The U.S. Department of Agriculture has named new members to the National Watermelon Promotion Board.
They will serve three-year terms on the watermelon board starting Jan. 1, according to a USDA news release.
The new members are:
- John Lapide, Laurel, Del., handler, District 4 (Michigan and Illinios to East Coast);
- Cody Smith, Decker, Ind., handler, District 4;
- Jacob Horall, Oaktown, Ind., grower, District 4;
- Blake Mouzin, Vincennes, Ind., grower, District 4;
- Kelly Partch, Brawley, Calif., handler, District 5 (California);
- Chris Elsie, Scottsdale, Ariz., handler, District 7 (Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and all states west of the Mississippi, except Texas and California);
- Cassidy Carpenter, Clovis, N.M., grower, District 7; and
- Jeremy Holden, Las Cruces, N.M,, handler, District 7.
There are 41 members on the board: 14 growers, 14 handlers, 12 importers and one public member. One-third of the board members are appointed each year, according to the release.
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