The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of seven members to serve on the American Pecan Promotion Board. Six appointees will serve three-year terms, effective Oct. 1, 2023, through Sep. 30, 2026. One appointee will serve the remainder of a vacant position, effective immediately, and expires on Sep. 30, 2024.
Appointed members serving three-year terms expiring Sep. 30, 2026, are:
- Phillip Arnold, Fairacres, N.M. (Western Region)
- Brycen J. Salopek, Las Cruces, N.M. (Western Region)
- Larry Salopek, Bowie, Ariz. (Western Region)
- Deborah E. Walden-Ralls, Sahuarita, Ariz. (Western Region)
- Steve Zaffarano, Stockton, Calif. (Importer)
- Romulo Garza, San Antonio, Texas (Importer)
Appointed member serving a vacant term, expiring Sep. 30, 2024:
- Larry Don Womack, Deleon, Texas (Central Region)
The American Pecan Promotion Board has 17 members, including 10 domestic manufacturers and seven importers. Members can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.
More information about the board is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) American Pecan Promotion Board webpage or on the board’s website at www.eatpecans.com.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
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