New Leaders At USApple And American/Western Fruit Grower Will Help You Grow [Opinion]
February 26, 2014 
Jim Bair brings an interesting perspective to his leadership role at USApple. He’s not coming from apples — he’s spent most of his career in grain — but that’s a good thing. Bringing in someone from the outside is an excellent way to see things from a new point of view and inject some fresh ideas and energy in the battles we fight daily.
You’ll get to know a little more about Jim and his priorities for the association in a GrowingProduce.com profile this month. It’s clear that he and USApple are zeroed in on the explosion of interest and demand for fresh, local produce. And USApple’s Young Apple Leaders is an exciting program that ties in very nicely with American/Western Fruit Grower’s GenNext Growers initiative.
We look forward to working side-by-side with Jim and USApple on these efforts. They’re moving our industry forward.
That brings us to another new leader. For those of you stopping on this page expecting to find David Eddy and his insightful commentary on the fruit industry, don’t worry. You’ll now find his column in the back of the magazine.
Dave has been our Western Fruit Grower Editor for the last several years focusing on fruit production west of the Rockies. We’re excited to announce that beginning this month, he will extend his editorial oversight to national coverage of the fruit industry as Editor of the American/Western Fruit Grower brand.
Dave’s deep understanding of what’s important to you as a fruit grower, whether you have 4 acres or 4,000, means you’ll continue to find the valuable production, varieties, technology, and business information you have come to expect from American/Western Fruit Grower over the years.
So why am I here? Starting this month, I am rejoining the American Fruit Grower team as Group Editor working closely with David Eddy and Copy Editor Christina Herrick.
Some of you may remember me, but for those of you who don’t, I started my journalism career as a staff writer with American Fruit Grower and American Vegetable Grower back in 1998 and spent the next eight years as a writer and editor covering fruit and vegetable production for the magazines.
Since 2007 I’ve been learning the ins and outs of greenhouse production and garden retail with Meister Media Worldwide’s publications for the ornamentals market, Greenhouse Grower and Today’s Garden Center. Over the years I was able to apply the lessons I learned about growing and produce on the ornamentals side, and now I’m excited to bring some of that protected production, marketing, and retail perspective back to American Fruit Grower.
Finally, I’d like to acknowledge the contributions of our previous Editor, Brian Sparks. Brian is moving on to new responsibilities with Meister Media Worldwide and will be sharing his knowledge on farm markets and fresh produce with our Today’s Garden Center publication. Fruits and vegetables are a booming category for retail garden centers. Brian’s experience will be a tremendous benefit for both garden retailers and the magazine.
I‘ve worked closely with both Brian and David for more than a decade. We appreciate Brian’s leadership and commitment to the nation’s fruit growers over the last 13 years and we’re excited about everything Dave has planned to help you do your jobs more efficiently and profitably. We’re anxious to get started.
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