Specialty Crops Industry Newsletter - July 2019

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Specialty Crops Newsletter  - July 2019

Specialty Crops Program  Welcomes the Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee!

Sonia Jimenez, Deputy Administrator, Specialty Crops Program

Jimenez

The USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) met May 9-10, 2019 marking the first meeting of the 2018-2020 committee members. It also marked the first time the committee has met since it was reestablished in April 2018.

The purpose of the committee is to examine the full spectrum of fruit and vegetable issues and provide recommendations to USDA on how the department can tailor programs to better meet the needs of the U.S. produce industry. The Specialty Crops Program ensures the committee is administered according to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

The committee was welcomed by Administrator Bruce Summers, who thanked the appointed members for giving their time and providing insights to USDA on issues important to agricultural businesses.

FVIAC Leadership

FVIAC Vice-Chair Kiley Harper, FVIAC Chairman Chalmrs Carr & USDA Designated Federal Officer Darrell Hughes

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Do You Want the Latest on Industrial Hemp?

Jeffrey Davis, Business Development, Specialty Crops Program

SCP's Marketing Order & Agreements Division (MOAD) Drives Forward to Meet Requirements of the 2018 USDA Farm Bill

Hemp listening session webinar cast

Our Specialty Crops Program Marketing Order & Agreements Division (MOAD) is driving forward to meet the requirements outlined in the Industrial Hemp provisions of the 2018 USDA Farm Bill.

On May 28, 2019 the USDA released two (2) Notice to Trade entries of great interest to the specialty crops industry. One notice is a Legal Opinion on Authorities for Hemp Production . This notice includes an executive summary along with a complete legal analysis of the conclusions the USDA Office of General Counsel (OGC) outlined within the notice. The other notice is USDA Clarifies Industrial Hemp Production for Indian Tribes.
Please submit your comments and questions about the 2018 Farm Bill implementation of Hemp Production to farmbill.hemp@usda.gov. In March, we hosted a Hemp Production Program Webinar, which was our first listening session on industrial hemp. Thank you for your continued interest in this exciting opportunity within the agricultural industry.
          


Specialty Crops Program Works to Strengthen Relationships with Tribal Nations

Andrew Hatch, Chief, Rulemaking Services Branch, MOAD, Specialty Crops Program

We Never Gave Up

The Specialty Crops Program’s (SCP) Leanne Skelton and the Marketing Order and Agreement Division’s Andrew Hatch and Vincent (Vinny) Fusaro participated in a workshop geared toward helping the USDA better understand the history of the United States government, and specifically USDA’s interactions with Native Americans. Participants interacted to gain a better understanding of the complexities of Tribal Nations, government-to-government fiduciary, treaty and trust responsibilities, and cultural sensitivities to better prepare staff for successful interactions. 

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Federal Marketing Orders Support USDA's Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative

Vincent Fusaro, Compliance and Enforcement Branch Chief, MOAD Division

Vincent Fusaro

A Great "Win-Win" for Everyone!

See how federal marketing orders for fruits and vegetables promote industry self-help programs providing consumers high quality products utilizing secondary markets. 

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