Release No. 211-14

Contact:

Hakim Fobia (202) 690-0488

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2014 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has reappointed three members to serve on the Mushroom Council. They will serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2015, and ending on Dec. 31, 2017.

Reappointed members are Pat Jurgensmeyer of Miami, Okla.; David Carroll of Reading, Pa.; and Elizabeth O’Neil Meurehg of Toronto, Canada.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the Mushroom Council in accordance with the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1990 and the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order. Under the order, producers and importers who produce or import on average more than 500,000 pounds of mushrooms annually for fresh market pay an assessment at the rate of .005 cents per pound. The program is administered by council members who are selected by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

USDA encourages board membership that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the programs. USDA encourages all eligible women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to seek nomination for a seat on the Mushroom Council.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, were 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 22 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.

For more information about research and promotion programs, visit www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion. For information on the Council, please contact Jeanette Palmer by phone: (202) 720-9915, or email: Jeanette.Palmer@ams.usda.gov.

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).