U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney is scheduled to speak at the U.S. Apple Association’s 2019 Crop Outlook and Marketing Conference in Chicago.
McKinney is scheduled to speak Aug. 23.
The association releases its annual U.S. crop forecast at the annual event, Aug. 22-23.
McKinney leads the development and implementation of USDA’s trade policy, according to a news release.
“U.S. Apple has worked closely with Under Secretary McKinney on many issues pertaining to trade and is honored to have him speak at our annual meeting,” U.S. Apple President and CEO Jim Bair said in the release. “We are very much looking forward to his insight as the apple industry, and agriculture as a whole, continues to navigate the current trade landscape.”
President Trump appointed McKinney, former director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, to the under secretary for trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs his position at the USDA in July 2017.
Randy Riley, director of produce merchandising at The Kroger Co., will give the keynote address at the event, according to the release. Riley will speak on consumer retail trends related to the apple industry.
Mark Seetin, director of regulatory and industry affairs for U.S. Apple, will give the annual crop outlook at the conference. Registration for the event is available online.
