The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of four members to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Grain Inspection Advisory Committee. The newly appointed members will serve three-year terms, from Feb. 1, 2023, to Jan. 31, 2026.

Newly appointed members include:

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe Local Food Purchase Assistance Program is designed to support expanded food consumption among low-income individuals and families enrolled in one of three programs operated by Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Tucson, Arizona. All processes and activities are directed toward four primary goals. One is to create and expand economic opportunity for socially/historically socially disadvantaged food producers, of which, outreach has identified approximately 15 producers we intend to choose seven or eight from.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of 10 members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board. The appointees from Districts 4 and 5 will serve three-year terms beginning immediately to Dec. 31, 2025, and appointees from District 3 and Importer will serve two-year terms beginning immediately to Dec. 31, 2024.

Members appointed are:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of three members to serve on the Mushroom Council.  Two appointees will serve three-year terms from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025; and one appointee will serve a one-year term beginning immediately and expiring on December 31, 2023.

Members appointed are:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of three members to serve on the Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The appointees will serve three-year terms beginning immediately, to Dec. 31, 2025.

Members appointed or reappointed are:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of four members and four alternates to serve on the National Peanut Board. The appointees will serve three-year terms, effective immediately, through Dec. 31, 2025.  The member and alternate positions for the at-large positions are existing vacancies and the appointed members will complete the remainder of the positions’ two-year terms that end on December 31, 2024.

Members and alternates appointed are:

The West Virginia Local Foods Initiative will help to encourage local farmers/producers to grow/produce food that can be incorporated into public school menus. Working with local West Virginia farmers/producers and small businesses along with school Food Service Directors, foods will be identified for purchase and linked to farmers/producers and small businesses that can provide those products. County School Food Authorities in all 55 counties will be able to secure foods and will be reimbursed for the cost of products that meet the program criteria.

Inspection Technology Evaluation (ITE) is the internal process the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) uses for the evaluation of technology for use in official grain inspection.  For this process, “technology,” includes instrumentation, equipment, and the associated methods for measuring grain quality factors.  “Factor” means a measurable grain quality attribute.  This evaluation process does not apply to the research and development effort before the technology is deemed fit-for-purpose; that is, the instrument or method has already been