Jim Allen will retire as president and CEO of New York Apple Association Inc., effective Jan. 2, 2017.

Jim Allen (Courtesy Jim Allen)

Jim Allen

He has heads the apple industry’s second-largest state marketing order since 2000.

During his tenure, Allen has earned a reputation as a passionate industry supporter who advocated for nationwide industry cooperation instead of regional competition.

Joining NYAA in 1996 as retail program director, he was named to the association’s top job four years later.

Before that, Allen led export sales and procurement for Sun Orchard Fruit Company of Burt, New York, and worked in procurement and sales for Keystone Fruit Marketing of Greencastle, Pennsylvania.