FV Advisory Committee named

This has been in the works for some time. I like the diversity of this group; the USDA did a good job of putting this group together with some holdovers from the last committee and many new members as well. Here is the release announcing the newly minted Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee:



CONNER NAMES MEMBERS TO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2007 - Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner today announced the names of members of the new Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. USDA will schedule the committee's first meeting for January 2008 in the Washington, D.C., area.
The 25 members were selected from individuals nominated by their peers. Committee members represent fresh fruit and vegetable growers/shippers, fresh fruit and vegetable wholesalers, retailers, industry trade associations, importers, fruit and vegetable processors, foodservice suppliers, fresh-cut processors, brokers and state departments of agriculture. Each member is appointed to a two-year term. Fourteen of the members are incumbents from the previous advisory committee.
Originally chartered in 2001, the advisory committee advises the Secretary of Agriculture on issues affecting the fruit and vegetable industry. In May 2007, USDA approved a new two-year charter for this committee. The Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 provides for the establishment and operation of advisory committees within the executive branch of the federal government.
More information about the meeting will be published in the Federal Register and will be available at www.ams.usda.gov/fv. Information also can be obtained by e-mailing robert.keeney@usda.gov or by calling (202) 720-4722.
USDA's Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee Members: 2007-2009
Danny Arnold A-W Produce Company Texas
Gordon Bowman Bowman Apple Products Virginia
Wayne Brandt Brandt Farms California
William Brim Lewis Taylor Farms Georgia
Frederick Caito Caito Foods Service Indiana
Charles Ciruli, Jr. Ciruli Brothers/Amex Distributing Company Arizona
Jim Corby Food Lion North Carolina
Scott Danner Liberty Fruit Company Kansas
Matthew D'Arrigo D'Arrigo Brothers New York
Andrew Deane Del Monte Foods California
Joseph DeVerna Ocean Spray Massachusetts
Michael Hollister Driscolls' Inc. California
A.G. Kawamura California Department of Food and Agriculture California
Helen Masser Sterman Masser, Inc. Pennsylvania
Lisa McNeece Grimmway Enterprises California
John Millwater Fresh Express Texas
Luis Monterde B&M Blueberries Mississippi
Robert Morrissey National Watermelon Association Florida
Paul Newman Rainier Fruit Company Washington
Daniel Richey Riverfront Growers/Riverfront Packing Florida
Mike Stuart Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association Florida
Lisa Strube Strube Celery and Vegetable Company Illinois
Jennifer Verdelli Verdelli Farms Pennsylvania
Rebecca Wilson Tom Lange Company Illinois
Larry Yonce J.W. Yonce and Sons South Carolina