(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

1

 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 + + + + +

 FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY

 ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 + + + + +

 MEETING

 + + + + +

 WEDNESDAY

 MAY 10, 2017

 + + + + +

 The Fruit and Vegetable Industry

Advisory Committee met in Potomac 1 and Potomac 2

of the Hyatt Regency, 2799 Jefferson Davis

Highway, Arlington, Virginia, at 8:30 a.m., Beth

Knorr, Chair, presiding.

MEMBERS PRESENT

BETH KNORR, Chair, Executive Director, Cuyahoga

 Valley Countryside Conservancy

ROBERT NOLAN, Vice Chair, Owner/Operator, Deer 

 Run Farms, LLC

CHRISTIE BALCH, Executive Director, Crossroads

 Community Food Network

VIRGINIA BARNES, Manager, Food Safety and Public

 Relations, Barnes Farm, LLP

CARLOS CASTANEDA, Principal, Castaneda & Sons,

 Inc.

HELEN DIETRICH, Owner/Human Resources Manager,

 Ridgeview Orchards, LLC

KRISTINE ELLOR, Mycologist/Technical Director,

 Phillips Mushroom Farms

RICHARD HANAS, Vice President and Chief

 Operating Officer, A. Duda & Sons, Inc.

JOHANNA HERRON, Marketing Manager, Alaska State

 Department of Agriculture
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

2

MICHAEL JANIS, Market Manager, San Francisco

 Wholesale Produce Market

MARTIN MALDONADO, General Manager/Supply Chain

 Director, Pure Fresh, LLC

ROLAND MCREYNOLDS, Executive Director, Carolina

 Farm Stewardship Association

MARK NICHOLSON, Co-Owner/Manager of Fresh Sales,

 Red Jacket Orchards

PATRICK ROGERS, Owner/Operator, McAlister and

 Rogers Farms

DANIEL SUTTON, General Manager, Pismo Oceano

 Vegetable Exchange

HARRY TALBOTT, Vice President of Farm

 Operations/Co-Owner, Talbott's Mountain

 Gold, LLP

JORGE VAZQUEZ, President/CEO, Latin Specialties,

 LLC

THOMAS WILLIAMS, Director, Produce and Floral,

 Coborn's

DAVID YANDA, President & CEO, Lakeside Foods,

 Inc.

OTHERS PRESENT

MARLENE BETTS, Acting Designated Federal

 Official

ERIN MORRIS, AMS, USDA

LEANNE SKELTON, AMS, USDA
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

3

 C-O-N-T-E-N-T-S

Call to Order. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

General Comments from Other Working Groups . . . . 7

New Recommendations from Working Groups to

Full Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Other Business and Closing Remarks . . . . . . . .73

Adjourn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

4

1 P-R-O-C-E-E-D-I-N-G-S

2 8:42 a.m.

3 MS. KNORR: Good morning, everyone. 

4 If we could start taking our seats. We have

5 rearranged the schedule a little bit. We wanted

6 to make sure that we had ample time to discuss

7 the food safety proposed recommendations, so we

8 actually moved those to first thing this morning.

9 Hopefully, we can get some

10 recommendations passed out of that group. Then

11 we'll open it up to new working group

12 suggestions. We've already had two suggestions,

13 although I think the Labor Group may already have

14 something for us today, but certainly the Crop

15 Insurance Group was proposed yesterday. We'll

16 open that discussion up after our food safety

17 discussion.

18 Then we'll have a little bit of time

19 for the working groups to get together to craft

20 some language or determine next steps for

21 conference calls and potential speakers on those

22 calls. Then we'll get back together, in the
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

5

1 event that some of those committees may have some

2 proposed recommendations or statements for us. 

3 We'll hear from those groups. Then shortly

4 thereafter, we will adjourn. Any questions?

5 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Madam Chair, I would

6 just flag -- Roland McReynolds -- that the Grants

7 Infrastructure Working Group definitely will have

8 -- has already started discussing a

9 recommendation that we may want to bring forward

10 after we've had a chance to discuss as a group.

11 MS. KNORR: Fantastic. Anyone else

12 that we know will have recommendations? I think

13 the Broadband Group has a statement.

14 MR. WILLIAMS: This is Tom Williams. 

15 We should have something for the Market News, as

16 well.

17 MS. BALCH: This is Christie Balch. 

18 We should have a statement for Produce

19 Consumption, as well.

20 MR. CASTANEDA: Ms. Chairman, or,

21 excuse me, chairwoman. This is Carlos Castaneda. 

22 The Labor Group does have a statement. I don't
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

6

1 know if it's refined yet, but we'd like some

2 feedback from the group. Just let us know when

3 you're ready for it.

4 MS. KNORR: Fantastic. I think I'm

5 going to invite Roland to -- he did a great job

6 yesterday sharing the recommendations in their

7 draft form yesterday. I'm hoping that all of you

8 had a chance to read through them and make

9 comments or suggestions. I'm thinking I want to

10 open this up for a little bit of discussion

11 before we make a motion to approve. I think

12 there are probably some folks who have some

13 questions about that, so I'm going to open it up

14 to the floor to have some discussion on those.

15 I think we should discuss each one on

16 its own, but I would welcome a motion to pass all

17 of them as a slate, if we get to that point,

18 unless there are some that we feel need to be

19 modified more than others. I would welcome

20 passing all of them in one fell swoop. Roland,

21 do you want to --

22 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Yes, thank you very
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

7

1 much. First, we flag -- and perhaps Marlene can

2 put it up on the screen -- Johanna did make an

3 important suggestion, as far as the USDA-FDA

4 liaison position recommendation, in terms of

5 depersonalizing it for professional reasons. We

6 have made tweaks to take out the personal

7 references to Leanne, personally, but still to

8 maintain the principles that having a skilled,

9 experienced, knowledgeable about the produce

10 industry person serving as a liaison and making

11 sure that liaison position continues to be a

12 priority and funded by FDA. Our working group

13 would offer the version up on the screen as a

14 revised version of the hard copy we have. Other

15 than removing the references to individuals, it

16 is the same substance.

17 MR. NOLAN: Bob Nolan. I think we're

18 having trouble seeing it, at least I am. I don't

19 know. Dan, do you have 20/20 down there or what

20 do you got, 20/15 vision?

21 If it's just a matter of taking

22 Leanne's name out in that section, we can just go
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

8

1 off the hard copy, if that's all the change was,

2 just so the group knows.

3 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Functionally, that's

4 all the change was. It did require reworking

5 some sentences a little more than just crossing

6 out name. I would particularly -- the sentence

7 in the statement that throughout the process,

8 USDA staffer, Ms. Leanne Skelton, so it now says

9 -- there's two sentences that have kind of been

10 rearranged there, but it is -- yes, it is the

11 same substance.

12 MR. SUTTON: Dan Sutton. I agree with

13 the changes. I guess I'm looking for -- maybe a

14 little bit of my lack of knowledge and how

15 appointments work and things like that, but I

16 think what's been crucial to this position in the

17 past is the individual that fills that position. 

18 If this does get funded, is there an opportunity

19 for the position -- that has been crucial for the

20 person that's filled that.

21 Is there an opportunity for that not

22 to be filled by Leanne? Does there need to be a
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

9

1 reference? I don't know -- I'm sorry; I don't

2 know how that works, but I think that position is

3 critical mainly because of the person that's

4 filled that spot in the past.

5 MS. HERRON: Can I -- I think at the

6 end of the day, what it always comes back to is

7 the characteristics and the qualities and

8 ensuring that we get that at each juncture, be it

9 Leanne or anybody else, it's going to be really

10 crucial longevity wise. I wonder if there's some

11 way to add something that speaks to having input

12 from this group or being involved in the process

13 or something where you can validate that any kind

14 of replacement would have the same qualities,

15 that kind of thing. Just that longevity wise, if

16 you ever put an individual, then you're risking

17 anybody being in that position that could replace

18 it. I think the qualities are the things that

19 you're going to get more out of long term.

20 MS. KNORR: I think it would be

21 appropriate to have some qualities in there, but

22 I don't think it's appropriate to recommend that
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

10

1 this committee have involvement in any way.

2 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Perhaps staff could

3 sort of enlighten us on how you'd likely handle

4 the situation, in the event that the position is

5 continued.

6 MS. MORRIS: This is Erin Morris. As

7 Beth said, it wouldn't be appropriate for the

8 committee to have any role because there are

9 hiring principles that we have to follow.

10 I think the best thing to do would be

11 to include some language in there that just

12 comments on how important certain characteristics

13 are in filling the position. Then certainly, as

14 we were going through whatever hiring process we

15 would go through, we would be able to take those

16 qualities into consideration when we're vetting

17 the applicants.

18 MR. MCREYNOLDS: The language that

19 we've got here says the USDA staff's deep

20 understanding of the fruit and vegetable industry

21 has proved invaluable. Dedicating consistent

22 personnel resources over the full -- ensuring the
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

11

1 continuity of expertise and experience are how we

2 try to address that issue of the qualities of the

3 person in the position. That was the intent of

4 this language to again, depersonalize, but still

5 make very clear what the criteria are that make

6 the work important.

7 MR. SUTTON: Dan Sutton. Roland, with

8 that explanation, I don't think that -- that

9 encompasses what's been done. I think that

10 addresses the qualities I think we all seek in

11 what this does.

12 MS. HERRON: This is Johanna. Would

13 it be worth it to look through in more detail,

14 though, and make sure all of the qualities you

15 want to see in there are there, like expertise

16 and confidence, somebody that's able to

17 communicate well on both ends? I completely

18 understand your concern. I want to make sure

19 that we're -- if it's not captured, that

20 everything is -- the way I do it at the state

21 level would be that we hire -- we seek them out,

22 and then our interview questions guide us towards
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

12

1 the right candidate that would be what we're

2 looking for. I certainly wouldn't want anything

3 to have been left out. Obviously, I hope it's

4 clear it's nothing against the person, at all,

5 either.

6 MS. KNORR: I do think, though, we

7 have to tread a fine line here. We can't write

8 the job description here. That is not our role. 

9 Our role is to advise the USDA on the general

10 overarching qualities that we are hoping to

11 continue, if Leanne were to leave that position. 

12 I think keeping that in mind, if we can just, in

13 broad brush strokes, capture that information,

14 that's what we're after here.

15 MR. MCREYNOLDS: This, again, is kind

16 of those two sentences that I was talking about

17 that try to finesse that in the statement. 

18 Throughout the FSMA process, USDA has had a staff

19 position serving as a liaison, allowing USDA to

20 bring extensive regulatory and scientific

21 expertise and produce industry experience to bear

22 in the development of regulations, guidances, and
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

13

1 policies. Those are the qualities that are on

2 the sheet that you're looking at, again, just

3 depersonalized in this statement.

4 MR. SUTTON: Dan Sutton again. Again,

5 I want to concur with the Chair that we aren't

6 writing a job description. We're making a

7 recommendation for that position that's been

8 critical to the industry in this process.

9 MR. JANIS: This is Michael Janis. I

10 would agree with everything said. I'm just

11 wondering if we do want to add just some language

12 about the ability to effectively represent the

13 agency with a sister agency or with FDA, but

14 something about working effectively with another

15 agency. Because that sounds like one of the key

16 attributes to success.

17 MS. BETTS: Is there someplace

18 specific you want to add that language, Mike?

19 MR. JANIS: I don't. Perhaps we could

20 just do it offline, if that would be okay with

21 the Chairs, as opposed to adding it right now.

22 MR. MCREYNOLDS: This is our last day
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

14

1 -- this is our last day to make recommendations.

2 MR. SUTTON: Dan Sutton. Just to

3 speak to that point, I think, again, that's kind

4 of going into the role of that position. That's

5 the main -- I think when that position's filled,

6 that's one of the key characteristics of whoever

7 fills that position as a job description. Again,

8 I think the intent of this is to make sure that

9 this position is continued on and funded. I

10 think what we have up there achieves that.

11 MR. JANIS: I'll defer to staff. If

12 what is up there is adequate, I will pull back my

13 suggestion.

14 MS. KNORR: Any other comments or

15 suggestions at this time? Let's go ahead and

16 move on to the training piece. Any further

17 comments, Roland?

18 MR. MCREYNOLDS: I would just say that

19 we had Bruce in here yesterday talking about

20 AMS's role mediating for our industry with other

21 regulators. The PSA is one of those examples,

22 where USDA has a specific engagement with this
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

15

1 effort. This is why we felt, as a working group,

2 that it was critical for us to be providing this

3 feedback to the PSA through USDA.

4 MS. ELLOR: In discussions yesterday

5 offline, it was suggested that there were very

6 limited resources for translation. It might be

7 good to get this committee's thoughts on what the

8 couple of languages might be. They can't all be

9 done, but maybe some suggestions as to what the

10 -- if there's only resources to do a couple, what

11 should those languages be?

12 For us, I think it would be probably

13 Vietnamese and Indonesian, but I'd be interested

14 in going around and getting people's take on what

15 the best next languages would be, after the

16 Spanish launch.

17 MR. SUTTON: Dan Sutton. I agree with

18 that comment because this is a requirement of the

19 law. For anybody that's going to be covered

20 under this regulation, they have to go through

21 this training. It should be available to anybody

22 in their first language.
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

16

1 I think we need to be a little bit of

2 a realization, though, that they're not going to

3 be able to accomplish that in six months. I

4 would gather that I think it's going to be a

5 little far-fetched for them to get Spanish done

6 in that time frame. I think maybe keeping it

7 broad, I think they're going to need to determine

8 where their biggest priorities need to be. I

9 think maybe just keeping a broad statement that

10 alternative languages need to be developed and

11 offered. Then through their census data or

12 whatever, they can determine how they prioritize

13 those.

14 MS. ELLOR: Yes, specifically, some

15 staff were asking for our input on what the

16 greatest need is because they aren't going to be

17 able to do all of them. This is not for the

18 recommendation. This is just for their

19 information.

20 MS. HERRON: This is Johanna. I

21 wonder if it would be possible to have states --

22 at the state level, at the FOA level, the
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

17

1 agreements be responding. Because they're going

2 to know who is falling into that category and

3 which -- I would hate that we make a

4 recommendation, and then there's states that

5 aren't represented that would miss out on their

6 top tier and not have gotten that in.

7 MS. KNORR: Perhaps the recommendation

8 could be to discuss with the states, or whoever

9 they have the cooperative agreement with, to put

10 forth their recommendation for next languages to

11 tackle. I think it would be very difficult for

12 us to get to that level of specificity with the

13 recommendation. We're 25 people. I don't think

14 that we have a broad enough scope, honestly, to

15 be able to recommend next languages. I think

16 taking that suggestion of concrete steps to take

17 to determine what those might be might be

18 helpful.

19 MR. MCREYNOLDS: So perhaps some

20 language to add to the end of Recommendation 2

21 might be comma, and should consult with

22 stakeholders to identify the top priority
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

18

1 candidates -- or the top priority languages for

2 further development.

3 MS. KNORR: And consult with

4 stakeholders, I think.

5 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Yes, stakeholders to

6 determine.

7 MS. KNORR: Any other places on the

8 training, issues, comments? Moving on to the

9 water recommendation.

10 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Again, this is an

11 area where Congress has specifically given USDA a

12 role. As we talked about extensively yesterday,

13 and as are talked about at just about every

14 industry meeting you go to today about these

15 water rules, there are major challenges. FDA has

16 acknowledged them. Again, the purpose here is to

17 give the secretary our input about what the

18 secretary should be asking for, as the potential

19 revision of the water rules moves forward.

20 I do want to flag, Dave asked a

21 question yesterday, comparison of the microbial

22 criteria in the produce rule compared to
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

19

1 international standards. The World Health

2 Organization establishes a fecal coliform

3 concentration of 1,000 CFUs per 100 milliliters

4 of water as acceptable.

5 If we think that countries -- if we

6 think that the foreign supplier verification

7 program is going to end up with growers in South

8 America and Africa and Southeast Asia coming down

9 to 128 CFUs, when they're operating at 1,000

10 right now, that's not likely to happen.

11 There's definitely a competitive risk,

12 besides a lack of -- and the fact that the World

13 Health Organization has a different level

14 suggests that there is scientific uncertainty

15 about the microbial criteria. Therefore, it's a

16 really important subject for further

17 investigation in the regulatory process.

18 MS. KNORR: Does anybody have anything

19 else to bring to the table here? Clearly, the

20 group did a lot of homework on this particular

21 recommendation. Any comments or questions,

22 modifications suggested?
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

20

1 MS. BAILEY: Melissa Bailey, with

2 USDA. Just for the purpose of the record, we did

3 do some back and forth with the subcommittee on

4 this recommendation leading into the meeting

5 today and appreciate Roland's help in revising

6 some of that. We do still have concerns about --

7 there's a sentence in there about saying,

8 essentially, USDA should ask or have FDA withdraw

9 the water quality or water aspects of the rule.

10 Just so the committee understands our

11 process, I think we still are concerned about us

12 directing another agency, as far as what they

13 should or shouldn't do with their regulations. 

14 In general, we don't play that role. Rather,

15 what we often do, and what we have done in the

16 case with the FSMA requirements, is when the rule

17 is developed, we go through an interagency review

18 process, and we get to weigh in up front, as

19 rules go through clearance, and then, of course,

20 certainly participate after the public comment

21 and the final rules are drafted. I just think

22 it's important for the committee to understand
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

21

1 the department has weighed in previously on those

2 requirements. That aspect of the recommendation

3 does put us in a bit of a challenging position. 

4 Thanks.

5 MS. KNORR: Any reactions to that

6 statement? I can certainly understand that we

7 don't want to put the USDA in an awkward

8 position. However, this does greatly impact

9 fruit and produce industry. We are also treading

10 a fine line on how to make sure that the impacts

11 and the challenges to the industry are stated

12 clearly, with enough impact that the changes that

13 we feel are necessary are communicated well. 

14 Thoughts on how we might skirt that line a little

15 bit more effectively?

16 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Madam Chair, I would

17 also flag that we saw the pictures last week or

18 two weeks ago of Secretary Purdue sitting down

19 with farmers and their new Rural and Agriculture

20 Advisory Committee that has 180-day window to

21 conduct a review of several areas of regulation. 

22 They listed FSMA as one of them. This is input
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

22

1 that the secretary will receive and can take into

2 account when he's part of that working group,

3 which is operating outside of -- it's sort of an

4 umbrella over those issues. Again, I recognize

5 that this is a strong recommendation. I

6 recognize the challenges.

7 At the same time, this is a critical

8 juncture, with both the implementation time frame

9 of the rule and the fact that this review is

10 underway, both at FDA and through the president's

11 Rural and Agriculture Advisory Group. I feel

12 like it's important for us to state, in no

13 uncertain terms, to the secretary, as he goes

14 through that process, what our industry's

15 concerns are.

16 Obviously, the secretary will do what

17 he wants to do. I think our charter states

18 clearly that we are supposed to be providing the

19 secretary with our insights about what would be

20 important to promote our industry. That is what

21 this material reflects.

22 MS. KNORR: Is there a way that we can
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

23

1 soften that statement slightly without damaging

2 the content thereof?

3 MR. NOLAN: Bob Nolan. Could you,

4 say, maybe modify that section of it, and then

5 put some other language in there to just soften

6 it a little bit, rather than withdraw totally,

7 modify that portion of it? I'm trying to be --

8 I'm trying to walk the line.

9 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Our information is

10 that the thing needs to be withdrawn. This is

11 what university researchers, this is what state

12 governments, this is what they're saying.

13 MS. KNORR: I am not picking bones

14 with the withdrawal portion, but more should urge

15 FDA. How do we make that statement without

16 making that statement, I guess, is what we're

17 asking? How do we state --

18 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Should urge

19 withdrawal of Subpart E, blah, blah, blah?

20 MS. HERRON: Johanna, would encourage

21 help, should encourage? It's more of a positive

22 word. I can see the dilemma because at the end
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

24

1 of the day, we just recommended to keep that

2 liaison, and we don't want to put USDA in a

3 position that could look like -- I can see the

4 dilemma. I wonder if a positive word would help,

5 or separating the sentence into another section

6 is the only other thing I can think of.

7 MS. MORRIS: This is Erin Morris. We

8 totally understand your point, Roland, and

9 certainly understand that there are concerns, and

10 that those concerns need to be addressed. As I'm

11 sure you've all read, Secretary Purdue has made

12 statements about making sure that USDA decision

13 making is science based.

14 It could be that your suggestion to

15 change that particular word might be helpful if

16 it is constructed in a more positive way. I

17 think ultimately, we'll have to see, based on the

18 input that we got from FDA yesterday, what they

19 decide to do, but it seems like, from what we

20 heard yesterday, they do understand that there

21 are a number of aspects of the rule that they

22 need to take a look at.
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

25

1 MR. JANIS: How about something in

2 effect of a full evaluation, and then including

3 urging them to withdraw, but sort of -- as

4 opposed to a sole just withdrawing on the

5 withdrawal portion, urged to withdraw, adding

6 something to the effect of a full evaluation,

7 including withdrawal. As opposed to just a sole

8 action of withdrawing, that there would be a --

9 it'd be amongst things that are considered.

10 MR. MCREYNOLDS: If you don't feel

11 like that is reflected in the other language

12 that's already there, in terms of recommending

13 engagement/coordination in this plan to revisit

14 the water requirements --

15 MR. JANIS: I was just adding that as

16 a suggestion to try to thread the needle a little

17 bit. That's all.

18 MS. SKELTON: Can I muddy the water a

19 little bit? How about something like should

20 encourage FDA to consider the stated opportunity

21 to revisit the water requirements as an indicator

22 for possible withdrawal?
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

26

1 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Say that again.

2 MS. SKELTON: Should encourage FDA to

3 consider the stated opportunity to revisit --

4 because they have made that public statement;

5 they're going to revisit the water requirements

6 -- as an indicator for possible withdrawal of

7 subpart blah, blah, blah.

8 MS. BETTS: One more time, slowly,

9 Leanne, should encourage FDA to --

10 MS. SKELTON: Should encourage FDA to

11 consider -- there. It gets it recognizing that

12 they've said they're going to revisit it. It

13 keeps your withdrawal in there. It encourages

14 them.

15 MS. KNORR: Yes, I think we're all

16 coming to the same place. I was going to suggest

17 revisit and potentially suggest withdrawal.

18 MS. SKELTON: Then what did you just

19 say, Beth?

20 MS. KNORR: I said revisit and

21 potentially withdraw.

22 MR. MCREYNOLDS: For possible review
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

27

1 and -- for review and possible withdrawal?

2 MS. KNORR: Correct, yes, not possible

3 review. I think we definitely know that this

4 needs to be reviewed, but review and possible

5 withdrawal.

6 MR. MCREYNOLDS: I think withdrawal of

7 -- yes, I believe that this language would

8 continue to reflect what the working group's

9 intent --

10 (Simultaneous speaking.)

11 MS. KNORR: Intent, okay.

12 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Madam Chair, I'd like

13 to make a motion for acceptance of all three of

14 these Food Safety Working Group recommendations,

15 as revised here in our meeting this morning.

16 MR. WILLIAMS: This is Tom Williams,

17 and I second.

18 MS. KNORR: Any further discussion?

19 (No audible response.)

20 MS. KNORR: All in favor, say aye.

21 (Chorus of aye.)

22 MS. KNORR: Any nays?
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

28

1 (No audible response.)

2 MS. KNORR: Abstentions?

3 (No audible response.)

4 MS. KNORR: Hearing none, the

5 recommendations are passed. Thank you, Roland

6 and Food Safety Subcommittee members for your

7 clearly demonstrated hard work on all of those

8 issues. Thanks very much.

9 MR. MCREYNOLDS: I want to

10 particularly recognize Dan Sutton and Kathy Burns

11 for their particular work on these

12 recommendations, as well.

13 MS. KNORR: Are any of the existing

14 subcommittees ready with a recommendation or

15 statement at this time?

16 MS. KNORR: Excellent.

17 MS. BETTS: I'm sorry, I can't --

18 MS. DIETRICH: Yes, I emailed the

19 Broadband to you, Marlene.

20 MS. BETTS: This morning?

21 MS. DIETRICH: Yes.

22 MS. BETTS: Okay. Let me see if I can
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

29

1 bring that up; working on the fly here.

2 MS. DIETRICH: I got a reply that you

3 were out of the office.

4 MS. BETTS: There you go. Imagine

5 that.

6 MS. DIETRICH: In the meantime, while

7 she's pulling that up, I just wanted to say that

8 Beth and I have had some emails back and forth

9 about it. We're basically the only two on the

10 committee. It seems to us that every state has

11 their own way of dealing with broadband.

12 We just wanted to put something

13 together that was very broad -- in broadband --

14 that was just very broad and just gave the

15 secretary the idea that it's something that's

16 really important to agriculture, and it needs to

17 be addressed. It's something that is vital to

18 our economy. While we're waiting, do you want me

19 to read it?

20 MS. KNORR: Yes, go ahead and read it,

21 Helen.

22 MS. DIETRICH: It's only two
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

30

1 paragraphs, about four or five sentences. Access

2 to affordable and fast Internet connectivity is

3 vital to the success of rural agriculture and

4 rural education. Broadband connectivity has

5 become a necessity, like electricity, and is a

6 fundamental part of agriculture, business,

7 education, healthcare, and public safety.

8 The USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry

9 Advisory Committee would like to emphasize the

10 importance of rural broadband connectivity in our

11 rural communities. The infrastructure of rural

12 America should include the development of

13 broadband. This should take into consideration

14 the speed, as well as the affordability, of

15 connectivity.

16 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Is it too early to

17 move to accept?

18 MS. KNORR: Not at all.

19 MR. MCREYNOLDS: I move to accept

20 that. Motion to accept it.

21 MR. NOLAN: Bob Nolan. I'll second

22 that.
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

31

1 MS. KNORR: Any discussion about the

2 matter at hand?

3 (No audible response.)

4 MS. KNORR: No? All in favor?

5 (Chorus of aye.)

6 MS. KNORR: Any nays?

7 (No audible response.)

8 MS. KNORR: Any abstentions?

9 (No audible response.)

10 MS. KNORR: Motion passed. Thank you,

11 Helen --

12 MS. DIETRICH: You're welcome.

13 MS. KNORR: -- for crafting that. 

14 Carlos, do you have anything ready to share with

15 the group at this time?

16 MR. CASTANEDA: Sure. At this point,

17 it'd be more of a statement than a

18 recommendation, but I'd love to get the group's

19 feedback. The first point that our committee

20 came up with, in today's climate, we're hearing a

21 lot about fiscal responsibility. We're concerned

22 that any cuts to the departments that participate
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

32

1 in the processing of H2A could be catastrophic. 

2 As you all know, this program has been

3 skyrocketing in use across the country. Due to

4 it being the only tool that we have available for

5 agriculture, any cuts in it would be nothing less

6 than a catastrophe.

7 We would recommend that -- we

8 currently commend all the departments that are

9 participating in the processing because unlike

10 other years, we haven't seen any delays in the

11 processing of ETA-790, or any other forms, with

12 the state departments. However, our concern lies

13 in the U.S. consulates in Mexico.

14 The appointments that we need to

15 receive for processing for the actual interview

16 for the employees, that's where we see the

17 bottleneck occurring. We're finding some issues

18 in getting an appointment, or the timeliness of

19 the appointment. I'll give you an example.

20 If your date of need is March 1st,

21 you're probably going to be at the consulate two

22 or three days before that, and you need that
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

33

1 appointment two or three days before March 1st to

2 get them to your farm by March 1st. We're

3 finding that when you call the consulate, they

4 don't have openings on the days that you need

5 them, especially for big groups. We've noticed

6 that the closing of processing in Guadalajara and

7 in Mexico City, at those consulates, the

8 consulates are physically open, but they're no

9 longer processing H2A visas. We're concerned of

10 is this the tip of the iceberg?

11 Are they planning on closing others? 

12 What are the reasons for those closings? Again,

13 I emphasize the importance of this program

14 because it is the only tool that we have

15 available for agriculture. I commend all the

16 departments that participated in it because

17 again, they've done a fantastic job.

18 I think they've really figured out how

19 to ramp up -- because you can go on the federal

20 database; you'll see that the use of this is

21 going through the roof. That'd be the first

22 point that I'd ask for the group's consideration. 
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

34

1 The second point is, as you all are aware, the

2 lack of movement on comprehensive immigration

3 reform has given us, again -- it's highlighted

4 the only option that exists once again is H2A. 

5 For those domestic skilled employees that live in

6 the U.S., that want to, let's say, come clean and

7 apply for this program have to self-deport into

8 Mexico and apply for the program. However, we

9 have this little issue called the three/ten bar. 

10 When that comes up at the U.S. consulate

11 appointment, they're barred.

12 Any employee that has been living in

13 the U.S. undocumented for less than a year is

14 barred from re-entry for three years. Anyone

15 who's been living here for longer than a year is

16 barred for up to ten years. That is

17 catastrophic. We have some board members here

18 that have felt the pains of this recently.

19 I have many growers that have suffered

20 from the same. We're talking about skilled

21 employees that, again, want to do things by the

22 book, and they're getting punished. I know it's
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

35

1 an act of Congress to change anything on

2 three/ten bar, but I know a waiver has been

3 considered on previous proposals across the

4 country. I think a waiver for those that want to

5 come clean should be brought to attention here. 

6 That's all I have.

7 MS. KNORR: Thank you, Carlos. I

8 assume that you're going to be taking some time

9 today to craft a final statement to share? Okay,

10 fantastic. Does anyone else -- do any of the

11 other groups have a completed statement they'd

12 like to bring forth at this time? No? Any new

13 members, if you haven't done so already, please

14 connect with the chairs of the groups you'd like

15 to participate in.

16 I'd also open it up to hear from folks

17 about additional committees you're interested in

18 forming. Crop insurance certainly was one that

19 was brought up. I'd also like to bring up a

20 committee on SNAP technology and the Food and

21 Security Nutrition Incentive Program. I don't

22 anticipate having anything available today, but
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

36

1 we'd like to form a group to discuss SNAP

2 technology.

3 A little bit of background on that. 

4 What's happening right now is there are funds in

5 the farm bill to make it possible for farmers'

6 markets to begin to accept SNAP at their

7 locations. This has been encouraged over the

8 past five years pretty heavily. What has been

9 happening now is that farmers' market

10 organizations, if they have multiple farmers'

11 markets that they manage, have to get a separate

12 piece of equipment for each, individual market

13 location that they have because the technology

14 does not exist to switch their FNS numbers, which

15 are the numbers that allow them to accept SNAP,

16 between locations.

17 If you're managing a market on

18 Thursday evening, from 4:00 to 7:00, you have to

19 have a SNAP number for that, and if you manage a

20 market again on Saturday, you have to have a

21 separate SNAP number, but the equipment that you

22 have will not allow you to toggle between those
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

37

1 two numbers, so you don't need to have multiple

2 pieces of equipment.

3 What that means is you have to have

4 multiple pieces of equipment. Many of these

5 farmers' market organizations are managed by

6 volunteers. They don't always have robust

7 funding, but they're often situated in

8 neighborhoods specifically to increase access to

9 healthy foods, produce, in particular.

10 This is a definite barrier to people

11 being able to purchase produced. This is a group

12 that I'd like to form, to maybe get a little bit

13 more information from FNS as to what they're

14 trying to do to address that issue, so that

15 market organizations don't need to have eight

16 different iPads to swipe customer cards. If

17 anyone is interested, please see me. Crop

18 insurance, please see Mack. Are there any other

19 groups that want to form?

20 MR. NOLAN: Beth, Bob Nolan. We still

21 have the New Farmer Advocacy and Mentoring

22 Working Group, so those people who are on that,
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

38

1 maybe we'll get together here and see if we want

2 to continue with that and review what -- I have a

3 few minutes from our last meeting -- and see if

4 we want to go further with that.

5 Some of us are on multiple groups, so

6 I'm going to say for my group, I'm with the Labor

7 Group, so maybe a half hour from when we break,

8 we'll go to my group, then, after that, those who

9 are interested. Maybe we should put kind of a

10 time limit when we should reconvene. I don't

11 know what that should be, but we probably should

12 do that.

13 MS. KNORR: I think right now, given

14 we are set to adjourn at 1:00, we have plenty of

15 time for each of those groups to get together,

16 but perhaps we could -- it's 9:30 right now. I'm

17 going to encourage everyone to meet with their

18 group for an hour, until 10:30. If you have a

19 second group, from 10:30 to 11:30. Let's get

20 back here by 11:30 to bring forth any

21 recommendations or statements, or share next

22 steps with the other groups that have newly
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

39

1 formed.

2 MR. MCREYNOLDS: I don't know how

3 other groups are feeling, but an hour seems like

4 a lot. No? Okay.

5 MS. KNORR: It's fair. If you don't

6 need an hour, perhaps jumping into another group

7 or having a conversation about next steps with

8 your existing group is all that you need, and

9 that's fine, too.

10 MR. NOLAN: Bob Nolan. I'll just say

11 that if the chair people are done with your

12 group, come to us, let us know, and we can

13 reconvene the meeting earlier. As long as

14 everybody's complete, then we can start again, so

15 just let us know.

16 MS. BETTS: This is Marlene. While

17 everybody's on break -- I think we talked about

18 it yesterday, Beth and Bob, about potential next

19 meeting. I know there's a lot of things that are

20 still up in the air, but if you could look at

21 your schedules for September and October, let us

22 know absolutely no good time frames, so we can
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

40

1 kind of narrow it down a little bit and try to

2 get our arms around that, to see if we can get on

3 the stick a little bit quicker this next time

4 around. If you could look at that, and then

5 bring that back when you come, that would be

6 awesome, as well.

7 MS. KNORR: Yes, and also, check out

8 time is 11:00, so if you haven't done so already,

9 feel free to -- it's noon?

10 MS. BETTS: Noon, at the latest, yes.

11 MS. KNORR: You can use that time to

12 do so.

13 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter

14 went off the record at 9:28 a.m. and resumed at

15 11:33 a.m.)

16 MS. KNORR: I think once Marlene gets

17 set up, we're going to go ahead and jump back in. 

18 I think we're ready to get going, and I think we

19 have recommendations or statements from four

20 separate groups. Nice work, everyone. First,

21 let's hear from the Produce Consumption Group. 

22 Christie, do you want to share some information
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

41

1 on that?

2 MS. BALCH: Sure. Our first

3 recommendation was that -- it started out as a

4 statement in support of certain programs, but

5 then we converted it into a recommendation in

6 support of a bunch of the programs we've learned

7 about over the past few months, on our calls, and

8 then yesterday, in the presentations.

9 We wanted to call out specific

10 programs under AMS, and also programs under FNS. 

11 Then the second recommendation is a little more

12 specific, but it came out of our last conference

13 call. It was in regards to AMS assisting FNS

14 with the promotion of Team Nutrition.

15 MS. BETTS: Just let me know if you

16 want me to scroll back up to the first one. I

17 don't know how you want to do it, if you want to

18 take one at a time, or -- do you want it read in? 

19 Do you want to start with the second one, since

20 it's kind of the simplest, Christie, or do you

21 want to read it in? How do you want to work it?

22 MS. BALCH: I can read the second one. 
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

42

1 The introduction is the USDA Fruit and Vegetable

2 Industry Advisory Committee recognizes the value

3 of the Food and Nutrition Service's Team

4 Nutrition Program, which supports the child

5 nutrition programs through training and technical

6 assistance. Team Nutrition provides high

7 quality, evidence-based nutrition education

8 resources for free to eligible schools.

9 However, due to a lack of awareness of

10 the program across the country, only

11 approximately 50 percent of eligible schools

12 participate. Our recommendation is the USDA

13 Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee's

14 Produce Consumption Working Group recommends that

15 the Food and Nutrition Service partner with the

16 Agricultural Marketing Service to increase

17 awareness about Team Nutrition resources across

18 the country.

19 MS. KNORR: I'm happy to accept a

20 motion. Actually, we should probably talk about

21 both of them. Any questions or concerns about

22 this one? No?
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

43

1 MR. MCREYNOLDS: I would just say that

2 structurally, the committee, our whole committee

3 -- I would redact the reference to the specific

4 working group because we're speaking as a full

5 committee --

6 (Simultaneous speaking.)

7 MS. BETTS: You want me to go ahead

8 and delete that?

9 MS. BALCH: Yes.

10 MS. BETTS: Okay. I think that is --

11 Roland's correct that the working groups can't

12 actually recommend to the secretary, that it does

13 have to come -- so thank you, Roland.

14 MS. BALCH: Can you just do two more

15 backspaces? Get rid of the apostrophe S, thank

16 you. Any other comments or questions on this

17 one? Okay, we can go to the first one. The

18 background is the USDA Fruit and Vegetable

19 Industry Advisory Committee recognizes the

20 well-documented high rates of diet-related

21 disease among Americans.

22 Increased fruit and vegetable
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

44

1 consumption can combat these public health

2 problems, and healthy habits formed in childhood

3 can last a lifetime. There's a growing body of

4 evidence that farm to school programs increase

5 participant consumption, willingness to try, and

6 access to fruits and vegetables. Furthermore,

7 USDA child nutrition programs increase ability

8 and interest in incorporating healthier foods

9 into family diets, increase success of school

10 meal programs, and reduce food waste. In

11 addition to public health benefits, increased

12 produce consumption is beneficial to specialty

13 crop producers and other supporting businesses in

14 our industry. Our recommendation is that the

15 USDA -- can you make the same edit as before?

16 MS. BETTS: Yes.

17 MS. BALCH: I'll just read it with the

18 edit. The USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry

19 Advisor Committee emphasizes our support for USDA

20 programs that increase fruit and vegetable

21 consumption, while supporting our industry.

22 These programs include Agricultural
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

45

1 Marketing Service's Commodity Procurement

2 Program, the Unprocessed, Fresh Fruit and

3 Vegetable Pilot Program, and the Department of

4 Defense Fresh Produce Program, Food and Nutrition

5 Service's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and

6 Farm to School Program. The committee strongly

7 recommends that USDA continue to offer these

8 programs and consider increased funding to the

9 programs to meet demand, as is possible. Any

10 comments or questions?

11 MS. KNORR: I'd be happy to take a

12 motion.

13 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Motion to adopt the

14 recommendation, Roland.

15 MS. BALCH: Can a member of the

16 working group second it? Okay, Christie Balch, I

17 second.

18 MS. KNORR: All in favor? Oh, any

19 discussion on this?

20 (No audible response.)

21 MS. KNORR: All in favor?

22 (Chorus of aye.)
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

46

1 MS. KNORR: Any nays?

2 (No audible response.)

3 MS. KNORR: Abstentions?

4 (No audible response.)

5 MS. KNORR: Motion passes. Thank you,

6 Christie. Next, we have something from the

7 Market News Group.

8 MR. WILLIAMS: This is Tom Williams,

9 on behalf of the working group for the Market

10 News. As we heard yesterday, our group crafted a

11 statement for supporting the continued funding of

12 the market news. The background, the mission of

13 the Agricultural Marketing Service is to

14 administer programs that create domestic and

15 international marketing opportunities for U.S.

16 producers of food, fiber, and specialty crops.

17 One such product that AMS currently

18 uses to assist the produce industry in the

19 marketing and distribution of fruits, vegetables,

20 and specialty crops is the Market News, which

21 provides unbiased price and sales information,

22 utilizing wholesale, retail, and shipping point
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

47

1 data that it collects and analyzes.

2 This information is made available

3 through the Market News website,

4 https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news. Market

5 news is funded through appropriations in the USDA

6 budget, and the reports generated through the

7 website are efficiently and electronically

8 delivered to the user.

9 Our statement of support is AMS Market

10 News provides timely, detailed information to

11 farmers, producers, and other agricultural

12 businesses to help them accurately assess the

13 market conditions and, thus, make informed

14 decisions regarding the marketing, purchasing,

15 and distribution of fruits, vegetables, and

16 specialty crops. We believe that the Market News

17 provides a vitally important service to the

18 produce industry, while additionally aligning

19 with the mission of AMS, and we ask the secretary

20 to continue to have USDA fully fund Market News

21 and keep it an unbiased source of key

22 information. Any comments?
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

48

1 MS. KNORR: Nicely crafted. I'd

2 accept a motion.

3 MR. HANAS: So moved.

4 MS. ELLOR: I'll second, Tina Ellor.

5 MS. KNORR: Any discussion?

6 (No audible response.)

7 MS. KNORR: All in favor?

8 (Chorus of aye.)

9 MS. KNORR: Any nays?

10 (No audible response.)

11 MS. KNORR: Abstentions?

12 (No audible response.)

13 MS. KNORR: Motion carries. Next, can

14 we hear from the Labor Group, Carlos?

15 MS. BETTS: I think we have three

16 labor. Do you want me to just go down through

17 one at a time here?

18 MR. CASTANEDA: That is correct. We

19 have three recommendations.

20 MS. BETTS: I guess we'll -- 

21 (Simultaneous speaking.)

22 MR. CASTANEDA: You can start it
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

49

1 wherever you wish.

2 MS. BETTS: We'll start at the bottom

3 and work our way up. How does that sound?

4 MR. CASTANEDA: Perfect.

5 MS. BETTS: I think this is No. 1.

6 MR. CASTANEDA: This is Carlos, with

7 the Labor Committee. What we thought of -- the

8 background on this is we're finding that several

9 of our long-term employees in our industry are

10 volunteering to use the H2A program, but they

11 find that once they go to Mexico and apply for

12 this program, the three/ten bar is not allowing

13 them to re-enter.

14 So we feel that this needs to be

15 addressed. Our recommendation reads that we

16 recommend the three/ten bar be waived for those

17 employees that would like to voluntarily sign up

18 for the H2A Program. Does the committee have any

19 questions on the background? Is everyone

20 familiar with the three/ten bar?

21 MS. KNORR: Barring any questions or

22 comments, can we go ahead and move to the next
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

50

1 one?

2 MR. CASTANEDA: Absolutely. Would you

3 like to make a motion on this one? There are

4 three separate recommendations.

5 MS. KNORR: Let's try to do all of

6 them in one fell swoop.

7 MR. CASTANEDA: Okay, fair enough. 

8 This one's short and sweet, right to the point. 

9 This program is the only tool that we have for

10 agriculture. There's a lot of rumors. We need

11 to understand that these are just rumors, but

12 that's where some of these ugly bills begin.

13 There's a lot of rumors that they want

14 to place a cap on this program, and that would be

15 devastating to our industry. That's where this

16 recommendation comes from. The vital nature of

17 the H2A program, we strongly recommend that no

18 cap be imposed. Any questions?

19 MS. KNORR: I'm just having a question

20 about what kind of a cap? Is it total number of

21 H2As that can be issued?

22 MR. CASTANEDA: That is correct. A
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

51

1 little bit of background on that is the sister

2 program, if you will, that's non-agriculture, is

3 the H2B program, currently has a cap of 66,000. 

4 Those that participate in that can tell you that

5 it's a failure --

6 (Simultaneous speaking.)

7 MR. CASTANEDA: -- absolutely. Why

8 duplicate a failure? They're speaking of

9 bringing a cap over to H2A, which currently, H2A

10 does not have a cap. We absolutely cannot live

11 with a cap in this program. The growth of this

12 is exponential. The maximum number is yet to be

13 determined. For that reason, we need to leave

14 this open, with no cap.

15 MR. MCREYNOLDS: I would suggest, just

16 to clarify, no cap on the number of workers

17 authorized under the H2A program, just to make

18 that crystal clear, what we're advocating for

19 here.

20 MR. CASTANEDA: Labor Committee okay

21 with that?

22 (Chorus of aye.)
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

52

1 MR. CASTANEDA: Fair enough; that

2 sounds excellent.

3 MS. BETTS: Does that cover what you

4 were talking about, Roland?

5 (Off microphone comments.)

6 MS. BETTS: How is that, good?

7 MR. CASTANEDA: Yes. I still think

8 that expresses what we were trying to get to, so

9 that's excellent, well received.

10 MS. KNORR: Perfect.

11 MS. BETTS: Okay, last one now?

12 MS. KNORR: The next one, please.

13 MR. CASTANEDA: What we did on the

14 background on this one is we wanted to help

15 everyone understand that agriculture still

16 supports a comprehensive immigration reform. We

17 put that in there, in the background to this

18 recommendation. Our concerns have been that the

19 threats of government shutdowns have -- it

20 becomes a bottleneck if we don't determine the

21 staff that participates in processing this visa,

22 if we don't determine them essential. We're
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

53

1 finding that the current bottleneck we're seeing

2 -- and we're hoping it's not the tip of the

3 iceberg -- is where H2A visas are processed in

4 Mexico at our U.S. consulates, they've ceased to

5 process in Guadalajara and Mexico City, which are

6 vital highways that most of our employees are

7 seen coming through.

8 We're hoping that's not an action

9 that's going to continue to gain momentum. We'd

10 like to make it very clear that our

11 recommendation is that the H2A program be fully

12 funded, that staffing be adequate to accommodate

13 the growth of this essential program to meet the

14 workforce needs of our industry. Our second

15 recommendation there is we further recommend that

16 personnel assigned to H2A processing be deemed

17 essential, in case of a government shutdown.

18 The first recommendation would be,

19 once again, because of the exponential growth of

20 this program, we'd like to make it clear that our

21 government officials need to understand that this

22 program is absolutely -- it's growing at an
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

54

1 unbelievable pace, and we'd like them to

2 understand that they need to staff to whatever

3 number they see adequate to process the need or

4 the demand. Again, the second one is we can't

5 take the risk of government shutdowns closing

6 these offices because, as you know, our crops are

7 perishable.

8 MS. KNORR: Anyone have any questions

9 or comments for Carlos on this last

10 recommendation? I am open to receiving a motion.

11 MS. ELLOR: I would love to make that

12 motion, Tina Ellor, that we accept these three

13 recommendations, as edited.

14 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Roland McReynolds,

15 second.

16 MS. KNORR: Any discussion?

17 (No audible response.)

18 MS. KNORR: All in favor?

19 (Chorus of aye.)

20 MS. KNORR: Any nays or abstentions?

21 (No audible response.)

22 MS. KNORR: Motion carries. Thank you
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

55

1 very much, Carlos and working group, nice work. 

2 Finally, the Grants and Research Committee.

3 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Yes, we have a

4 recommendation, as well, regarding investments in

5 infrastructure for the fruits and vegetable

6 industry.

7 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Yes, that's the one.

8 MS. BETTS: There we go. 

9 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Okay, so.

10 MS. BETTS: Want to make sure you

11 understand.

12 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Yes, I didn't think

13 about that. Our background statement -- again,

14 this is built upon the presentations that we

15 heard yesterday about the value of these programs

16 that are available, as well as the risk that they

17 face in the current budget environment.

18 Statement reads USDA offers Loan Grant

19 Insurance Technical Assistance Programs in

20 support of infrastructure development through its

21 various agencies, including several agencies

22 listed there. These programs have substantial
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

56

1 benefits for the fruit and vegetable industry,

2 period. Due to the largely perishable nature of

3 fruits and vegetables, comma, delete makes --

4 it's good to read these out loud, actually. I'm

5 sorry. Federal loans or grant -- where are we?

6 MS. BETTS: Yes, where were you?

7 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Due to. The sentence

8 beginning due to. Oh, that's the old one. All

9 right. Well, I'll just keep reading.

10 MS. BETTS: I guess the new one didn't

11 --

12 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Didn't save, didn't

13 write over.

14 MS. BETTS: Didn't save, right. I

15 guess your reading will have to -- yes, we'll

16 have to just pull it -- you'll have to email it

17 to me.

18 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Okay.

19 MS. BETTS: Yes, it's the old one.

20 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Okay, sorry about

21 that, technical difficulty. Due to the largely

22 perishable nature of fruits and vegetables,
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

57

1 availability of distribution and infrastructure

2 is essential for producers to maximize the value

3 of their businesses. Federal loans or grants can

4 help bring private sector and philanthropic

5 partners to the table in making infrastructure

6 investments that enhance the competitiveness of

7 fruit and vegetable farmers and businesses. 

8 Federal programs that provide technical

9 assistance or help stakeholders test their ideas

10 can set fruit and vegetable industry participants

11 up for greater success in accessing public or

12 private resources in the future and managing them

13 well.

14 For example, rural development

15 programs have been an historic success, both in

16 terms of business survivability rates and job

17 creation, and have been in great demand, with

18 applications exceeding the available funds. 

19 Federal land conservation programs, such as

20 several programs listed, provide farmers

21 financing to enhance the critical natural

22 resource infrastructure that ensures their farms
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

58

1 will continue to be productive.

2 Successful USDA infrastructure

3 programs that support the fruit and vegetable

4 industry include the Rural Business and

5 Cooperative Service, the Business and Industry

6 Guaranteed Loan Program, the Value Added Producer

7 Grants, Rural Cooperative Development Grants,

8 Community Facilities Grants and Loans, the Local

9 Food Promotion Program, the Rural Energy for

10 America Program, farm microloans, farm storage

11 facility loans, and specialty crop block grants,

12 i.e. everything we got told about yesterday.

13 These programs also complement and

14 leverage other infrastructure investments across

15 other branches of state and federal government,

16 such as the Economic Development Administration

17 of the Department of Commerce, which has served

18 as a key financing partner on major local food

19 infrastructure projects around the country; the

20 Community Development Financial Institutions Fund

21 of the Department of the Department of the

22 Treasury, which certifies, finances, and trains
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

59

1 institutions that offer financial services and

2 build financial capacity in rural communities

3 that have traditionally faced significant

4 challenges in accessing mainstream financial

5 services; the Healthy Food Financing Initiative

6 of the CDFI, which facilitates financing of fruit

7 and vegetable access projects, such as farmers'

8 markets and urban farms in underserved urban and

9 rural communities; and the new market tax credits

10 at the Department of Treasury. These partnership

11 opportunities also increase efficiency and reduce

12 redundancies across agency missions and

13 activities. Our recommendation to propose for

14 your review, we strongly encourage the secretary

15 to be supportive for continued funding for these

16 effective USDA infrastructure investment

17 programs, including the Rural Business and

18 Cooperative Service, the Business and Industry

19 Guaranteed Loan Program, Value Added Producer

20 Grants, Rural Cooperative Development Grants,

21 Community Facilities Grants and Loans, the Local

22 Food Promotion Program, the Rural Energy for
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

60

1 America Program, farm microloans, farm storage

2 facility loans, specialty crop block grants, and

3 the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program,

4 the Conservation Reserve Program, the

5 Conservation Stewardship Program, and the

6 Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

7 We also recommend that in order to

8 ensure the producers have access to these

9 programs, that USDA continue to staff a robust

10 network of state and county service centers, and

11 service center staff should be encouraged to work

12 across other federal agencies and state

13 governments to leverage each other's resources

14 for increased investment in fruit and vegetable

15 industry infrastructure. That's our statement

16 and recommendation.

17 MS. BETTS: I'm sorry; I don't have

18 the most up-to-date version.

19 MR. MCREYNOLDS: It's mostly the same

20 stuff.

21 MS. BETTS: It's an IT glitch. It

22 almost locked my computer up.
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

61

1 MS. KNORR: Any questions for this

2 committee?

3 MR. VAZQUEZ: I guess, on the

4 aggregate, we're just recommending that the

5 budget for the USDA, in general, not be cut,

6 right? I mean, that's basically what we're

7 saying.

8 MR. MCREYNOLDS: Yes. And I think our

9 -- it makes sense for us, as an industry, to say

10 we value USDA programs, and we want them to

11 continue.

12 (Off microphone comment.)

13 We're the infrastructure -- well, you

14 know, and we are certainly intentionally using

15 language around infrastructure because we do

16 recognize that's a value in the administration. 

17 I'm a lawyer.

18 MS. KNORR: One thing I would mention

19 that's kind of a bit of a pet peeve of mine,

20 farmers' markets should have an apostrophe after

21 the S on farmers.

22 (Off microphone comment.)
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

62

1 MS. KNORR: Well, they are wrong.

2 (Laughter.)

3 MS. KNORR: A bit of a strong opinion

4 on that. Sorry, guys. Starting to get a little

5 punchy. Sorry, everyone. Barring any further

6 questions or comments for Roland, I would accept

7 a motion on this recommendation.

8 MR. WILLIAMS: Tom Williams. I'll

9 make a motion.

10 MS. ELLOR: Tina Ellor. I'll second.

11 MS. KNORR: Any discussion?

12 (No audible response.)

13 MS. KNORR: All in favor?

14 (Chorus of aye.)

15 MS. KNORR: Any nays or abstentions?

16 (No audible response.)

17 MS. KNORR: Motion carries. Wow,

18 fantastic work this morning, folks.

19 MS. BETTS: There is one more, Beth,

20 on the Rural Broadband has a statement, also.

21 MS. KNORR: Correct. We did it this

22 morning, didn't we?
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

63

1 MS. BETTS: We approved that one? 

2 Okay. I just wanted to make sure we got

3 everybody covered, I think. I think that's it. 

4 Roland, if you could just --

5 MS. KNORR: Great job.

6 MS. BETTS: -- make sure --

7 (Simultaneous speaking).

8 MS. BETTS: Perfect. Awesome.

9 MS. KNORR: A couple of things before

10 we adjourn. As was mentioned yesterday, there

11 are a number of people whose current terms are

12 ending this time. I just want to encourage

13 everyone to please consider reapplying. We value

14 your input and participation. We'll wait to hear

15 from Marlene and Melissa regarding the

16 reauthorization of the group, which I think you

17 said typically happens in July, or potentially

18 can happen in July.

19 Or before? Okay, great. We'll wait

20 to hear back from you, but I would encourage

21 everyone to please consider reapplying to

22 participate. Also, Marlene had asked folks to
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

64

1 take a look at their calendars in September and

2 October, so if you have not passed that

3 information along to Marlene, either do so today

4 before you depart, or send her a quick email in

5 the next day or two, so that she can start

6 looking at dates that are going to work for a

7 fall meeting.

8 MS. BETTS: We already know that

9 October 19 through 21 is PMA, so we know that

10 one's a no-good date.

11 (Off microphone comment.)

12 MS. BETTS: United has public policy

13 in October, as well? Oh, September.

14 (Off microphone comment.)

15 MS. BETTS: It's usually around

16 September 11th, I've always found.

17 (Off microphone comment.)

18 MS. BETTS: Make sure you guys use the

19 microphone, please.

20 MR. CASTANEDA: Sounds like the week

21 of September 25th might not have any opposition.

22 MS. ELLOR: I can't make that, but I'm
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

65

1 not essential personnel, and I might not be

2 reappointed.

3 MS. BETTS: That's okay. We're -- 

4 (Simultaneous speaking.)

5 MS. BETTS: That's the end of our

6 fiscal year, too. 

7 (Simultaneous speaking.)

8 MS. KNORR: Yes, I was getting ready

9 to say if we could try to stay away from the last

10 week of September or first week of October, they

11 generally shut down our travel systems to let us

12 process changing over the year. We would have

13 some potential administrative issues.

14 MS. KNORR: I think, at this point, if

15 we can just share with Marlene dates that we know

16 will not work, that gives her a little bit more

17 flexibility with trying to tackle some dates. Go

18 ahead and send those to her or mention them to

19 her before you leave today.

20 MR. NOLAN: Bob Nolan. I'd just like

21 to make a comment. I've talked to several

22 committee members, even at our last meeting,
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

66

1 whether we would consider taking this meeting on

2 the road, if the committee would like to do that? 

3 I've spoken to Melissa, and she said it is

4 possible.

5 I guess we've got to check the details

6 and see if we have a financial budget we have to

7 stay within. I don't know if the committee would

8 like to entertain taking this on the road. I

9 would offer Long Island as a location. If the

10 committee's interested in that, that's -- be

11 happy to do it. 

12 (Off microphone comment.)

13 MR. NOLAN: Depends on my H2A

14 situation.

15 I have some labor camp housing where

16 you guys can stay, so, you know, we'll keep the

17 cost down.

18 (Laughter.)

19 MR. NOLAN: So I don't know if the

20 committee wants to discuss it, at this point, or

21 we just leave it out as a suggestion and do it by

22 email. You guys can let me know. The flight
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

67

1 from Alaska's not that much longer. It's just up

2 the road.

3 I'm just throwing it out there, what

4 you folks want to do. September, if it makes no

5 difference to the staff, it's probably a little

6 better time, a little bit warmer. The third week

7 in September or second week, somewhere in there,

8 versus October. October's still nice, but

9 September is perfect, for what it's worth.

10 MR. CASTANEDA: Bob, do you have the

11 facilities to host something like this, as far as

12 a conference room and --

13 MR. NOLAN: Yes. Out in Riverhead,

14 New York, there's several hotels, which have

15 enough room for us to do that. There's also an

16 FSA agency out there, as well.

17 MR. CASTANEDA: Excellent. Should I

18 make a motion?

19 MS. KNORR: I'm not sure that there's

20 a motion necessary for that. I think that we've

21 shared our interest in doing that with the USDA

22 staff, so I'm confident that they're going to
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

68

1 look into some options there for us. Thank you

2 for offering, Bob.

3 MR. NOLAN: It's either to -- Southwest

4 flies right into Islip-MacArthur. If you guys

5 have access to Southwest, that's the way to go. 

6 You miss all the city traffic. It's about a half

7 hour ride out to Riverhead from there. If you

8 fly into JFK, on a normal day, it's an hour ride,

9 on a rush-hour ride, it's about three hours. 

10 Traffic is terrible morning and afternoon for

11 rush hour. You think LA's bad. It's

12 Islip-MacArthur, on Long Island. Southwest has a

13 hub, flies right in.

14 MS. KNORR: I just want to take a

15 moment to thank everyone for making the time to

16 come out here for this meeting. I think you all

17 should be commended for the tremendous amount of

18 work that you've done over the past two days and

19 the recommendations and statements that we've

20 made and passed. Thank all of you for all of

21 that work. I don't really have anything else to

22 add. I know a couple of people have some
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

69

1 flights. Marlene, do you have any administrative

2 things that need to be discussed?

3 MS. BETTS: I'm not sure if Melissa or

4 Erin wanted to talk about it, but we did talk

5 during our break, as well. We made some changes

6 because we're all newbies to this, as well. 

7 Certainly, again, give us some feedback. Did you

8 like the way the meeting ran? I know it was a

9 little bit different, maybe, than the last time. 

10 I don't know. I don't have anything to compare

11 it to. But if you could tell us the positives or

12 the negatives that came out of this, how we can

13 improve and make things easier for you all. I

14 know you'll be hearing back from me, especially

15 the chairs of all the various committees. I'm

16 going to reach back out to all of you, make sure

17 we have the right people, when you want to hold

18 the next conference calls, what kind of speakers

19 do you need us to start looking towards?

20 We'll kind of take a breath because

21 I've got my other job to do, but I do want to

22 follow up. I know Melissa talked about the new
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

70

1 way of structuring the recommendations and

2 whatnot. You'll be getting a lot of information

3 from us just to kind of bounce things off of you

4 and keep us in the loop and keep things going.

5 Thank you so much for all of your

6 efforts and all of your help and your patience

7 with us and getting this together. To me, it was

8 a great meeting. So thank you, and I'll let

9 Melissa or Erin have any closing comments.

10 MS. BAILEY: Yes, thanks, Marlene. 

11 Again, thank you so much for stepping up and

12 helping us organize this meeting. This sounds

13 almost like a minor detail, but one piece of

14 feedback I would have is simply I think the way

15 we structure, actually, the table could be better

16 in the future. I find this long table thing to

17 be a bit difficult because I can't -- you guys

18 probably can't see each other. I think just

19 having -- I think a few years ago, we had more of

20 a U format. I think that is just much more

21 conducive to a dialogue.

22 I think we'll definitely pursue that
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

71

1 for the next meeting and moving forward. That

2 sounds minor, but I think it just makes the

3 meeting flow much better. In general, again,

4 just for those that this may be their last

5 meeting, sincerely appreciate all your service on

6 the committee and echo Beth, in terms of

7 considering applying again when we get the

8 nomination notice out. Then for those who will

9 stay with us, hopefully we'll see you in, maybe,

10 New York, in September-October. I don't know if

11 Erin has anything closing to say.

12 MS. MORRIS: Yes, just real briefly

13 because I know everyone's ready to get out of

14 here. I just wanted to echo Beth's sentiments. 

15 We really can't thank you enough for all of the

16 time and thoughtful, thoughtful effort that you

17 have put into this meeting and all the calls that

18 you do with your groups when we're in between

19 meetings. We really do consider this feedback

20 valuable, and we really need it to make sure that

21 we're communicating and understanding what's

22 important to the fruit and vegetable and
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

72

1 specialty crop industries. Again, thank you so

2 much to all of you for your service.

3 MS. KNORR: I'd just like to say thank

4 you to Marlene, Melissa and Erin for hosting us. 

5 I know that putting these meetings together takes

6 an incredible amount of work and details and all

7 of that kind of stuff. Thank you all very much

8 for helping us to continue to participate in this

9 way. Thank you.

10 MS. BETTS: And Leanne Skelton, too,

11 behind the scenes help.

12 MR. CASTANEDA: I do have a question

13 on what is the formal process for suggesting a

14 speaker? Is it recommended via email? For

15 example, Labor Committee would obviously love to

16 have someone from the Department of Labor speak

17 on behalf of H2A, but how would you like for us

18 to approach that, nominating a speaker?

19 MS. BAILEY: This is Melissa. I think

20 that what worked well this time was for the

21 subcommittees who were meeting on an issue, they

22 just helped -- we reached out to them and said
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

73

1 are there any particular topics you would like to

2 hear about, and then we kind of figured out who

3 the best speakers would be. If you don't have an

4 active subcommittee, though, and you have a

5 person from Labor, certainly send that to us. 

6 The farther ahead of time we have it, the easier

7 it is to pull those people in. I don't know that

8 beyond that, we have too formal of a process.

9 (Off microphone comment.)

10 MS. BAILEY: Just to both, for now, I

11 think would be great, thanks.

12 MS. KNORR: Does anybody else have

13 anything for the good of the cause?

14 MR. JANIS: I think on behalf of the

15 committee, we'd like to thank the co-chairs for

16 your leadership and everything they've done to

17 make this an effective meeting.

18 (Off microphone comment.)

19 MS. KNORR: Motion to adjourn. So

20 moved? Okay, thanks, everybody.

21 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter

22 went off the record at 12:11 p.m.)
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

74

A

a.m 1:11 4:2 40:14,15

ability 13:12 44:7

able 10:15 11:16 16:3

16:17 17:15 37:11

above-entitled 40:13

73:21

absolutely 39:22 50:2

51:7,10 53:22

abstentions 28:2 31:8

46:3 48:11 54:20

62:15

accept 30:17,19,20

36:6,15 42:19 48:2

54:12 62:6

acceptable 19:4

acceptance 27:13

access 30:1 37:8 44:6

59:7 60:8 68:5

accessing 57:11 59:4

accommodate 53:12

accomplish 16:3

account 22:2

accurately 47:12

achieves 14:10

acknowledged 18:16

act 35:1

Acting 2:12

action 25:8 53:8

active 73:4

activities 59:13

actual 32:15

add 9:11 13:11,18

17:20 68:22

Added 58:6 59:19

adding 13:21 25:5,15

addition 44:11

additional 35:17

additionally 47:18

address 11:2 37:14

addressed 24:10 29:17

49:15

addresses 11:10

adequate 14:12 53:12

54:3

adjourn 3:20 5:4 38:14

63:10 73:19

administer 46:14

administration 58:16

61:16

administrative 65:13

69:1

adopt 45:13

advise 12:9

Advisor 44:19

Advisory 1:3,10 21:20

22:11 30:9 42:2,13

43:19

Advocacy 37:21

advocating 51:18

affordability 30:14

affordable 30:2

Africa 19:8

afternoon 68:10

agencies 55:21,21

60:12

agency 13:13,13,15

20:12 59:12 67:16

aggregate 61:4

ago 21:18 70:19

agree 8:12 13:10 15:17

agreement 17:9

agreements 17:1

agricultural 42:16

44:22 46:13 47:11

60:3

agriculture 1:1,22

21:19 22:11 29:16

30:3,6 32:5 33:15

50:10 52:15

ahead 14:15 29:20

40:17 43:7 49:22

65:18 73:6

air 39:20

Alaska 1:21

Alaska's 67:1

aligning 47:18

allow 36:15,22

allowing 12:19 49:12

alternative 16:10

America 19:8 30:12

58:10 60:1

Americans 43:21

amount 68:17 72:6

ample 4:6

AMS 2:13,14 41:10,13

46:17 47:9,19

AMS's 14:20

analyzes 47:1

anticipate 35:22

anybody 9:9,17 15:19

15:21 19:18 73:12

apostrophe 43:15

61:20

applicants 10:17

applications 57:18

apply 34:7,8 49:11

applying 71:7

appointment 32:18,19

33:1 34:11

appointments 8:15

32:14

appreciate 20:5 71:5

approach 72:18

appropriate 9:21,22

10:7

appropriations 47:5

approve 6:11

approved 63:1

approximately 42:11

area 18:11

areas 21:21

Arlington 1:11

arms 40:2

Asia 19:8

asked 18:20 63:22

asking 16:15 18:18

23:17

aspect 21:2

aspects 20:9 24:21

assess 47:12

assigned 53:16

assist 46:18

assistance 42:6 55:19

57:9

assisting 41:13

Association 2:3

assume 35:8

attention 35:5

attributes 13:16

audible 27:19 28:1,3

31:3,7,9 45:20 46:2,4

48:6,10,12 54:17,21

62:12,16

authorized 51:17

availability 57:1

available 15:21 32:4

33:15 35:22 47:2

55:16 57:18

aware 34:1

awareness 42:9,17

awesome 40:6 63:8

awkward 21:7

aye 27:20,21 31:5 45:22

48:8 51:22 54:19

62:14

B

back 4:22 9:6 14:12

20:3 29:8 38:20 40:5

40:17 41:16 63:20

69:14,16

background 36:3 43:18

46:12 49:8,19 51:1

52:14,17 55:13

backspaces 43:15

bad 68:11

Bailey 20:1,1 70:10

72:19 73:10

Balch 1:15 5:17,17 41:2

41:22 43:9,14 44:17

45:15,16

bar 34:9 35:2 49:12,16

49:20

Barnes 1:16,17

barred 34:11,14,16

barrier 37:10

Barring 49:21 62:5

based 24:13,17

basically 29:9 61:6

bear 12:21

beginning 56:8

behalf 46:9 72:17 73:14

believe 27:7 47:16

beneficial 44:12

benefits 44:11 56:1

best 10:10 15:15 73:3

Beth 1:11,13 10:7 26:19

29:8 37:20 39:18

62:19 71:6

Beth's 71:14

better 67:6 70:15 71:3

BETTS 2:12 13:17 26:8

28:17,20,22 29:4

39:16 40:10 41:15

43:7,10 44:16 48:15

48:20 49:2,5 52:3,6

52:11 55:8,10 56:6,10

56:14,19 60:17,21

62:19 63:1,6,8 64:8

64:12,15,18 65:3,5

69:3 72:10

beyond 73:8

big 33:5

biggest 16:8

bill 36:5

bills 50:12

bit 4:5,18 6:10 8:14

16:1 21:3,15 23:6

25:17,19 36:3 37:12

40:1,3 51:1 61:19

62:3 65:16 67:6 69:9

70:17

blah 23:19,19,19 26:7,7

26:7

block 58:11 60:2

board 34:17

Bob 7:17 23:3 30:21

37:20 39:10,18 65:20

67:10 68:2

body 44:3

bones 23:13

book 34:22

bottleneck 32:17 52:20

53:1

bottom 49:2

bounce 70:3

branches 58:15

break 38:7 39:17 69:5

breath 69:20

briefly 71:12

bring 5:9 12:20 19:19
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

75

29:1 35:12,19 38:20

40:5 57:4

bringing 51:9

broad 12:13 16:7,9

17:14 29:13,14

broadband 5:13 28:19

29:11,13 30:4,10,13

62:20

brought 35:5,19

Bruce 14:19

brush 12:13

budget 47:6 55:17 61:5

66:6

build 59:2

built 55:14

bunch 41:6

Burns 28:10

business 3:18 30:6

57:16 58:4,5 59:17,18

businesses 44:13

47:12 57:3,7

C

C-O-N-T-E-N-T-S 3:9

calendars 64:1

call 3:11 33:3 41:9,13

called 34:9

calls 4:21,22 41:7 69:18

71:17

camp 66:15

candidate 12:1

candidates 18:1

cap 50:14,18,20 51:3,9

51:10,11,14,16

capacity 59:2

capture 12:13

captured 11:19

cards 37:16

Carlos 1:17 5:21 31:14

35:7 48:14 49:6 54:9

55:1

Carolina 2:3

carries 48:13 54:22

62:17

case 20:16 53:17

Castaneda 1:17,17 5:20

5:21 31:16 48:18,22

49:4,6 50:2,7,22 51:7

51:20 52:1,7,13 64:20

67:10,17 72:12

catastrophe 32:6

catastrophic 32:1

34:17

category 17:2

cause 73:13

CDFI 59:6

ceased 53:4

census 16:11

center 60:11

centers 60:10

CEO 2:10

certain 10:12 41:4

certainly 4:14 10:13

12:2 20:20 21:6 24:9

35:18 61:14 69:7 73:5

certifies 58:22

CFUs 19:3,9

Chain 2:2

chair 1:12,13,14 5:5

13:5 21:16 27:12

39:11

Chairman 5:20

chairs 13:21 35:14

69:15

chairwoman 5:21

challenges 18:15 21:11

22:6 59:4

challenging 21:3

chance 5:10 6:8

change 8:1,4 24:15

35:1

changes 8:13 21:12

69:5

changing 65:12

characteristics 9:7

10:12 14:6

charter 22:17

check 40:7 66:5

Chief 1:20

child 42:4 44:7

childhood 44:2

Chorus 27:21 31:5

45:22 48:8 51:22

54:19 62:14

Christie 1:15 5:17

40:22 41:20 45:16

46:6

city 33:7 53:5 68:6

clarify 51:16

clean 34:6 35:5

clear 11:5 12:4 51:18

53:10,20

clearance 20:19

clearly 19:19 21:12

22:18 28:7

climate 31:20

closing 3:18 33:6,11

54:5 70:9 71:11

closings 33:12

co-chairs 73:15

Co-Owner/Manager 2:4

Coborn's 2:10

coliform 19:2

collects 47:1

combat 44:1

come 34:6 35:5 39:12

40:5 43:13 68:16

comes 9:6 34:10 50:16

coming 19:8 26:16 53:7

comma 17:21 56:3

commend 32:8 33:15

commended 68:17

comment 15:18 20:20

61:12,22 64:11,14,17

65:21 66:12 73:9,18

comments 3:13 6:9

10:12 14:14,17 18:8

19:21 43:16 45:10

47:22 49:22 52:5 54:9

62:6 70:9

Commerce 58:17

committee 1:3,10 3:16

10:1,8 20:10,22 21:20

29:10 30:9 31:19

35:20 42:2 43:2,2,5

43:19 44:19 45:6 49:7

49:18 51:20 55:2 61:2

65:22 66:2,7,20 71:6

72:15 73:15

committee's 15:7 42:13

66:10

committees 5:1 35:17

69:15

Commodity 45:1

communicate 11:17

communicated 21:13

communicating 71:21

communities 30:11

59:2,9

Community 1:16 58:8

58:20 59:21

compare 69:10

compared 18:22

comparison 18:21

competitive 19:11

competitiveness 57:6

complement 58:13

complete 39:14

completed 35:11

completely 11:17

comprehensive 34:2

52:16

computer 60:22

concentration 19:3

concern 11:18 32:12

concerned 20:11 31:21

33:9

concerns 20:6 22:15

24:9,10 42:21 52:18

concrete 17:16

concur 13:5

conditions 47:13

conducive 70:21

conduct 21:21

conference 4:21 41:12

67:12 69:18

confidence 11:16

confident 67:22

Congress 18:11 35:1

connect 35:14

connectivity 30:2,4,10

30:15

Conservancy 1:14

conservation 57:19

60:3,4,5

consider 25:20 26:3,11

45:8 63:13,21 66:1

71:19

consideration 10:16

30:13 33:22

considered 25:9 35:3

considering 71:7

consistent 10:21

constructed 24:16

consulate 32:21 33:3

34:10

consulates 32:13 33:7

33:8 53:4

consult 17:21 18:3

consumption 5:19

40:21 42:14 44:1,5,12

44:21

content 23:2

continue 12:11 27:8

38:2 45:7 47:20 53:9

58:1 60:9 61:11 72:8

continued 10:5 14:9

46:11 59:15

continues 7:11

continuity 11:1

conversation 39:7

converted 41:5

cooperative 17:9 58:5,7

59:18,20

copy 7:14 8:1

correct 27:2 43:11

48:18 50:22 62:21

cost 66:17

countries 19:5

country 32:3 35:4 42:10

42:18 58:19

Countryside 1:14

county 60:10

couple 15:8,10 63:9

68:22

course 20:19

cover 52:3

covered 15:19 63:3

craft 4:19 35:9

crafted 46:10 48:1

crafting 31:13

create 46:14
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

76

creation 57:17

credits 59:9

criteria 11:5 18:22

19:15

critical 9:3 13:8 15:2

22:7 57:21

crop 4:14 35:18 37:17

44:13 58:11 60:2 72:1

crops 46:16,20 47:16

54:6

crossing 8:5

Crossroads 1:15

crucial 8:16,19 9:10

crystal 51:18

current 53:1 55:17

63:11

currently 32:8 46:17

51:3,9

customer 37:16

cut 61:5

cuts 31:22 32:5

Cuyahoga 1:13

D

damaging 23:1

Dan 7:19 8:12 11:7 13:4

14:2 15:17 28:10

DANIEL 2:6

data 16:11 47:1

database 33:20

date 32:20 64:10

dates 64:6 65:15,17

Dave 18:20

DAVID 2:10

Davis 1:11

day 9:6 13:22 14:1 24:1

64:5 68:8

days 32:22 33:1,4 68:18

dealing 29:11

decide 24:19

decision 24:12

decisions 47:14

Dedicating 10:21

deemed 53:16

deep 10:19

Deer 1:14

Defense 45:4

defer 14:11

definite 37:10

definitely 5:7 19:11

27:3 70:22

delays 32:10

delete 43:8 56:3

delivered 47:8

demand 45:9 54:4

57:17

demonstrated 28:7

depart 64:4

department 1:1,22 21:1

45:3 58:17,21,21

59:10 72:16

departments 31:22

32:8,12 33:16

Depends 66:13

depersonalize 11:4

depersonalized 13:3

depersonalizing 7:5

description 12:8 13:6

14:7

Designated 2:12

detail 11:13 70:13

detailed 47:10

details 66:5 72:6

determine 4:20 16:7,12

17:17 18:6 52:20,22

determined 51:13

devastating 50:15

developed 16:10 20:17

development 12:22

18:2 30:12 55:20

57:14 58:7,16,20

59:20

dialogue 70:21

diet-related 43:20

DIETRICH 1:18 28:18

28:21 29:2,6,22 31:12

diets 44:9

difference 67:5

different 19:13 37:16

69:9

difficult 17:11 70:17

difficulty 56:21

dilemma 23:22 24:4

directing 20:12

Director 1:13,15,19 2:2

2:3,9

discuss 4:6 5:10 6:15

17:8 36:1 66:20

discussed 69:2

discussing 5:8

discussion 4:16,17

6:10,14 27:18 31:1

45:19 48:5 54:16

62:11

discussions 15:4

disease 43:21

distribution 46:19

47:15 57:1

doing 67:21

domestic 34:5 46:14

draft 6:7

drafted 20:21

Duda 1:21

due 32:3 42:9 56:2,7,8

56:21

duplicate 51:8

E

E 23:19

earlier 39:13

early 30:16

Easement 60:3

easier 69:13 73:6

echo 71:6,14

Economic 58:16

economy 29:18

edit 44:15,18

edited 54:13

education 30:4,7 42:7

effect 25:2,6

effective 59:16 73:17

effectively 13:12,14

21:15

efficiency 59:11

efficiently 47:7

effort 15:1 71:16

efforts 70:6

eight 37:15

either 12:5 64:3 68:3

electricity 30:5

electronically 47:7

eligible 42:8,11

Ellor 1:19 15:4 16:14

48:4,4 54:11,12 62:10

62:10 64:22

email 56:16 64:4 66:22

72:14

emailed 28:18

emails 29:8

emphasize 30:9 33:13

emphasizes 44:19

employee 34:12

employees 32:16 34:5

34:21 49:9,17 53:6

encompasses 11:9

encourage 23:20,21

25:20 26:2,9,10 38:17

59:14 63:12,20

encouraged 36:7 60:11

encourages 26:13

ends 11:17

Energy 58:9 59:22

engagement 14:22

engagement/coordin...

25:13

enhance 57:6,21

enlighten 10:3

ensure 60:8

ensures 57:22

ensuring 9:8 10:22

entertain 66:8

environment 55:17

Environmental 60:6

equipment 36:12,21

37:2,4

Erin 2:13 10:6 24:7 69:4

70:9 71:11 72:4

especially 33:5 69:14

essential 52:22 53:13

53:17 57:2 65:1

essentially 20:8

establishes 19:2

ETA-790 32:11

evaluation 25:2,6

evening 36:18

event 5:1 10:4

everybody 63:3 73:20

everybody's 39:14,17

everyone's 71:13

evidence 44:4

evidence-based 42:7

example 32:19 57:14

72:15

examples 14:21

exceeding 57:18

excellent 28:16 52:2,9

67:17

Exchange 2:6

excuse 5:21

Executive 1:13,15 2:3

exist 36:14

existing 28:13 39:8

exists 34:4

experience 11:1 12:21

experienced 7:9

expertise 11:1,15 12:21

explanation 11:8

exponential 51:12

53:19

expresses 52:8

extensive 12:20

extensively 18:12

F

face 55:17

faced 59:3

facilitates 59:6

facilities 58:8 59:21

67:11

facility 58:11 60:2

fact 19:12 22:9

failure 51:5,8

fair 39:5 50:7 52:1

fall 64:7

falling 17:2

familiar 49:20

family 44:9

fantastic 5:11 6:4 33:17

35:10 62:18

far 7:3 20:12 67:11

far-fetched 16:5

farm 1:17 2:3,7 33:2

36:5 44:4 45:6 58:10
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

77

58:10 60:1,1

Farmer 37:21

farmers 21:19 47:11

57:7,20 61:21

farmers' 36:5,9,10 37:5

59:7 61:20

farms 1:15,20 2:5 57:22

59:8

farther 73:6

fast 30:2

favor 27:20 31:4 45:18

45:21 48:7 54:18

62:13

FDA 7:12 13:13 18:15

20:8 22:10 23:15

24:18 25:20 26:2,9,10

fecal 19:2

federal 2:12 33:19 56:5

57:3,8,19 58:15 60:12

feedback 6:2 15:3

31:19 69:7 70:14

71:19

feel 6:18 21:13 22:11

25:10 40:9 49:14

feeling 39:3

fell 6:20 50:6

felt 15:1 34:18

fiber 46:16

figured 33:18 73:2

filled 8:20,22 9:4 14:5

filling 10:13

fills 8:17 14:7

final 20:21 35:9

Finally 55:2

finances 58:22

financial 58:20 59:1,2,4

66:6

financing 57:21 58:18

59:5,6

find 49:11 70:16

finding 32:17 33:3 49:8

53:1

fine 12:7 21:10 39:9

finesse 12:17

first 4:8 7:1 15:22 31:19

33:21 40:20 41:2,16

43:17 53:18 65:10

fiscal 31:21 65:6

five 30:1 36:8

flag 5:6 7:1 18:20 21:17

flexibility 65:17

flies 68:4,13

flight 66:22

flights 69:1

floor 6:14

Floral 2:9

flow 71:3

fly 29:1 68:8

FNS 36:14 37:13 41:10

41:13

FOA 16:22

folks 6:12 35:16 62:18

63:22 67:4

follow 10:9 69:22

food 1:16,16 4:7,16

27:14 28:6 35:20 42:3

42:15 44:10 45:4

46:16 58:9,18 59:5,22

foods 2:10 37:9 44:8

foreign 19:6

form 6:7 36:1 37:12,19

formal 72:13 73:8

format 70:20

formed 39:1 44:2

forming 35:18

forms 32:11

forth 17:10 20:3 29:8

35:12 38:20

forward 5:9 18:19 71:1

found 64:16

four 30:1 40:19

frame 16:6 22:8

frames 39:22

Francisco 2:1

free 40:9 42:8

Fresh 2:2,4 45:2,4,5

front 20:18

fruit 1:3,10 10:20 21:9

30:8 42:1,13 43:18,22

44:18,20 45:2,5 56:1

57:7,10 58:3 59:6

60:14 71:22

fruits 44:6 46:19 47:15

55:5 56:3,22

FSA 67:16

FSMA 12:18 20:16

21:22

full 3:16 10:22 25:2,6

43:4

fully 47:20 53:11

Functionally 8:3

fund 47:20 58:20

fundamental 30:6

funded 7:12 8:18 14:9

47:5 53:12

funding 37:7 45:8 46:11

59:15

funds 36:4 57:18

further 14:16 18:2

19:16 27:18 38:4

53:15 62:5

Furthermore 44:6

future 57:12 70:16

G

gain 53:9

gather 16:4

general 2:2,6 3:13 12:9

20:14 61:5 71:3

generally 65:11

generated 47:6

getting 15:14 32:18

34:22 65:8 70:2,7

give 18:17 32:19 69:7

given 18:11 34:3 38:13

gives 65:16

glitch 60:21

Gold 2:8

gotten 17:6

government 52:19

53:17,21 54:5 58:15

governments 23:12

60:13

grant 55:18 56:5

grants 5:6 55:2 57:3

58:7,7,8,11 59:20,20

59:21 60:2

greater 57:11

greatest 16:16

greatly 21:8

group 4:10,11,13,15 5:7

5:10,13,22 6:2 7:12

8:2 9:12 15:1 19:20

22:2,11 27:14 31:15

36:1 37:11,22 38:6,7

38:8,18,19 39:6,8,12

40:21 42:14 43:4

45:16 46:7,9,10 48:14

55:1 63:16

group's 27:8 31:18

33:22

groups 3:13,15 4:19 5:3

33:5 35:11,14 37:19

38:5,15,22 39:3 40:20

43:11 71:18

growers 19:7 34:19

growing 44:3 53:22

growth 51:11 53:13,19

Guadalajara 33:6 53:5

Guaranteed 58:6 59:19

guess 8:13 23:16 48:20

56:10,15 61:3 66:5

guidances 12:22

guide 11:22

H

H2A 32:1 33:9 34:4

49:10,18 50:17 51:9,9

51:17 53:3,11,16

66:13 72:17

H2As 50:21

H2B 51:3

habits 44:2

half 38:7 68:6

HANAS 1:20 48:3

hand 31:2

handle 10:3

happen 19:10 63:18

happening 36:4,9

happens 63:17

happy 42:19 45:11

66:11

hard 7:14 8:1 28:7

HARRY 2:7

hate 17:3

health 19:1,13 44:1,11

healthcare 30:7

healthier 44:8

healthy 37:9 44:2 59:5

hear 5:3 35:16 40:21

48:14 63:14,20 73:2

heard 24:20 46:10

55:15

hearing 28:4 31:20

69:14

heavily 36:8

Helen 1:18 29:21 31:11

help 20:5 23:21 24:4

47:12 52:14 57:4,9

70:6 72:11

helped 72:22

helpful 17:18 24:15

helping 70:12 72:8

HERRON 1:21 9:5

11:12 16:20 23:20

high 42:6 43:20

highlighted 34:3

Highway 1:11

highways 53:6

hire 11:21

hiring 10:9,14

historic 57:15

hold 69:17

homework 19:20

honestly 17:14

hope 12:3

hopefully 4:9 71:9

hoping 6:7 12:10 53:2,8

host 67:11

hosting 72:4

hotels 67:14

hour 38:7,18 39:3,6

68:7,8,11

hours 68:9

housing 66:15

https://www.ams.us...

47:4

hub 68:13

Hyatt 1:11

I

i.e 58:12
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

78

iceberg 33:10 53:3

idea 29:15

ideas 57:9

identify 17:22

Imagine 29:4

immigration 34:2 52:16

impact 21:8,12

impacts 21:10

implementation 22:8

importance 30:10

33:13

important 7:3 10:12

11:6 19:16 20:22

22:12,20 29:16 47:17

71:22

imposed 50:18

improve 69:13

Incentive 35:21

Incentives 60:6

include 10:11 30:12

44:22 58:4

including 25:2,7 55:21

59:17

incorporating 44:8

increase 37:8 42:16

44:4,7,9,20 59:11

increased 43:22 44:11

45:8 60:14

incredible 72:6

indicator 25:21 26:6

individual 8:17 9:16

36:12

individuals 7:15

Indonesian 15:13

industries 72:1

industry 1:3,10 7:10

10:20 12:21 13:8

14:20 18:14 21:9,11

22:20 30:8 42:2,13

43:19 44:14,18,21

46:18 47:18 49:9

50:15 53:14 55:6 56:1

57:10 58:4,5 59:18

60:15 61:9

industry's 22:14

information 12:13

16:19 23:9 37:13

40:22 46:21 47:2,10

47:22 64:3 70:2

informed 47:13

infrastructure 5:7

30:11 55:5,20 57:1,5

57:22 58:2,14,19

59:16 60:15 61:13,15

Initiative 59:5

input 9:11 16:15 18:17

21:22 24:18 63:14

insights 22:19

institutions 58:20 59:1

insurance 4:15 35:18

37:18 55:19

intent 11:3 14:8 27:9,11

intentionally 61:14

interagency 20:17

interest 44:8 67:21

interested 15:13 35:17

37:17 38:9 66:10

international 19:1

46:15

Internet 30:2

interview 11:22 32:15

introduction 42:1

invaluable 10:21

investigation 19:17

investment 59:16 60:14

investments 55:4 57:6

58:14

invite 6:5

involved 9:12

involvement 10:1

iPads 37:16

Island 66:9 68:12

Islip-MacArthur 68:4

68:12

issue 11:2 34:9 37:14

72:21

issued 50:21

issues 18:8 22:4 28:8

32:17 65:13

it'd 25:9 31:17

J

Jacket 2:4

Janis 2:1 13:9,9,19

14:11 25:1,15 73:14

Jefferson 1:11

JFK 68:8

job 6:5 12:8 13:6 14:7

33:17 57:16 63:5

69:21

Johanna 1:21 7:2 11:12

16:20 23:20

JORGE 2:8

July 63:17,18

jump 40:17

jumping 39:6

juncture 9:8 22:8

K

Kathy 28:10

keep 24:1 47:21 56:9

66:16 70:4,4

keeping 12:12 16:6,9

keeps 26:13

key 13:15 14:6 47:21

58:18

Knorr 1:12,13 4:3 5:11

6:4 9:20 12:6 14:14

17:7 18:3,7 19:18

21:5 22:22 23:13

26:15,20 27:2,11,18

27:20,22 28:2,4,13,16

29:20 30:18 31:1,4,6

31:8,10,13 35:7 38:13

39:5 40:7,11,16 42:19

45:11,18,21 46:1,3,5

48:1,5,7,9,11,13

49:21 50:5,19 52:10

52:12 54:8,16,18,20

54:22 61:1,18 62:1,3

62:11,13,15,17,21

63:5,9 65:8,14 67:19

68:14 72:3 73:12,19

knowledge 8:14

knowledgeable 7:9

knows 8:2

KRISTINE 1:19

L

LA's 68:11

labor 4:13 5:22 38:6

48:14,16 49:7 51:20

66:15 72:15,16 73:5

lack 8:14 19:12 34:2

42:9

Lakeside 2:10

land 57:19

language 4:20 10:11,18

11:4 13:11,18 15:22

17:20 23:5 25:11 27:7

61:15

languages 15:8,11,15

16:10 17:10,15 18:1

largely 56:2,21

latest 40:10

Latin 2:8

Laughter 62:2 66:18

launch 15:16

law 15:19

lawyer 61:17

leadership 73:16

leading 20:4

Leanne 2:14 7:7 8:8,22

9:9 12:11 26:9 72:10

Leanne's 7:22

learned 41:6

leave 12:11 51:13 65:19

66:21

left 12:3

let's 14:15 34:6 38:19

40:21 50:5

level 11:21 16:22,22

17:12 19:13

leverage 58:14 60:13

liaison 7:4,10,11 12:19

24:2

lies 32:12

lifetime 44:3

limit 38:10

limited 15:6

line 12:7 21:10,14 23:8

listed 21:22 55:22

57:20

little 4:5,18 6:10 8:5,14

16:1,5 21:14 23:6

25:16,19 34:9 36:3

37:12 40:1,3 41:11

51:1 62:4 65:16 67:5

67:6 69:9

live 34:5 51:10

living 34:12,15

LLC 1:15,19 2:2,9

LLP 1:17 2:8

Loan 55:18 58:6 59:19

loans 56:5 57:3 58:8,11

59:21 60:2

local 58:8,18 59:21

location 36:13 66:9

locations 36:7,16

locked 60:22

long 9:19 39:13 66:9

68:12 70:16

long-term 49:9

longer 33:9 34:15 67:1

longevity 9:10,15

look 11:13 24:3,22

39:20 40:4 64:1 68:1

looking 8:13 12:2 13:2

64:6 69:19

loop 70:4

lot 19:20 31:21 39:4,19

50:10,13 70:2

loud 56:4

love 31:18 54:11 72:15

M

Mack 37:18

Madam 5:5 21:16 27:12

main 14:5

mainstream 59:4

maintain 7:8

major 18:15 58:18

making 7:10 13:6 23:16

24:12,13 57:5 68:15

MALDONADO 2:2

manage 36:11,19

managed 37:5

Manager 1:16,18,21 2:1

2:6

Manager/Supply 2:2

managing 36:17 57:12

March 32:20 33:1,2
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

79

MARK 2:4

market 2:1,1 5:15 36:9

36:12,17,20 37:5,15

46:7,9,12,20 47:3,4,9

47:13,16,20 59:9

marketing 1:21 42:16

45:1 46:13,15,19

47:14

markets 36:6,11 59:8

61:20

Marlene 2:12 7:1 28:19

39:16 40:16 63:15,22

64:3 65:15 69:1 70:10

72:4

MARTIN 2:2

material 22:21

matter 7:21 31:2 40:13

73:21

maximize 57:2

maximum 51:12

McAlister 2:5

McReynolds 2:3 5:5,6

6:22 8:3 10:2,18

12:15 13:22 14:18

17:19 18:5,10 21:16

23:9,18 25:10 26:1,22

27:6,12 28:9 30:16,19

39:2 43:1 45:13 51:15

54:14,14 55:3,7,9,12

56:7,12,18,20 60:19

61:8

meal 44:10

mean 61:6

means 37:3

mediating 14:20

meet 38:17 45:9 53:13

meeting 1:5 18:14 20:4

27:15 38:3 39:13,19

64:7 65:22 66:1 68:16

69:8 70:8,12 71:1,3,5

71:17 72:21 73:17

meetings 71:19 72:5

Melissa 20:1 63:15 66:3

69:3,22 70:9 72:4,19

member 45:15

members 1:13 28:6

34:17 35:13 65:22

mention 61:18 65:18

mentioned 63:10

Mentoring 37:21

met 1:10

Mexico 32:13 33:7 34:8

49:11 53:4,5

Michael 2:1 13:9

microbial 18:21 19:15

microloans 58:10 60:1

microphone 52:5 61:12

61:22 64:11,14,17,19

66:12 73:9,18

Mike 13:18

milliliters 19:3

mind 12:12

mine 61:19

minor 70:13 71:2

minutes 38:3

mission 46:12 47:19

missions 59:12

modifications 19:22

modified 6:19

modify 23:4,7

moment 68:15

momentum 53:9

months 16:3 41:7

morning 4:3,8 27:15

28:20 62:18,22 68:10

Morris 2:13 10:6,6 24:7

24:7 71:12

motion 6:11,16 27:13

30:20 31:10 42:20

45:12,13 46:5 48:2,13

50:3 54:10,12,22 62:7

62:9,17 67:18,20

73:19

Mountain 2:7

move 14:16 30:17,19

49:22

moved 4:8 48:3 73:20

movement 34:2

moves 18:19

moving 18:8 71:1

muddy 25:18

multiple 36:10 37:1,4

38:5

Mushroom 1:20

Mycologist/Technical

1:19

N

name 7:22 8:6

narrow 40:1

natural 57:21

nature 50:16 56:2,22

nays 27:22 31:6 46:1

48:9 54:20 62:15

necessary 21:13 67:20

necessity 30:5

need 6:18 8:22 16:1,7,8

16:10,16 24:10,22

32:14,20,22 33:4 37:1

37:15 39:6,8 50:10

51:13 53:21 54:2,3

69:2,19 71:20

needle 25:16

needs 23:10 27:4 29:16

49:14 53:14

negatives 69:12

neighborhoods 37:8

network 1:16 60:10

new 3:15 4:11 21:19

35:12 37:21 56:10

59:9 67:14 69:22

71:10

newbies 69:6

newly 38:22

news 5:15 46:7,10,12

46:20 47:3,5,10,16,20

nice 40:20 55:1 67:8

Nicely 48:1

NICHOLSON 2:4

no-good 64:10

Nolan 1:14 7:17,17 23:3

23:3 30:21,21 37:20

37:20 39:10,10 65:20

65:20 66:13,19 67:13

68:3

nominating 72:18

nomination 71:8

non-agriculture 51:2

noon 40:9,10

normal 68:8

notice 71:8

noticed 33:5

number 24:21 36:19,21

50:20 51:12,16 54:3

63:11

numbers 36:14,15 37:1

nutrition 35:21 41:14

42:3,4,5,6,7,15,17

44:7 45:4

O

obviously 12:3 22:16

72:15

occurring 32:17

Oceano 2:6

October 39:21 64:2,9

64:13 65:10 67:8

October's 67:8

offer 7:13 45:7 59:1

66:9

offered 16:11

offering 68:2

offers 55:18

office 29:3

Officer 1:21

offices 54:6

Official 2:13

officials 53:21

offline 13:20 15:5

old 56:8,19

once 34:4 40:16 49:11

53:19

one's 50:8 64:10

open 4:11,16 6:10,13

33:8 35:16 51:14

54:10

openings 33:4

operating 1:21 19:9

22:3

Operations/Co-Owner

2:7

opinion 62:3

opportunities 46:15

59:11

opportunity 8:18,21

25:20 26:3

opposed 13:21 25:4,7

opposition 64:21

option 34:4

options 68:1

Orchards 1:19 2:4

order 3:11 60:7

Organization 19:2,13

organizations 36:10

37:5,15

organize 70:12

other's 60:13

outside 22:3

overarching 12:10

Owner/Human 1:18

Owner/Operator 1:14

2:5

P

P-R-O-C-E-E-D-I-N-G-S

4:1

p.m 73:22

pace 54:1

pains 34:18

paragraphs 30:1

part 22:2 30:6

participant 44:5

participants 57:10

participate 20:20 31:22

35:15 42:12 51:4

63:22 72:8

participated 33:16

participates 52:21

participating 32:9

participation 63:14

particular 19:20 24:15

28:11 37:9 73:1

particularly 8:6 28:10

partner 42:15 58:18

partners 57:5

partnership 59:10

pass 6:16

passed 4:10 28:5 31:10

64:2 68:20

passes 46:5

passing 6:20

patience 70:6
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

80

PATRICK 2:5

peeve 61:19

people 17:13 37:10,22

39:11 63:11 68:22

69:17 73:7

people's 15:14

percent 42:11

perfect 49:4 52:10 63:8

67:9

period 56:2

perishable 54:7 56:2,22

person 7:10 8:20 9:3

11:3 12:4 73:5

personal 7:6

personally 7:7

personnel 10:22 53:16

65:1

pet 61:19

philanthropic 57:4

Phillips 1:20

physically 33:8

picking 23:13

pictures 21:17

piece 14:16 36:12 70:13

pieces 37:2,4

Pilot 45:3

Pismo 2:6

place 26:16 50:14

places 18:7

plan 25:13

planning 33:11

play 20:14

please 35:13 37:17,18

52:12 63:13,21 64:19

plenty 38:14

PMA 64:9

point 6:17 14:3 24:8

31:16,19 33:22 34:1

46:22 50:8 65:14

66:20

policies 13:1

policy 64:12

portion 23:7,14 25:5

position 7:4,11 8:16,17

8:19 9:2,17 10:4,13

11:3 12:11,19 13:7

14:4,7,9 21:3,8 24:3

position's 14:5

positive 23:21 24:4,16

positives 69:11

possible 16:21 25:22

26:6,22 27:1,2,4 36:5

45:9 66:4

potential 4:21 18:18

39:18 65:13

potentially 26:17,21

63:17

Potomac 1:10,10

PRESENT 1:13 2:12

presentations 41:8

55:14

President 1:20 2:7,10

president's 22:10

President/CEO 2:8

presiding 1:12

pretty 36:8

previous 35:3

previously 21:1

price 46:21

Principal 1:17

principles 7:8 10:9

priorities 16:8

prioritize 16:12

priority 7:12 17:22 18:1

private 57:4,12

probably 6:12 15:12

32:21 38:11 42:20

67:5 70:18

problems 44:2

process 8:7 9:12 10:14

12:18 13:8 19:17

20:11,18 22:14 53:5

54:3 65:12 72:13 73:8

processed 53:3

processing 32:1,9,11

32:15 33:6,9 52:21

53:16

Procurement 45:1

produce 2:1,9 5:18 7:9

12:21 18:22 21:9 37:9

40:21 42:14 44:12

45:4 46:18 47:18

produced 37:11

Producer 58:6 59:19

producers 44:13 46:16

47:11 57:2 60:8

product 46:17

productive 58:1

professional 7:5

program 19:7 32:2

33:13 34:7,8 35:21

42:4,10 45:2,3,4,5,6

49:10,12,18 50:9,14

50:17 51:2,3,11,17

53:11,13,20,22 58:6,9

58:10 59:19,22 60:1,3

60:4,5,6

programs 41:4,6,10,10

42:5 44:4,7,10,20,22

45:8,9 46:14 55:15,19

55:22 57:8,15,19,20

58:3,13 59:17 60:9

61:10

projects 58:19 59:7

promote 22:20

promotion 41:14 58:9

59:22

proposals 35:3

propose 59:13

proposed 4:7,15 5:2

proved 10:21

provide 57:8,20

provides 42:6 46:21

47:10,17

providing 15:2 22:18

PSA 14:21 15:3

public 1:16 20:20 26:4

30:7 44:1,11 57:11

64:12

pull 14:12 56:16 73:7

pulling 29:7

punchy 62:5

punished 34:22

purchase 37:11

purchasing 47:14

Purdue 21:18 24:11

Pure 2:2

purpose 18:16 20:2

pursue 70:22

put 7:2 9:16 17:9 21:3,7

23:5 24:2 29:12 38:9

52:17 71:17

putting 72:5

Q

qualities 9:7,14,18,21

10:16 11:2,10,14

12:10 13:1

quality 20:9 42:7 60:6

question 18:21 50:19

72:12

questions 5:4 6:13

11:22 19:21 42:21

43:16 45:10 49:19,21

50:18 54:8 61:1 62:6

quick 64:4

quicker 40:3

R

ramp 33:19

ran 69:8

rates 43:20 57:16

re-enter 49:13

re-entry 34:14

reach 69:16

reached 72:22

reactions 21:5

read 6:8 24:11 29:19,20

41:18,21,22 44:17

56:4

reading 56:9,15

reads 49:15 55:18

ready 6:3 28:14 31:14

40:18 65:8 71:13

real 71:12

realization 16:2

reapplying 63:13,21

reappointed 65:2

rearranged 4:5 8:10

reason 51:13

reasons 7:5 33:12

reauthorization 63:16

receive 22:1 32:15

received 52:9

receiving 54:10

recognize 22:4,6 28:10

61:16

recognizes 42:2 43:19

recognizing 26:11

recommend 9:22 17:15

32:7 43:12 49:16

50:17 53:15 60:7

recommendation 5:9

7:4 13:7 16:18 17:4,7

17:10,13,20 18:9

19:21 20:4 21:2 22:5

28:14 31:18 41:3,5,11

42:12 44:14 45:14

49:15 50:16 52:18

53:11,15,18 54:10

55:4 59:13 60:16 62:7

recommendations 3:15

4:7,10 5:2,12 6:6 14:1

27:14 28:5,12 38:21

40:19 48:19 50:4

54:13 68:19 70:1

recommended 24:1

72:14

recommending 25:12

61:4

recommends 42:14

45:7

reconvene 38:10 39:13

record 20:2 40:14 73:22

Red 2:4

redact 43:3

reduce 44:10 59:11

redundancies 59:12

reference 9:1 43:3

references 7:7,15

refined 6:1

reflect 27:8

reflected 25:11

reflects 22:21

reform 34:3 52:16

regarding 47:14 55:4

63:15

regards 41:13

Regency 1:11

regulation 15:20 21:21

regulations 12:22

20:13
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

81

regulators 14:21

regulatory 12:20 19:17

Relations 1:17

Remarks 3:18

removing 7:15

replace 9:17

replacement 9:14

reply 29:2

reports 47:6

represent 13:12

represented 17:5

require 8:4

requirement 15:18

requirements 20:16

21:2 25:14,21 26:5

Research 55:2

researchers 23:11

Reserve 60:4

resource 57:22

resources 1:18 10:22

15:6,10 42:8,17 57:12

60:13

responding 17:1

response 27:19 28:1,3

31:3,7,9 45:20 46:2,4

48:6,10,12 54:17,21

62:12,16

responsibility 31:21

resumed 40:14

retail 46:22

review 20:17 21:21 22:9

26:22 27:1,3,4 38:2

59:14

reviewed 27:4

revised 7:14 27:15

revising 20:5

revision 18:19

revisit 25:13,21 26:3,5

26:12,17,20

reworking 8:4

RICHARD 1:20

rid 43:15

ride 68:7,8,9

Ridgeview 1:19

risk 19:11 54:5 55:16

risking 9:16

Riverhead 67:13 68:7

road 66:2,8 67:2

ROBERT 1:14

robust 37:6 60:9

Rogers 2:5,5

Roland 2:3 5:6 6:5,20

11:7 14:17 24:8 28:5

43:13 45:14 52:4

54:14 62:6 63:4

Roland's 20:5 43:11

role 10:8 12:8,9 14:4,20

18:12 20:14

roof 33:21

room 67:12,15

rule 18:22 20:9,16 22:9

24:21

rules 18:15,19 20:19,21

rumors 50:10,11,13

Run 1:15

rural 21:19 22:11 30:3,4

30:10,11,11 57:14

58:4,7,9 59:2,9,17,20

59:22 62:20

rush 68:11

rush-hour 68:9

S

S 43:15 61:21

safety 1:16 4:7,16

27:14 28:6 30:7

sales 2:4 46:21

San 2:1

Saturday 36:20

save 56:12,14

saw 21:17

saying 20:7 23:12 61:7

says 8:8 10:19

scenes 72:11

schedule 4:5

schedules 39:21

school 44:4,9 45:6

schools 42:8,11

science 24:13

scientific 12:20 19:14

scope 17:14

screen 7:2,13

scroll 41:16

seats 4:4

second 27:17 30:21

34:1 38:19 41:11,19

41:22 45:16,17 48:4

53:14 54:4,15 62:10

67:7

secretary 18:17,18

21:18 22:1,13,16,19

24:11 29:15 43:12

47:19 59:14

section 7:22 23:4 24:5

sector 57:4

Security 35:21

seeing 7:18 53:1

seek 11:10,21

seen 32:10 53:7

self-deport 34:7

send 64:4 65:18 73:5

sense 61:9

sentence 8:6 20:7 24:5

56:7

sentences 8:5,9 12:16

30:1

sentiments 71:14

separate 36:11,21

40:20 50:4

separating 24:5

September 39:21 64:1

64:13,16,21 65:10

67:4,7,9

September-October

71:10

served 58:17

service 42:15,16 46:13

47:17 58:5 59:18

60:10,11 71:5 72:2

Service's 42:3 45:1,5

services 59:1,5

serving 7:10 12:19

set 38:14 40:17 57:10

share 31:14 35:9 38:21

40:22 65:15

shared 67:21

sharing 6:6

sheet 13:2

shipping 46:22

short 50:8

shortly 5:3

shut 65:11

shutdown 53:17

shutdowns 52:19 54:5

sign 49:17

significant 59:3

simplest 41:20

simply 70:14

Simultaneous 27:10

43:6 48:21 51:6 63:7

65:4,7

sincerely 71:5

sister 13:13 51:1

sitting 21:18

situated 37:7

situation 10:4 66:14

six 16:3

Skelton 2:14 8:8 25:18

26:2,10,18 72:10

skilled 7:8 34:5,20

skirt 21:14

skyrocketing 32:3

slate 6:17

slightly 23:1

slowly 26:8

SNAP 35:20 36:1,6,15

36:19,21

soften 23:1,5

sole 25:4,7

somebody 11:16

someplace 13:17

Sons 1:17,21

sorry 9:1 28:17 56:5,20

60:17 62:4,5

sort 10:3 22:3 25:3

sound 49:3

sounds 13:15 52:2

64:20 70:12 71:2

source 47:21

South 19:7

Southeast 19:8

Southwest 68:3,5,12

Spanish 15:16 16:5

speak 14:3 72:16

speaker 72:14,18

speakers 4:21 69:18

73:3

speaking 27:10 43:4,6

48:21 51:6,8 63:7

65:4,7

speaks 9:11

Specialties 2:8

specialty 44:12 46:16

46:20 47:16 58:11

60:2 72:1

specific 13:18 14:22

41:9,12 43:3

specifically 16:14

18:11 37:8

specificity 17:12

speed 30:14

spoken 66:3

spot 9:4

staff 10:2 12:18 14:11

16:15 52:21 54:2 60:9

60:11 67:5,22

staff's 10:19

staffer 8:8

staffing 53:12

stakeholders 17:22

18:4,5 57:9

standards 19:1

start 4:4 39:14 41:19

48:22 49:2 64:5 69:19

started 5:8 41:3

Starting 62:4

state 1:21 11:20 16:22

22:12 23:11,17 29:10

32:12 58:15 60:10,12

stated 21:11 25:20 26:3

statement 5:13,18,22

8:7 12:17 13:3 16:9

21:6 23:1,15,16 26:4

28:15 31:17 35:9,11

41:4 46:11 47:9 55:13

55:18 60:15 62:20

statements 5:2 24:12

38:21 40:19 68:19

states 1:1 16:21 17:4,8

22:17

stay 65:9 66:7,16 71:9

stepping 70:11
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

82

steps 4:20 17:16 38:22

39:7

Stewardship 2:3 60:5

stick 40:3

storage 58:10 60:1

strokes 12:13

strong 22:5 62:3

strongly 45:6 50:17

59:14

structurally 43:2

structure 70:15

structuring 70:1

stuff 60:20 72:7

subcommittee 20:3

28:6 73:4

subcommittees 28:14

72:21

subject 19:16

subpart 23:19 26:7

substance 7:16 8:11

substantial 55:22

success 13:16 30:3

44:9 57:11,15

Successful 58:2

suffered 34:19

suggest 26:16,17 51:15

suggested 15:5 19:22

suggesting 72:13

suggestion 7:3 14:13

17:16 24:14 25:16

66:21

suggestions 4:12,12

6:9 14:15 15:9

suggests 19:14

supplier 19:6

support 41:4,6 44:19

47:9 55:20 58:3

supporting 44:13,21

46:11

supportive 59:15

supports 42:4 52:16

supposed 22:18

survivability 57:16

Sutton 2:6 8:12,12 11:7

11:7 13:4,4 14:2,2

15:17,17 28:10

sweet 50:8

swipe 37:16

switch 36:14

swoop 6:20 50:6

systems 65:11

T

table 19:19 57:5 70:15

70:16

tackle 17:11 65:17

takes 72:5

TALBOTT 2:7

Talbott's 2:7

talk 42:20 69:4,4

talked 18:12,13 39:17

65:21 69:22

talking 12:16 14:19

34:20 52:4

tax 59:9

Team 41:14 42:3,6,17

technical 42:5 55:19

56:21 57:8

technology 35:20 36:2

36:13

tell 51:4 69:11

ten 34:16

term 9:19

terms 7:4 22:13 25:12

57:16 63:11 71:6

terrible 68:10

test 57:9

thank 6:22 28:5 31:10

35:7 43:13,15 46:5

54:22 68:1,15,20 70:5

70:8,11 71:15 72:1,3

72:7,9 73:15

thanks 21:4 28:8 70:10

73:11,20

That'd 33:21

thereof 23:2

they'd 35:11

things 8:15 9:18 25:9

34:21 39:19 63:9 69:2

69:13 70:3,4

third 67:6

THOMAS 2:9

thought 49:7

thoughtful 71:16,16

thoughts 15:7 21:14

thread 25:16

threats 52:19

three 27:13 32:22 33:1

34:14 48:15,19 50:4

54:12 68:9

three/ten 34:9 35:2

49:12,16,20

throwing 67:3

Thursday 36:18

tier 17:6

timeliness 32:18

timely 47:10

Tina 48:4 54:12 62:10

tip 33:10 53:2

today 4:14 18:14 20:5

35:9,22 64:3 65:19

today's 31:20

toggle 36:22

told 58:12

Tom 5:14 27:16 46:8

62:8

tool 32:4 33:14 50:9

top 17:6,22 18:1

topics 73:1

total 50:20

totally 23:6 24:8

traditionally 59:3

traffic 68:6,10

training 14:16 15:21

18:8 42:5

trains 58:22

translation 15:6

travel 65:11

tread 12:7

treading 21:9

Treasury 58:22 59:10

tremendous 68:17

trouble 7:18

try 11:2 12:17 25:16

40:1 44:5 50:5 65:9

trying 23:7,8 37:14 52:8

65:17

tweaks 7:6

two 4:12 8:9 12:16

21:18 29:9,22 32:21

33:1 37:1 43:14 64:5

68:18

typically 63:17

U

U 70:20

U.S 32:13 34:6,10,13

46:15 53:4

ugly 50:12

ultimately 24:17

umbrella 22:4

unbelievable 54:1

unbiased 46:21 47:21

uncertain 22:13

uncertainty 19:14

underserved 59:8

understand 11:18

20:22 21:6 24:8,9,20

50:11 52:15 53:21

54:2 55:11

understanding 10:20

71:21

understands 20:10

underway 22:10

undocumented 34:13

United 1:1 64:12

university 23:11

Unprocessed 45:2

up-to-date 60:18

urban 59:8,8

urge 23:14,18

urged 25:5

urging 25:3

USDA 2:13,14 8:8 10:19

12:9,18,19 14:22 15:3

18:11 20:2,8 21:7

24:2,12 30:8 42:1,12

43:18 44:7,15,18,19

45:7 47:5,20 55:18

58:2 59:16 60:9 61:5

61:10 67:21

USDA-FDA 7:3

use 32:3 33:20 40:11

49:10 64:18

user 47:8

uses 46:18

usually 64:15

utilizing 46:22

V

validate 9:13

Valley 1:14

valuable 71:20

value 42:2 55:15 57:2

58:6 59:19 61:10,16

63:13

various 55:21 69:15

VAZQUEZ 2:8 61:3

vegetable 1:3,10 2:6

10:20 30:8 42:1,13

43:18,22 44:18,20

45:3,5 55:5 56:1 57:7

57:10 58:3 59:7 60:14

71:22

vegetables 44:6 46:19

47:15 56:3,22

verification 19:6

version 7:13,14 60:18

versus 67:8

vetting 10:16

Vice 1:14,20 2:7

Vietnamese 15:13

Virginia 1:11,16

visa 52:21

visas 33:9 53:3

vision 7:20

vital 29:17 30:3 50:16

53:6

vitally 47:17

voluntarily 49:17

volunteering 49:10

volunteers 37:6

W

wait 63:14,19

waiting 29:18

waived 49:16

waiver 35:2,4

walk 23:8

wanted 4:5 29:7,12

41:9 52:14 63:2 69:4

71:14
(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

83

wants 22:17 66:20

warmer 67:6

waste 44:10

water 18:9,15,19 19:4

20:9,9 25:14,18,21

26:5

way 9:11 10:1 11:20

22:22 24:16 29:11

49:3 68:5 69:8 70:1

70:14 72:9

website 47:3,7

WEDNESDAY 1:7

week 21:17 64:20 65:10

65:10 67:6,7

weeks 21:18

weigh 20:18

weighed 21:1

welcome 6:16,19 31:12

well-documented

43:20

went 40:14 73:22

whatnot 70:2

wholesale 2:1 46:22

Williams 2:9 5:14,14

27:16,16 46:8,8 62:8

62:8

willingness 44:5

window 21:20

wise 9:10,15

wish 49:1

withdraw 20:8 23:6

25:3,5 26:21

withdrawal 23:14,19

25:5,7,22 26:6,13,17

27:1,5,6

withdrawing 25:4,8

withdrawn 23:10

wonder 9:10 16:21 24:4

wondering 13:11

word 23:22 24:4,15

work 8:15 11:6 28:7,11

40:20 41:21 49:3 55:1

60:11 62:18 64:6

65:16 68:18,21 72:6

worked 72:20

workers 51:16

workforce 53:14

working 3:13,15 4:11

4:19 5:7 7:12 13:14

15:1 22:2 27:8,14

29:1 37:22 42:14 43:4

43:11 45:16 46:9 55:1

works 9:2

World 19:1,12

worth 11:13 67:9

wouldn't 10:7 12:2

Wow 62:17

write 12:7 56:13

writing 13:6

wrong 62:1

X

Y

YANDA 2:10

year 34:13,15 65:6,12

years 32:10 34:14,16

36:8 70:19

yesterday 4:15 6:6,7

14:19 15:4 18:12,21

24:18,20 39:18 41:8

46:10 55:15 58:12

63:10

York 67:14 71:10

Z

0

1

1,000 19:3,9

1:00 38:14

10 1:8

10:30 38:18,19

100 19:3

11:00 40:8

11:30 38:19,20

11:33 40:15

11th 64:16

12:11 73:22

128 19:9

180-day 21:20

19 64:9

1st 32:20 33:1,2

2

2 1:10 17:20

20/15 7:20

20/20 7:19

2017 1:8

21 64:9

25 17:13

25th 64:21

2799 1:11

3

4

4 3:11

4:00 36:18

40 3:16

5

50 42:11

6

66,000 51:3

7

7 3:13

7:00 36:18

73 3:18,20

8

8:30 1:11

8:42 4:2

9

9:28 40:14

9:30 38:16
NEAL R. GROSS

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. 

(202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 

C E R T I F I C A T E

This is to certify that the foregoing transcript 

In the matter of: 

Before: 

Date: 

Place: 

was duly recorded and accurately transcribed under 

my direction; further, that said transcript is a 

true and accurate record of the proceedings. 

 

 ----------------------- Court Reporter 

84

Fruit and Vegetable Industry

Advisory Committee Meeting

USDA

05-10-17

Arlington, VA