USApple acts as industry advocate in Washington DC

WASHINGTON DC — Where there is information, there is misinformation, and one of the jobs of USApple is to combat misinformation that’s out there. Jim Bair, president and chief executive officer, cited the case of an applesauce recall over concerns about elevated levels of lead. “It was a cinnamon-flavored applesauce; the lead was coming from the cinnamon,” Bair said. “In fact, the applesauce was imported, as was the cinnamon. It wasn’t even a U.S. product. But consumers, all they hear is ‘applesauce is bad.’ So we try to provide information to make that messaging something that’s useful to the consumer,” Bair said. USApple is supported by growers, packers, processors and other groups in the apple industry to advocate for industry interests at the federal level, as well as working to provide accurate information about apples and apple production.