Newark, Del. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today named PMAs Lorna Christie, executive vice president & COO, and 24 other industry members to United States Department of Agricultures Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. Also named were 14 PMA members including Board of Directors Vice Chairman Mike OBrien of Schnuck Markets.
I look forward to serving with so many PMA members on this committee, Christie said. The diversity of the group is a good indication that Secretary Vilsack wants to hear from the entire supply chain. This is a great opportunity expand PMAs ability to bring the valuable on-the-ground information and experience of our members to Washington D.C.
Since its inception in 2001, this advisory committee has met up to two times per year to develop recommendations for submission to the Secretary of Agriculture on issues affecting the U.S. produce industry. Committee members represent fresh fruit and vegetable growers/shippers, fresh fruit and vegetable wholesalers, retailers, industry trade associations, importers, fruit and vegetable processors, foodservice suppliers, fresh-cut processors, brokers and state departments of agriculture.
Im thrilled at the makeup of this committee, said PMA President & CEO Bryan Silbermann. Through the years, the committee has made excellent recommendations that USDA has acted upon to better serve our industry. We appreciate USDAs openness and its outreach to industry as we work toward common goals. Were certainly pleased to see Lorna named to the group, and were also excited that our state agriculture secretary, Ed Kee, is included.
The 25 committee members were selected from peer nominations; each member is appointed to a two-year term.
PMA members named to the committee are:
Alan Hardison, Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo, Los Angeles, Calif.
Michael Hollister, Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Watsonville, Calif.
Ed Kee, Delaware Department of Agriculture, Dover, Del.
Vaughn Koligian, Sun-Maid Growers of California, Pleasanton, Calif.
Tom Lovelace, McEntire Produce, Columbia, S.C.
Lisa McNeece, Grimmway Enterprises, Inc., Bakersfield, Calif.
Paul Newman, FirstFruits Marketing, Yakima, Wash.
Michael O’Brien, Schnuck Markets, St. Louis, Mo.
Howard Popoola, Topco Associates, LLC, Skokie, Ill.
William “Gee” Roe III, W.G. Roe & Sons, Inc., Winter Haven, Fla.
William Smittcamp, Wawona Frozen Foods, Clovis, Calif.
Maureen Torrey, Torrey Farms, Elba, N.Y.
Jennifer “Jin Ju” Wilder, Coast Produce, Los Angeles, Calif.
Rebecca Wilson, Tom Lange Company, Springfield, Ill.
Source: Produce Marketing Association