Sam Jones-Ellard (202) 660-2268Samuel.jones@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, May 14, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the appointment of two members and two alternates to the Cotton Board. The terms of the member positions, one California producer and one importer, expire on December 31, 2014, and the terms of the alternate member positions, both importer positions, expire on December 31, 2013.
The appointed producer member from California is Aaron A. Barcellos, Los Banos, California. Rodger C. Glaspey from Fresno, California is the appointed importer member. The appointed alternate importer members are Sapna Sapru, Forest Hills, New York; and Kris T. Arabia, Orlando, Florida.
“These appointees represent a cross section of the cotton industry and I am confident that cotton producers and importers of cotton and cotton-containing products will be well served by them,” said Vilsack.
On December 27, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the decision to appoint 13 members, 13 alternates, and one consumer advisor to the Cotton Board. Immediately following the announcement, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) received letters from two members in which they declined their appointments, as well as letters from two alternate members in which they resigned from their respective positions.
The cotton research and promotion program is designed to advance the position of cotton in the marketplace. It is funded by assessments on all domestically produced cotton and imports of foreign-produced cotton and cotton-containing products, and is authorized by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1966. AMS oversees operations of the board.
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