New York Apple Association announces staff

David McClurg is returning to the New York Apple Association as a part-time contractor, one of several changes as the association prepares to market the coming crop.

McClurg will support New York Apple Association retail promotion activities and work on a foodservice market development grant project that targets local schools and correctional facilities, according to a news release. He is a former vice president of marketing for the association, where he worked from 2001 to 2011. He most recently served as director of sales for apple-slicing company Appeeling Fruit and has worked for IFCO. 

Michelle Hoard is also a new retail and foodservice account manager for the association. She has been senior marketing manager for Zespri, a national marketing representative for Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onions, and regional account manager for Frieda’s Specialty Produce.

Michelle Hoard

Susan Sarlund has been working with the association’s Northeast retail account management group for a number of years, succeeding her father John McAleavey in that role after his death in 2015, according to a news release. She is the executive director of the Eastern Produce Council, also following her father in that position.

“I am very excited to have our ‘Team 2017’ in place and ready to make the case to retailers, foodservice and consumers alike that New York state is their Big Apple,” New York Apple Association CEO and president Cynthia Haskins said in the release. “In the weeks and months ahead, we’ll be letting them know the many reasons why they don’t need to look any further this fall than their backyard for delicious, nutritious, local apples, cider and other apple products.

“There are many opportunities for our industry at retail and in foodservice,” Haskins said, “and now we have a strong team in place to realize those opportunities.”

Molly Zingler has resigned as the marketing director of the association, for which she helped develop digital coupons and social media strategy. Haskins, who joined the association in January after the retirement of longtime president Jim Allen, will be handling those responsibilities previously under Zingler’s purview.

“We thank Molly for all her contributions over the last five years and wish her much success in her new endeavors,” Haskins said in the release.

The New York Apple Association has also added Tami Bacon as administrative and public relations assistant. Her responsibilities will include processing industry and retailer requests for marketing materials, working with public relations director Julia Stewart on media relations, maintaining the association’s websites, and serving as editor of the association’s grower newspaper Core Report.

Stewart has been in her role at the association since 2012, handling media relations, crisis communications and websites. She is a part-time contractor.