Trying to deal with industry problems
Formerly on the board of the association, Chiles also has had leadership roles in the U.S. Apple Export Council, the National Peach Council and the Virginia State Horticultural Society.
Chiles said he was completely surprised to receive the award. “I love the industry and I love all the people here,” he told the crowd who witnessed the presentation.
He was presented with a large silver bowl.
“The association does a lot of lobbying and trying to deal with industry problems,” said Chiles, whose expertise has caused him to be invited to testify before Congressional committees. “It’s a pretty good organization.”
“I’m trying to make the industry better,” he said. “You’ve got to tell the government about the industry sometimes. They have to hear from the grassroots.”
In 2013 America’s apple growers produced 248.6 million bushels of apples, worth about $2.7 billion to the growers. The top producing areas are Washington State, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania and California. In 2012 Virginia ranked sixth in production. America is the world’s second largest producer after China. A quarter of U.S. production is exported.
The Red Delicious remains America’s favorite apple, but is it being challenged by the Gala, which will probably overtake it, Chiles predicted. “The Gala is a better apple, but Red Delicious is awfully good and has been number one for many years,” he said. Other popular apples are the Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji and McIntosh.
Crown Orchard is now shipping apples to Russia, Cuba, India and Panama (his biggest export customer last year), Chiles said. About 30 percent of his crop is being exported. “The export market only wants the high-end apple,” he explained.
