USDA Reapportions Membership on the Florida Tomato Committee under the Marketing Order for Tomatoes Grown in Florida

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced a final rule that reapportions membership on the Florida Tomato Committee under the federal marketing order for Tomatoes Grown in Florida. This action changes the number of apportioned seats in each district from six to five.

Amendments to the marketing order in 2020 reduced the size of the committee membership from 12 to 10. This action is necessary to bring the number of apportioned seats in each district in line with the reduced number of committee members and better reflect the composition of the industry.

USDA Announces Dates for the California Walnuts Continuance Referendum

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a referendum Dec. 6–31, 2021, for California walnut growers to vote on whether to continue their federal marketing order. Growers who produced walnuts in California from Sept. 1, 2020, through Aug. 31, 2021, are eligible to vote. Notice of the referendum was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 13, 2021.

Application Period Opens for Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program to Provide Relief to Small Producers, Processors, Distributors and Farmers Markets Impacted by COVID-19

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a Request for Applications (RFA) for the new Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant program and encourages eligible entities to apply now for funds. Applications must be submitted electronically through the grant portal at https://usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov/usda by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 22, 2021.

Pre-Solicitation Announcement for the (FDPIR) Purchase of Blueberry Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Blueberry Wild Products for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. Purchases will be made under the authority of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). FDPIR is authorized under Section 4(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and Section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973.

Offers may be solicited in the following forms:

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USDA Announces Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee Virtual Meeting

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.

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Offers WBSCM Refresher Training to Current Vendors

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.

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