Brett Baker, president of United Apple Sales, has been elected the U.S. Apple Association’s board chairman for the 2024-25 term.
Baker was raised on a fruit and vegetable farm in Ransomville, N.Y. Prior to joining United Apple Sales in 2010, he graduated from Cornell in 1999 and worked on his family’s farm and at Aldi, according to a news release.
“This is a pivotal time to have someone with Brett’s experience and deep-rooted passion for agriculture at the helm of our Board of Directors,” USApple President and CEO Jim Bair said. “His leadership will be essential to driving innovation and addressing challenges.”
Baker succeeds 2023-24 USApple Chair Steve Clement, CEO of PNW Tree Fruit in Washington. The gavel was officially passed from Clement to Baker at USApple’s board of directors meeting in Chicago after its Outlook 2024 conference last week.
Baker’s father, Paul, served as the association’s board chair in 1989.
“It’s an honor to be elected as the chair of USApple,” Baker said in a news release. “I am committed to continuing the work of my predecessors — including my own late father — to advocate for our industry, foster innovation, and overcome the challenges we face. As an industry working together, we can enact meaningful change through USApple.”
USApple’s 2024-25 elected board officers include:
- Chair — Brett Baker, president of United Apple Sales in New York.
- Vice chair — Steve Smith, vice president of marketing for Washington Fruit in Washington.
- Secretary — Philip Glaize III, head of operations and sales for Glaize Apples in Virginia.
- Treasurer — Kaari Stannard, president and CEO of New York Apple Sales in New York.
- Immediate past chair — Steve Clement, CEO of PNW Tree Fruit in Washington.
