AMS 166-13

Gwen Sparks, (202) 260-8210

gwen.sparks@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2013 –– Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed three members and four alternates to the Hass Avocado Board.

Producers James R. Greenwood of Fallbrook, Calif., and Ohannes Z. Karaoghlanian of Temecula, Calif., will serve three-year terms as members beginning Nov. 1, 2013, and Faye Louise Hall of Fallbrook, Calif., and Brock Bookwalter of Ventura, Calif., will serve as alternates. Avocado importers Sebastian Bulnes of Temecula, Calif., and James Lotufo of Ringoes, N.J., will serve as member and alternate, respectively, for three years, beginning Nov. 1, 2013. Producer Laurie M. Luschei of Carpinteria, Calif., will serve one year as an alternate.

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the Hass Avocado Board in accordance with the Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 2000 and the Hass Avocado Promotion, Research and Information Order.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966, when Congress passed the Cotton Research and Promotion Act. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 20 research and promotion boards. They empower farmers and ranchers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders. Visit www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion to learn more about research and promotion programs.

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