USDA appoints Angel Santiago as advisor to fruit and vegetable committee 

Ángel Santiago, CEO of Puerto Rico-based Caribbean Produce Exchange, will serve as an advisor to the USDA’s Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, according to an announcement from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack.

Santiago was one of 25 industry leaders recently named to the committee by the USDA, and was appointed in the category of broker/distributor/importer/importer for the committee.

With more than 22 years of experience in the food industry, Santiago developed a wide range of programs in multiple categories of innovative products and services, according to a new release.

His professional leadership includes the implementation of initiatives in support of local growers, skills programs and training for federal quality compliance, safe food handling, marketing and distribution, as well involvement in federal assistance programs that allowed Caribbean Produce Exchange to distribute more than 1.5 million boxes of food throughout Puerto Rico.

"It is a true privilege and I am honored to be able to collaborate with Secretary Vilsack and the USDA as an advisor on factors affecting the produce industry, the national market, as well as issues related to production methods, distribution, marketing strategies, and other impact factors for more than twenty industries," Santiago said in the release.