Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee set to meet

The USDA says the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee will meet Nov. 2-3.

The committee will meet in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 2 from 8-11 a.m. CDT and Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT, according to a news release.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is organizing the meeting, which is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, the release said. Space is limited.

The committee will hear in-person public comments during the meeting Nov. 2. Persons or organizations wishing to make oral comments must preregister by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Oct. 23, using the registration form. Attendees can register for only one speaking slot.

Meeting details and information on the public comment period can be viewed in the Federal Register notice published Sept. 18, according to the release.

Written comments related to the fruit and vegetable industry can be submitted at regulations.gov, the release said. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Oct. 23, the release said. For special accommodations, please contact Darrell Hughes, FVIAC designated federal officer, at SCPFVIAC@usda.gov or by phone at 202-348-2576.

USDA established the committee in 2001 to examine the full spectrum of issues facing the fruit and vegetable industry and create a forum to provide suggestions and ideas to the department on ways to improve programs to meet the changing needs of the produce industry, the release said. Committee members represent a broad cross-section of the industry.

Information about the meeting and the committee is available on the AMS Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee webpage, the release said.