Everyone loves an apple and thanks to some local growers Yakima area firefighters are eating apples as part of a new program called Apples for Firefighters.

THE IDEA IS TO PROVIDE APPLES EVERY WEEK TO LOCAL FIRE DISTRICTS

Alan Taylor of Taylor Ann Enterprises L.L.C. who is coordinating the program says the idea came from his son who was named Employee of the Year in 2020 with the East Valley Fire Department. Taylor says the idea is to provide fresh apples every week to area fire departments so firefighters can enjoy an apple from the valley.
He says at this time it's a pilot program for East Valley and West Valley Fire Departments but he says next season they plan to expand the program to all local fire districts with the help of local growers.

TAYLOR HOPING MORE GROWERS GET INVOLVED IN THE FUTURE

Taylor says right now the fruit is coming from Starr Ranch Growers in Wenatchee but connected here to Gilbert Orchards, Columbia Reach and Stadelman Fruit. Taylor plans to meet with other growers in the future to see if they'd be interested in the program called Apples for Firefighters.  Taylor says "the providing of apples is positive for a number of reasons as the fruit is a great portable and healthy snack. It’s also a refreshing treat in the heat.” He says so far the firefighters love the weekly deliveries. “Starting as an idea from my firefighter son, the response from the program supporters has been outstanding,”
A press release from Taylor says the local supporters of the Apples for Firefighters so far during the 2021 season are:
Apeel Sciences, COUNTRY Financial (Seth Basford), Farmers Insurance (Raul Castillo), Michelsen Packaging Company, Starr Ranch Growers, Steins Ace Hardware, and Yakima Federal Savings & Loan Association.