The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations to fill seven seats on the National Mango Board. Nomination applications are due Feb. 21, 2020.
Nominations are being sought to fill three importer seats representing District II, two foreign producer seats and one domestic producer seat all with terms that expire Dec. 31, 2020. Nominees selected to fill these seats will serve three-year terms starting Jan. 1, 2021 and ending Dec. 31, 2023.
USDA is also seeking one nominee to fill a vacant domestic producer seat. The term for the nominee selected to fill the vacant seat will begin immediately upon appointment and end Dec. 31, 2021.
Applications are available online at www.mango.org/nominations, or by contacting Manuel Michel or Anna Deschamps-Polonia at (407) 629-7318, extension 112; or MMichel@mango.org or Apolonia@mango.org. You may also contact USDA Marketing Specialist Marlene Betts at (202) 720-9915 or marlene.betts@usda.gov.
The 21-member board supports the marketing and promotion of fresh mangos. The board’s membership includes eight importers, two domestic producers, seven foreign producers, one first handler, two importers of frozen mangos and one foreign processor of frozen mango. More information is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Mango Board web page and on the board’s website at Mango.org.
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 21 boards. The oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity, and is paid for by industry assessments.
