Of the six members of the U.S. Apple Association’s emerging leader program, the NextGen Apple Fellowship, two come from the Pacific Northwest. Tim Cote is a projects analyst and Director of Orchard Safety for AgriMACS in Yakima, noted while he was initially nervous about being named to the 2022 NextGen Apple Fellowship class, he’s looking forward to tackling some of the biggest issues impacting the local tree fruit industry. And on the top of that list is Ag labor, which he noted is a priority for US Apple as an organization.

“To enact meaningful ag labor reform into law, and prevent onerous regulations and enforce mechanisms on apple employers, and I think that hits the nail on the head with what we’re experiencing in north central Washington.”

The other Northwest representative in this year’s class is John Cary, Director of Planning and Analytics at Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee. According to USApple the program will provide participants with career development, one-on-one mentoring, hands-on advocacy experience, community service work and many other leadership opportunities.

Other participants come from New York, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com

More From PNW Ag Network