Save the date

Big Apple of the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group was the first to flag this Federal Register entry:


Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to notify all interested parties that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will hold a Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (Committee) meeting that is open to the public. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the Committee to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. This notice sets forth the schedule and location for the meeting.
DATES: Monday, September 8, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The Committee meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1480 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Hatch, Designated Federal Official,
USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs. Telephone: (202)
690-0182. Facsimile: (202) 720-0016. E-mail: andrew.hatch@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. II), the Secretary of Agriculture established the Committee in August 2001 to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet
the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. The Committee was re-chartered in July 2003, June 2005 and again in May 2007 with new members appointed by USDA from industry nominations. AMS Deputy Administrator for Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Robert C. Keeney, serves as the Committee's Executive Secretary.
Representatives from USDA mission areas and other government agencies affecting the fruit and vegetable industry will be called upon to participate in the Committee's meetings as determined by the Committee Chairperson. AMS is giving notice of the Committee meeting to the public so that they may attend and present their recommendations. Reference the DATES and ADDRESSES section of this announcement for the time and place of the meeting.
Topics of discussion at the Committee meeting will include: The Market News reporting of fruits and vegetables, Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act license fees, the restructuring of fresh fruit and vegetable grading services at terminal markets, USDA crop insurance programs, and Maximum Residue Levels for pesticides in food.

Those parties that would like to speak at the meeting should register on or before August 29, 2008. To register as a speaker, please e-mail your name, affiliation, business address, e-mail address, and phone number to Mr. Andrew Hatch at: andrew.hatch@usda.gov. or facsimile to (202) 720-0016. Speakers who have registered in advance receive priority. Groups and individuals may submit comments for the Committee's consideration to the same e-mail address. The meeting will be recorded, and information about obtaining a transcript will be
provided at the meeting.

TK: Check out coverage in The Packer this week about the restructuring of grading services at terminal markets; five federal offices will be closed and 11 others will see reductions in staff.