WASHINGTON, D.C. — Applications are open for a program designed to provide training and networking opportunities for young professionals in the apple industry. Recipients of the 2026 NextGen Apple Fellowship will be announced in February. The program is sponsored by USApple, the industry’s national trade organization. 

Steve Smith, chair of USApple’s board and vice-president of marketing for Washington Fruit in Yakima, said it’s a valuable opportunity for young people who are looking to make a career in apples, whether that’s in the orchard or other niches in the industry.  

“It’s a way for young entrants in the industry to develop an informational background on the industry,” Smith said.  

Applicants must be 35 years of age or younger to apply and must be working in the apple industry. It's open to growers, of course, but also to people working throughout the industry, according to the USApple website. Previous participants have included people working at packing houses, in shipping and marketing, retailing, labor relations, developing new products, along with businesses like beekeeping. 

The NextGen fellowship grew out of the organization’s Young Apple Leaders program, and Lynsee Gibbons, USApple director of communications, said in an earlier interview that the NextGen fellowship is more extensive than the YAL program. 

“(The NextGen fellowship has) much more comprehensive programming,” Gibbons wrote in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. “The YAL used to attend our annual Capitol Hill Day. The NextGen group attends Capitol Hill Day as well as two other travel events and monthly virtual meetings.” 

It’s open to applicants from throughout the country; the 2025 class included people from Michigan, Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well as Wenatchee and Yakima. Previous participants have come from New York, California, Texas and Ohio, among other places.  

The kickoff meeting for participants is in Washington, D.C., in the spring, followed by attendance at USApple’s annual Apple Outlook conference in the summer. A third meeting is held in the fall.  

Along with the in-person and virtual meetings, the program includes working one-on-one with an industry professional who acts as a mentor. Participants learn about regulatory and legislative issues and meet with industry leaders.  

There’s also a group project, a video for USApple’s video series, and posting on USApple’s social media. Participants are also asked to do individual projects.  

Applicants are asked to submit a video, one to two minutes long, explaining their interest in the program. A letter of recommendation from an industry, community or academic leader is required. 

The program will last from February through December. Applications should be submitted to [email protected].