The USDA is seeking nominations for the Hass Avocado Board to fill seats for eight members whose terms expire Oct. 31, 2024.
Appointed members will serve three-year terms beginning Nov. 1, 2024, and ending Oct. 31, 2027. Nomination applications are due April 1 for the following:
- Four domestic producers — two producer members and two producer alternate members.
- Four importers — two importer members and two alternate importer members.
Nominees may seek nomination to the board for all open seats for which they are eligible.
Applications are available at hassavocadoboard.com or by contacting Emiliano Escobedo, executive director of the Hass Avocado Board, at 949-341-3250 or ee@hassavocadoboard.com or Kelly M. Robertson, USDA marketing specialist, at 202-720-8085 or kellym.robertson@usda.gov .
The current 12-member board includes seven producer members, two importer members and three producer or importer members who serve in swing seats. Each member has an alternate. More information about the board is available on the Hass Avocado Board webpage of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service website.
AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of its industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities who will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table, according to a news release.
Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population, the release said.
