AMS No. 129-11

Gwen Sparks (202) 260-8210

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2011-- The Department of Agriculture today issued a rule amending the membership provisions of the Mango Promotion, Research and Information Order.

The rule eliminates two non-voting wholesaler/retailer positions, reducing the number of seats on the National Mango Board from 20 to 18. The board voted to recommend removal of the seats, which have been vacant since 2008.

A 30-day comment period was provided from March 14 to April 13, 2011, for public comment on the proposed elimination of the wholesaler/retailer positions. A total of 12 comments were received, nine of which supported elimination of the positions.

The final rule amending the order will take effect June 23, 2011. Copies of the rule are available at www.regulations.gov and on USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website at www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion. Copies may also be requested by telephone at (888) 720-9917, or by mail from Research and Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 0244, Room 0632-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0244.

AMS monitors the operations of the board in accordance with the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996. The board administers an industry-funded national promotion program to maintain and expand the domestic market for mangos.

More information about the mango program and other research and promotion programs can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion.

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