The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council is seeking nominees to fill 26 of the 40 seats available on the council.
The 13 members and 13 alternates the council is seeking are for these positions for three-year terms:
- Eight growers and eight alternates from the top eight highbush blueberry producing states (California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington);
- One handler member and one alternate;
- Three importers and three alternates; and
- One exporter-producer member and one alternate.
According to a news release, the terms being Jan. 1, 2020.
Nominations for the importer, exporter and handler positions on the council are due to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council by Feb. 22. The nominations for state members and alternates are due April 15. Those nominations must go through each of the state’s blueberry commission/marketing order; if the state doesn’t have a blueberry commission, the U.S. blueberry council will oversee nominations, according to the release.
The council administers a national research and promotion program for highbush blueberries and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the program.
For more information, visit www.ushbc.org or e-mail elections@blueberry.org. Information is also being provided to the industry about the process, according to the release.
