The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking membership nominations for six seats on the National Mango Board. Applications for the seats are due Feb. 22, 2017. Selected members will serve three-year terms of office.
The board is seeking candidates for the following six seats to replace members whose terms expire Dec. 31, 2017:
– Three importers to represent District 2, which includes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ports of entry of Mobile, Ala.; Chicago, Ill.; New Orleans, La.; Detroit, Mich.; Minneapolis and Duluth, Minn.; St. Louis, Mo.; Cleveland, Ohio; Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, and Port Arthur, Texas; and Milwaukee, Wis.
– One domestic producer seat, and
– Two foreign producer seats.
The 18-member board includes eight importers, two domestic producers, seven foreign producers, and one first handler. The Board meets periodically to plan and review marketing and research activities that benefit the industry. The national program has supported the marketing and promotion of fresh mangos since 2004.
USDA encourages board membership that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the research and promotion programs. All eligible women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to seek nomination for a seat on the board.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards that are industry-funded and empower agricultural industries with a framework to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.
For more information or an application, contact Manuel Michel or Anna Deschamps-Polonia of the National Mango Board at (407) 629-7318, extension 112, or email Mmichel@mango.org or APolonia@mango.org. The information is also available on the board’s website at www.mango.org/nominations. Questions may also be directed to Jeanette Palmer, AMS Specialty Crops Program marketing specialist at (202) 720-9915 or email Jeanette.Palmer@ams.usda.gov.