Haskins Named President, CEO of New York Apple Association

New York Apple Association is starting the new year off with Cynthia Haskins at the helm as its new president and chief executive officer.
 
“I am thrilled to partner with New York Apple Association’s dedicated board, committed staff and critical partners to expand brand recognition and consumption of New York apples and products,” said Haskins.
 
“This is an ideal leadership opportunity to marry my passion for working with growers and industry to expand markets locally, nationally and globally.”
 

Haskins

Haskins joins the association with extensive background in the produce industry, having worked with organizations such as The Oppenheimer Group, Washington Apple Commission, Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, Dole, Sunkist, Missouri Department of Agriculture, and most recently Illinois Farm Bureau.
 
“We welcome Cynthia’s vast experience and leadership to the New York apple community,” said Jason Woodworth, chairman of the New York Apple Association’s board of directors.
 
“Cynthia has a results-oriented approach and a broad background that will serve our diverse industry well,” he said.
 
The New York Apple Association promotes demand for New York state-produced and -packed apples and apple products, through promotional and educational work with retailers and other handlers, consumers, processors and others. The association also works with state and federal legislators and regulators.
 
New York is the second largest apple-producing state in the country, after Washington state.
 
“Cynthia’s experience in the domestic and international apple industries – coupled with her skills in marketing, association management and government relations – will be strong assets as we look to the future,” said Woodworth.
 
Haskins succeeds Jim Allen, who retired Jan. 2 after a 20-year career with NYAA, including 16 years as president.

Apples Are the Focus of Ag Literacy Week

From Empire Farm & Dairy magazine:

Beautiful New York Empire apples

By DEBRA J. GROOM
Empire Farm & Dairy
 
Apples are going to be the focus for this year’s Ag Literacy Week.
 
Volunteers across New York state will go into elementary schools March 14 through 18 to read the book “The Apple Orchard Riddle” to second-graders as part of Ag Literacy Week.
 

This event is held each year around the time of National Agriculture Day (March 15) to help bring agriculture into the classroom. A book about a different farm product or aspect of farming is chosen each year to be read in second-grade classrooms throughout the state. The elementary schools are given copies of the book and teachers and the readers discuss the book with the students.
 
There are also related activities that tie in to make this experience fun and engaging.
 
“The Apple Orchard Riddle,” written by Margaret McNamara and illustrated by G. Brian Karas, takes children on the journey of Mr. Tiffin’s class taking a field trip to the apple orchard were they will learn every aspect of the farm, including how apples are harvested, the process of making cider and the many different varieties of apples.
 
While the class picks their apples and checks out the farm, Mr. Tiffin gives them all a riddle to ponder.
 
The book was chosen because of the importance of apples in New York’s economy. New York ranks second in the United States in apple production and the state has more apple varieties than any other state. 

The apple industry also provides more than 17,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state and there are more than 680 producers growing apples on more than 55,000 acres. New York apples go not only for fresh eating and cider, but also for sauce, apple pie filling and even for alcoholic spirits and hard cider.
 
Anyone interested in reading in a classroom for Ag Literacy Week should go to http://www.agclassroom.org/ny/programs/pdf/login/coordinator_list.pdf  to see the Ag Literacy Day contact for their particular county.  

Volunteers who go into the classrooms to read the book usually are somehow connected with agriculture — such as dairy princesses, master gardeners, farmers, Cooperative Extension agents, etc. But anyone can volunteer to read.
 
Now in its 11th year, Ag Literacy Week is sponsored by the New York Ag in the Classroom program. Some of the other topics children learned about in previous years were beekeeping, poultry, maple, weaving fibers, cheese, tree farming, seeds and gardening.
 
For more information, go to www.agclassroom.org/ny/programs/literacy.htm.

Apples Created at New York State Agricultural Experiment Station

Susan Brown has helped create some of the most beloved apples in New York state.

 Read about her and her work here: http://www.syracuse.com/empire/index.ssf/2015/09/mother_of_apple_invention_meet_the_woman_research_center_behind_nys_newest_apple.html#incart_river_home

Apples created at the New York Ag Experiment Station: http://www.syracuse.com/empire/index.ssf/2015/09/meet_the_apples_7_varieties_developed_in_new_york.html#incart_river_home

Apple Association Unveils New Website

Right before the apple harvest in September, the New York Apple Association has revamped its website at NYAppleCountry.com

The refreshed site features:

** profiles on 24 of New York state's top apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, Gala, and McIntosh
** almost 100 recipes using apples or apple products
** facts about the New York apple industry and apples in general as well as frequently asked questions
** a large nutrition section, including apple Nutrition Facts, health and weight benefits of eating apples and research updates from New York Apple Association Consulting Dietitian Linda Quinn, of Syracuse.

"Our goal is to be New York state apple fans' 'go to' resource for apple information," said Jim Allen, apple association president. "So we've provided everything we think they'll want in one attractive, easy-to-use site."
  

Apples Are A Comin'

Wow! Check this out.

Thanks to the New York Apple Association for posting this photo of baby Empire apples. Looks like the bees did good work and we'll be enjoying these beauties this fall.