The fall harvest is upon us, and people all over the world are enjoying the abundance of quality fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops. The specialty crop industry is important to USDA and plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, generating $65 billion in sales and creating more than 900,000 jobs. We recently met with the leaders of this key sector during last week’s session of the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC).
As part of our mission to facilitate the efficient and fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products, my agency – USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) – oversees the FVIAC, which meets approximately twice a year to develop recommendations on how USDA can better support the fruit and vegetable industry.
This summer, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed to the board a group of distinguished leaders from various parts of the produce supply chain. I would like to introduce you to some of the members and give you a chance to hear from them about why they are serving on the Committee:
Paul Newman, FVIAC Chair:
Organic Sales Manager, Oneonta/Starr Ranch Growers
Oneonta on-site liaison to Columba Valley Fruit
My involvement with the previous USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee confirmed that there is a real opportunity to help make a change in the industry. As Chair of the Committee, I look forward to helping everyone stay focused so that we maximize the time we spend together. I would like to deliver strong, effective messages to the Secretary.
I answered the call to serve because I think that the Committee offers an exciting, unique opportunity to have the Department address some of the issues that my company and the rest of the industry face. We all may face similar issues, but we come from different parts of the supply chain. As a result, these issues may have a different impact on us. So we will have to respect everyone’s opinions and ideas as we try to find solutions. This is important; you can never underestimate what great ideas our colleagues will bring to the table. They can come from anyone.
Beth Knorr, FVIAC Vice-Chair:
Farmers Market Manager for Countryside Conservancy
I volunteered for the Committee because I feel it's a positive way to let the Secretary of Agriculture know the challenges of small scale farmers in the direct-marketing world. I want to ensure that their concerns are represented. Small scale farmers interact directly with consumers. As a result, their issues are important to the entire industry because they have a large role in how the industry is perceived.
As Vice-Chair of the Committee, my hope is that we develop actionable recommendations that will help increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables as well as address challenges multiple sectors are experiencing. I'm very proud to be selected, and I think all participants are aware that we need to share our perspectives and be open to hearing from others. It is a group effort.
Tina Ellor:
Mycologist/Technical Director, Phillips Mushroom Farms, L.P.
It is a great honor to be chosen as a USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee member. It is an opportunity to work on behalf of all the industry’s producers for a common goal – to pave the way for people to fill their plates with more fruits and vegetables! I recently served on the USDA National Organic Standards Board for 5 years and experienced first-hand the positive dialogue that can take place in this type of group.
I was raised on a farm, work on a farm, and am married to a farmer. The issues raised in this venue are near and dear to my heart. I spend a lot of time reading about and thinking about these issues because they directly affect my home, my job, and my community.
Chris Puentes:
President Interfresh
I accepted the call to volunteer for the Committee because I thought it was a good opportunity to learn more about policy and rule making. Plus, you'll get the opportunity to meet some important people at USDA, as well as the other volunteers serving our industry. I consider it a great honor to serve the industry and the country in this capacity.
I hope to be able to use my 30 years’ of experience to help the industry move the ball forward on consumption and food safety, among other areas. For 28 years, my company – Interfresh – has consistently partnered with our growers and customers to provide excellent value to both. I’m looking forward to using this coalition building experience to help this Committee develop some great recommendations.
All of us here at AMS and USDA thank these members for volunteering. The group has hit the ground running – they already agreed to focus on food safety, agriculture labor, plant research and ag-focused education for children, among other issues. Members will meet later this year to begin drafting their recommendations. We value this group’s input and look forward to using their insight to help America’s fruit and vegetable industry continue to thrive.
