[Billing Code: 3410-02-P]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-24-0037]
Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee Call for Nominations
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; call for nominations.
SUMMARY: The Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC or
Committee) was established to develop recommendations for submission to the Secretary
of Agriculture (Secretary) on issues affecting the U.S. produce industry. Through this
notice, the USDA is requesting nominations to fill up to 25 upcoming vacancies on the
FVIAC. The Secretary will appoint industry representative to serve a two-year term of
office that would commence in 2024. The Secretary invites those individuals,
organizations, and groups affiliated with the categories listed in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section to nominate individuals or themselves
for membership on the FVIAC.
DATES: Nomination packages, including a cover letter to the Secretary, the nominee’s
typed resume or curriculum vitae, and a completed USDA Advisory Committee
Membership Background Information Form AD–755, must be postmarked on or before
[INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER].
ADDRESSES: Nomination packages may be submitted electronically by E-mail to
SCPFVIAC@usda.gov, or mailed to: Jennie M. Varela, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
1124 1st Street South, Winter Haven, FL, 33880; Attn: Fruit and Vegetable Industry
Advisory Committee. Electronic submittals are preferred.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Miss Jennie Varela, Designated

Federal Officer, Telephone at (202) 658-8616 or by E-mail SCPFVIAC@ams.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the FVIAC is to examine the
full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and provide suggestions
and ideas to the Secretary on how USDA can tailor its programs to better meet the fruit
and vegetable industry’s needs.
The USDA is seeking members who represent the fruit and vegetable industry
including fruit and vegetable growers/shippers; fruit and vegetable wholesalers/receivers;
brokers; retailers; fruit and vegetable processors and fresh-cut processors; foodservice
suppliers; organic and non-organic farmers; farmers markets and community-supported
agricultural organizations; state agriculture departments; and trade associations. Industry
members are appointed by the Secretary and serve 2-year terms, with a maximum of
three 2-year terms.
Please note that individuals who are registered as Federal lobbyists are not
eligible to serve on Federal advisory committees in an individual capacity. See “Revised
Guidance on Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal Advisory Committees, Boards, and
Commissions,” 79 FR 47482 (Aug. 13, 2014). Members can only serve on one USDA
advisory committee at a time. All nominees will undergo a USDA background check.
The following must be submitted to nominate yourself or someone else to the
FVIAC: a resume or curriculum vitae, a USDA Advisory Committee Membership
Background Information Form AD–755 – available online at
https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755.pdf , and a cover letter to the
Secretary. A list of endorsements or letters of recommendation, and a biography may
also be submitted. The resume or curriculum vitae must be limited to five one-sided
pages and should include a summary of the following information: current and past
organization affiliations; areas of expertise; education; career positions held; and any
other notable positions held. For submissions received that are more than five one-sided

pages in length, only the first five pages will be reviewed.
The Secretary appointed 25 members in 2022. Two (2) members have served two
terms and twenty-three (23) members have served one term, which all expire October 28,
2024. The Secretary will appoint members for the upcoming vacancies to serve a 2-year
term of office beginning in 2024 and ending in 2026. Nominations received that could
fill future unexpected vacancies in any of the position categories will be held as a pool of
candidates that the Secretary can draw upon as replacement appointees if unexpected
vacancies occur. A person appointed to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the
2-year term of the vacant position.
The Deputy Administrator of the AMS Specialty Crops Program serves as the
FVIAC Executive Secretary. Representatives from USDA mission areas and agencies
affecting the fruit and vegetable industry could be called upon to participate in the
FVIAC’s meetings as determined by the FVIAC Executive Secretary and the FVIAC.
The full Committee expects to meet at least twice a year in-person (or by
computer-based conferencing), and the meetings will be announced in the Federal
Register. Committee workgroups or subcommittees will meet as deemed necessary by
the chairperson and may meet through teleconference or by computer-based
conferencing. Subcommittees may invite technical experts to present information for
consideration by the subcommittee. The subcommittee meetings will not be announced
in the Federal Register. All data and records available to the full Committee are expected
to be available to the public when the full Committee reviews and approves the work of
the subcommittee(s). Members must be prepared to work outside of scheduled
Committee and subcommittee meetings and may be required to assist in document
preparation. Committee members serve on a voluntary basis; however, travel expenses
and per diem reimbursement are available.
The Secretary seeks 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
will be followed in all appointments to the FVIAC in accordance with USDA policies.
To ensure that the recommendations of the FVIAC have taken into account the needs of
the diverse groups served by the Department, membership shall include, to the extent
practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent the many communities,
identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of the American
people, including underserved communities.
The information collection requirements concerning the nomination process have
been previously cleared by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB
Control No. 0505-0001.
Dated: June 27, 2024.

Cikena Reid,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-14598 Filed: 7/2/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 7/3/2024]