The U.S. Department of Agriculture has appointed 13 members and 11 alternate members to serve on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.
The appointees will serve three-year terms from Jan. 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2022, according to a new release.
The 20-member council is composed of 12 producers, four importers, two exporters, one handler and one public member. Each member seat has a corresponding alternate seat. Members and alternates can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.
Members appointed or reappointed are:
- California producer: William J. Steed, Pauma Valley;
- Florida producer: Bill Braswell, Auburndale;
- Georgia producer: John V. Bennett, Alma;
- Michigan producer: George Fritz, Bloomingdale;
- New Jersey producer: Paul J. Macrie, III, Hammonton;
- North Carolina producer: Chris Barnhill, Ivanhoe;
- Oregon producer: Douglas A. Krahmer, St. Paul;
- Washington producer: Bryan Sakuma, Bow;
- Handler: Risa Bakker, Hanford, Calif.;
- Importer 2: James C. Clinard, Jr., Plant City, Fla.;
- Importer 3: Janice L. Honigberg, Chicago, Ill.;
- Importer 4: Bo Slack, Wenatchee, Wash.; and
- Exporter Canada: Raymon S. Biln, Pitt Meadows, British Columbia.
According to the USDA, alternate members appointed or reappointed are:
- California producer: Young Oh Kwun, Porterville;
- Florida producer: Brittany H. Lee, Gainesville;
- Georgia producer: Michael Railey, Homerville;
- Michigan producer: Robert Carini, West Olive;
- New Jersey producer: Matthew Macrie, Hammonton;
- North Carolina producer: H. Neil Moore, Ivanhoe;
- Washington producer: Brenton Roy, Prosser;
- Importer 2: Guy P. Cotton, Morada, Calif.;
- Importer 3: Ryan Lockman, Traverse City, Mich.;
- Importer 4: Thomas H. Bodtke, South Haven, Mich.; and
- Exporter Canada: Jesse Brar, Abbotsford, British Columbia
More information about the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, including a roster of members, is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council webpage and on the council’s website at www.ushbc.org.
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