USDA seeks nominees for watermelon promotion board

(USDA)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations of qualified watermelon producers and handlers for eight seats on the National Watermelon Promotion Board.

Appointees will be selected by the secretary of agriculture and will succeed members whose terms of office expire on Dec. 31, 2022.  Appointed members will serve a three-year term.

Nominees are needed to fill two producer seats and two handler seats in District 4 and District 5.

District 4 consists of the following states: 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, DC.

District 5 consists of: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The board will hold teleconference calls in early 2022 for each district, so that producers and handlers may select their representatives. For more information about district meetings and nomination information, contact Rebekah Dossett, the board’s director of operations and industry affairs, or Andrea Smith, the board’s industry affairs manager, at (407) 657-0261.

The board is made up of 30 industry members including 10 producers, 10 handlers, nine importers, and one public member.  More information about the board is available on the AMS website, www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/watermelon and on the board’s website, www.watermelon.org .  

You may also contact, Marlene Betts, marketing specialist, USDA, at (202) 720-5057 or Marlene.Betts@usda.gov.
 

 

Latest News

Sustainable California Initiative charts progress in ag sustainability and equity
Sustainable California Initiative charts progress in ag sustainability and equity

GrubMarket says its initiative made strides in 2023, including the planting of 100,000-plus trees and aiding farmers in organic transition.

Oppy hits the slopes with competitive skier partnership
Oppy hits the slopes with competitive skier partnership

Ski-cross athlete Emeline Bennett will share food tips, highlights and more through Oppy’s social media channels.

World Variety highlights combo pack of dragon fruit at AWG showcase
World Variety highlights combo pack of dragon fruit at AWG showcase

With more than 1,500 options among its offerings, World Variety Produce had plenty of options to highlight at the Associated Wholesale Grocers' seventh annual Innovation Showcase, March 25-26.

AgroFresh bolsters postharvest solutions with Pace International purchase
AgroFresh bolsters postharvest solutions with Pace International purchase

The company says the acquisition will expand its postharvest portfolio and that it plans to collaborate with Valent BioSciences to develop future products to boost produce freshness.

Wonderful Citrus highlights Organic Halos, Seedless Lemons
Wonderful Citrus highlights Organic Halos, Seedless Lemons

Wonderful also promoted its No Shells pistachios, including its new Jalapeño Lime flavor, at the Associated Wholesale Grocers' seventh annual Innovation Showcase.

NGA makes marketing hire, promotes government relations staffer
NGA makes marketing hire, promotes government relations staffer

The National Grocers Association has welcomed Caroline Sar as its manager of marketing and member engagement and promoted Max Wengroff to senior manager of government relations.