USDA Seeks Nominees for American Pecan Promotion Board - Pecan South MagazinePecan South magazine | The pecan industry's leading publication, published monthly for pecan producers, processors and all others involved or interested in the pecan industry.

Bagged pecans sit in a line on the bottom of a wooden shelf. The new pecan research and promotion program has the authority to collect assessments for domestic and foreign grown pecans imported into the U.S. USDA announced the industry members on the new APPB

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) seeks nominations for the American Pecan Promotion Board (APPB) under the newly established Pecan Promotion, Research, and Information Order. APPB nominations are due by March 26, 2021.

The 17-member board will consist of 10 producers and seven importers. The 10 producer members will be allocated between three regions within the United States: three from the Eastern Region, three from the Central Region, and four from the Western Region. Seven members will be importers. USDA will assign initial board members’ terms of office of two, three, and four years to stagger future terms of office. Each member’s term will begin when USDA approves the nominations.

To serve on the board, producers and importers must have produced or imported more than 50,000 pounds of inshell pecans (25,000 pounds of shelled pecans) on average for four fiscal periods. Producers who produce pecans in more than one region may seek nomination only in the region in which they produce the majority of their pecans.

The order specifies that nominations for producer member seats will be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture by the American Pecan Council, the 17-member federal marketing order governing body. If you are interested in serving as a producer member, please submit your nominations to info@americanpecan.com. You may also contact Jeff Smutny at (817) 916-0020.

USDA is conducting nominations for importer members. Please submit nominations to Patricia Petrella at Patricia.Petrella@usda.gov.

For more information about the program, visit the AMS American Pecan Promotion Board webpage or contact USDA Promotion and Economics Division Deputy Director, Patricia Petrella, at (301) 337-5295 or Patricia.Petrella@usda.gov.

AMS policy is that the diversity of the board should reflect the diversity of their industries in the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. When submitting nominations for the APPB, the industry must consider the diversity of the population served and the members’ knowledge, skills, and abilities to serve a diverse population.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight to 22 boards. The oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity and is paid for by industry assessments.

Comments