USDA Announces Appointments to the Christmas Tree Promotion Board

USDA Floral January 7, 2019

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of three producers to serve on the Christmas Tree Promotion Board.

Newly appointed to three-year terms are:

  • Mark Schmidlin, Forest Grove, Ore.
  • Bob Schaefer, Silverton, Ore.
  • Gary R. Westlake Sr., Pottstown, Pa.

The 12-member board has 11 producers representing production in the Eastern, Central and Western regions of the United States, and an importer member. Each can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.

More information about the board is available on AMS’ Christmas Tree Promotion Board web page and on the board’s website, christmastreepromotionboard.org.

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

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