The USDA has appointed 25 industry representatives to serve on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.
The reappointed and newly appointed members will serve two-year terms beginning immediately and ending in October 2024, according to a news release.
Newly appointed members are:
Broker/Distributor/Wholesaler/Importer/Exporter
- Alyssa Melendez, operations and supply chain manager, Burlap and Barrel: Single Origin Spices
- Angel Santiago Colon, CEO, Caribbean Produce Exchange
- David Einstandig, senior vice president and general counsel, Mastronardi Produce-USA Inc.
- Isabel Freeland, vice president, administrative officer and chief financial officer; Coast Citrus Distributors
- Jorge Vazquez, president and CEO, Latin Specialties LLC
Industry/Trade Association
- Donna Garren, vice president, science and policy; the American Frozen Food Institute
- Kay Swartz Rentzel, consultant; the National Peach Council, the U.S. Sweet Potato Council and the American Sweet Potato Marketing Institute
Farmers Market/Food Hub/Retailer/Food Service
- David Van Eeckhout, farm program director, The Good Acre
- Haven Baker, co-founder and chief business officer, Pairwise
- Jenifer DeAtley, programs and strategy director, Sustainable Food Center
- Nathan Pumplin, president and CEO, Norfolk Healthy Produce Inc.
- Rebecca Serratos, vendor development coordinator, Prescott Farmers Market
- Susan Sutphin, founder and senior advisor, Sutphin Tahoe Food Hub
- Anthony Mirisciotta, general manager, GrowFood Carolina
Farm Organization/Grower/Producer/Shipper
- Amy Baker, senior director for quality and regulatory compliance management, Peterson Farms
- Bruce Frasier, president, Dixondale Farms Inc.
- Christopher Ciruli, chief operating officer, Ciruli Brothers LLC
- Darwin Inman, vice president for sales and marketing, the Horizon Nut Company LLC
- James Benson, sales director, Hronis Inc.
- Michael Briano, vice president for sales and marketing, Harris Woolf California Almonds
- Morris Hodges, owner and farm manager, Morris Watermelon Farm LLC
- Reginald Marshall, owner, Reggies Veggies
- Andrew Garcia, East Coast sales manager, Altar Produce
Re-appointed members are:
Industry/Trade Association
- Karla J. Stockli, CEO, California Fig Advisory Board
Farm Organization/Grower/Producer/Shipper
- Julie Masser Ballay, vice president and CFO, Sterman Masser Inc.
Originally chartered in 2001, the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee advises the secretary of agriculture on issues affecting the fruit and vegetable industry, the release said. Committee members represent organic and non-organic growers, shippers, wholesalers, retailers, industry trade associations, importers, processors, foodservice suppliers, food brokers, state departments of agriculture and farmers markets; and represent local, regional and national levels. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) ensures the committee is administered according to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
More information about the committee is available on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee page on the AMS website.
