. Apple Association (USApple) board meeting. I was shocked to learn that the Michigan Apple Committee is no longer a team player. The issue is the proposed increase in the USApple assessment. When I attended my first NAI (now USApple) meeting in 1962, the assessment was two mils. Today it is four mils, certainly far short of the increase in inflation. The New York assessment for fresh apples has gone up over five times during that period, so there is no question that the national assessment has not kept pace. Over the same period I have worked with many outstanding leaders of the Michigan apple industry, from Ivan Stein to Ed Wittenbach. They have always been team players, willing to subordinate their own position for the greater good of the team. If we read the minutes of the last executive committee meeting of the Michigan Apple Commitee, not only is Michigan not supporting the increase, but certain individuals are playing the “dog in the manger,” causing considerable disruption in the organization’s procedures. Several years ago there was a proposal put forth to do a joint Empire promotion between Michigan, Western New York Apple Growers, and New York – New England Apple Institute. This proposal was shot down by Michigan. I have often wondered if the success the Empire has enjoyed in New York could have been duplicated in Michigan if that program had been carried out. The average returns for Empires, the number-one variety, from one of the larger packinghouses in New York this season was $146 per bin for apples packed through Dec. 31. I’m sure many Michigan growers would have killed for that number. I certainly hope, as Matt suggested, that the Michigan Apple Committee members did not know what they were voting on. If they did, they were following a Pied Piper. These are the most difficult times I have seen in the apple business. And there are more coming. If the U.S. apple industry is to survive, we must work together at the national level. After all, as Jack Kennedy said, “A rising tide raises all boats.” For Michigan to try to play the last man standing game at this time would not be wise. Washington may be bloodied, but they can still produce a high quality product very cheaply. They’ll still be standing when the commercial industries of both New York and Michigan are gone. Yet they are smart enough to choose not to play that game. Wake up Michigan! The world has changed! The only way for any of us to survive is to build a strong national organization. We will either hang together or we will hang separately. The directors of the New York Apple Association, at their meeting March 14, amended their previous position on the increased USApple assessment. They are now supporting the increase without the contingency that all major regions also support it. In essence, they said to Michigan “we’re not going to let you wreck the national program.” Michigan apple growers, what’s your response? George F. Lamont Apple grower Albion, N.Y.

Copyright 2001 Great American Publishing The Fruit Growers News 343 South Union Street - PO Box 128 - Sparta, MI 49345 Phone 616-887-9008 - Fax 616-887-2666 - email All Rights Reserved