Getting started in DC

I've arrived at Ronald Reagan Airport this evening and took the yellow line metro to my Alexandria, Va., Holiday Inn. I'll be here week, starting with coverage of the f/v industry advisory committee meeting and ending with the WPPC.

Tomorrow is the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee meeting, three metro stops away at the Crowne Plaza at Washington National Airport. The agenda includes a "farm bill update" by Robert Keeney, deputy administrator of the F/V programs fro the USDA AMS. Also on tap is a look at developments in market news reporting of organic items by Terry Long, chief of the USDA AMS FV Market News Branch.

Also on the agenda:
Crop insurance, the issue of maximum pesticide levels, PACA license fees, and the committee's working groups on food safety/traceability, child nutrition reauthorization, labor/immigration, transportation, market news/inspection services.

If all works as planned, you may get some real time updates tomorrow....