Apple show update

Posting here again from Chicago, where last night I had the honor of presenting the 2008 Apple Man of the Year Award to George Lamont of New York. George certainly won the praise of many in the industry for his relentless and tireless work on behalf of apple growers, including his lead role in the Premier Apple Cooperative. Check out Andy Nelson's coverage on The Packer's Web site.

Also yesterday, Steve Lutz had an insightful presentation on U.S. apple retail sales performance and Desmond O'Rourke reviewed the effect of the slowing economy on apple sales. The production outlook for China and Europe were presented yesterday, and this morning is the U.S. regional crop overview, discussions of sustainability, consumer motivation and more.