McLean, Va. – The first ever shipment of fresh apples included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) “Food for Progress” foreign food aid program today deported from the Port of Oakland for the Russian Far East. A vessel loaded with 110,000 boxes of apples from Virginia and Washington state is destined for Vladivostock, where the apples will be distributed to orphans and other underprivileged Russians.

"Including apples in this aid program will provide underprivileged children in Russia with wholesome, nutritious and flavorful fruit," said Kraig R. Naasz, President and CEO of the U.S. Apple Association (USApple). "America’s apple growers are proud to be part of this project, and we hope it will lead to more purchases of apples for government-sponsored humanitarian food aid programs."

Naasz added, “Since we first made the request in November 1998, the industry and relief organizations tirelessly sought to secure the inclusion of apples in the Food for Progress program.”

The industry’s persistence finally paid off in June when USDA announced its plans to include fresh apples in a relief shipment bound for Russia. The Global Jewish Assistance and Relief Network (GJARN), by agreement with the USDA, is slated to distribute the apples to orphans and other underprivileged groups in Russia.

The apples hail from the Oneonta Trading Company and Northern Fruit Company, both of Washington state, and Turkey Knob Growers of Virginia.

“People are looking for ways to provide a more balanced diet in these aid programs,” said Rod Miller, a marketer for Oneonta Trading Company, Wenatchee, Wash., whose apples are included in the shipment. “And, hopefully, this will open doors to future contracts with the government.”

The apples are scheduled to arrive in Pusan, South Korea Dec. 3, where they will be transferred to a tug barge for transit to Vladivostock, Russia, arriving Dec. 10. GJARN plans to distribute the apples in the Russian Far East, Volga, Urals, Northern Russia, Southern Russian and Central Russia. Individuals in the specified areas in orphanages, hospitals and schools, as well as veterans, disabled persons, pensioners, and children from large and single-parent families will benefit from this food aid assistance.

A contracted representative of the apple industry, hired by the Washington Apple Commission to ensure the success of this first ever shipment, will greet the delivery in Vladivostock and monitor its distribution by GJARN to needy recipients.

“This is a great opportunity for all those involved,” said Ed Brooks, the Washington Apple Commission’s international marketing director. “We hope this trial purchase of fresh apples will establish an important precedent for the inclusion of additional fresh apples in future humanitarian food purchases.”

The food aid program has traditionally included non-perishable food staples such as grains, peas and lentils, and dried milk products. Combined, underprivileged Russians will receive approximately 12,000 metric tons of food aid, including 2,000 metric tons of fresh apples, over a 12-month period.

The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is the national trade association representing all segments of the apple industry. Members include 40 state apple associations representing 9,000 apple growers throughout the country, as well as nearly 500 individual firms involved in the apple business. USApple’s mission is to provide the means for all segments of the U.S. apple industry to join in appropriate collective efforts to profitably produce and market apples and apple products.