AMS Administrator Elanor Starmer appointed 15 members and 15 alternate members to serve on the American Pecan Council (Council), which is being established to locally administer the Federal marketing order for pecans. The Council is tasked with developing handling regulations for pecans grown in the 15 state production area. All 30 appointees will serve on the Council through September 30, 2020. Two additional members – one from the public and one accumulator— and their respective alternates will be nominated at a later date.
The roster is available on the Pecan Marketing Order page.
The Council is authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1937. United States Department of Agriculture consults with the council to establish or change quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported pecans. The Council will consist of 17 members, including 9 grower members, 6 sheller members, an at-large seat allocated for an accumulator member, and an at-large seat allocated for a public member. Each member will have an alternate.
The production area is divided into three regions: Eastern Region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina); Central Region (Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas); and Western Region (Arizona, California and New Mexico). Each region is represented by three grower seats and two sheller seats.
The Council plans to meet in November 2016. For more information about the Council and upcoming meetings, visit the Pecan Marketing Order page or contact the Marketing Order and Agreement Division by phone: (863) 324-3375.