James S. Allen

President/CEO
New York Apple Association, Inc.

Jim Allen was raised on a potato farm in upstate New York, and attended the State University of New York at Morrisville where he majored in food science and Marketing. He has spent over 40 years involved in the produce industry, primarily fruit industry processing, purchasing, packaging, marketing and promotion.

Allen joined New York Apple Association, Inc. (NYAA) in 1996 as retail promotion director. He was named president/CEO in 2000.

As NYAA’s senior executive, Allen represents over 675 apple growers in New York state. His responsibilities include all administrative, promotional, grower education and communications activities; market research; and public and government affairs. He oversees a $3.3 million annual budget, and a staff of nine.

In August of 2002, The Packer newspaper named Allen the 2002 “Apple Person of the Year”. In 2003, 2005 and again in 2007 he was honored with the Harold “Cap” Creal Journalism Award presented by the New York State Agricultural Society. In 2007, United Fresh Produce Association named NYAA under Jim’s leadership Produce Industry Advocate of the Year. The Packer named Allen to the Top 25 Agricultural Leaders in the United States in 2008.

Jim is twice past chair of the U.S. Apple Export Council, and presently serves as that group’s vice chair. He also serves on U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’ s New York State Agricultural Advisory Committee. In 2013 Allen was appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to represent New York state agriculture on the Office of General Services’ Procurement Council. Allen also serves on the U.S. Apple Association Apple Labor Task Force as well as its Education Committee and Nutritional Research Steering Committee. He has served on the Membership Task Force for United Fresh Association, and presently sits on its Government Council Committee. He is a past elder of Webster Presbyterian Church.

Updated: May 2014