AMS No. 020-14

Hakim Fobia, (202) 690-0488

hakim.fobia@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks nominations for the National Mango Board. Applications for six open seats are due May 7, 2014. Selected representatives will serve three-year terms of office. The 18-member board includes eight importers, two domestic producers, seven foreign producers, and one first handler.

Currently, the board is looking to fill six seats including three importers who will represent District 2, which includes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection port entries of Mobile, Ala.; New Orleans, La.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Detroit, Mich.; Chicago, Ill.; Cleveland, Ohio; St. Louis, Mo.; Minneapolis and Duluth, Minn.; and Port Arthur, Laredo, Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. The National Mango Board is also looking to fill a domestic producer and two foreign producer seats.

The USDA encourages board membership that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the research and promotion programs. All eligible women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to seek nomination for a seat on the National Mango Board.

Visit www.mango.org/nominations for more information on the National Mango Board or a copy of the nomination form. You may also contact Executive Director, William Watson or Director of Operations, Amy Mercado at (407) 629-7318, extension 102. They may be reached by e-mail at wwatson@mango.org or amercado@mango.org, respectively.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, were authorized by Congress and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 21 research and promotion boards. They empower agricultural industries by establishing a framework for them to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight, helping to ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).