The U.S. Department of Agriculture has appointed 28 members and alternate members to serve on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC). Members and alternates will serve a three-year term ending Dec. 31, 2025. Four of the appointments are the exporter members and alternates whose terms will expire on Dec. 31, 2024, to remain in the council’s nomination rotation.
The 21-member council is composed of 12 producers, four importers, four exporters and one public member. Each member seat has a corresponding alternate seat. Members and alternates can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.
“The USHBC has an ambitious vision for the future of blueberries,” said USHBC president Kasey Cronquist, also president of the North American Blueberry Council (NABC). “With these newly appointed members of the council, we’ll work together to inspire all the possibilities yet ahead for blueberries while helping to ensure the future success and profitable returns back to our growers.”
The newly appointed USHBC members are:
- California Producer: Doug LaCroix
- Florida Producer: Brittany Lee (formerly Florida Alternate)
- Georgia Producer: Tiffany Crosby
- Michigan Producer: Dennis Vander Kooi
- North Carolina Producer: Jimmy Horrell
- Importer #3: Ryan Lockman (formerly Importer #3 Alternate)
- Importer #4: Joe Barsi (formerly Importer #4 Alternate)
- Exporter #2 (CA): Mark Adams
- Exporter #3 (PE): Daniel Bustamante
- Exporter #4 (MX): Jose Luis Bustamante
Newly appointed alternates are:
- California Producer: Bill Steed (formerly California Member)
- Florida Producer: Michael Hill
- Georgia Producer: Tammy Brannen
- Michigan Producer: George Fritz Jr. (formerly Michigan Member)
- New Jersey Producer: Chelsea Consalo
- North Carolina Producer: Kristen Johnson-Brinkley
- Oregon: Ellie Norris
- Washington Producer: Leif Olsen
- Importer #3: Andrew Maiman
- Importer #4: Bo Slack
- Exporter #2 (CA): Ray Biln (formerly Exporter #2 Alternate)
- Exporter #3 (PE): Jose Antonio Castro
- Exporter #4 (MX): Jose Guillermo Romo
USHBC members who were reappointed are:
- New Jersey Producer: Paul Macrie III
- Oregon Producer: Doug Krahmer
- Washington Producer: Bryan Sakuma
- Importer #2: JC Clinard
Reappointed alternates are:
- Importer #2: Guy Cotton (formerly Handler member)
Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight to 22 boards. The oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity and is paid for by industry assessments.
For more information:
Carla Curle
North American Blueberry Council
Tel: +1 (707) 499-1400
[email protected]
https://www.nabcblues.org/