The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) will meet in person and virtually on October 8, 2024, from 1 PM – 4 PM ET and October 9, 2024, from 9 AM to 3 PM ET in Fredericksburg, Virginia. USDA established the committee in 2001 to examine the full spectrum of issues facing the fruit and vegetable industry. The committee, with members representing a broad cross-section of the industry, creates a forum to provide suggestions and ideas to USDA on ways to improve programs to meet the changing needs of the produce industry.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is organizing this meeting which on a first-come, first-served basis, as space is limited. Those wishing to attend the meeting in person, please register via Microsoft Forms. Those wishing to attend virtually, please register using the Zoom Registration form.
This meeting is being convened to examine the full spectrum of fruit and vegetable industry issues and provide recommendations and ideas on how the USDA can tailor programs and services to better meet the needs of the U.S. produce industry. Agenda items may include but are not limited to, administrative matters and consideration of recommendations for labor and production, food safety, infrastructure and sustainability, consumption and nutrition, and data reporting and analysis.
The FVIAC will hear public comments on October 8th. Those wishing to make oral comments must pre-register by 11:59 PM ET on October 1st and indicate interest in speaking on the form. Attendees can register for only one speaking slot.
Written comments related to the fruit and vegetable industry can be submitted on regulations.gov.
Meeting details and information on the public comment period, which expires on October 1, 2024, are available in the Federal Register notice published September 10, 2024.
For accommodations, contact Jennie Varela at SCPFVIAC@usda.gov or call (202) 658-8616.
Information about the meeting and the committee is available on the AMS Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee webpage.
Advocacy contact: Send an email to Linwood Rayford at linwood.rayford@sba.gov.