WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed seven members and their alternates to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. Appointees will serve a three-year term of office beginning Jan. 1, 2013.
“These appointments represent a cross section of the industry,” said Vilsack. “Each member brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to the council. I am confident that the industry will be well served by them.”
Members include producers Mark D. Hurst of Sheridan, Ore., Shelly Ann Hartmann of South Haven, Mich., David F. Arena of Hammonton, N.J., and Bill Braswell of Auburndale, Fla. Other appointees are importer Stan Crafton of Littleton, Colo., exporter Nicolas Moller of Santiago, Chile, and public member Amy Bartlett Howell of Hammonton, N.J.
Alternates include producers R. Verne Gingerich of Canby, Ore., Patricia Ann Goin of North Judson, Ind., Art Galletta of Hammonton, N.J., and Keith Mixon of Haines City, Fla. Also named alternate were importer Francisco Allende of Moorestown, N.J., exporter Felipe Juillerat of Santiago, Chile, and public member Juan L. Silva from Mississippi State University.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council in accordance with the Commodity Promotion Research, and Information Act of 1996 and the Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information Order.
Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 20 research and promotion boards. They empower farmers and ranchers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders. Visit www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion to learn more about research and promotion programs.
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