The mango R&P program operates as the National Mango Board. The program's purpose is to increase the consumption of fresh mangos in the United States. The program is administered under AMS oversight by the National Mango Board, which is composed of mango industry representatives nominated by their peers and appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Board’s operations are funded by an assessment of three quarters of a cent per pound collected on fresh mangos produced in and imported into the United States. The assessment is paid by first handlers and importers of 500,000 or more pounds of fresh mangos per year. First handlers pay the assessment directly to the Board, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection collects the import assessment.
The Board’s budget funds promotion and market development activities to increase demand for mangos in the United States. The Board reimburses AMS and USDA’s Office of General Counsel for expenses incurred in the oversight of the program.
In October 2004, AMS issued the Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Referendum Order, which created the program under the authority of the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (pdf). The Order became effective on November 3, 2004. View the Mango Promotion, Research and Information Order Federal Register History.
Organizational Structure
The Board is composed of 18 members, including 8 importers, 2 domestic producers, 1 first handler, and 7 foreign producers. Board members are appointed to 3-year terms and may be reappointed. Nominations for the importer, domestic producer, and first handler seats are made by U.S. importers, domestic producers, and first handlers respectively. Foreign producers are nominated by foreign producer associations.
The National Mango Board is located in Orlando, Florida. You can access a listing of current Board members on the National Mango Board roster.
AMS Policy on Board Diversity: AMS policy is that the diversity of the board should reflect the diversity of their industries in experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. When submitting nominations, the industry must consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
Visit the National Mango Board’s Web Site >
Organic Assessment Exemption
R&P programs allow persons that produce, handle, market, process, manufacture, feed or import “organic” and “100 percent organic” products to be exempt from paying assessments regardless of whether they are a “split” operation.