Michigan apple leaders appointed to national advisory board
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Denise Donohue
(800) 456-2753
(DeWitt, Mich.) – Three Michigan Apple leaders have earned positions on the governing board for U.S. Apple Association (USApple), the nonprofit organization that strives to provide all segments of the national apple industry the means to profitably produce and market apples and apple products.
- Julia Rothwell of Grand Rapids has been re-elected to the USApple Board of Directors for which she has served since 2002. She was elected Vice Chair of the Association and will serve as Chair of the Public Affairs Committee. She has been involved on the state level as a member of the Michigan Apple Committee Board of Directors since 2001.
- Denise Donohue, Executive Director of the Michigan Apple Committee, of DeWitt has been elected to the USApple Board of Directors; and will serve on the Education Committee. Donohue has served as MAC Director since 2003.
- Fred Leitz of Sodus, a fruit and vegetable grower, has been elected to the USApple Board of Directors for the first time. Leitz has been particularly vocal on the need for a viable guest worker program. He is the Eastern Vice President of the National Council of Agricultural Employers.
USApple serves three primary goals:
- represent the entire industry on national issues;
- increase the demand for apples and apple products; and
- provide information on matters pertaining to the apple industry.
Michigan is the third largest producer of apples in the nation, behind Washington and New York. With apples grown commercially in 36 different states and marketed throughout the world, USApple unifies a diverse industry.
USApple's governing board of trustees is comprised of 24 elected members responsible for guiding USApple's mission and activities. The executive committee of the board, along with several working committees, addresses the concerns of the industry as a whole. The USApple staff is responsible for carrying out the day-to-day operations as determined by the board of trustees.
The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded, nonprofit organization devoted to promotion, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption by consumers in Michigan and around the world.