USDA Announces Appointments to the Christmas Tree Promotion Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of four members to serve on the Christmas Tree Promotion Board. These four appointees will serve three-year terms, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and ending Dec. 31, 2027.<_o3a_p>

Newly appointed members are:

• Region #1 - Western Region Producer: Jan Hupp, Silverton, Oregon
• Region #1 - Western Region Producer: Kari Puffer, Molalla, Oregon<_o3a_p>
• Region #3 - Eastern Region Producer: Gary S. Thomas, Jarrettsville, Maryland<_o3a_p>
• Importer - Ryan Tyce, Ontario, Canada<_o3a_p>

The Christmas Tree Promotion Board has 12 members, including 11 producer members and one importer member. Members can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.<_o3a_p>

More information about the board is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Christmas Tree Promotion Board webpage and on the board's website at www.realchristmastreeboard.org.<_o3a_p>

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.<_o3a_p>

AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.<_o3a_p>

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender<_o3a_p>