USDA Announces Appointments to the Hass Avocado Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of eight members to the Hass Avocado Board. Appointed are two producer members, two producer alternates, two importer members and two importer alternates to fill three-year terms expiring on October 31, 2027.<_o3a_p>

Newly appointed members and alternates are:

• James Johnson, Fillmore, California (Producer Member)<_o3a_p>
• Michael Craviotto, Moorpark, California (Producer Alternate)<_o3a_p>
• Paula Coxe, Fallbrook, California (Producer Member)<_o3a_p>
• Ivor Van Wingerden, Arroyo Grande, California (Producer Alternate)<_o3a_p>
• David Billings, Capistrano Beach, California (Importer Member)<_o3a_p>
• Sabrina Castillo Lora, Miami, Florida (Importer Alternate)<_o3a_p>
• Angela Tallant, Estero, Florida (Importer Member)<_o3a_p>
• Robert Ybarra, Pharr, Texas (Importer Alternate)<_o3a_p>

The Hass Avocado Board has 12 members, including seven producer members, two importer members, and three producer or importer members who serve in swing seats. Each member has an alternate.<_o3a_p>

More information about the board is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Hass Avocado Board webpage and on the board's website hassavocadoboard.com.<_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>