The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) will hold a virtual meeting Nov. 3-4, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET each day.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is organizing the meeting, which is open to the public. Registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is providing current vendors an opportunity to participate in a live, on-line training session on “How to Submit a Bid” for current Domestic Commodity Vendors in the Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) System. The training session will be held via Zoom on October 28, 2021, from 1 to 3 p.m. ET.

The training is instructor-led and will walk vendors step-by-step through the processes of submitting a bid to USDA.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) opens the annual requirement for U.S. Grain Exporter Registration and waiver requests for the 2022 calendar year October 1. The United States Grain Standards Act, 7 U.S.C. 87f-1, requires registration for anyone engaged in the business of buying grain for sale in foreign commerce. In addition, individuals who handle, weigh, or transport grain for sale in foreign commerce must also register.

The two-day virtual meeting is being convened to examine draft recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can tailor programs and services to better meet the needs of the U.S. produce industry. Discussion topics comprises labor and production; food safety; climate and infrastructure; and consumption.

Meeting Information:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is posting a draft proposal from the Grain Foods Foundation (GFF) requesting the formation of a national promotion, research, and information program for wheat flour used to produce grain foods.  USDA is currently analyzing the proposed order and, if warranted, may publish a proposed rule with request for public comments in the Federal Register. Interested parties can view the draft proposal and justification on the Proposed Research and Promotion Programs webpage.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will begin issuing inspection certificates and audit reports in several formats as the agency deploys the Specialty Crops Integrated Operating Network (SCION), a new web-based platform that will modernize USDA specialty crops inspection and audit services.