AMS No. 250-11

Gwen Sparks, (202) 260-8210

gwen.sparks@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2011 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed three new members to serve on the Mushroom Council. Representatives will complete three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2012. Council appointment terms are staggered, with three of the nine members rotating off at any one time.

Pat Jurgensmeyer from Miami, Okla., will represent producers in region one, which includes all States except California and Pennsylvania. Producer David Carroll of Reading, Pa., will represent region two, which covers Pennsylvania. Elizabeth O’Neil of Ontario, Canada, will represent importers.

“These appointees represent a cross-section of the industry, and bring a wealth of diverse perspectives and backgrounds to the Council,” said Vilsack. “I am confident that producers, importers and others in the mushroom industry will be well served by them.”

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the Council in accordance with the Mushroom Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1990. The Mushroom Council, made up of fresh market producers and importers averaging over 500,000 pounds of mushrooms annually, administers a national promotion, research and consumer information program to maintain and expand markets for fresh mushrooms.

Research and promotion programs are industry driven programs funded through assessments and administered by board members selected by the Secretary of Agriculture. This allows commodity groups to conduct promotion, market and production research and new product development for the benefit of their industries. AMS monitors board operations. Visit www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion for more information about research and promotion programs.

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