The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of 9 members and 10 alternate members to serve on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council beginning Jan 1, 2025. Eighteen appointees will serve three-year terms ending on Dec. 31, 2027, and one alternate will serve a one-year term ending Dec. 31, 2025.
The newly appointed members are:
- Nathan Sakuma, Wash. (Western Region Member)
- Anne Krahmer-Steinkamp, Ore. (Western Region Alternate)
- Katelyn Craig, Mich. (Midwest Region Member)
- Kara Lynn-Hartmann Laraway, Mich. (Midwest Region Alternate)
- Brandon J. Raso, N.J. (Northeast Region Member)
- Alec Arena, N.J. (Northeast Alternate)
- Jody A. McPherson, N.C. (Southern Region Member)
- Dan J. Register, Ga. (Southern Alternate)
- William O. Cline, N.C. (Public Member)
- Dr. Patricio R. Munoz, Fla. (Public Alternate)
- Gonzalo de Elizalde, Calif. (Importer Member)
- Bonnie Lundblad, N.J. (Importer Alternate)
- Juan Pablo Vogt, Chile (Exporter Member)
- Ruy Barbosa, Chile (Exporter Alternate)
- Daniel J. Bustamante, Peru (Exporter Member)
- José Antonio Castro, Peru (Exporter Alternate)
- Miguel Méndez, Mexico (Exporter Member)
- Raul Gonzalez Chavez, Mexico (Exporter Alternate)
The alternate member appointed to fill the vacancy with a one-year term is:
- Brandon Wade, Ga. (Alternate Member)
The 21-member council is composed of 12 producers, four importers, four exporters, and one public member with each member seat having a corresponding alternate seat. Members and alternates can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.
More information about the council is available on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council webpage.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of 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. AMS provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender