The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative have appointed members to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.
The committee is one of six advisory groups that provide advice and information to the USDA and trade office, which jointly oversee the committees. The four-year terms of the recently appointed members start June 15, according to a news release.
The new and re-appointed fruit and vegetable industry members are:
- Julie Adams, Almond Board of California
- Michelle McNeil Connelly, California Walnut Commission
- Jim Cranney, California Citrus Quality Council
- C. Jerome Crosby, Pineneedle Farms LLC
- Jody Easterday, Easterday Farms Produce Co.
- Melissa Frank, The Wonderful Co.
- Dante L. Galeazzi, Texas International Produce Association,
- Reagan Grabner, U.S. Apple Export Council
- Barbara Grimm-Marshall, CSS Farms Inc.
- Robert Guenther, United Fresh Produce Association
- Matt Harris, Washington State Potato Commission
- Rich Hudgins, California Canning Peach Association
- Brittany Lee, Florida Blueberry Growers Association
- Fred Leitz, Leitz Farms LLC
- Marcy Martin, California Fresh Fruit Association
- Kenneth Melban, California Avocado Commission
- Mike Montna, California Tomato Growers Association
- Dale Murden, Texas Citrus Mutual
- Joel Nelsen, California Citrus Mutual
- Dennis Nuxoll, Western Growers
- Kenneth Parker, Florida Strawberry Growers Association
- Mark Roberts Powers, Northwest Horticultural Council
- Dan Richey, Riverfront Packing Co.
- Mark Schadler, Florida Tomato Exchange
- Kay Swartz-Rentzel, U.S. Sweet Potato Council
- W. Lanair Worsham Jr., Worsham Farms
- James Zion Jr., Meridian Growers LLC
California Citrus Mutual’s Nelsen, who was re-appointed to the group, was supported by California members of Congress.
“Certainly these past two years have been challenging, and most likely, these disputes will carry on as the administration seeks to balance trade and initiate policies that correct deficiencies in existing agreements,” Nelsen said in a news release.
