The US Apple Association (USApple), which represents all segments of the apple industry nationwide, recently elected four industry leaders to join its board of trustees.
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Steve Balderston, Bryan Bixby, Jeff Colombini and Barry Winkel were elected as interim trustees to fill the vacancies left by four retiring board members.
“We are delighted to have these industry leaders step up to the plate at a time when our industry needs them most,” said USApple president and CEO Kraig R. Naasz: “Each new board member sprang into action at our March board and committee meetings, and demonstrated they have the desire and knowledge to lead the industry.”
Balderston operates Colora Orchards in Colora, Md., a 150-acre orchard located just outside of Baltimore. He is active on the Maryland Apple Promotion Board, the Maryland Horticultural Society, and the Cecil County and Maryland Farm Bureau. Balderston succeeds Robert Black of Catoctin Mountain Orchards in Thurmont, Md.
Bixby is a third-generation apple grower from Berrien, Mich., and works on his family’s orchard, Bixby Orchards. He is the current vice chairman of the Michigan Apple Committee, member of the Michigan Farm Bureau young farmer committee, and chairman of the Berrien County Farm Bureau state and federal affairs committee. Bixby succeeds Mike Evans of Evans Orchard in Frankfort, Mich.
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By GlobalDataNew board member Colombini is president of Lodi Farming, Inc., in Stockton, Calif., and farms 1,500 acres of apples, cherries, wine grapes and walnuts in the San Joaquin Valley. A graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, Colombini is a board member of the California Apple Commission. Colombini succeeds Jane Logoluso of Frank A. Logoluso Farms in Madera, Calif.
Winkel, who boasts more than 25 years of industry experience, is the general manager and partner of Greg Orchards and Produce, Inc., in Berrien, Mich. He is the president of the Michigan Apple Shippers Association and is active in the Southwest Michigan Horticulture Group. Winkel will complete the term of Pamela Schwallier of Great Lakes Fruit & Produce, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.
These four new board members join USApple’s twenty current trustees on the association’s governing body. Balderston and Bixby were elected as regional trustees to represent the state and regional member associations in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions, respectively. Colombini and Winkel were elected as regular trustees to represent the grower and shipper segments of the industry. USApple’s 24 member board is comprised of 15 regional trustees and nine regular trustees.
