Release No. 231-14

Contact:

Hakim Fobia (202) 690-0488

Secretary Vilsack Names Members to the National Honey Board

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2014 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed three members and three alternates to serve on the National Honey Board. They will serve 3-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2015, and ending on Dec. 31, 2017.

The producer member appointed is Mark A. Jensen of Power, Mont., incumbent, and the producer alternate member is Randy Verhoek of Baldwin, N.D.

The first handler member appointed is Eric S. Wenger of Peabody, Kan., and the first handler alternate member is Michelle Poulk of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Additionally, the appointed importer handler member is Mathias Leitner of Gilbert, Ariz., incumbent, and first handler alternate member is Jeffrey Z. Dong of Eastvale, Calif.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the Board in accordance with the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 and the Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order. Under the Order, the program is financed by an assessment of $0.01 per pound on first handlers and importers of 250,000 pounds or more of honey or honey products annually. The program is administered by board 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 National Honey Board.

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 Board, please contact Patricia Petrella by phone: (301) 334-28915, or email: patricia.petrella@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).