Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Comittee - notes

I visited with Lee Mannering of PMA today about the goings-on at the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee meeting today in Arlington, Va.. Lee was at the meeting today and I called him halfway through the proceedings. Though we have a correspondent there, today's event was one of only two FVIAC meetings I have missed so far. Some highlights:
* PACA fee increases discussed (brace yourself - the licensing fee/branch fee hikes are expected to be pretty big) , as well as possible fix to PACA language to account for trust protection related to credit terms
* Sliced apple pilot program discussed - lessons learned, what's ahead
* Update on rulemaking relating to Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement
* National Organic Program overview
* Agricultural labor
* What is future of committee - early indications that the new Administration is inclined to continue committee

Developing....