Nominations are being sought for eight member seats for the National Watermelon Promotion Board, according to the USDA. The terms will begin Jan. 1, 2026, and end Dec. 31, 2028.
Available are two producer and two handler seats available for Districts 4 and 5. Deadline for nominations is Feb. 26.
District 4 consists of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
District 5 includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
USDA said the board will hold teleconference calls Feb. 12 for producers and handlers to select representatives for the two districts.
For more information about the calls and to obtain nomination information, contact National Watermelon Promotion Board Industry Affairs Manager Andrea Smith at asmith@watermelon.org or 407-657-0261.
The board comprises 30 industry members including 10 producers, 10 handlers, nine importers, and one public member.
