The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for the Processed Pear Committee to fill two grower member seats, one handler member seat, two processor member seats, and five alternates whose terms will begin July 1, 2024. The appointed members will serve two-year terms.
Nominations will be held at the following meetings:
District 1 – State of Washington
- December 4 at 1:15 p.m. at Three Rivers Convention Center, Tri-Cities, Washington.
District 2 – State of Oregon
- December 14 at 4 p.m. at Casa El Mirador, The Dalles, Oregon.
Processor Member and Alternate Nominations
- March 2024 at the annual Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service meeting, Washington State Fruit Commission headquarters, 105 South 18th St., Suite 205, Yakima, WA 98901. Contact the committee manager closer to March for the date and time of the meeting.
The state of Washington (District 1) is seeking nominees for two grower members, two handler members, and their respective alternates. The state of Oregon (District 2) is seeking nominees for one grower member, one handler member, and their respective alternates.
Membership as a processor or alternate is not restricted by district. The committee also includes a public member and alternate. Eligible nominees for grower and handler positions must be engaged in a proprietary capacity in the production of pears for processing within the district for which selected.
For nomination information, contact Processed Pear Committee Manager BJ Thurlby at (509)-453-4837 or by email at bj@wastatefruit.com or USDA Marketing Specialist Dale Novotny at (503) 326-2726 or by email at dalej.novotny@USDA.gov.
The marketing order authorizes quality regulations, research, promotion and advertising programs for pears produced for processing in the states of Oregon and Washington, as defined by the marketing order. The Processed Pear Committee administers the order locally and consists of three grower members and their alternates, three handler members and their alternates, three processor members and their alternates, and one public member and an alternate. More information about the Committee is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) Oregon and Washington Pears webpage.
Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help producers and handlers achieve marketing success by leveraging their own funds to design and execute programs that they would not be able to do individually. AMS provides oversight to fruit, vegetable and specialty crops marketing orders and agreements to help 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.