The Fruit Growers News

Dear Mr. McCallum, I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for your well-written editorial in the February Fruit Growers News. At a time when the apple industry is experiencing tough marketing conditions, many growers might be inclined to vote their wallets without thinking of a bigger picture. The troublesome issues that confront our industry are many and without organizations like the U.S. Apple Association (USApple) we would have no one to effectively fight these battles in Washington. You have done a great job of summarizing some of the issues that have been and continue to be addressed by USApple. As chair of the science subcommittee I can tell you that USApple has been very much engaged in the FQPA process. Jim Cranney has spent untold hours in meetings with regulators, registrants, scientists and growers to make certain that our pesticide tools are not eliminated without a fight. I have attended meetings where apples with insect damage have been displayed to the folks at EPA who are attempting to see the process through. We have been adamant that science be the basis for decision-making and have successfully thwarted efforts by the environmental groups to have whole classes of chemicals removed. This fight is far from over. At the very least we have bought some time so that new crop protecting chemicals can be developed and tested commercially. This is but one example of having an organization fighting a tough battle on behalf of the entire industry. I hope that your growers will pass both of your ballot questions. I wish them well as we are all in this together.