Mark W. Seetin, director of regulatory and industry affairs for the U.S. Apple Association, headquartered in Vienna, VA, said the association was still gathering apple crop projections, but he noted that the association releases the U.S. apple projections at the 2013 Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference, being held Aug. 22-23 at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago.

Peter Forrence, vice president of Forrence Orchards in Peru, NY, told The Produce News on Aug. 6, that there were no foreseeable glitches in the company’s current crop of apples.

“We were among the more fortunate in New York last year in that we didn’t suffer crop damage,” Forrence said.

“Overall, the state was down by about 50 percent. Our crop this year may be just slightly smaller than last year’s, but everything is in place for a good harvest, storage and enough high-quality apples to get us through to next summer.”

“This year we replaced the entire engine room that runs our full operation,” Lee Peters, vice president of sales and marketing for Fowler Farms in Wolcott, NY, told The Produce News on Aug. 12. “This was a major investment by the Fowler family. But it provides us with better controls, monitors and probes. We are very excited about the apples we’ll be bringing out of storage next spring and summer because this new technology will ensure that we’ll have the best quality fruit available anywhere.”

Mucci Farms, a leading greenhouse grower based in Kingsville, ON, announced the hiring of a new business development manager and a new satellite location in San Antonio, TX.

The Southeast Produce Council will be announcing those selected for the 2014 STEP-UPP class during the president’s dinner dance at its fall conference, scheduled for Sept. 26-28 in Myrtle Beach, SC. This program is available for retail and foodservice members of the Southeast Produce Council.

Crunch Pak, an industry leader in fresh sliced apples, is offering a back-to-school promotion via its electronic billboard in New York City's Time Square.

Beginning Aug. 18, the electronic billboard will carry a message asking consumers to "text the word APPLES to the number 65047" for a special offer. When consumers do so, they will be sent a link to a coupon for $1 off any size package of Crunch Pak sliced apples.