**The U.S. Apple Association has named Yakima’s Domex Superfresh Growers’ marekting director Mike Preacher as its new board of directors’ chairman.

USApple president Jim Bair says Mike’s hands-on commitment to the apple industry and USApple has been a tremendous asset to the organization and can only grow during his leadership. His go-get ‘em attitude is infectious and, I expect, will breathe a renewed energy into the

organization.

Preacher will serve the 2020-21 term.

**Gebbers Farms, out in Brewster, Washington, says state COVID-19 testing at its apple, cherry and pear-growing operation shows their preventive measures have been effective at protecting workers.

Washington State Department of Health officials tell thepacker.com, during a routine COVID-19 press update, that of the more than 3,000 workers tested to-date at Gebbers Farms, 99.3% were negative for the virus.

Gebbers Farms employs around 4,500 people at peak season in July, including 2,500 H-2A guest workers.

**Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s announced support for Proposition 15, the split-roll property tax initiative, California Farm Bureau Federation President Jamie Johansson says the endorsement ignores its harmful impact on the state’s rural communities.

Prop 15 would establish a split-roll property tax that would reassess and raise taxes on commercial and industrial property, including ag facilities.

Johansson says Governor Newsom has sided with public employee unions over the hardworking folks in California’s rural and agricultural communities.

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