Moffitt Appointed to Pear & Apple Position

Moffitt Appointed to Pear & Apple Position. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest, has been named president of the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA). What does that mean for NW producers?

MOFFITT: I hope to be able to continue to make great contacts from these apple and pear producers around the world which just help us obtain information as needed not only what’s coming out of WAPA but I might be able to call somebody for example we met with some people from Belgium and talked about how they got access to China.

This is the 10th anniversary for the organization, which was founded to provide a forum for apple and pear producing countries around the globe.

MOFFITT: Other issues we’re working through and I want to continue to work hard on is sharing information on how other countries are promoting. What kind of techniques they’re using because we can always learn from each other in terms of communication messaging or contest or retail programs that work.

He says he hopes to help steer the direction of WAPA.

MOFFITT: So as president I’ll be able to put things forward that are more of interest to our industry for example pushing other countries to consider ripening pears with ethylene which increases consumption and more consumption of pears overall is better for all of us because it reduces the supply and pears flow from one country to another and is something that can benefit all of us.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.