Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee

AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY:

The purpose of this notice is to notify all interested parties that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will hold a Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (Committee) meeting that is open to the public. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the Committee to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. This notice sets forth the schedule and location for the meeting.

DATES:

Tuesday, January 11, 2005, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Wednesday, January 12, 2005, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. As part of the meeting, Committee members will tour the National Training and Development Center on Tuesday, January 11, 2005, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES:

The Committee meeting will be held at the Hilton Hotel, 1767 King Street, Alexandria, VA. The tour of the National Training and Development Center will take place at 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andrew Hatch, Designated Federal Official, USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs. Telephone: (202) 690-0182. Facsimile: (202) 720-0016. E-mail: andrew.hatch@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. II), the Secretary of Agriculture established the Committee in August 2001 to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. The Committee was re-chartered in July 2003 and new members were appointed from industry nominations.

AMS Deputy Administrator for Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Robert C. Keeney, serves as the Committee's Executive Secretary. Representatives from USDA mission areas and other government agencies affecting the fruit and vegetable industry will be called upon to participate in the Committee's meetings as determined by the Committee Chairperson. AMS is giving notice of the Committee meeting to the public so that they may attend and present their recommendations. Reference the date and address section of this announcement for the time and place of the meeting.

Topics to be discussed include: Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act branch reorganization status and transportation issues, crop insurance, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the school lunch procurement study, Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation overview, and ways that USDA programs can encourage increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. Those parties that would like to speak at the meeting should register on or before January 5, 2005. To register as a speaker, please e-mail your name, affiliation, business address, e-mail address, and phone number to Mr. Andrew C. Hatch at: andrew.hatch@usda.gov or facsimile to (202) 720-0016. Speakers who have registered in advance will be given priority. Groups and individuals may submit comments for the Committee's consideration to the same e-mail address. The meeting will be recorded, and information about obtaining a transcript will be provided at the meeting.

The Secretary of Agriculture selected a diverse group of members representing a broad spectrum of persons interested in providing suggestions and ideas on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. Equal opportunity practices were considered in all appointments to the Committee in accordance with USDA policies.

If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter, please use either contact name listed above.