The Fruit Growers News


By now I hope that apple growers in Michigan know that many growers outside of your state are extremely interested in the results of your upcoming referendum. That is because growers from all over the country have a lot at stake. Here in Pennsylvania, we have worked cooperatively with Michigan on many projects, to help sell our fresh apples overseas and our processed apple products here. The successful Processing Apple Show-Off and the remarkable U.S. Apple Export Council, which receives half of its funding from the USDA, have demonstrated the value of working together. These programs would not be possible without the Michigan Apple Committee. At the national level, Michigan has provided numerous leaders to address the common problems of the apple industry. Ed Wittenbach, who is the Immediate Past Chairman of USApple, is an excellent example. Michigan leaders have been very important in setting the direction of USApple. And Michigan legislators have provided key support to our industry, most recently helping to pass the legislation, which distributed $270 million in direct economic assistance to apple growers in the last two years. But these payments would not have been made without the involvement of the USApple. In 1989, when I was chairman of the IAI (now USApple), our industry faced a huge crisis. An environmentalist group was able to convince the media that apples treated with Alar were likely to cause cancer in children. Even though this accusation had no basis in fact, the apple industry was unprepared to react. Today USApple is prepared. For years now we have participated in scientific discussions with the EPA about important chemicals under review. And now we have a crisis communications program in place to make sure that this kind of hoax cannot happen again. USApple has been able to take a more proactive approach because, back in 1989, Michigan, along with the other major apple growing states, voted to increase their dues to the national association from three mils per bushel to four mils per bushel (approximately one cent per cwt.). That allowed our national association to expand its staff so that we could begin to have a significant presence in the governmental and regulatory offices of Washington, D.C. Today the problems we face as an industry are more serious than Alar, because they are not likely to go away in a few years. Our vital farm chemicals are under constant attack. (We would have lost Guthion and Imidan already if USApple had not intervened.) China looms as a huge threat to the long-term viability of our industry. Fresh Chinese apples have already been unloaded in Canada. Trade barriers to U.S. exports are still being erected, most notably in Mexico, the largest export market for American apples. USApple is working to remove those barriers. When economic aid to farmers is discussed in Washington, apple growers have traditionally been overlooked. USApple is changing that. And USApple continues to sponsor and publicize research, which proves that apples have health benefits that even we didn’t know about a few years ago.

But to do this expanded work, USApple needs precious resources. That is why all of the major apple producing states, except Michigan, voted in 2000 to increase their dues in USApple from four mils to eight mils, phased in over five years. This year the other apple states are paying seven mils (.7 cents) per bushel into USApple. That will rise to .8 cents per bushel (1.9 cents per cwt.) for the 2004 crop year. Here in Pennsylvania, most growers feel that the money we pay into USApple is the best investment we make with our assessments. It has certainly provided the greatest return to our growers. Now Michigan, like other apple areas, is having serious financial problems. The budget of the Michigan Apple Committee is strained. So are the budgets of most Michigan apple growers. USApple has been working actively to provide disaster payments for Michigan growers. But the effectiveness of USApple depends on the willingness of all the apple-growing regions to work together. We need Michigan to re-join its long-time partners to make sure that USApple remains strong and effective. We cannot afford to see Michigan drop out of USApple. Michigan apple growers cannot afford it. There is too much at stake. I hope that Michigan growers will vote in favor of the referendum questions to continue the Michigan Apple Committee, and to raise the funds necessary to keep Michigan as a strong and important member of USApple.