Jimmie Turner (202) 720-8998jimmie.turner@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee will meet Sept. 13-14, 2010, in Alexandria, Va. The meeting will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 13, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 14, at the Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria Hotel at 901 North Fairfax Street.
Topics of discussion at the meeting will include the following: audit requirements, Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act program, marketing agreements, food safety, local farmer/education initiatives, commodity purchasing programs, and work group reports.
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. II), the Secretary of Agriculture established the Committee in August 2001 to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry’s needs. The committee was re-chartered March 31, 2009, with USDA appointing new members December 2009 from industry nominations.
The meeting is open to the public, with seating available on a first-come basis. For details regarding how to submit comments, or to arrange special accommodations, contact Pamela Stanziani, designated federal officer for the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) Fruit and Vegetable Programs, at (202) 690-0182 or email Pamela.stanziani@ams.usda.gov.
Robert C. Keeney, deputy administrator of the AMS Fruit and Vegetable Program, serves as the committee’s executive secretary.
Additional information on this advisory committee is available on the Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/fv.
Details of the meeting will be published in the Aug. 6, 2010, Federal Register.
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