The gavel passes from outgoing chair Mike Preacher to Michigan grower Chris Alpers, USApple’s chair for 2021-22. Congrats Chris!!👏 pic.twitter.com/vbp7xiKHnc
— USApple (@usapples) August 20, 2021
The U.S. Apple Association’s new chair is bringing a Michigan perspective to the national organization.
Chris Alpers is a third-generation grower from Redpath Orchards, just north of Lake Leelanau. He’s been involved in leadership with USApple since 2014.
“I’m excited for the future for sure,” he says. “This next year, there’s certainly some challenges that we’ll have to overcome, but I’m happy to be Michigan’s voice on a stage that’s typically dominated by Washington state—the largest producer of apples in the country.”
One of the biggest policy challenges Alpers plans on addressing in his new role is the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.
“That has passed the House, and we’re desperately trying to get the Senate to take that up,” says Alpers. “It would help up with some labor issues. As a grower, I’m speaking for a lot of my colleagues that labor is certainly our biggest issue and what keeps us up at night.”
Trade also remains a main area of focus.
“As a nation, we export about one-third of the country’s crop,” says Alpers. “U.S. apple exports have taken a hit over the recent few years due to retaliatory tariffs. Our goal is to continue to keep working with our export partners, particularly India, where we’ve seen the biggest decline and hope to regain some of those international markets.”
As for how things are shaping up in Michigan? 18 million bushes of apples are expected to be harvested in the state this year.
“I’m really excited—the quality across the state looks fantastic from north to south,” he says. “There’s going to be plenty of Michigan apples on retail shelves for consumers to enjoy.”
