1

 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 + + + + +

 FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 + + + + +

 WEDNESDAY,

APRIL 19, 2023

 The meeting came to order at 9:08 a.m. EDT

in Press Room 107-A located at the Whitten 

Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington

DC 20250, Kay Swartz Rentzel, Chair, Presiding. 

COMMITTEE ATTENDEES: 

KAY SWARTZ RENTZEL, Chair

REGINALD MARSHALL, Vice Chair

ANGEL SANTIAGO, Secretary

AMY BAKER, Member-Representative

HAVEN BAKER, Member-Representative

JULIE MASSER BALLAY, Member-Representative

JAMES BENSON, Member-Representative

MICHAEL BRIANO, Member-Representative

CHRISTOPHER CIRULI, Member-Representative

JENIFER DEATLEY, Member-Representative

DAVID EINSTANDIG, Member-Representative

BRUCE FRASIER, Member-Representative

ISABEL FREEMAN, Member-Representative

ANDREW GARCIA, Member-Representative

DONNA GARREN, Member-Representative

MORRIS HODGES, Member-Representative

DARWIN INMAN, Member-Representative

ALYSSA MELENDEZ, Member-Representative

ANTHONY MIRISCIOTTA, Member-Representative

NATHAN PUMPLIN, Member-Representative

SUSAN SUTPHIN, Member-Representative

REBECCA SERRATOS, Member-Representative

DAVID VAN EECKHOUT, Member-Representative

JORGE VAZQUEZ, Member-Representative 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
2 

USDA STAFF: 

BRUCE SUMMERS, AMS Administrator

CHRISTOPHER PURDY, SCP Deputy Administrator

DARRELL HUGHES, Designated Federal Officer

JOHN OKONIEWSKI, SCP Market News Director

KIMBERLY MERCER, SCP Market News Advisor

RYAN WILSON, SCP Inspection Director 

GUEST SPEAKERS: 

BRUCE SUMMERS, USDA AMS Administrator

KRISTA DICKSON, Director, Food Disclosure and

Labeling Division

ELIZABETH LOBER, Assistant to CPP Deputy

Administrator 

KIM MERCER, Assistant to SCP Market News

Director 

BILL RICHMOND, Branch Chief, U.S. Domestic Hemp

Program

JENNY TUCKER, USDA AMS NOP Deputy Administrator 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
3

 CONTENTS 

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

Welcome and Introductions. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

Opening Remarks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 

Organics Overview and Outlook. . . . . . . . . . .65 

Organics Data Initiative Update. . . . . . . . . .95 

Hemp Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 

Purchasing & Grants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 

Bioengineered Food Disclosure. . . . . . . . . . 165 

Oral + Written Comments. . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 

FVIAC Subcommittees (Open Engagement). . . . . . 219 

Adjournment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
4 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

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

 9:08 a.m.

 MR. HUGHES: Hello, everyone. My 

name is Darrell Hughes. I am the designated 

federal officer of the Food and Vegetable 

Advisory Program. I'm sorry, Advisory Committee, 

not program. I'm confirming for the record that 

quorum has been met. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Good morning, 

everyone. Kay Rentzel, I serve as your chair. 

Before we get officially started this morning, I 

want to make sure we take care of a few 

housekeeping things. 

First of all, as many of you have 

found out, there is currently no public Wi-Fi 

available in the room. So if you need Wi-Fi 

because you're going to multitask on our meeting, 

you're going to have to use your hotspot. Please 

try to use your own hotspot and not your 

neighbor's hotspot. Just putting it out there. 

The other thing is restrooms, should 

you need them, are out to the hallway, left, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
5 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

quick right, and they're on the wall out there. 

And should there be an emergency that requires us 

to evacuate the building, you will go left out to 

the main lobby, straight out the front doors and 

across the street. 

I think I've taken care of all of the 

official things that we need to do, but I would 

like to welcome everyone and let you know it is 

my intention as your chair that we all feel 

respected and valued and we provide an atmosphere 

here today and ongoing that'll enable all of us 

to provide valuable insight to USDA, direction 

and work to improve specialty crops as a whole. 

We are here as a voice for our 

specialty crop industry and our producers. So 

with that, I call this meeting of the Fruit and 

Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee to order. 

I believe it is 9:12 on April 19th, 2023. I'm 

going to get started. 

Darrell said you can have five minutes 

to introduce yourself, then we're going to 

introduce you to each of the leadership team 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

here. And I just shared with my colleagues that 

I will not be taking five minutes. We are not 

here to talk about me. We are here to talk about 

the business at hand. 

Let me begin by telling you that, 

first of all, thank you for supporting me as your 

chair. Through my career, I've worked in various 

forms of fruit and vegetable specialty crops. 

Started my career as a little marketing 

representative for the Pennsylvania apple 

industry, and then I moved from there to sales 

and marketing at a company that was a 

grower-owned cooperative, Knouse Foods, who 

markets their brands as Musselman's, Lucky Leaf 

and a few others and does lots of private label. 

And then from there, I felt an urge to 

go back and work more in promotion for the 

industry as a whole. So I returned to the 

association side of the business and began 

working as the National Apple Month program 

director, which was a very rewarding position as 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
7 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

well. I now serve as a consultant to a number of 

organizations. 

They're small, regional and national 

organizations who cannot afford a full-time 

employee or employee staff. So I work with the 

National Peach Council, the U.S. Sweet Potato 

Council, the Southeastern Foods Processors 

Association and also the American Sweet Potato 

Marketing Institute. 

And that last one, the American Sweet 

Potato Marketing Institute focuses exclusively on 

exports of sweet potatoes. 

Throughout my career, one of the 

things that I've always taken advantage of is 

learning the crops that I work with from the 

ground up, whether it be in the orchards, in the 

fields, I think it's important to understand the 

full dynamics that our industry is up against. 

And I can honestly say from my 

perspective, and this is simply my perspective, 

that producer, that grower, is the cog in the 

wheel. They are the ones that drive everything 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
8 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

that we're here to address and talk about. 

They're the ones that provide food for all of us, 

and America, as well as the world. 

So I think we just need to keep that 

in mind. They have a strong desire. I have yet 

to meet a farmer that doesn't say, I am proud to 

put food on your plate, on your tables, and in 

your markets. 

They just love that. And as you and 

I both know, it's a very hard job. They face the 

weather, they face supply lines, they face 

everything, and I have yet to see too many of 

them that don't smile their way through it. So 

my hats off to them. 

With that, I would say we're here, 

we're going to work hard for the next year and a 

half, I guess it is, and we want all of your 

voices to be heard whether you're on a committee 

when we get to committee reports, speak out if 

you're not on that committee and you have issues 

and concerns because sometimes we don't engage 

with everybody we engage in our subcommittee 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
9 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

work. 

With that, I will turn it over to your 

vice chair, Reggie. You're up. 

VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: I'll just put 

this disclaimer out there. I'm the son of a 

pentecostal preacher, so we talk for a long time. 

Unlike my daddy, if I talk too long, 

just pull my coattail. I want to thank you guys 

for being here. One of my passions has always 

been if I'm having a good day, I want everybody 

else to have one as well. I grew up on a farm in 

West Tennessee. 

I come from humble beginnings, truly, 

because when it rained I always tell people we 

couldn't cook because we had to use the pots to 

catch the water for leaks in the roof. So I'm 

grateful for everything that ever comes my way. 

Also, I got my first degree from 

Tennessee State University in animal science and 

then got a degree in nursing. So I just recently 

retired from nursing. Got back into farming 

because I love growing things. And like I said, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
10 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

I want to make sure other people have good days. 

I do a lot of things in the community, too. 

I've done work with housing projects 

in Nashville providing pots of produce for them, 

now I help mentor a group of young men who were 

formerly incarcerated, president of the Tennessee 

Fruit and Vegetable Association. We have group 

in Tennessee, the Growers Association there, I'm 

president of that association as well. 

I developed a farm. I'm trying to be 

an example of how things can be done because I 

don't think anything's impossible. I took a 

piece of urban ground in Nashville and turned it 

into a farm. I did it through lasagna method, 

and some of you may be familiar with that. It's 

where you layer cardboard and wood mulch. 

So I've hauled in almost 500 tons of 

wood mulch and 700 or 800 pickup truck loads of 

cardboard to build this into a viable farm. Now 

I can plant in the soil because it was just on 

rock at that time. 

By doing that and trying to be an 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

example, other people in the community now stop 

and tell me about how they're building the same 

type of garden in their backyards. And through 

those efforts, I'm now developing a 263-acre farm 

outside of Nashville. And hopefully, we're going 

to turn it into a destination spot. 

We're putting in a brewery, commercial 

kitchen, raising sweet potatoes so I can harvest 

-- one of the food banks there now, too. It's 

going to be a regenerative farm. Again, trying 

to be an example of things that I'm passionate 

about and help bring other folks along because, 

again, if I'm enjoying it, I want somebody else 

to enjoy it. 

Just like this, if there's anything I 

can do to help, you got my contact information. 

I'm here for the next few days, so just talk to 

me and see how can work together to make this 

come to fruition. Thank you. This is Angel. 

I'm going to give it over to our secretary. 

Thank you all so much. 

SECRETARY SANTIAGO: Thank you, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
12 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Reggie, and thank you, Kay. Very happy to be 

here. Number one, I'm here to serve you all and 

collaborate hand by hand with Reggie and Kay and 

Darrell as well. So count me in for anything 

that I can serve you. That will be my spirit for 

these year and a half working together. 

My career started doing coffee, so I'm 

like a coffee grower and doing milling of the 

coffee, roasting, everything. I spent about ten 

years doing that. My last ten years, I have been 

working in the fresh produce industry and then 

expanding into other businesses and business 

models as well like logistics and working with 

healthcare companies providing food as medicine 

concept. 

That's one of my passions right now, 

push this food as medicine or improve health 

through nutrition. So that's something that I'm 

really working in a day-to-day here in D.C. as 

well. I serve in the wholesaler council in the 

IFPA with Andrew Marshall as well. I think we're 

having a reception today or tomorrow with them, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

so I'll be more than happy to say hello. 

The other thing that really move us in 

our company is social impact. So everything 

related to social impact, that we will have a 

serious look into it. Puerto Rico is passing 

through a lot of challenges right now, but we are 

in a good position to help, and that's basically 

what we want to do. 

And one of my reasons to be here is to 

collaborate, learn from you and try to implement 

best practices as we work together here. So 

that's me. Thank you, Kay and Reggie. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Thank you very much. 

I know I'm going off script, Darrell. 

Because it's so exciting to see people's faces in 

something other than these little two by two or 

three by three squares, why don't you just --

let's just start on the side. We'll go around, 

introduce yourself, remind everyone who you're 

with. I think it's just good to be able to do 

that again, a refresher course, and it helps me 

as well. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER BENSON: James Benson. I'm 

with Hronis, Incorporated. We are a family-owned 

grower packer shipper in central California. We 

have mainly table grapes, a little bit of citrus 

and some nuts. Been in business since 1945. 

I've been there for 20 years. I'm director of 

national sales. 

I've also served on the California 

Table Grape Commission for the last five years. 

I'm a board member on the California Fresh Fruit 

Association, and I've also been involved with 

IFPA and formerly United. I sit on a 

grower-shipper board. Just happy to be here. I 

want to see what we can do to make the industry 

better. 

MEMBER FREEMAN: My name is Isabel 

Freeman. I work for Coast Citrus Distributors. 

Importer, shipper, distributor of fruits and 

vegetable, mainly tropicals, anything in the 

tropical business. I serve on the avocado board, 

the mango board. And I've been with the company 

for 30 years, maybe 35. The company was formed 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
15 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

in 1947, and we're still going. 

MEMBER INMAN: My name is Darwin 

Inman. I'm with Horizon Nut Company. We're a 

pistachio grower and processor in central 

California. Been involved in several industry 

boards from the almond board in previous times to 

the American Pistachio Growers Association, the 

Peanut And Tree Nut Council, the International 

Nut congress, things like that. It's a pleasure 

to meet with all of you and be a part of this 

committee. 

MEMBER CIRULI: Chris Ciruli out of 

Nogales, Arizona, third-generation family 

business. We do mainly dry veg. We import, we 

grow domestically. I live next to the largest 

congrove in the world. So if you've ever been 

down there, that's where I'm from. I serve on 

the National Mango Board. I've been on the 

executive committee of United Fresh. I've served 

on food service for PMA and a member of the Fresh 

Produce Association out of Nogales, Arizona. 

Happy to be here. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
16 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER MIRISCIOTTA: Good morning, 

everyone. Anthony Mirisciotta coming here from 

Charleston, South Carolina. Grow Food Carolina 

is a non-profit food hub. Prior to me being 

involved in the food hub in Charleston, I have 

been working with food systems all over the 

country from California to New England, Canada as 

well as even Mexico. Really always through the 

lens of farmer support and working to help 

farmers be financially viable and sustainable in 

their operations. So really, really excited to 

be here. Thank you all. 

MEMBER GARCIA: Good morning. My name 

is Andy Garcia or Andrew or Joseph depending on 

the document that I have. I live in Miami, 

Florida. I've been in the produce business for 

over 35 years, 19 years in a family business that 

was the hook that kept me hooked. About 17 years 

working with grower-shippers, asparagus, berries, 

and just recently joined a family business. 

I'm kind of going full circle. It's 

called Square One Farms. We're based in Fort 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
17 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Lauderdale. We do a lot of asparagus. And I'm 

also a mentor for the IFPA where I work with 

students every year at the conventions. It's 

great. It's a nice change. I'm glad to be here, 

and I'm glad to have been selected somehow for 

this committee. 

MEMBER MELENDEZ: Hi, everyone. My 

name is Alyssa Melendez. I am the operations and 

supply chain manager for a single-origin spice 

company. We're a social impact company that 

imports from small farmers and small farmer 

co-ops from over 20 different countries and 100 

different spices. 

Before this, I was working in a fair 

trade and organic food company importing 

avocados. And I've worked in farmers markets, 

worked in our co-ops, local co-ops, and for a 

non-profit working in food access programs. All 

across the board, but is now working in spices. 

MEMBER BAKER: Good morning. My 

name's Amy Baker, and I represent Peterson Farms 

out of Shelby, Michigan. Most people, if you 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
18 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

talk to someone from Michigan, they're going to 

tell you where they live by showing you the hand. 

So, yes. 

So we're right about right here right 

on Lake Michigan. 

I'm the senior director of compliance 

and regulatory, and we're a fruit processor. We 

work with over 500 independent family-owned 

growers, and I'm happy to be here today to 

represent their voice because we want them to 

continue to be successful in their businesses. 

We process not only ready to eat fresh 

apples but frozen IQF apples, cherries, 

blueberries, and we are now in apple sauce, 

purees, bottled juices and organic bottled juices 

as well. Thanks for having me. 

MEMBER FRASIER: I'm Bruce Frasier 

from Carizzo Springs, Texas. It's by Laredo, 

Eagle Pass along the Mexican border. Dixondale 

Farms is 110 years old, fourth generation, 

largest producer of onion transplants in the 

United States. We grow cantaloupes in the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
19 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

summertime. 

We ship about 800 million onion plants 

a year to garden centers, farmers. And we have a 

mail order business where we send directly to 

consumers for them to grow them in the garden. 

Been working with farm labor issues since 1986. 

That was the first year in which I 

went up here to Congress and sort of been 

chairman of the American Farm Bureau's Labor 

Advisory Board. And I'm on the board to the 

National Council of Ag Employers. So farm labor 

is somewhat my passion. 

MEMBER BRIANO: Good morning. My name 

is Mike Briano. I represent Harris Woolf 

California Almonds. I've been in the almond 

industry 12 seasons now. Before that, in fresh 

fruit and stone fruit. 

I'm the vice president of sales and 

marketing, and we have a particular interest in 

sustainability and corporate social 

responsibility. And proud to say, we are the 

first to incentivize growers to participate in 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

sustainable practices for growing California 

almonds. 

MEMBER SUTPHIN: Hi, I'm Susie 

Sutphin. I'm from Truckee, California. I'm the 

founder of the Tahoe Food Hub, a non-profit food 

hub as well, with a goal to increase access to 

local food and support local farms. And proceeds 

from that marketplace benefit our community 

impact programs like so food access, farm to 

school programs, and farmer resiliency fund. 

MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Hi. Julie 

Masser Ballay with Sterman Masser, Incorporated. 

I'm the CFO there and one of the family members 

and owners. We're a third-generation business 

started by my grandfather growing potatoes. 

Also, we are a repacker. 

We do quite a bit of repacking and 

shipping out to local grocery stores, regional 

grocery stores and distribution centers. We also 

are a majority owner in a potato dehi, and fresh 

cut plant as well in central Pennsylvania. 

MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Good morning. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
21 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

David Einstandig, SVP and general counsel for 

Mastronardi Produce. You may recognize us under 

our house brand, which is Sunset, protected ag, 

greenhouse, hothouse, tomatoes, peppers, 

cucumbers, berries as well, and lettuce in a 

protective environment. I've been advising the 

company for 18 years. 

The company's fourth-generation 

family-operated company. We operate in all three 

NAFTA countries. Most of our business is in the 

U.S. serving the country. Happy to be here. I 

also sit on United and Government Relations 

Committee and North American trade working group 

as well. 

MEMBER SERRATOS: Good morning, you 

all. My name is Rebecca Serratos. I am a 

farmers market representative with Prescott 

Farmers Market. It's a 501(c)(3) non-profit. 

Twenty-five years old, just voted number one 

farmers market in Arizona. Coming to you from 

Prescott, which is in Northern Arizona. 

Serve on the NRCS small and urban 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

subcommittee for the state as well as the Arizona 

Food Systems Network. I used to run the federal 

SNAP education program for the county of Yavapai 

for about six years. So coming from nutrition 

education, food access, food and security, and 

local growers and farmers markets. 

MEMBER PUMPLIN: Good morning. I'm 

Nathan Pumplin. I'm representing Norfolk Healthy 

Produce. I have a background in plant biology 

with PhD, and I represent scientists developing 

better crops through scientific understanding in 

biotechnology. 

So we were founded by professors who 

developed a nutritionally fortified tomato that's 

very rich in antioxidants, and it's helping us 

tell a story around where biotechnology can 

really fit into the specialty crop space. Great 

to be here. 

MEMBER DEATLEY: Jennifer DeAtley, 

Austin, Texas. I come from a state-wide 

organization called the Sustainable Foods Center. 

We are also a non-profit working across the food 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
23 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

system to build a local or regional food economy 

through a lens of food justice and equity. 

Because we work across the food 

system, we work with farmers, primarily small and 

mid-sized farmers keeping food local to increase 

the food supply for more ease of access for the 

consumers across the state. I'm our community 

impact officer, whatever that means. I work for 

a non-profit, so I basically do it all. 

Thank you for having me. 

MEMBER GARREN: Good morning. Donna 

Garren. I'm with the American Frozen Food 

Institute executive vice president for science 

and policy, meaning I run the legislate and 

regulatory shop for the organization. 

But I started off my career, even 

though the American frozen food industry 

represents from grower all the way through the 

processor for frozen fruits and vegetables 

primarily, but we also represent the entr‚e 

industry as well. 

But I started off my career in 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
24 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

California for, maybe you couldn't tell by my 

accent, it was Southern California, but I work 

for Boskovich Farms, a grower-packer-shipper in 

California and then went to United Fresh Fruit 

and Vegetables Association. And then the 

National Restaurant Association. Most of my 

career has been in trade association work. 

MEMBER BAKER: Good morning. Haven 

Baker. I grew up on a family farm, specialty 

crop farm in Washington State, and I currently 

live in Boise, Idaho. I've done the technology 

route sort of like Nate. I cofounded Pairwise. 

We're one of the leading CRISPR companies. 

We've just launched our first product, 

which is we remove the pungency and the 

bitterness from mustard greens. So it's selling 

now, and it'll be in retail. We're also working 

on a pitless cherry and blackberries that taste 

good. 

My constituents are in the berry 

industry, the northwest fruit industry and the 

leafy green industry in California. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
25 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: My name is David 

Van Eeckhout. I am with the Good Acre Food Hub, 

which is in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I might be 

the most northern person here. I might beat Amy 

by a little bit. 

I started my career in farming a farm 

in western Wisconsin growing organic vegetables 

for about 20 years. Bruce, the first couple 

years before we had a green house, I got your 

transplants, so thank you for that. Right now at 

the food hubs, we're a non-profit food hub. 

We work with about 120 farmers around 

our area purchasing, moving a lot of product 

through the hunger relief channels, which has 

been a great market opportunity for our growers 

that's come up since COVID, so excited about that 

and excited about being on this committee and 

being able to talk more with you all. 

MEMBER HODGES: Good morning. My name 

is Morris Hodges. I'm the owner of Morris 

Watermelon Farm, LLC, a smaller specialty crop 

farm in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. I've been 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
26 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

farming for five years, watermelon, cantaloupes. 

In the last two years, I added hemp for CBD. I 

guess you'd call me kind of a late bloomer. 

I started my career in the television 

news industry in Chicago and Los Angeles for over 

20 years and returned home in '14 and started 

managing the family farm and decided to stop 

renting and work it myself. So hence, Morris 

Watermelon Farm, LLC. 

I've been following USDA's programs 

for about four years. Registered with 

grants.gov, sam.gov, et cetera. USDA sends 

emails every day, reading about ba da ba da ba. 

My objective is to bring to this committee, USDA, 

in realtime how programs affect small specialty 

crop farmers. 

That's all specialty crop farmers, but 

especially underserved black specialty crop 

farmers because as we know, our challenge is 

different. I'm grateful to be on this committee, 

and it's an honor and a privilege to serve. 

Thank you all for having me. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
27 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER VAZQUEZ: Last but not least, 

Jorge Vazquez with Latin Specialties in Houston, 

Texas. We are a family-owned company. Started 

out in 2000, but we were really born into the 

food industry in Mexico. That's what we've done 

all of our lives. We are mainly distributors, 

but now we do a little bit of everything. 

We have a logistics company with fresh 

cut. We do import a lot of produce. It's a bad 

word sometimes, but it's necessary to feed the 

country. 

Given the size of our company, we 

interact with a lot of smaller farmers both here 

in the United States as well as in other 

countries. 

So we're intimately familiar with some 

of the challenges as far as labor and climate 

change. And one of my passions is to bring 

diversity into the industry by ensuring that some 

of those small farmers grow to be competitive 

with some of the larger outfits out there. Thank 

you. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
28 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Thank you, everyone, 

and welcome again. I apologize, but we're going 

to go quickly right into the AMS Administrator 

Bruce Summers. Bruce is a 30-year veteran of 

USDA. He's been serving fruit and vegetables 

specialty crops for, I believe, the duration of 

his career. I apologize. I know you're up 

against the time clock, so he may not be able to 

take many questions, but the rest of his staff is 

here. Thank you for joining us this morning. 

It's all yours. Sorry to take up your time. 

MR. SUMMERS: Oh, no, you're fine. 

That was probably better than anything I'm going 

to say anyways. It's fun to hear all the 

introductions. You had to throw that 30 years 

in, right, just to make me sound old. Yes, we 

got to talk about that. I'm old enough to 

remember when Chuck Ciruli was coming to these 

kind of meetings, right, Chris? 

MEMBER CIRULI: Chuck is 79 today. 

I'll tell him you said hello. 

MR. SUMMERS: Tell him I said hello, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
29 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

and the first thing I said when I got up here is 

we're both old. No, I said good morning, folks. 

It's great to see you, and I did enjoy listening 

to the introductions. I was standing in the back 

thinking, get up here, I'm going to ask people to 

introduce themselves, I don't have a time, but 

you did, and it's fun to hear, right? 

What a really diverse group we've got. 

All over the country, all sorts of different 

backgrounds and places, expertise and things that 

you all bringing to this conversation over the 

next two years as an advisory committee. So I 

want to start by saying thank you. You all sound 

like you're very busy people. 

Clearly, you got other day jobs beyond 

serving on this committee, and we recognize that. 

And so I always want to start by saying thank you 

for thanking the time to put in for, to be 

nominated, and agreeing to serve. It's really 

important that we hear your feedback and we gain 

the benefit of your wisdom and your experience 

and your knowledge of the challenges and 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
30 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

opportunities in the produce sector. 

That's why this committee exists. It 

has existed for a long time, and it's always been 

a really important body for AMS. To give you 

just a little bit of background since this is 

basically a new group, AMS has four advisory 

committees, of which one is the Fruit and 

Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. 

We have 22 research and promotion 

boards. We have 28 marketing order committees. 

Okay, so about 50 boards and committees that AMS 

has and receives information from. Probably over 

1,000 people. And you're going, what in the 

world, right? But those boards and committees 

have very specific roles and responsibility. 

You're going to hear from Jenny 

Tucker, Dr. Tucker, behind the pillar, runs the 

National Organic Program. She has a very robust 

advisory committee, the National Organic 

Standards Board. Sometimes, they have poetry, 

sometimes people play guitar. Sometimes they 

have protests and dump dirt in front of the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
31 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

hotel. 

This won't be like that for the Fruit 

and Vegetable Advisory Committee, but my point in 

bringing this up is AMS for the most part is a 

user fee funded voluntary service agency. The 

only way we can stay relevant and important and 

provide you the programs you need, and they're 

going to be effective, is by listening to you 

all. 

And you all are representing a big, 

big population across the country of what we call 

the fruit and vegetable industry or the specialty 

crop sector, right, which makes it sound 

singular, but we know when you talk about the 

fruit and vegetable industry or the specialty 

crop sector, you're talking about 300 or 400 

different industries. 

Because mangoes are pretty different 

than tomatoes, that are pretty different from 

lettuce, so it is a really big group that you all 

represent. And we really benefit from input from 

all of these advisory committees, all of these 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
32 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

boards and committees to help us run AMS. 

So you're going to hear in the next 

couple days from our folks who are going to tell 

you about what we're doing and how we do it. 

What we want to hear from you is what should we 

be doing and how should we be doing it to make 

sure these programs remain viable and effective 

and efficient and provide the service you need. 

These are your programs. Everything 

you're going to hear about. We talk about market 

news, we talk about grading. These are your 

programs, and we do these just to help you all. 

And if we need to be doing things differently, 

better, faster, whatever, we need to hear that 

from you all. And I hope over the next two years 

we get a lot of that type of feedback. 

You don't have to be nice, maybe 

polite, but honest. Tell us what we need to be 

doing, whether it's a new thing, stop doing this, 

more of that. That's what we're here for. Maybe 

just a little bit of background about the 

Agricultural Marketing Service. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
33 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

I'm the administrator. I'm a career 

employee, as mentioned. One of the first career 

administrator at AMS. Generally, that's been a 

political appointee. The last administration was 

Secretary Vilsack made me acting. 

At the end of the Obama 

Administration, I acted as the administrator, 

which is that sounds like it means you're 

pretending, right. I pretended to be the 

administrator for a year and a half, and 

Secretary Perdue said, hey, if we convert this to 

a career job, would you be willing to stay? 

So about half the administrators in 

USDA now are career folks, the other half are 

still political appointees. Just a trivia in 

case you're playing USDA trivia at the bar 

tonight. We run ten programs at AMS. You know 

all about the specialty crop program area. We 

have ten programs that provide a range of 

services. Let me deal with the services more 

than the organizational structure. 

So think about grading. Anything that 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
34 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

carries a USDA grade is done by an AMS employee. 

Whether it's grain or cotton, fruits and 

vegetables, eggs, butter, cheese, Grade A eggs, 

butter, cheese, that's AMS. Prime beef, that's 

AMS. U.S. #1 potatoes is AMS. Every bale of 

cotton grown in the United States is graded by 

AMS before it's sold. So grading is AMS. USDA 

market news, 600, John, 700 reports a day, all 

AMS employees. 

National Organic Program. It's kind 

of the one thing that's really seen at the 

consumer level for AMS. A lot of things are not 

consumer-oriented, but the National Organic 

Program, that USDA organic seal, all AMS. We do 

a lot of grant programs, and there's a number of 

people here. We talk about some of the food hub 

representatives, right. 

A lot of grants recently. A lot of 

support out of some of the new funding that's 

coming to support those local initiatives. 

You'll hear a lot about that. And then we buy a 

lot of food. We buy a lot of food. We buy 20 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
35 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

percent of the food that goes into the National 

School Lunch Program. 

I like to say we buy the 20 percent 

that people don't complain about. The other 80 

percent by the -- my wife's a schoolteacher and 

she comes home she tells me if lunch was good or 

bad. And I say, well, clearly it was bought by 

the state. We only buy the good stuff. But we 

buy 20 percent of the school lunch. 

We buy food for food banks through the 

emergency food assistance program. We buy, right 

now, about $5 or $6 billion worth of food a year. 

So millions and millions of tons of food that AMS 

purchases for various food and feeding nutrition 

programs, federal feeding nutrition programs 

around the country. 

All of those are really relevant to 

you all because we buy a lot of produce, and that 

percentage of produce is the total amount of food 

we're buying. It's increasing every year. 

Everybody wants to get that healthy, fresh 

produce on the plate whether it's in school 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
36 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

lunches or whether it's at the food banks. 

Produce is becoming a bigger and 

bigger part of USDA foods. And so I think you'll 

hear from our commodity procurement team at some 

point, and I think that's an important area we'd 

like to hear you all weigh in on. 

Some of the things I would like to 

hear from you all. One of my goals when I became 

the administrator was to work on modernizing our 

grading services. And remember, we grade a ton 

of different products. We've come a long way on 

the cotton program. Cotton program is completely 

automated. 

There's almost no hands that touch 

cotton now when it comes into to be graded. Once 

that sample is pulled at the cotton gin, it takes 

us 26 seconds to class that sample. 

In the livestock sector, we're using 

cameras that take pictures of the rib eye and 

help us with the grading, and we're trying to 

roll that out to really, really small plants 

around the country. We're piloting that right 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
37 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

now. 

I would like to talk to you all about 

on the fruit and vegetable side of grading, how 

we can make steps to modernize that. Infinitely 

more complicated than cotton. Cotton is one 

crop. It's very easy to take that one sample. 

They're all uniform, they weigh the same amount. 

We run them through machine. 

It's going to be that easy for fruits 

and vegetables, or we'd be there by now. But 

we'd like to hear from you all on the grading. 

We think it's time to start looking at options 

for modernizing that process and trying to find 

the relevant technology. There's a lot of 

technology in the packing plants, right. 

How can we take some of that 

technology and start to use it in our grading 

program so we make it more efficient, make it 

faster, hopefully less expensive as the 

technology gets less and less expensive. So an 

area I'd love to hear from you on. 

The other is market news. Market news 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
38 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

data was really, really important during the 

pandemic. Markets were volatile. Ups and downs 

and shortages and what was going on with 

transportation, right. We also needed data to 

help establish policy for new programs. 

There were a number of programs that 

were trying to help businesses survive the 

pandemic in terms of basically getting money out 

to the industry. There was a dearth of data in 

the specialty crop sector. It was a real 

problem. It was easy to do programs for corn and 

soybeans and other products. 

NASS collects a lot of data, National 

Ag Statistics Service, but it's looking back. It 

tends to be kind of old data. It's not really 

relevant to what's going on today. Market news 

data is what happened this morning, great report 

this afternoon. Fruit and vegetable side of 

market news is all voluntary, and I think 

probably we need more voluntary participation to 

make that data set more robust. 

So I think that's a message that we 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
39 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

need to get out, and it's a message certainly I'm 

carrying as I meet with industry groups. Because 

I think the fruit and vegetable market news data 

could be better, and I think there's probably 

different ways we can start to display that data 

that might be more helpful. 

So we'd love to hear from this group 

on how we can make USDA fruit and vegetable 

market news better. I know the team has already 

been working with you all on some issues. I 

think they call them charges that they were going 

-- I hope I'm reinforcing some of that. 

I've got a few more minutes, and I'd 

be remised if I didn't bring up that this is kind 

of a new era for us in the AMS specialty crop 

program area. We have almost entirely new -- I'm 

saying new in terms of being a 38-year career 

employee. 

In the last year or two in specialty 

crops, really we got a brand new leadership team, 

and you're going to meet them today. Chris 

Purdy, there he is standing back here. Chris 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
40 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

just came on board as our deputy administrator. 

I knew Chris on the day he started in AMS. 

I used to work in the specialty crop 

program area. That's where I started. I was 

there when Chris came on board. I moved on, 

Chris moved up. Chris moved over into our 

commodity procurement area, and Chris is a big 

part of the changes that happen in commodity 

procurement that have really, really changed the 

way we buy fruits and vegetables in that program 

area. 

Chris was there when we did the food 

box program. Did you all hear about the food box 

program when the pandemic first started? 176 

million boxes of food, most of them stacked was 

fresh produce delivered to 89 percent of the 

counties in the United States. A $6 billion 

program that Chris and his team stood up in three 

weeks. 

I'll tell you a story about that. 

Secretary Perdue was in a hurry. The pandemic 

was a mess. Remember March of 2020, restaurants 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
41 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

were shutting down and all the food service. You 

guys know what was happening with the food 

service side, right. 

Customers just evaporated. And we had 

two supply chains, food service, we had retail. 

They were parallel; they were not intersected. 

Secretary Perdue was in a hurry. He said, we 

need to something. 

Grocery stores need the food, 

restaurants are shutting down, people in Florida 

in that time of year were plowing. They couldn't 

harvest their strawberries, watermelons, squash, 

things like that. What can you all do?

 Chris and his team made a suggestion, 

a modest suggestion. What was it, $100 million? 

Hundred million to buy some fruits and 

vegetables and deliver it to food banks. He 

said, that's good, let's do another $100 million 

with dairy, too. Yes, we think we can do that. 

A few days later, how about $100 

million for some meat products? Okay, maybe we 

can do that. I want this out by May. This was 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
42 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

beginning of April. We did it. And it turned 

into a billion dollars in the first three months 

instead of the $300 million. 

And at one point in about June, he 

came to me and said, he said, Bruce, I want to 

get this started kind of fast, and I really want 

it to start the first of May, and you all started 

May 15th. So I talked to the department 

contracting people and I asked them how long it 

would have taken to stand up this program. 

Okay, he's just waiting for it. They 

said it would have taken them somewhere between a 

year and a half to three years, so I think you 

guys did okay. 

But that's what Chris was working on 

when he took his hiatus from the specialty crop 

program. He brings some real executive 

leadership and experience back to specialty 

crops. With Heather and Ken, two associate 

deputy administrators with a ton of experience in 

specialty crops and other places, I think it's a 

great leadership team. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
43 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

And of course John, new to the role. 

And, John Okoniewski, you're going to hear from, 

new to the role in market news. Michelle Sharo 

in our MDD marketing. Come on, Heather, help me 

with the new name. Marketing Development 

Division. Some day, I will get that right. And 

then of course, Ryan Wilson in the specialty crop 

inspection. 

So that's really a brand new 

leadership team that you guys are going to be 

working with. I think it's a great time to have 

a new advisory committee. This team is now 

brought together after a couple years, so I think 

there's just a ton of potential here. 

I've got to go run and talk to the 

Cattlemen's Beef Board here in a couple minutes, 

so I have to revamp my speech when I realized I 

had 20 minutes, but I do have time. Does anybody 

have any questions or anything that you want to 

make sure I'm aware of before I cut out the door? 

Again, I really want to say thank you. 

I hope you know how important this role is. It's 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
44 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

really, really important for us. We really 

appreciate you volunteering your time, stepping 

away from your businesses, traveling to 

Washington, D.C. 

You're going to do that a couple more 

times here over the two years, but thank you, 

thank you, thank you for being willing to do it. 

It's a big deal. I don't want to run off too 

fast. Anything that you guys would like me to 

know? 

Yes, sir? 

MEMBER VAZQUEZ: So on the market 

news, the emphasis is on price data collection, 

right? Is there any emphasis on also finding out 

what the costing of some of this produce are, 

like comparing the breaking point or the costing 

of the product in terms of what the market price? 

MR. SUMMERS: So we do price and 

volume data, primarily. Cost of production and 

things like that are often calculated more in the 

NASS surveys, I think, and some of what the 

Office of Chief Economist does. But if you have 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
45 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

some ideas, I don't want to say no, let's 

brainstorm. 

Let's talk about it. What would 

helpful and who would it be helpful to and see if 

we're able to do that. There's never no. Let's 

flesh that out and talk about it. Absolutely. 

Thank you. The wheels are turning, thank you. 

Get that conversation started. 

Yes, sir? 

MEMBER FRASIER: Are we considering 

any changes to the ag labor survey as far as 

collection of data on them to get a more actual 

figure as far as what we're paying employees on 

ag labor costs? 

MR. SUMMERS: Not that I'm aware of 

right now. But again, ag labor, when I travel 

the countryside and when people come in to visit 

me from all over agriculture, not just fruits and 

vegetables. Number one issue I hear about, 

first, is labor. 

The reason we're having trouble buying 

food, and we are having trouble buying enough 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

food to fill all the orders we have from food 

banks and other places, because a lot of 

packing-processing facilities and things like 

that can't get the labor to run their plants at 

capacity. 

So ag labor, rising input costs are 

second, right, but really I think the limiting 

factor I hear about every place I go, every 

industry in agriculture want to talk about is ag 

labor. So if you've got some ideas on ag labor, 

we should be talking about those. 

I don't know if you all have that same 

perspective, but when I talk to folks ag labor 

is, like, that's it. I had a couple dairy 

farmers from Maine in my office a couple weeks 

ago and they were talking about the challenge. 

And they're fairly small dairies in Maine. 

And he said, really, the future of 

dairy in Maine, if there's going to be one, is 

going to be one farmer, 150 cows and two robots. 

He doesn't see any way five years from now he'll 

have people that will come out and do that 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
47 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

relentless job of milking cows twice a day, but 

robots will. 

Yes, sir? 

MEMBER HODGES: Thank you. I concur 

with that. Specialty crop farming, down in the 

Mississippi Delta. You got to pay these people. 

They can go to fast food places and make $10 an 

hour in air conditioning. Can't give them $10 an 

hour for 98 degrees. So I concur with the labor 

issue. And to piggyback off of your conversation 

earlier about programs during the pandemic. 

Yes, there were great programs that 

came out fantastic, except how it related to 

specialty crop farmers. I was on the webinar 

with Congressman and Mr. Chairman Benny Thompson 

and Dr. Moman about three years ago, and they 

were discussing the ag programs rights programs. 

X amount of hundreds of millions of 

dollars, et cetera, et cetera. So my comment was 

that, of course, yes, they were great programs, 

but they didn't match the smaller specialty crop 

farmers' needs. They were kind of, what's going 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
48 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

on here. 

So I said, you take this program for 

example, it pays the agriculture producer $20 an 

acre, period. Thousand acres, do the math. With 

the specialty crop farmer, it was based on your 

gross income, which, say, let's think small, 

$5,000, so you get $500. 

You're talking seed, is pretty much 

what you can buy with that. So to their credit, 

the Congressman said, Mr. Hodges -- my 

congressman, of course, not of course but it 

happen to be, said, do you know, ever heard the 

term make do. 

Of course, that's what we've been 

doing. But me and my other career, but the 30, 

40, 50-year-old farmers, yes, they're making do. 

That's what's been happening all these years. 

I said yes sir, hold on, we'll work on 

something. Choosing his word and got going about 

nine months later, they came out with the PRS 

program, Pandemic Response Safety Program for 

small specialty crop farmers. Excellent program. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

49 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. SUMMERS: That was an AMS program

 (Simultaneous speaking.) 

MEMBER HODGES: Yes, excellent 

program. It was great. That is what we are 

hoping can be implemented on a permanent basis. 

Just that could be a model. Because prior to 

that, the program that, for us, the participation 

was extremely low and USDA was trying to figure 

out why. Why won't they apply, why won't they 

apply? 

And my network and across America, 

I've been on several webinars talking about these 

pandemic programs. And it's concurred across 

America the specialty crop farmers regardless of 

location, gender, ethnicity, it doesn't matter, 

all had the same opinion that it wasn't worth 

their time. 

Thank you all for coming with the PRS 

program and hope for that program can be modeled 

for that permanently. Thank you. 

MR. SUMMERS: Thank you for those 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
50 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

comments. You're right. Some of the pandemic 

response programs that USDA put together, and 

this is where I think we get back to the need to 

make sure we have data so we can be at the table 

fighting for specialty crop producers. Certain 

payments per acre worked really well whether 

you're growing corn or soybeans. 

When you're growing strawberries, 

what's the cost per acre to put in strawberries? 

It's $70,000 that they got in California, right? 

So when they talked about a few hundred dollars 

per acre, the guys farming 2,500 acres of corn, 

that's a whole lot different picture than 

somebody that's trying to grow 30 acre of 

strawberries in California. 

So, yes, we have some education to do 

within the Department. But I think data is where 

we're going to get out of that, and I think 

that's one of the points I'm bringing up. We 

really need to be able to come to the table with 

solid data. Thank you. 

MEMBER HODGES: Thank you, sir. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
51 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. SUMMERS: Appreciate that. 

Yes, sir? One more, and then I'll --

MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Nice to see you 

again. Just to follow up, Bruce's comments and 

your comments on ag labor. Working from my 

experience last year with this subcommittee, 

quite often we would hear in our breakout 

sessions in our subcommittee meetings that, well, 

that's not really USDA, that's Commerce. 

That's not really USDA, that's 

Department of Labor. That's not really USDA, 

it's whatever it may be other than it's not USDA. 

We understand that. 

So my comment is, especially in light 

of your comment that the number one thing you 

hear is ag labor, is to have some mechanism of 

coordination among all of these different 

departments, let alone a thousand people in just 

your world, but how can we cock together so we 

get the right people at the right table so we 

don't have to hear, well, that's not USDA, that's 

this department. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
52 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

I know, Bruce, that's probably what 

you've been dealing with for decades. That's my 

only comment and takeaway when you ask what can 

we do to address labor, I think we need to have a 

coordinated ability, whether it's some type of 

coordinated cross functional committee or 

department that exists so we can get everybody at 

the table to get at least try to get some 

progress on the issue. 

MR. SUMMERS: That may be an early 

recommendation that this advisory committee might 

want to make to the secretary. The secretary 

talks to all those different cabinet officials 

quite often, actually. So that might be an early 

recommendation with some specifics, right. Early 

on, not at the end of this committee, but that 

may be something. 

Go ahead, yes. 

MEMBER BAKER: Real quick. So on a 

global basis, we've had a food security issue now 

twice in fifteen years. We tend to think about 

that in terms of grains and food security, but 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
53 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the policy implications of food security, does 

that affect fruit and veg from your perspective 

in the USDA?

 MR. SUMMERS: Absolutely. I think 

we're seeing it right in our commodity 

procurement program where we can't buy canned 

beans or corn or peas, which have always been a 

staple because they're shelf-stable and healthy. 

But I'd say canned corn and canned 

beans and canned peas are as much a staple as 

just the row crops, right, especially now, maybe 

even more so as everyone's really realizing what 

the dietary guidelines should be on consumption 

of fruits and vegetables. So absolutely. 

Absolutely. 

VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: Bruce, thanks 

again for being here. With regards to some of 

the LFPA money that's put in place for minority 

and socially disadvantaged farmers to put in 

infrastructure on their farms, how can we, as 

opposed to allowing states to make the decisions, 

where that money goes? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
54 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

How can we make direct payments to 

small minority socially disadvantaged farmers? 

Because those funds don't necessarily make it to 

infrastructure all the time. So when states are 

making those decisions, those farmers are left 

out. 

MR. SUMMERS: So there are some other 

grant programs coming, and I think, Darrell, you 

got somebody from the grant program coming? 

MR. HUGHES: We'll have Elizabeth a 

little later, and then we'll have --

MR. SUMMERS: So Elizabeth's on 

commodity procurement, but somebody from T&M?

 MR. HUGHES: LFPA is due to come. 

MR. SUMMERS: Right, but beyond LFPA, 

which is cooperative agreements with states so 

they are making the decisions, but there are new 

grant programs coming for specialty crop 

producers. We can get you the details on that. 

If they're not on this calendar, we can add them 

to the schedule and bring them in. So you're on 

time. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
55 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

A lot of early work was on small meat 

processing facilities. That was an emphasis of 

the secretary. We didn't forget about specialty 

crops. That's coming, including the regional 

food business centers that you're going to hear a 

lot about in the next three weeks. 

There's going to be a regional food 

business center cover every part of the country. 

That announcement is coming from the secretary in 

a couple weeks. And those business centers will 

also have that in their sphere of influence. So 

there's more coming for specialty crops. 

Yes? 

MR. HUGHES: If there are any other 

questions --

(Simultaneous speaking.) 

MR. SUMMERS: I'm sorry, I appreciate 

the questions. If you take anything away from 

the conversation, it's thank you. Thank you at 

the very beginning for being here. Invite me 

back. I'd love to come back and spend more time. 

Darrell, let me know what works. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
56 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: Okay. 

MR. SUMMERS: You guys have a great 

couple days. You've got an action packed agenda. 

Take care. We'll see you. 

ALL: Thank you. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Thank you so much, 

Bruce. We appreciate your comments this 

morning. I just shared with him I've seen this 

AMS team from early on in my career, so I guess 

I'm right up there in his vintage of age of 

service. Don't count me old, but we're just 

well-seasoned. And I concur with the team that 

is in place. 

I can definitely tell you that this is 

an outstanding team. From my personal 

perspective, I've had the opportunity to work 

with all of them, and they are in fact wonderful 

service providers for fruits and vegetables. So 

with that, let me also now introduce -- I don't 

know, do you want the formal introduction here 

for our newest deputy administrator, Chris Purdy. 

I, again, have known Chris for many 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
57 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

years. He's a familiar face not only to me, but 

to many of you here in the room. And as you 

heard Bruce state earlier, he's certainly 

well-versed in our industry. 

And there's a lot of formal things 

that I could read about, but they've been 

addressed, and I would definitely say from my 

perspective and the fruit and vegetable products 

that I work with, the way the team turned around 

the Food Box program during the pandemic speaks 

volumes for the abilities of the leadership under 

Chris as well as the rest of the team. 

So with that, I'll let you come make 

some comments. And I don't know if he's got a 

schedule, but I'll respect that as well. 

MR. PURDY: My schedule is a lot more 

flexible than Bruce's. 

I appreciate being here. I appreciate 

meeting you all. Wanted to make a shoutout to 

the senior leadership, Ken Peterson and Heather 

Pichelman. Bruce had mentioned them before, but 

they have really been running the program for the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
58 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

past three or four years. 

We've gone through quite a leadership 

transition within the specialty crop program that 

kept the wheels on the bus. I don't have a whole 

lot to mention, but I just wanted to talk about 

the Food Box for a minute and trade mitigation. 

Bruce asked me to come over when the 

trade hubbub was going on, farmers were losing a 

lot of markets in China, and they asked us to put 

the other program to help farmers mitigate some 

of the losses that they had received during the 

trade wars with China. 

I came over, and they gave us a 

challenge of buying $1.2 billion worth of food, 

putting the program together again within a very 

short timeframe. The team pulled together, 

commodity procurement team, specialty crops 

program who does the inspections and food safety 

audits put special programs together to help 

quickly get new vendors on board. 

Quickly after the trade mitigation 

program, COVID came along and upended everything. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
59 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

We had a lot of farmers, distributors, 

wholesalers losing market shares overnight. 

There was images of sudden miles-long lines to 

get into food banks. 

Very searing images. Images of food 

being dumped, milk being dumped, crops being left 

in the field. The Secretary challenged us again. 

He said, we know you can do it. Put together a 

program very, very quickly.

 So we pulled all the AMS staff 

together. We had livestock and poultry program 

as well as the dairy program and certainly 

specialty crops to design a purchase effort never 

been done before at the Department of 

Agriculture. We called on the specialty crops 

industry, and naturally they stood up and said, 

absolutely, we can help.

 Put together a new contracting method, 

put together a new vendor onboarding process, and 

started making purchases of food boxes about a 

month later. Really unbelievable effort on 

behalf of the industry as well as AMS and other 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
60 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

groups within the food industry. Very exciting 

effort. 

It was in the middle of a national 

tragedy, but we showed that could put together a 

government and company and private industry 

partnership. We can do some amazing things. 

Extended, as Bruce said, to 175 million boxes of 

food going nationwide, even up to Alaska and 

Puerto Rico. The industry just came through 

incredibly as well as their staff. 

That's it. We'll be seeing you over 

the next couple of days. I appreciate meeting 

everybody. And good luck. And thank you, as 

Bruce said, for investing your time and resources 

to be here. Thank you. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Do you have a couple 

of minutes to take any questions? 

MR. PURDY: Oh, great. Thank you. 

MEMBER HODGES: I'll ask you a 

question. I appreciate, thank you, Chair. The 

programs were fantastic. There's a lot of great 

programs in USDA. Those food box programs, my 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
61 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

city, my community, network got them, but they 

came in 18 wheelers from different states. 

Our local producers didn't sell one 

apple, watermelon, cantaloupe, whatever they 

said, but I understand that you all are working 

on it, and I've seen programs as such. But I 

wanted to verbally say that, so when you all 

start putting those programs together consider 

the local producers serving that area and not out 

of that area because that's heartbreaking just 

seeing a truck come with fresh fruits and 

vegetables, and none of the producers in the 

community can sell them. Thank you. 

MR. PURDY: Thanks for the comment. 

Out of the Food Box Program came out the Local 

Food Agreement Program. Elizabeth Lober will be 

here a little bit later on today, but that was 

very specifically designed based on what we heard 

about the Food Box Program and its pros and cons. 

Cons certainly being able to get small growers on 

board registered to do business with us and then 

to bid. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
62 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So the pros and cons of putting it in 

the states, but that was really one of the very 

strong messages we heard is let's take it away 

from the national level. Let's put it at the 

local level as much as we can within the states. 

Our hope with the LFPA is that we start with more 

small growers so that we can get some more local 

business going. 

MEMBER HODGES: Yes, I was just on, 

maybe six weeks ago, on a webinar with the 

Department of Agriculture and Commerce who I'm 

also a member of with their product safety 

division, et cetera, and they have been funded 

through a program, I can't think of it offhand, 

but I've got all that stuff in my phone and et 

cetera where states now have been given X amount 

of hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase 

from local producers, so that's different from --

changes are happening, so that's my point. 

MR. PURDY: Yes. 

MEMBER HODGES: And we're grateful for 

that. And we want to make certain that whomever 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
63 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

gets the funding -- there's a lot of USDA 

programs that say we support underserved 

producers, et cetera, et cetera, and they give 

out these hundreds of thousands or hundreds of 

millions of dollars to non-profit community based 

organizations, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. 

We never get assistance. It doesn't 

trickle down to us. It's a lot of funding, 

hundreds of -- you know, so thank you and that 

one, I am hopeful that will work. The state has 

taken over that particular grant program to 

purchase from local farmers, local producers, 

thanks a lot. 

MR. PURDY: Yes. 

MEMBER HODGES: We just need to 

broaden the policy of USDA grant programs when 

you say for a specialty crop farmers, underserved 

local producers, et cetera, et cetera, that and 

marketing news, let's find out where they are 

sending -- who are they supporting. 

Because in conclusion, I've applied 

for multiple grants over the last three years as 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
64 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

a producer and I'm asked, what you going to do 

with the money, what are you purchasing, down to 

the dollar. I have to report that's what I'm 

going to do with this funding if awarded. 

And I've noticed that for these 

organizations that are receiving X amounts of 

hundreds of thousands of dollars to support 

underserved and specialty crop farmers, there's 

no accountability, there's no list. 

I would think you would have to give 

me the organizations that you are going to 

support before I give you that money. That's 

what you say to me before you give me the grant 

money. I say it for specialty crop producer, so 

that's --

(Simultaneous speaking.) 

MR. PURDY: Sure. Appreciate it. 

MEMBER HODGES: Thank you. 

MR. HUGHES: I'm going to interject 

because we need to get back on schedule. Kay was 

going to jump to it. If there are any more 

questions for Chris, you can fill through me or 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
65 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Kay, and we'll get them answered. 

MR. PURDY: Thank you. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Again, a great team 

here at USDA. I know they welcome our input. 

Okay, we are going to try to -- Darrell gave me a 

schedule, and I have absolutely blown up the 

schedule, so we're going to try to keep it moving 

here. 

We are now going to move to our 

presentations. The first part of the agenda will 

be the presentation from the National Organics 

Program. Please welcome the deputy 

administrator, Jenny Tucker, and I'll let her 

take it from here. 

MS. TUCKER: Good morning, everybody. 

First, I want to open by thanking you as Bruce 

did. He mentioned our federal advisory board, 

the National Organics Standards Board, and they 

certainly put in a lot of volunteer time to serve 

their community, and I know you do the same. So 

thank you very, very much for being here. 

Just a quick show of hands, how many 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
66 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

of you consider yourself active in the organic 

markets? 

Okay, a good number of you. What I'd 

like to do is give a bit of an overview of kind 

of who we are, what we do, and some of our key 

priorities at the time. 

And I would like to say that it's not 

a real advisory meeting until somebody reads some 

poetry, so folks need to get on that. Pretty 

common in the organic space to have people give 

their public comments in the form of poetry. 

Organic is a culture as much as it is a method of 

production here. 

Next slide, please. 

For folks who are not necessarily 

active in this or are dealing with a day-to-day 

reality of organic but sometimes it's a good 

reminder of, wait, what does this actually and 

why are we doing it. USDA does oversee the 

organic seal. 

It is a federally protected mark, and 

in fact we recently got it trademarked, which 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
67 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

increases our ability to oversee the organic 

market. It does emphasize use of natural 

processes and ingredients. No genetic 

engineering is allowed. 

Support soil, water quality. 

Emphasizes natural production methods with a 

limited number of approved pesticides which go 

through our advisory board. We can't add 

synthetics as allowed in organic unless the 

advisory board actually recommends it. So unique 

authority with that board. 

There are annual inspections with 

organic, a rigorous certification process. Farms 

can get certified in crops, livestock, processed 

products and wild crops. And certainly, fruit 

and vegetable production is a popular area in 

organic. 

Next. 

Organic is unique in that it does 

operate as a public-private partnership. So an 

awful lot of organic certification is not done by 

the government. It's done by third party 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
68 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

organizations. So these are large multinational 

companies. They're state departments of 

agriculture. 

They're small non-profits who are 

approved by USDA to go out and certify organic 

farms and businesses. So actually at the 

national level, we are overseeing $63 billion in 

sales; that was in 2021. I think it's going to 

go up slightly for 2022. 

So $63 billion in sales, and yet at 

the program level here, National Organic Program, 

we have a $22 million budget. So most of the 

activity is happening in the private sector. 

Right now, there are about slightly more than 

27,000 certified farms in the United States and 

45-plus some worldwide. 

So companies around the world can get 

certified to the USDA organic standards, which is 

another kind of unique feature here is that half 

of our certifiers, the ones certifying the farms' 

businesses, are actually operating in other 

countries, many of whom those businesses then 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
69 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

ship to the United States. 

So we do have an advisory board that 

gives us feedback, but it is a whole network of 

activity. We also have organic trade partners, 

other governments that also have organic 

programs, and we've determined that they're 

equivalent, not necessarily identical but 

equivalent, which allows businesses to sell into 

each others' markets with only one certification.

 Next. 

Quick look at what we do at the 

program. Again, we've got about 84 people right 

now. And our four key areas are growing and 

developing the organic sector. The Secretary 

recently announced Organic Transition Initiative; 

I'll talk about that in a moment. And so we've 

stood up a small team to oversee that. 

We develop and implement the 

standards. We protect organic integrity through 

strong control systems, and so that's the system 

at the certifier level, at the operation level, 

technology level, but really it is a process 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

standard. That means you have to have strong 

organic control systems to oversee that market. 

There is a testing component, but 

often what we're regulating is process. That 

requires strong systems to oversee processes, but 

then we also do enforcement to get the bad actors 

out of the game and to show the good actors that 

we are protecting them.

 Next. 

A little bit about this Organic 

Transition Initiative. This was announced by the 

Secretary in August of 2022. We within the 

National Organic Program are running a program 

called Transition to Organic Partnership. This 

focuses on farmer-to-farmer mentoring, which is a 

key way that many organic farmers get into the 

market is they find somebody in their local area 

who can really show them the ropes of how to do 

organic in very site-specific environments. 

Technical assistance to help people 

really understand how the organic standards can 

work with a given environment. Community 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

development, again, organic is as much a culture 

as it is a production method. So building local 

community networks to bring more organic farmers 

in is part of the goal. 

Workforce development and data and 

reporting. So that's a program we have stood up 

within NOP just in the last few months. We have 

six regions. I'll show you a map in a second. 

There's also support for conservation, and this 

is a direct payment program for farmers who 

commit to and apply for conservation assistance 

through NRCS, so National Conservation Service. 

They just announced that last week. 

They'll be standing up an application process for 

that. There's also crop insurance assistance for 

transitional organic program growers; that's a 

first. 

And then pinpointed organic market 

development. It's been mentioned that additional 

grant opportunities will be coming up. This is 

one of them. 

The goal is to support innovation by 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
72 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

building organic supply chains in targeted 

markets. There's the missing middle. You have 

folks who are selecting to grow organically. You 

have consumers who are willing to buy, but 

connecting those buyers and sellers in the 

organic market through infrastructure 

development. 

So for example, an organic grower has 

some place to go that is certified to then handle 

those products and maintain organic integrity 

through the market. So there will be a request 

for applications this spring announced in a 

matter of weeks here.

 Next.

 So this is a closer look at the six 

regions for Transition to Organic Partnership 

Program. Again, the service areas for that. 

There is an interactive map on the National 

Organic Program website where you can go and 

actually find out in your state who might be a 

contact person to work with you. 

The largest non-profit organic 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

certifier is the lead in each of these regions 

and is setting up a network of partners to get 

very tightly down to the local areas to attract 

people into organic production. We're also 

establishing two national partnerships to work on 

market development and connections, so to help 

farmers find buyers. 

A lot of organic sales are local and 

are regional, so helping folks learn how to sell 

into organic markets. More and more buyers are 

setting up special contract mechanisms for the 

transition period, which is three years in 

organic for which you cannot use prohibited 

substances on the land. 

That's a heavy lift. Three years 

transition is a heavy lift. So more and more 

companies are entering into contracts with 

farmers for that transition period to ease the 

path to transition. 

Okay, next, try to help you catch up 

a little bit. 

We did recently update the organic 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
74 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

rules. National Organic Program standards have 

been in place for about 22 years now. When they 

were written, it was very, very much a small, 

local seal. They were trying to pull together 

all sorts of very independent regional organic 

seals under one banner for a federated program. 

And no one at that time really knew 

how big this was going to get in terms of 

international supply chains. Very long, complex 

supply chains where livestock producers are 

bringing organic feed from other countries. How 

do you track all of that and maintain integrity 

back to a farm halfway around the world? It's a 

challenge. 

And so over the past several years as 

the market has grown, we have identified some 

real challenges enforcing it. So this rule, 

called Strengthening Organic Enforcement, seeks 

to bolster those supply chains using a very 

risk-based approach. So we're hitting the market 

in the places at higher risk. 

The small farmers who are selling into 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
75 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

local markets are actually not going to be 

particularly impacted by this rule. There's some 

minor tweaks they'll need to make, but otherwise 

we're really trying to target where the risk is, 

which tends to be in the middle of the supply 

chain. 

So right now, there are exemptions, 

exceptions in the organic regulations that allow 

uncertified handlers, so people who are moving 

organic product, to not be certified. That's not 

the case anymore with this new rule. So there 

are a lot of entities that need to get certified 

now who didn't need to get certified before. 

That's the biggest change in the rule. 

The purpose of that is to help us with 

traceability. So when there's a product at the 

market, we can literally trace it all the way 

back to the farm. That's the goal.

 It will require the use of electronic 

import certificates. Right now, we don't have 

good visibility into what's coming into the 

country that's organic. This rule changes that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
76 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

We'll also strengthen recordkeeping, supply chain 

traceability and strengthen our oversight of our 

certifiers. 

Next. 

Brief look at what's called 

applicability and exemptions. The rule is 

online, it's public, it's pretty plain language. 

Folks have let us know, okay, I read and I 

understand what I need to do now. It does expand 

the types of operations that must be certified. 

So we are asking for help in getting the word out 

about this rule and its importance. 

So any operation that produces or 

handles organic products must be certified unless 

they're exempt, and the list of exemptions is 

very, very narrow now. And the rule lists out 

what those exemptions are. 

Handling includes trade, export, 

import into the United States and facilitated the 

sale or trade of organic products. So a lot of 

commodity brokers are going to need to get 

certified. And we get questions about that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
77 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Well, why would I need to be certified? I'm not 

actually touching the product.

 Well, you are touching the records. 

And in a process-based standards, traceability 

relies on all of those records through the 

system. Otherwise, you end up getting 

uncertified product that sneaks its way into the 

supply chain, which is a high risk for us. 

So some supply chain intermediaries 

that don't currently need to be certified again 

must become certified under the rule. So our 

request, again, please get the word out about 

certification.

 Next. 

Bit about imports. Certifiers and 

operations will need to use an electronic import 

certificate. This is mainly going to impact 

exporters. So exporters in other countries that 

want to ship to the United States and they're 

certifiers, so it's actually the certifier of an 

exporting company that wants to export into the 

United States that will generate the import 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
78 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

certificate. 

The goal is to provide traceability to 

a port of entry so that we have an auditable 

record trail. They're going to be generated out 

of our existing organic integrity database. It's 

been around for about eight years or so, and it 

is the definitive list of certified organic 

operations in the market. 

And then that data single certificate 

number will be entered into Customs and Border 

Protection System. It will then be mapped back 

to our certification system. So minimizing the 

paperwork for brokers and importers but 

maximizing the ability to trace product. 

Next. 

This rule was developed over several 

years. So folks who have been active in the 

organic market, many of them knew it was coming. 

So this is not a surprise. We got a lot of great 

comments, particularly from the broker community 

on the proposed rule that was published. 

We made a lot of changes to the rule 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
79 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

based on that. So the final rule was published 

in January. We are now in a communication and 

implementation period, and all the provisions 

need to be met next March. So we are about four 

months into a 14-month implementation period. 

Next. 

Again, help us get the word out. If 

a business needs to be certified, there are five 

steps of certification. We have lots of 

information on our website on how to find a 

certifier. We have a certifier locator within 

our organic integrity database that people can 

apply to. 

Businesses need to adopt organic 

practices, submit an application to a certifier. 

There is an on-site inspection. Then, there's a 

full review for compliance and certification. 

This can take a few months. So depending on the 

business size and complexity, it can take a few 

months, so we encourage businesses to start soon 

to complete that process by next March. 

Starting in next March, we will be 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
80 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

doing full supply chain traceability audits. And 

businesses that are not certified along that will 

need to be able to either very clearly 

demonstrate how they comply with an exemption or 

that they are certified. 

Next. 

We do a lot of different types of 

activities to protect the organic market. And 

even though these new rules are in an 

implementation period, we already have a set of 

rules that we're continuing to enforce. So 

compliance is about education. Enforcement is 

about catching the bad guys. 

We do a lot of training and outreach 

to build capability across the market, both the 

operation and the certifier level. We do regular 

surveillance of operations of swooping in and 

asking them to document the work they're doing to 

protect organic integrity. We also do that at 

the sector level. 

We've had a livestock surveillance 

program for four years where we do unannounced 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
81 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

inspections across the country to make sure 

organic livestock producers are following the 

rules and to take action if they are not. We do 

get a regular influx of complaints into our 

program. 

We have a full team that investigates 

more than half of our complaints relate to 

uncertified operations, marketing as organic when 

they're not certified. We issue certifier 

directives to require, for example, stepped-up 

testing in certain high-risk areas. Those tend 

to be regional in focus. 

So for example, Black Sea region for 

imports, India for imports, but also the 

livestock market have been our most recent 

certifier directives. Businesses can lose their 

license to sell as organic if they break the 

rules and don't come into compliance after being 

warned. 

We also have legal protections under 

the federal copyright laws now. Customs and 

Border Protection has already completed seizures 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
82 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

at the border of products that are coming into 

the United States labeled as USDA-certified that 

are not certified. So Customs has been a 

wonderful partner with us over the past four 

years to protect imports. 

There are significant fees and fines. 

We can issue civil penalties out of the program, 

but Customs and Border Protection can also charge 

holding fees and fines for violations of the 

standards. And there have even been news reports 

of domestic violators that have been given prison 

time as a result of breaking the organic rules, 

so we take this very seriously. 

When consumers reach out to pick that 

organic product, our standards are online. They 

can find out what those standards mean, and our 

job is to make sure that that product meets what 

the standards say that product should meet. 

And that closes us. So now you're 

only five minutes behind. 

MR. HUGHES: Thank you. 

MS. TUCKER: How about that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
83 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: So before we go into Q&A, 

this is Darrell Hughes, the Advisory Committee's 

DFO speaking. I do want to mention that once I 

received Jenny's presentation and saw the ask, I 

was like, oh, wow, that presents a great 

opportunity for us. 

And so I will be working on the back 

end to develop a formal ask or it's going to be a 

charge where we put a charge before you all to 

ask you what are the best ways to engage on how 

we conduct outreach to let our industry 

stakeholders know about the rule changes. 

I know that Jenny's organization have 

their advisory committee, but I think it's a good 

idea to approach it from different angles to make 

sure that we notify everyone, and everyone has a 

clear understanding of what's expected. 

Yes, more coffee is available in the 

back for those who are needing it. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Let me ask. Is it on? 

It's okay. Let me just ask when we start to 

speak with questions if you would state your name 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
84 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

for the purpose of the note-taker as well, 

please. Thank you. 

MEMBER SERRATOS: Hey, I'm Rebecca 

Serratos. Thanks for that overview. I really 

appreciate it. In terms of consumer trust in the 

organic label, for the consumer end, other than 

going to USDA website and looking up those 

standards, is there any other outreach services 

information that we could send general public to 

that are questioning whether or not something is 

organic? 

MS. TUCKER: Yes, our job at USDA is 

really to provide the option of organic, to 

define the standards and communicate those 

standards. So our website does have some of that 

information for consumers. 

The organization that really carries 

the water on that in the public-private 

partnership is organizations like the Organic 

Trade Association, which has an entire toolbox on 

organic, what are the differentiating features on 

organic and why consumers would want to pick it. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
85 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So we do rely on the private sector 

side of the partnership to do a lot of the kind 

of the value proposition. We define the 

standards, explain what they are, but it's 

ultimately consumer and producer choice as to 

whether they want to engage in that. 

MR. HUGHES: Chris. So we go to Chris 

and then Alyssa. 

MEMBER CIRULI: Chris Ciruli, Ciruli 

Brothers. I guess I have a two-prong comment 

back to you. So one is we do promotions, so we 

do promotions on mangos and then we import. 

We used to be together with organics, 

and then the government separated organics out 

for their own promotion. So one thing is that 

promotions never happened for organics so it's 

part of our funding. 

And two is the level of exportation, 

organics has jumped up, and the farming of 

organics hasn't. So it's a way to defer the 

actual commission cost by shipping your product 

as organic. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
86 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So whatever you could do on compliance 

there, we would love to see stronger enforcement. 

We would also like to see the organic people back 

in the fold with the conventional promotions. 

MS. TUCKER: Appreciate the comment. 

Thank you very much. Yes, I think if you find 

areas where you have specific concerns about 

compliance, we do have a compliance box, and I 

always welcome people writing to me directly. 

MEMBER MELENDEZ: Alyssa Melendez 

speaking. I'm representing importers and 

exporters. I just had a question about kind of 

funding for farmers, especially small farmers who 

are not necessarily transitioning but have been 

doing organic practices for a long time and kind 

of funding in that space. 

I worked in the organic and fair trade 

space both locally and internationally, and I 

think a lot of smaller companies are moving away 

from certifications because, one, lack of trust, 

but also just cost for the farmers themselves. 

A lot of the farmers that I've worked 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
87 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

with are either individual family farms or they 

have to work in co-ops in order to afford the 

certification. So just wondering about resources 

in that space. 

MS. TUCKER: Yes, appreciate the 

comment. The Transition to Organic Partnership 

Program is open to certified operations as well 

who want technical assistance and continually 

improving their operations. The most direct form 

of financial assistance for certified operations 

is the cost share program. 

It is a rebate program that can make 

a huge difference for particularly small farmers. 

So for small farmers who pay approximately 

between $700 and $1,200 for certification, it can 

provide a significant chunk back. That program 

is administered through FSA, Farm Services 

Agency, and it's mostly at the state level. 

People can walk into an FSA office 

with their certificate and apply for that rebate. 

That has been a big benefit for small farmers. 

We agree with the challenge of small farms and 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
88 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

medium sizes deciding that the cost of 

certification is too high. 

That is part of why this initiative 

was started was to help kind of build some of 

those capabilities at a local level. 

MEMBER FRASIER: Bruce Frasier, a 

grower in south Texas. My question is if you 

take a piece of organic produce and a piece of 

non-organic produce and you tested them and you 

came out with the same results from your testing, 

then what would be the conclusion you could make 

as far as the non-organic produce? 

MS. TUCKER: That would not be 

surprising from a testing result. I think 

there's certainly farmers who are not organic who 

choose not to use pesticides or for whatever 

reason don't. That's not detectable on the 

produce. 

This is why we do emphasize the 

process standard, that ultimately that the 

organic fruit was grown likely using a different 

set of practices. So even if at the consumer 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
89 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

endpoint, you can't pick up necessarily an 

organic apple and non-organic and be able to tell 

which is which. 

And in fact, both of those may test 

for no pesticides. That may in fact happen. But 

the standards encompass a full range of soil and 

water health, cover cropping, all sorts of 

different types of provisions in the rules. It 

is a process standard. 

MEMBER FRASIER: Well, if I could just 

carry just one step further. My particular 

product I grew, still grow, is onion transplants. 

So back in the '90s for organic production, they 

stated that you had to had try to find organic 

transplants. But if not, you could buy 

transplants from me. 

That continued. I guess my point is 

if they were to take my transplants and then grow 

them organically from that point onward, is the 

residue of whatever's small amount of 

contamination, and maybe it would be none that I 

presented on my transplants, would it be visible 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
90 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

on their end product 105 days later? 

MS. TUCKER: So in the end, the 

certifier would need to approve an operation's 

use of non-organic transplant. And there are 

some fairly specific wonky rules on that, on the 

use of transplants in organic. 

Organic is now large enough that the 

use of non-organic seeds and transplants is 

actually quite low because the market has matured 

enough that you can buy organic seed. And 

certifiers are required to check all of those 

inputs. 

The consumer expectation would be that 

that onion came from an organic seed and all the 

way through the growth of that onion. So there 

are very specific requirements related to seed 

use and transplants in the handbook. Again, the 

market has developed sufficiently at this point 

that we would hope from seed to product it would 

be organic. 

MR. HUGHES: While I walk over to 

Haven, I'll mention that I do have copies of all 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
91 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the presentations from today. And so once we've 

concluded our meetings, I'll be able to share 

them with you via email. 

MEMBER BAKER: Thanks. Haven Baker 

with Pairwise. So we've inquired and others 

about what's the definition of genetic 

engineering, and it's not the same as the 

bioengineered and then there are some legacy. 

There's not a scientific definition of genetic 

engineering, and breeding is starting to encroach 

on that. Could we work towards clarity about 

that means because there isn't, as far as we can 

tell, an answer. 

MS. TUCKER: Right. In the organic 

regulations and in the Act, the term is excluded 

methods. So actually if you read the fine print 

of the organic regulations, it doesn't really 

mention genetic GMOs. It's not actually in the 

regs. 

It is covered by the broader umbrella 

of excluded methods, and there is a definition of 

that in the regulations for the purposes of 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
92 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

organic. And so for example, I know somebody is 

working in CRISPR from the introductions. Oh, 

that was you. There you go. 

We've been clear that GMO 2.0 gene 

editing is not currently allowed in the organic 

standards. It would be considered an excluded 

method. 

MEMBER BAKER: And mutagenesis is or 

isn't? 

MS. TUCKER: The excluded methods, 

there's a lot of current debate on different 

methods, and our board works on that topic a fair 

amount. I'll get myself in trouble if I start 

getting down to real specifics, so I'm going to 

stay away from that. The rules are pretty clear 

in terms of the definition. 

MR. HUGHES: Okay. Last question, 

Darwin. 

MS. TUCKER: Understood.

 MEMBER INMAN: Darwin Inman. I'm with 

Horizon Nut. We're a pistachio processor. Just 

a clarification on the broker issue. That seems 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
93 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

kind of crazy. Just an independent broker that 

takes no title whatsoever, just takes a 

percentage from the seller, they would have to 

certify?

 MS. TUCKER: Yes, I encourage you to 

read the rule. There are a couple of exemptions, 

but they're very, very, very, very, very narrow. 

And so the answer, for the most part, is going to 

be yes, they need to get certified. 

There are certifiers who are very, 

very good at these small broker environment and 

certification is actually a pretty minimal 

burden. You do have to be able to document in, 

document out. Because it's actually at the 

broker level that this fraud can happen. 

Magic change of the paperwork, and all 

of a sudden there's twice as much organic product 

as there was coming in. So we have had cases 

involving just that scenario where brokers have 

fraudulently inflated the amount of organic by 

changing paperwork. And so that's why we are 

requiring that certification. It's a weak point 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
94 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

in the market right now. 

MEMBER INMAN: And they're going to be 

certified annually? 

MS. TUCKER: Annual inspections, yes. 

MEMBER INMAN: I used to do organic 

almonds, and we do some organic pistachios. 

There's not enough certifiers currently, it seems 

like, to certify everything. It seems like 

adding a whole bunch of additional layers and 

certifiers coming into the program. 

MS. TUCKER: Yes, the organic 

certifiers have known the rule was coming, and a 

lot of them have ramped up. There's a subset of 

certifiers that regularly certify organic 

brokers, and so it's a good interview question to 

ask certifiers, well, what kind of businesses are 

you working with, how do you certify brand 

owners, how do you certify brokers, what are your 

procedures for that?

 They're pretty well-versed in how to 

do that while meeting the regulations. 

MEMBER INMAN: Okay, thank you. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
95 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MS. TUCKER: Yes, thank you. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. I think in the 

interest of time, first of all, let me say thank 

you very much, Jenny, for a very informative 

presentation. We'll continue to move forward 

with our next presenter. 

Again, if you've got additional 

questions, please filter them back through either 

Darrell or myself, and we'll make sure that Jenny 

gets them and provides us with the answers. 

Maybe not what we're looking for, but the right 

answer of that. 

MS. TUCKER: I enjoyed being with you 

today, thank you. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Thank you. 

With that, I'd like to introduce Kim 

Mercer of the specialty crops program. She will 

give us an update on the Organic Data Initiative. 

MS. MERCER: Good morning. Thank you 

very much for inviting me, and especially thank 

you, Darrell, for all the hard work I know has 

gone into getting everyone here in one place. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
96 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

That's not really an easy task these days. Yes, 

as Kay mentioned, I'm telling you about the 

Organic Data Initiative. 

Not to be confused with the Organic 

Transition Initiative, which is a much larger 

project that Jenny just mentioned. I'd like to 

point out, again, this USDA organic seal. It 

keeps popping up. 

I know Bruce mentioned, Jenny 

mentioned it, and it's important just because it 

shows the weight not only of the USDA as an 

institution, but also that network of inspectors 

and certifiers that Jenny oversees. It's very 

important to ensure the integrity of all that 

information, so that's what we're working with.

 Next, please. 

I am from AMS Specialty Crops Market 

News, also serving as the project manager for 

this ODI project. And with market news, it came 

up before, we have a history of reporting on 

price and volume information, over 787 specialty 

crop commodities, as well as cotton, tobacco, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
97 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

livestock, poultry and grain, and dairy projects. 

So organic data is currently available 

on over 200 of those commodities. And with this 

initiative, we're seeking to increase that, of 

course. And all of our data is available online. 

You'll receive the presentation after this so you 

can look up our portal and our MyMarketNews 

websites. 

Next, please. 

So a background. Before the Organic 

Data Initiative came to be, Market News actually 

first published our organic records on 

strawberries in 1992, which was way before the 

first Farm Bill calling for organic 

differentiation came out in 2002. Since then, 

we've consistently been mentioned in those Farm 

Bills. 

Next, please. 

And the current Farm Bill, 2018, 

allocates $3.5 million specifically for the 

increase of organic market information, and that 

came to us. The four Market News, again, those 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
98 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

four commodity groups came together, formed a 

working group to plan out how we would accomplish 

that. 

Next, please. 

Again, that's just what we do. We 

collect and analyze the prices, and we also do 

surveys. We conduct analysis, and we publish 

reports. At the end of the day, that's what we 

do. That doesn't change whether that's organic 

or conventional. 

Next, please. 

This chart, it's just kind of a 

snapshot report, but it does show following every 

Farm Bill that gives us a little burst of extra 

funding, you can see a growth in the number of 

organic commodities that are reported. 

And we hope to obviously continue that 

upward growth at the end. This is by market 

type, and there are reasons that different market 

types have different amounts of organics 

available. But overall, you can see a strong 

upward growth, and we're really proud of that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
99 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Next, please. 

Again as I mentioned, as a total, over 

200 commodities. That includes largely specialty 

crops. We all know that that's really where the 

growth of organics probably is, over 150 

commodities now reported to organic and always 

growing. 

Next, please. 

I'm not going to read out all the 

organic market reports that we have, but we'll 

just go through those quickly. Every commodity 

group has at least several, and then there's also 

some composite reports. 

Next, please, and next. 

And so with this ODI project, the 

organic working group put together a multi-year 

plan. And we divided it up into 10 to 12 

different aspects, depending on how you look at 

it, to make it into doable chunks. 

Next, please. 

The first one is to attend, sponsor 

and host organic outreach at conferences and 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
100 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

trade shows. We've attended quite a few large 

multi-commodity events as well as more specific 

ones that might be regional or aimed at a certain 

commodity group. 

And really with the idea that not only 

attending, but maybe either hosting a booth where 

people can come to us for more in-depth 

interactions and where we can have demonstrations 

available on how to download our data, how to 

download our mobile app, or just to access our 

API, which is new. 

Or actually walking around not just 

taking the freebies, but shaking hands saying, 

have you heard about Market News? Let me tell 

you. And really interacting. So that's been 

very successful as far as getting the word out 

there. 

Like I said, hosting booths and also 

providing those hands-on demonstrations. 

Next, please. 

And another part of the project is 

conducting some Gap Analysis and assessments. We 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
101 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

started this not really knowing. Obviously, we 

know what we do, you know what you do, so we 

wanted to conduct some really in-depth analysis 

to see how we can meet in the middle. 

And not only what the industry already 

knows about market news and about the current 

organic data that we have, but also where do you 

see the need? Where is there a lack, and where 

can we fill in those gaps and how? Not just 

spending the money, but using it to its best 

effect there. 

And we're doing that in two ways. We 

partnered with a few land-grant universities, 

University of Wisconsin-Madison and also UC 

Davis, University of California Davis, and 

they're going to conduct analysis based on their 

independent regions and kind of focus on the 

commodity groups that are prevalent there. 

And then as well as an outside 

consultancy group, a CFI group. We gave them 

some key information about contacts that we think 

would be a good source, and they're conducting a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
102 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

three-part survey there. So just hitting that 

outreach from all angles to really try to get the 

best information that we can. 

As I said, the Farm Bill is a 

multi-year funding. It will get renewed again, 

and we would assume, we can't be sure, but we 

would assume that it would include this funding 

again for the next cycle, so we would be able to 

continue on based on those findings. That's our 

hope. 

Next slide, please. 

Another aspect of the project that we 

broke out was into technology aspects to complete 

the transition to our new data collection and 

dissemination system. Internally, it's MARS; 

externally, what you'll see as users is 

MyMarketNews, and that allows for an API breakout 

sorting, including sorting out organics, sorting 

only organics, no organics, any variation that 

you could need for your needs. 

Same with coming out with a mobile 

app. The wheels of government turns slow, but we 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
103 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

do eventually catch up with technology. And 

everybody has an app these days, so this is a 

Version 3 of our mobile app, which also allows 

for sorting that technology and sorting out the 

organic data. 

And then also Bruce mentioned at the 

very beginning, I believe, data visualization. 

People want to see the data in different ways. 

We've traditionally just published text reports. 

With MyMarketNews, we're moving into having 

everything in a consistent PDF format. But of 

course, that's not really good enough for data 

manipulation, for using it. 

So in addition to providing an API, 

we're also going to work on different data 

visualization tools to show meaningful snapshots 

of what's going on with the different markets. 

Just let users customize their experience to 

really reflect the modern world and how people 

want to use data these days.

 Next slide, please. 

And of course, we want to expand our 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
104 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

data as well. Several ways we're doing that. 

One is to partner with states to report on their 

farmers markets can add a new level to our data. 

We have some very spotty farmers market data 

currently. 

And since so much organic product goes 

through those non-traditional channels, we found 

that that was going to be one of the best ways to 

really increase the data that we are reporting. 

So we're trying to add a whole new market level 

in addition to the traditional shipping point and 

wholesale and retail. 

So we're partnering with Penn State 

and Iowa State and potentially Cornell and more 

potentially California. Of course, that's a big 

one because California is such a big player in 

organic that we're hoping to be able to get all 

four of those going as pilots this year. And of 

course, again, assuming that the Farm Bill 

extends our funding into the next cycle, extend 

to more and more states as we go on. 

Next slide, please. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
105 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

We also have existing cooperative 

agreements with about 27 states, and it's very 

easy to just add an amendment to those and extend 

data. So we gave out kind of a general call for 

proposals, and they did not disappoint. 

So we're hoping to complete at least 

ten of those various projects, smaller scale 

farmers markets, and then anything from organic 

chicken feed to dairy, I can't remember the nice 

name for it, but when dairy cows get too old to 

dairy, they become meat. 

So, yes, anyways, we're having a lot 

of success there. Next slide, please. 

Yes, that's just a full list of those. 

Like I said, just a whole variety of proposals.

 Next slide, please. 

We're also very excited about 

partnering with the University of Wisconsin and 

the Farm Service Administration there to create a 

course for loan recipients for organic farming. 

They had a similar course there for 

conventional farm loans, and we're expanding that 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
106 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

so it's a little more tailored to the needs of 

organic farm loan recipients, and they're going 

to do that again as a pilot and with the idea of 

hopefully making that nationwide at some point. 

And then also we would like to 

continue our outreach with a series of videos or 

webinars just telling everyone about what we're 

doing and what we've accomplished at that point. 

We are very lucky to have on our team 

a young lady in Los Angeles who obviously has a 

side job. She's in production, acting, 

directing, all that. Very eager to have kind of 

that Hollywood touch depending on what public 

affairs would let us get away with. 

Next slide, please. 

Okay, and just a few more items in our 

big plan. Expanding on the HTS code information, 

that basically lets us capture the imports that 

come into the country instead of just getting the 

volume of strawberries, for instance. 

When we request an HTS code for 

organic strawberries, then it breaks those 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
107 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

volumes out so we know how many of each came in. 

We're prioritizing, obviously, what comes in by 

volume, but eventually we could ask for almost 

everything to be broken out, and that would be 

just a great increase of our data and usability 

there. 

And the last item on the overall plan 

was just Federal Milk Orders Statistics System. 

Dairy Market News pushed that. It's just going 

to improve the quality of their data so they 

could get it broken out again by organics. And I 

believe that's my final -- oh, I'm sorry, that's 

not my final slide. 

So, yes, next Farm Bill. I keep 

mentioning that. We want to go ahead, we want to 

keep working on this. We'll continue to expand 

that organic trade information, keep requesting 

more HTS codes. 

A few things we didn't get around to 

in this cycle just because it was a little 

rushed, we want to do more outreach to tribal 

groups and historically black colleges and 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
108 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

universities, traditionally underserved but very 

important in the industry, and we want to see 

what they have to say and see how we can help 

them and help them help us and vice versa. 

Extend all those farmers market data 

collections to different states, as I mentioned. 

And then once we get those results from those gap 

analysis and surveys, to use those to really 

inform ourselves about where we want to devote 

our resources in the next cycle. 

So that was the next slide. And with 

that, this is the whole team, as I mentioned. It 

was a cross commodity collaboration, so it's all 

the directors from all four Market News divisions 

as well as myself and the other project manager. 

MR. HUGHES: I've got a question for 

you, Kim. This is Darrell speaking. Are you 

joining us tomorrow with John doing the Market 

News session? Is Kim joining us? 

MS. MERCER: I was not planning to in 

person. I was going to log in case John needs 

me. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
109 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: Got it. It's not 

virtual. 

MS. MERCER: Oh, never mind. I won't, 

then. 

MR. HUGHES: Okay. I was going to 

mention that Kim may be with us tomorrow, but I 

know John will be with us tomorrow, John 

Okoniewski is the director of Market News. 

Are there any questions for Kim on 

ODI? 

Going once, going twice, sold. 

Guess where we are? Break time. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Thank you, Kim. 

MR. HUGHES: Thank you, Kim, 

appreciate it. 

Did you want to say something, Kay?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: No, I was just going 

to thank her. Thank you. 

MR. HUGHES: We are going to break 

until 11:15, and then at 11:15 we will hear from 

our colleague Bill Richmond our domestic hemp 

program. Enjoy your 15 minutes. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
110 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

(Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 11:00 a.m. and resumed at 

11:18 a.m.)

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. So now we are 

going to go ahead and get started. Our next 

presenter here this morning is Bill Richard. And 

he is the Chief of the U.S. Domestic Hemp 

Program. And he's going to talk to us about hemp 

this morning.

 MR. RICHMOND: Okay. Good morning. 

Last one before lunch. Then we're going to shift 

gears a lot and talk a little bit about hemp.

 And so, my name is Bill Richmond. I'm 

the Chief of the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production 

Program here at USDA. We are housed in the Ag 

Marketing Service, and within the Specialty Crops 

Program. So, next slide.

 So, how did we come to be involved 

with hemp? So, the 2018 Farm Bill was the effort 

that formally decoupled hemp from marijuana, and 

laid out the charge to USDA to stand up a 

regulatory scheme for hemp production in the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
111 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

United States.

 So, almost immediately following the 

issuance of the '18 bill we engaged in a several 

year rulemaking effort to first issue an interim 

final rule, which is our first cut at laying out 

some of the rules around hemp production. 

Obviously a very, very new space for us.

 We requested comments on that interim 

final rule, received several thousand comments, 

and ultimately issued a final rule that was 

published back in January of 2021. Next slide.

 So, just real quick, what is hemp? 

So, hemp is cannabis with a tetrahydrocannabinol 

concentration of less than 0.3 percent. THC is 

the ingredient in cannabis that is psychoactive 

and can make people high.

 When Congress developed this 

definition they established this threshold based 

on a longstanding scientific understanding of 

what that threshold should be.

 And that 0.3 percent threshold is the 

place where we spend probably 99 percent of our 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
112 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

time at the program, making sure that hemp is in 

fact hemp, and not something else.

 So, just a couple of pictures here of 

what hemp can look like, hemp products can look 

like. So, there up on the top left you have a 

picture of a hemp plant that's being grown for 

cannabinoid extraction. You'll hear the term 

CBD. You've likely seen CBD for sale out there 

all over the place.

 The next picture there is some of the 

human food products that have been recognized by 

the FDA as generally recognized as safe. So, 

some of these are hemp protein type products, 

hemp seed type products.

 The next picture there on the top --

Is there a problem? The next picture there on 

the top is some hemp that's being grown for 

grain.

 Here on the top right is some hemp 

fiber at one of the medium step extracting 

processes there. This is a, and we'll show you 

here in a couple of slide. This is product 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
113 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

that's typically used in building materials.

 Bottom left is a typical hemp farm 

that is growing hemp for CBD extraction, 

obviously outdoors. The vast majority of hemp 

farms in the United States is less than five 

acres.

 So, still very, very tiny folks out 

there, new and beginning farmers. Micro and 

small farmers are the folks that we interact with 

the most.

 And here on the bottom right is an 

indoor facility. This is also hemp being grown 

for CBD. Next slide.

 So again, there's really two marketing 

channels for hemp products. Fiber or grain 

products are products that are grown for 

extraction into cannabinoid products like CBD. 

Next slide.

 And here are just a couple of 

examples. On the left you'll see some examples 

of some typical products derived from hemp 

fibers. So, apparel, all types of different 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
114 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

clothing items being made from hemp fiber. We 

see more and more every day.

 Items like twine and rope, building 

materials such as building insulation, hempcrete. 

So, these are blocks, building blocks that are 

used in similar ways to cinder blocks.

 All types of extruded plastic products 

with micronized hemp fiber. We've seen a lot of 

interest in those types of products here with the 

last several years.

 And so, the example we see a lot, we 

interact fairly closely with the automobile 

industry. And so, we've seen hemp products being 

used in vehicles, manufacturing. BMW, Toyota, 

Ford are some of the ones that come to mind.

 Over here on the right are some of the 

products derived from hemp seeds. And so, these 

are human food products. So, items like hemp 

milk, hemp oil, which is similar, used in similar 

ways to olive oil.

 Hemp seeds extracted, hemp protein 

powder, hemp beverages. And hemp seeds are, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
115 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

they're commonly known as hemp hearts, up here on 

the top right. Next slide.

 Okay. So, the way that USDA is 

involved in the regulatory scheme for hemp, it 

really falls under two separate tents. So 

basically, if a State Department of Agriculture 

or a Tribal Government wants to have their own 

hemp programs, they're able to do so.

 They have to meet a series of 

requirements in these programs, which we'll talk 

about here in a second, that we're ultimately 

responsible for reviewing and approving.

 If a State or Tribal Government does 

not want to have their own hemp program, then 

they defer that regulatory oversight of the hemp 

growers in the State or Tribal Territory over to 

us in AMS. And we basically act the same way 

that a State or Tribal Government with those 

folks.

 So currently we have 42 State 

Department of Agricultures that administer their 

own state owned hemp programs. We oversee the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
116 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

growers in eight separate states. Also talk a 

little bit more about that here in a second.

 And then we have 53 separate Indian 

Tribes that also administer their own hemp 

production programs. Next slide.

 So, what are the requirements that 

need to be in place for any of the State or 

Tribal hemp programs? The number one most 

important requirement in effect for every hemp 

grower across the United States is, they need to 

have a license.

 Whether the license is issued by a 

state, by a tribe, or by us, they need to have a 

license before they're able to grow hemp.

 The primary reason behind that 

licensing requirement is, when Congress included 

the hemp provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill they 

included provisions that said that you are unable 

to grow hemp if you've had a felony conviction 

related to a controlled substance at any time 

during the prior ten years.

 So, the way that we verify that the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
117 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

applicant has not had a felony incident related 

to drugs in the past is we require that a 

background check be submitted and provided to us 

from the state or the tribe. And that's 

primarily what we review in their application.

 The next aspect that we have in, we 

have for all regulatory programs, and for us 

across the U.S. relates to THC in the way that 

THC is determined.

 And so, prior to the '18 Farm Bill 

states were able to administer research pilot 

programs to basically allow folks to grow hemp. 

And under those programs the way that they 

computed hemp was a little bit different compared 

to the way that the definition was provided in 

the '18 Farm Bill. So, we have some specific 

language on exactly how that math is done.

 We have requirements around sampling 

and testing of hemp. So, basically for every 

hemp grower in the U.S., and Mr. Hodges, we can 

talk a lot about this. They have to have hemp 

samples. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
118 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So that means that an individual 

that's not associated with their business, 

business or farm, walks through the fields, or 

into the greenhouse, or through the warehouse, or 

wherever they're growing, take samples of plant 

material. And those samples are then sent to a 

laboratory for THC testing.

 We have extensive reporting 

requirements in place for all hemp producers for 

State Government, for Tribal Governments, where 

basically every license that a state or tribe 

issues, every time there is a non compliant test 

result, any time there is a required disposal of 

hemp material at a farm as a result of non 

compliant test results, annual reports around 

acreage, around insect damage, we have all types 

of different reports that are required to be 

submitted to us throughout the growing season.

 And then we have some fairly strict 

enforcement procedures, as you can imagine, 

around these programs. So, requirements that 

hemp growers can be visited at any time for 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
119 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

inspections, for audits.

 We have very rigorous requirements in 

place for, you have a non compliance at a farm 

where an individual is growing marijuana instead 

of hemp. Those situations are dealt with fairly 

quickly and briskly. So, we have those rules in 

place across the country. Next slide.

 One very important part of the 

program, and again this stems from the statutory 

requirements built into the '18 bill, is around 

information sharing with law enforcement.

 And so, part of the reason we ask for 

so much information to be reported to us 

throughout the year is because we need to make 

certain information available to state, local, 

federal police forces around who is growing hemp 

in the U.S., where it's being grown, and if we're 

having any compliance issues related to those 

growing facilities.

 And the way that we do this is through 

an extensive IT system, a database that we 

provide secure access to law enforcement, where 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
120 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

they can go in and they can run a search based on 

any information they have for an individual, 

whether it's name, address, city, state.

 They can go into this database and see 

the license information, and the actual physical 

growing location for every hemp producer across 

the entire United States.

 This is a significant lift for us as 

an agency, as you can imagine. Just building out 

this system, making sure that we have the 

technical capabilities in place. Making sure 

that the producers were going in and reporting 

this information.

 As you can guess, the location where 

hemp is grown on a farm changes from year to year 

based on crop rotation or just other business 

issues.

 And so, we partner very closely with 

the Farm Service Agency and AMS. Those are our 

local boots on the ground that our growers 

interact with.

 They go into a county FSA service 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
121 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

center, report that acreage, make sure that that 

geospatial GPS data is uploaded to our law 

enforcement search tool, so if there's ever a 

question from any law enforcement official the 

information is there.

 It's crystal clear that they are a 

licensed hemp grower, and not something else. 

Next slide.

 So, for the eight states that we 

oversee producers for we have about 1,600 

individual farms that we're responsible for here 

at AMS. Just want to give you some basics around 

how that program is administered.

 We do not charge a licensing fee for 

a USDA hemp production license. We don't have 

any kind of application window where folks have 

to apply, you know, during certain months of the 

year. We accept applications on a rolling basis 

all throughout the year.

 Again, one of the most important 

aspects of that license is obtaining a background 

check, which also involves fingerprinting. There 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
122 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

are costs around having that done for an 

individual. Folks are responsible for covering 

those costs themselves.

 They're also responsible for covering 

the costs of those sampling events when the 

sampling agent visits their farm. They cover 

that cost. They also pay for the cost of 

laboratory testing as well.

 USDA issued licenses are valid for 

three years after the date of issuance. And 

again, any changes to the licensing information 

around name, business name, business ownership, 

physical location, are all required to be 

provided to us, so we have as accurate records as 

we can have. Next slide.

 Here's an example of what a USDA hemp 

producer looks like. So, the primary way that 

growers interact with us is through our handy 

management platform, the same IT product that law 

enforcement officials access to see that 

information.

 When an application, or when a license 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
123 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

is issued to an applicant they're able to go into 

this portal, view and access all their records 

related to their license.

 And so, this is where they can go in, 

get a PDF copy of their license, provide any 

information to us, see test results, and 

basically do anything they need to do to stay in 

good graces with the program. Next slide.

 So shifting gears a little bit. A 

place where we have been spending a lot of time 

over the last few months has been with some, the 

folks on the ground in states that have decided 

to close their state run hemp programs.

 And so, two of the states where this 

has happened recently is out in Vermont, and also 

in Missouri. And so, I just wanted to give you a 

little snapshot on what we do on the ground to 

make sure that the growers out in locations like 

this understand the rules, understand how to 

obtain a license, and understand the requirements 

of the program.

 So, typically what happens when a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
124 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

state decides to close a program is, we hold a 

series of in person meetings out across the 

state, to make sure that we give growers the 

opportunity to come, ask any questions of us, 

understand how to obtain a license, and 

understand the requirements of the program.

 We hold weekly office hours, sessions 

with, Mr. Hodges is there almost every week, and 

asks incredible questions. And it really serves 

as a resource to a lot of new and beginning 

growers. 

A lot of times where folks will be on 

our office hours call and have a question, Mr. 

Hodges will answer the question for us. Because 

he's been there. And he understands a lot of the 

nuances around our rules, which can be incredibly 

confusing for new farmers.

 And so, in addition to that we offer 

a whole suite of formal training for these 

producers. We do a lot of this through 

Blackboard, around how to determine the specific 

growing areas on their location, where hemp may 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
125 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

grow best, how to report that information to our 

Farm Service Agency office, the basics around 

sampling, testing, and reporting.

 And in addition to that, how to go out 

and find a sampling agent, how to find a 

laboratory that makes the most sense for their 

business. Next slide.

 Two other exciting things we have to 

build a little bit on the organic data initiative 

that Kim was talking about earlier.

 We are, we have been working with our 

sister agency over in the National Agricultural 

Statistics Service throughout the last year to 

conduct a national hemp survey.

 We did it, this is the second year 

where we have done this survey. We sent out a 

request to ever single licensed hemp producer in 

the United States. Those results are actually 

coming out today at 3 o'clock.

 We at AMS do not have, I'd love to be 

able to share some details around the findings of 

those surveys with you. But we don't have access 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
126 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

to the results until 3 o'clock, along with the 

rest of the public. So regardless, we're very, 

very excited to see what those results look like.

 And also, similar to the Organic Data 

Initiative, we've recently released a National 

Hemp Market News Report January 1st of this year, 

where it was our first time dipping our toe in 

the water of some of these hemp statistics.

 It's a great report. We are trying to 

improve. We're trying to build it out. So, if 

you take a look at it, if you have folks involved 

with hemp, and you have ideas about ways that we 

can make this better, and improve additional our, 

improve by adding additional data and metrics, 

please do tell us.

 For the first version we included a 

lot of good information around imports. And so, 

any type of hemp product coming into the U.S. we 

have volume, and pricing data in the report.

 We've also included everything that we 

have around retail pricing data for these hemp 

human food products. So, hemp protein, hemp 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
127 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

seeds, hemp oil, we also capture those retail 

prices in the report. So, next slide.

 Building on the mention earlier around 

some of this data that required to be provided to 

us. One interesting takeaway from the annual 

reports from 2022 is that we had around 2,600 

producers across the United States, planting 

around, right around 20, just a little bit over 

20,000 acres of hemp in 2022.

 Hemp is a very, very, very tiny 

industry still. So --

MEMBER FRASIER: You say you have 

1,600 now?

 MR. RICHMOND: 1,600 that are licensed 

by us. So, that's under, with our eight states, 

this is across the entire country. Good 

question.

 So, not too much acreage out there. 

This is a decline from what we've seen in prior 

years. So, if you look at the visual over on the 

right, this breaks down some of the in use 

products by acreage reported. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
128 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

And so, right around 40 percent of 

total acreage was going into fiber hemp. Around 

35 percent was going into hemp grown for 

cannabinoid extraction. Just under 20 percent 

going into grain.

 This is significant. Because this 

volume of acreage going into fiber is a very, 

very new thing for the industry. In prior years 

almost all hemp planted in the United States was 

being used for CBD extraction. Next slide.

 MEMBER INMAN: Excuse me.

 MR. RICHMOND: Yes, sir. Yes.

 MEMBER INMAN: Maybe you're going to 

come to it. But how many acres are destroyed 

annually, compared to that number? I mean, are 

those produced accepted acreages? Is that what 

that is? Or --

MR. RICHMOND: Great question. It's 

great question. So, out of that -- No, you're 

right.

 So, out of that, and the entire 

reported acres planted in 2022 we only had about 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
129 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

650 acres destroyed to non compliance. And so, 

these are when the test results come back with 

THC over 0.3 percent, meaning that the product in 

question is marijuana and not hemp. Then it 

needs to be destroyed.

 However, we did have close to 5,000 

acres destroyed due to natural causes. And so, 

this can be anything, you know, from weeds taking 

over, to poor germination, drought, weather.

 But pest and animal damage is a big 

one for us. And so, the vast majority of that, 

those 4,600 acres were destroyed as a result of 

pest damage in 2022. Any ideas on those pests 

that like to eat hemp?

 PARTICIPANT: Deer.

 MR. RICHMOND: Deer. That's a big 

one. We hear about that from a lot of our folks 

down in the southern states. Next slide.

 The worst one for us this year were 

actually grasshoppers. And so, this picture here 

is from a grain hemp field we visited last fall. 

This was in far up northern Montana, close to the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
130 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Canadian border, right in the central part of the 

state where when grasshoppers come they can knock 

out a field this size apparently in seven to ten 

days.

 And so, once they're there it's 

overwhelming. And there's not really much you 

can do about it. Just based on some of the tight 

margins around hemp production right now.

 So, lots of issues that traditional ag 

commodities have dealt with in the past. We do 

not have access to similar pesticides, 

herbicides, and just general farming beneficial 

tools that much more established commodities do.

 So, issues like this are what we see 

a lot of growers dealing with day in and day out. 

Next slide.

 So, some of the states with the 

largest planted acreage last year. South Dakota 

came in Number 1. Colorado, Texas, Montana, and 

Kentucky also had significant acreage planted.

 And in terms of the highest number of 

actual licenses, Oregon, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
131 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Minnesota, and Florida came in right there at the 

top.

 As you can imagine, the farms here in 

this right column with these states, much, much 

smaller operations. We see a lot of, we've seen 

a lot of interest from new and beginning farmers 

in these states as well. Next slide.

 And again, I know this is a lot of 

technical information. We have a very extensive 

website, you know, that covers a lot of these 

rules. And this is where you can find a lot of 

our educational outreach materials.

 Please take a look. Any questions 

about any of this, farmbill.hemp@usda.gov. We're 

always available to talk you through any of these 

rules and requirements. And that's our phone 

number there at the bottom. Be very happy to 

answer any questions you may have.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. Thank you. 

Questions for Bill?

 MR. RICHMOND: Yes, ma'am.

 MR. HUGHES: Remember to state your 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
132 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

name, Darrell Hughes.

 MEMBER SERRATOS: Hi. Rebecca 

Serratos. In terms of seeing more and more of 

this product in local outlets, you mentioned 

that, having that certification.

 I'm assuming, if I were to onboard a 

vendor of CBD or hemp seed, what am I looking 

for?

 MR. RICHMOND: That's a great 

question. And so, the number one thing you're 

looking for is a license.

 And so, for our smaller growers that 

are out there at Farmer's Markets on the weekends 

selling, whether it's a CBD product, a grain 

product, or even a fiber product, we advise that 

they have their license displayed prominently 

right at their, right on their table or right on 

the booth. And so, people can see it.

 It's a great awareness, a great 

teaching tool for us as well, just to see that, 

you know, USDA hemp production license. Wow, I 

had no idea that USDA is even involved with this. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
133 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Is this real?

 We put our phone number at the bottom 

of the license, just so when consumers, 

retailers, whoever in the supply chain wants to 

verify the validity of this, they call us.

 And it happens all the time. Just to 

say, hey, just a question. I'm working with so 

and so. They said they're a licensed hemp 

producer, you know. Are they being truthful? 

And absolutely. And so, it's a great way for us 

to expand the awareness of our programs. So, 

that's a good first step.

 MEMBER GARREN: Donna Garren, Friends 

and Food. So, are you, do you provide any 

services to help those that are producing 

products with those that they could sell into?

 Because, you know, we had a pizza 

producer that was putting hemp flour in their 

pizza crust. But there was a lot of questions of 

like, you know, are they going to have problems 

with states? Or are they going to have problems 

with USDA, FSIS, or FDA. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
134 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So, are you providing that level of 

services, so that it provides more opportunities 

for growers, you know, to produce those products, 

and getting them into the food system.

 MR. RICHMOND: Yes. It's a great 

question. And I'll tell you that most of our 

resources at USDA have been, and frankly still 

remain to be focused on the production side.

 And so, just around general planting 

practices, in terms of how to grow hemp, how to 

make sure that you are not growing a high THC 

plant. How to make sure that you're following 

the basic rules around production.

 We have a lot of products and plans in 

the works, especially with some of our sister 

agencies over with the National Institute of Food 

and Agriculture, which is our funding vehicle 

that provides grants to, primarily to research 

institutions around finding those places in the 

value and supply chain to make those connections.

 Making sure that our partners in food 

service and on the commercial side understand 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
135 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the, that this is an option now, that this is a 

safe option, that this is a healthy option. And 

that's the next chapter for this program.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Bruce Frasier.

 MR. RICHMOND: Yes, sir.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Dixondale Farms. 

Three years ago hemp was one of the hottest 

topics in the growing world, where everyone sort 

of, at least investigating, you know, going into 

it.

 We didn't have the processors here in 

Texas. Processing didn't keep up the production. 

Numbers have dwindled. What sort of numbers, I 

guess a two part question.

 What have the numbers dwindled? How 

much decrease has it been since that initial 

flurry of that and chinchillas, or something. 

But, and also, the next question is, when will it 

get so low that it isn't justifiable to use 

resources of the USDA?

 MR. RICHMOND: That's another great 

question. And the background here is that, back 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
136 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

around the 2019, 2020 year we had a huge boom 

year for CBD. There was a lot of money out there 

where folks could make $20, $30, $40,000 dollars 

an acre growing CBD hemp.

 Bottom has fallen out of the market in 

excess of 90 percent declines in wholesale 

pricing for CBD. And so, what's that led to is 

less than half of the licensees we had in place. 

And not quite half, but a significant decline in 

broader acreage.

 One bright spot that we've seen this 

last year in 2022, and I'm hoping that this NASS 

results that we'll see at 3 o'clock today will 

speak more to this, is that 40 percent of acreage 

going into fiber hemp, especially in the 

southwest. And so Texas has been a great example 

of that where we've seen big acreage going into 

fiber this last year.

 One thing to keep in mind is just the 

economics around fiber hemp production or grain 

hemp production are very similar to traditional 

commodities where we need to have that scale. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
137 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

We need to have those big acres in 

order for there to be a viable return for folks 

that have become involved. And so, that industry 

is very much in transition right now.

 I don't want to say moving away from 

CBD, because that's not entirely true. But much, 

much higher increase in folks growing for fiber 

hemp and for grain hemp. We think that's where 

the future is for the industry.

 I'll tell you that as an agency, as a 

department, that's where we're directing our 

resources. Our resource dollars as well is into 

fiber and into grain.

 MR. HUGHES: So, at the lunch time is 

there a last question for Bill? Going once, 

going twice, sold.

 MR. RICHMOND: Okay. We appreciate 

the time very much. Thank you.

 MR. HUGHES: Thank you, Bill. Pardon 

me?

 MEMBER BRIANO: I was asking, are hemp 

seeds on the menu for lunch? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
138 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: No. Okay. So, a couple 

of housekeeping comments. If there is anyone who 

wants to leave their laptops or bag in the room, 

you're fine to do that. We'll close the door. 

There are cameras around. I'll let security 

know.

 Where we're going to have lunch is 

literally on the third floor right above us, 

307A. The best way that I've elected to get 

there is to walk around this corner, if you don't 

want to walk up three flights of stairs, take the 

elevator straight up. You come off, it's right 

in front of you.

 And you may have to do that in groups, 

because the elevators on this side are a little 

tight. So, yes. Any questions? All right. 

Let's go eat.

 PARTICIPANT: When do we come back 

here?

 MR. HUGHES: That's a good question. 

Yes, 1 o'clock, 75 minute lunch.

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
139 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

went off the record at 11:47 a.m. and resumed at 

1:06 p.m.)

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. If we all are 

ready I think we'll go ahead and get started here 

with our afternoon session. Our speaker to kick 

us off here this afternoon is Elizabeth Lober 

from the Commodity Procurement Program.

 And I think she's going to at least 

address some of the issues and topics that we've 

heard about this morning. So, welcome, 

Elizabeth.

 MS. LOBER: Thank you. Trying to find 

my way. Hello, everyone. Welcome to D.C. We're 

glad you're here. And thank you for inviting me 

to speak. It's an honor to be with you all.

 Okay. All right. So, I'm Elizabeth 

Lober. And I am assistant to our Deputy 

Administrator, who is Dave Tuckwiller. He's in 

California at the ACDA conference, American 

Commodity Distribution Association. So, I'm 

acting for him.

 So all this time I kind of wondered 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
140 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

what he does. Now I know. I've been very busy 

while he's been gone. So, I hope I can do a good 

job here for you.

 Just a couple of things. The agenda 

said we'd talk about procurements. And then 

LFPA, local food purchase assistance, which is 

what I want to focus on.

 I just wanted to just mention a few 

things that have come to our attention, as far as 

our purchasing. And obviously, you know, we're 

watching the weather in California. You all know 

all about that.

 So, you know, we're aware of that too. 

And just trying to find our way through how the 

flood's going to affecting the crops, and our 

timing of solicitations and purchases, and all 

that.

 And we just also recognize that prices 

are higher than last year. And we're, you know, 

prepared to deal with that.

 And also, that we've had a lot of 

requests to try to increase lead time on 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
141 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

purchases, which is, you know, the time between 

when we award the contract and the deliveries are 

due.

 So, we're aware that there's also in 

some cases problems with getting packing 

materials. And it's taking a little bit longer 

for some of those things.

 So, that's something else that we're 

going to try to do the best we can to increase 

lead times on purchases as a result of 

difficulties getting packing material.

 So, now I put on my LFPA hat, which is 

the Local Food Purchase Assistance program. And 

like I said, I'm an assistant to Dave Tuckwiller. 

And also I am managing the Local Food Purchase 

Assistance program, and the Local Food for 

Schools programs.

 So, we'll start out by just talking 

about the goals of the program. They are to 

maintain and improve agricultural supply chain 

resiliency through cooperative agreements with 

states and federally recognized Tribal 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
142 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Governments.

 The states and Tribal Governments will 

enter into up to a two year agreement where they 

will target purchases for domestic, local foods, 

targeting socially disadvantaged farmers, 

ranchers, and fishermen, to be distributed to 

under served communities.

 So, that's the, kind of the gist of 

the whole thing. It's authorized up to $400 

million dollars under the American Rescue Plan 

Act, or ARPA. Next.

 So, we have three kind of overarching 

goals of the program. And the first is to offer, 

is to provide an opportunity for states and 

Tribal Governments to strengthen their local and 

regional supply systems.

 Secondly is to help to support local 

and under served farmers and ranchers through 

building and expanding economic opportunities.

 And then thirdly is to strengthen and 

broaden relationships. And to try to increase 

those community based relationships in hopes that 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
143 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

this will continue long after this program is 

over.

 So, go ahead. So, this, it's pretty 

simple. There's two parts to the program, 

procurement. And that's where states and Tribal 

Governments are asked to target socially 

disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to purchase 

domestic local products.

 And the distribution then is to 

distribute the food within their state or 

territory, targeting under served communities. 

So, it's really a, it's two part program.

 So, who is eligible for the program? 

Well, the recipients of this agreement are going 

to be state agencies, which could be a 

commission, Department of Ag, you know, each 

state has different agencies.

 In some cases it's like their 

Department of Ag, or their Commission of 

Agriculture. In others it's whatever entity is 

involved in food distribution.

 It could be their Health and Human 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
144 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Services Agency. So, it's not just limited to 

Departments of Ag. We let the states determine 

who best within their state could handle the 

program. So, it's kind of a little bit new with 

that approach I think.

 And then the other partners we have 

are federally recognized Tribal Governments. And 

there's on award per state, as far as state 

agencies. And there's, you know, however many 

Tribal Governments apply and can meet the 

requirements for the program.

 The applications were due last fall. 

And so we received 84 applications, which was 

great. A little bit more than we expected I 

think.

 We received applications from every 

state but one, also three territories, the 

District of Columbia. And we received 

applications from 31 Tribal Governments, which 

was really exciting to us. So --

MEMBER FRASIER: Can you tell us what 

was the one state that you didn't hear from? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
145 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MS. LOBER: Sure. Wyoming. Yes. So, 

but we're excited that, you know, we're getting 

some tribal participation there with new funds 

that we're getting.

 So then, the program was going really 

well, and very popular, and a lot of demand for 

it. So, the Secretary announced an additional 

$306, or $464 million in commodity credit 

corporation funds for the program.

 So, with this funds $400 and, $364 

million will be available for the states and 

territories. And $100 million is set aside for 

the federally recognized Tribal Governments.

 So, those states and territories that 

all have, and tribes that already have an 

agreement, they can amend their agreement. And I 

don't think I mentioned this.

 But the original agreements were for 

two years. And if they amend their agreement 

they can add an extra year to it. So, up to a 

three year period of performance.

 And then for new tribes that want to 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
146 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

participate, they'll start out with a new 

proposal. And we're hoping to get some new 

tribal participation as well.

 So, I think the big thing, am I 

getting, go to the next one. The big thing with 

the Commodity Credit Corporation funds is they 

have different rules around how that money can be 

used.

 So, it has to be unprocessed or 

minimally processed foods. So, it can be dried, 

frozen, canned. But what that eliminates is like 

ready to eat meals, or pre-prepared foods. You 

know, meats can fall into that, but not if 

they're a stew, right.

 So, dried fruits would fit into it, 

canned fruits and vegetables, as long as it's not 

mixed and made into something other than just 

itself.

 So, those are what's allowable for 

this. In the first round we allowed 

administrative cost, indirect cost, technical 

assistance funds, outreach, things like that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
147 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

For the second round, which we call 

LFPA+, with the Commodity Credit Corporation 

money the money has to be spent on food, right.

 So, in some cases there's storage 

distribution cost involved in the purchase of the 

food, or involved in the procurement that can be 

included. But otherwise they're, it's straight 

purchase the food with it.

 So, it's a whole different kind of set 

of rules with Commodity Credit Corporation funds. 

You can go to the next one.

 So, we're excited. So far we've 

heard, well, let me just say too, one of the 

requirements of the program is that the states 

and tribes report quarterly on their purchases 

and their distributions, as well as just giving 

us a narrative of how it's going, and what 

obstacles they have, how they're overcoming them, 

and things like that.

 But when we're asking for information 

on purchases and distributions we're asking them 

who they bought from, are they socially 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
148 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

disadvantaged, and what type of product did they 

buy?

 So, thus far we've received reports 

from 24 states. And we're just at the tip of the 

iceberg. We are just starting to get reports. 

Obviously it's out of season for many states.

 But thus far 64 percent of the 

products they've bought are fruits and veg, are 

produce. So, that gives you an idea. Followed 

by meat and poultry, eggs, dairy, and milk.

 We also expect there to be a decent 

amount of fish and seafood, particularly from the 

tribes. Because that's something that they, we 

don't normally buy the quantities that they need. 

We buy larger quantities.

 So, you know, one of the things about 

this program too is that it allows the tribes and 

states to customize their program for what they 

grow in their state, or what they have available 

in their state, and what the people want.

 And so, it's really customized per 

state or per tribe, depending on what the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
149 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

cultural foods are, local foods. So, for the 

tribes it's really cool. They're doing some 

really, really neat things.

 We just talked to a tribe in Alaska 

that wants to use the funds to buy seal meat. 

So, not something I'm really that interested in. 

But I think that's really neat that they can use 

the funds for what's appropriate for them.

 So, with that, we can go to the next 

slide. I just have contact information here for 

you. Again, I'm Elizabeth Lober. And I have my 

email here. It's elizabeth.lober@usda.gov. And 

I also have my team member here, Sarah Fong. 

She's our team lead.

 And then, what we've done is, we've 

divided the country into regions. And we have a 

specialist assigned to each region. So, I have 

the names of the specialists that are covering 

each region, and working directly with the states 

or Tribal Governments.

 So with that I think we, that's all I 

have. So, I wanted to allow for times for 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
150 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

questions and answers. And I also do have a 

handout. I'm not, I think I have enough. But I 

can go up and get more if I don't.

 This was written a little bit ago. 

But it just kind of gives the background of the 

program. And it's sort of aimed at if you wanted 

to apply, or request an amendment. But it also 

has my contact information at the bottom of it if 

you're interested in that. So --

MR. HUGHES: And I also have the 

presentation. So, I'll provide the presentation 

to you all.

 MS. LOBER: Great. Great.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Question?

 MS. LOBER: Yes.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: I have a mic. 

Well, I'll take two. Just real quick. If, do 

you have a list of the states who have already 

applied for the amendment?

 So, if some of us are in a state that 

hasn't applied maybe we can encourage our 

Departments of Agriculture, or whomever, to 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
151 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

apply?

 MS. LOBER: Yes, I do.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: Thank you so 

much.

 MS. LOBER: Matter of fact, I have it 

right now.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: Okay, great.

 MS. LOBER: Do you want me to just 

read it out?

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: Yes.

 MS. LOBER: Because I'm a paper 

person.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: Okay. Thank 

you.

 MS. LOBER: And I just write stuff 

down. It's handy. Connecticut, Alabama, Texas, 

Arkansas, Montana, Oregon, Alaska, Ohio, New 

Mexico, Missouri, Washington, Iowa, Louisiana, 

Maine, Massachusetts, West Virginia, and 

Michigan, and Rhode Island.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: Thank you.

 MS. LOBER: And of those we've already 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
152 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

awarded Connecticut, Texas, Alaska, Montana, and 

Louisiana.

 And also, we've had two tribes, or 

actually three tribes apply. Chickasaw Nation, 

which is in Oklahoma, the Cowitz Tribe in 

Washington, the Mississippi Band of the Choctaw. 

And we have a brand new one, which I don't think 

I can say it. It's Poarch Creek Tribe in 

Alabama.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: Is there a 

deadline on the application?

 MS. LOBER: Yes. It's May 12th.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: May 12th. Thank 

you so much.

 MEMBER SERRATOS: Hi. My name is 

Rebecca Serratos from Arizona. Thank you for 

this. I know a few of us were waiting for you to 

give a presentation on this one, because it's so 

timely.

 I have a few questions. Mainly they 

kind of all fall under, as USDA do you have any 

expectations or organizing in terms of helping 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
153 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

states help themselves?

 This is a lot of federal money all at 

once into local food systems that didn't 

necessarily have anything set up and ready to go. 

And so, there was a lot of fury kind of on the 

ground. Hurry up and get ready to put these 

systems up.

 So, I'm curious, like from a USDA 

perspective, are you anticipating a tool kit, 

best practices, a report of some kind that other 

states can maybe draw upon that say don't have a 

Farmer's Market Association on the state level?

 MS. LOBER: Right.

 MEMBER SERRATOS: Don't have any 

listing of local. And therefore, how are they 

ensuring that local food is being procured? 

Don't have a lot of skin in the game in terms of 

these local outlets. How best can we get our 

state representatives and decision makers kind of 

up to par on local food?

 MS. LOBER: Right. Well, first of 

all, one thing that they ought to do is, we have 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
154 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

monthly office hours. And we have time for 

collaboration during that, questions, answers, 

collaborations.

 And the states spend a lot of that 

time talking to each other. Like, has anybody 

done this before? How have you done it? One 

example is, some of them were having trouble 

locating socially disadvantaged farmers and 

ranchers.

 So, you know, three or four of them 

stepped up and said, hey, this is what I'm doing. 

You know, put their emails in the chat and said, 

hey, contact me after the meeting. Or, you know, 

here's my information.

 So, we've had this monthly call that 

has been just fantastic. Everybody opens up. We 

go over, during those calls, use it, at the 

beginning it's a workshop, if there's anything, 

like right now we're into reporting for the end 

of the quarter.

 So, we'll do something on what's 

required in reports. But then we have a lot of 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
155 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

time for just conversation, questions, answers. 

But we always have time for collaboration and 

sharing of challenges, and sharing of success 

stories.

 And then there's also a lot of 

interest in this program. And the Wallace Center 

on, I'm not sure if, okay. They are actually 

conducting a, sort of analysis of the program.

 And they are putting together, and 

they're working with Duke University. They're 

putting together a sort of lessons learned type 

of document as well. But we're doing, working 

really hard at trying to capture all that.

 But as far as like on the ground now, 

the other thing that we've encouraged people to 

do, and has worked in a lot of areas is to 

partner with already existing programs.

 And, you know, in some states they do 

have the buy local initiative already started. 

Some are, you know, really working closely with 

food hubs that already are distributing local 

food. Or, you know, food banks that have already 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
156 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

got something set up.

 So, you know, we're encouraging 

collaboration. We're doing these monthly calls. 

But, you know, that's a good point.

 I mean, the states could also have 

requested technical assistance, you know, when 

they were applying for theirs. Because they can 

get administrative funds.

 So, we gave them money for salaries. 

We gave them money if they needed to hire 

consultants, or additional people to help them. 

And a lot of states did that. Some of them 

didn't. So, those are the kind of things that 

we've been doing to try to help them.

 MEMBER SERRATOS: I'm curious too, in 

terms of that fiscal cliff of after two, maybe 

three years, depending on the extension.

 Your third bullet point of creating 

those partnerships, those relationships. Have 

you seen any legislation from local states that 

are anticipating needing to fund that at a state 

level? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
157 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Because that's a lot of money to have, 

especially for socially and under served, 

disadvantaged farmers. And then to not have all 

that money. 

MS. LOBER: Yes. Well, I think some, 

you know, some people are hoping that it's going 

to continue through additional legislation, 

perhaps in the Farm Bill, or things like that.

 But yesterday I just happened to 

attend an event in Maryland where they were 

kicking off their program. And they had started 

a program to do the same thing with their state 

funds.

 Like, they had, which, you know, they 

were starting out with $200,000 dollars. But 

they already were like, this is going to be so 

great. We're going to start our program and try 

to build it alongside of this, so they would have 

something in place when it was over, if it is 

over.

 MR. HUGHES: Any additional questions?

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: Hi. I'm David 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
158 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Van Eeckhout. I work for Food Hub up in St. 

Paul, Minnesota. And I also have a bunch of 

questions. But I'll try and limit to just a 

couple.

 Number 1, is the LFPA+ a given for 

most states? Because I know our state has said 

like, well, if we get this extra money, don't 

count on it.

 I mean, being that we have a very 

cyclical farm season, our deadline right now to 

utilize the funds is September of next year, 

which doesn't really allow for our main, you 

know, kind of post harvest marketing season, 

which would be in September and October.

 MS. LOBER: Right.

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: And so, we're 

really interested in that extension to go into 

the next year. Because then we can have an 

entire 12 month farm season within the program. 

So, I guess, are most of the people who are 

applying for the LFPA+ getting awarded?

 MS. LOBER: Yes. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
159 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: Yes. Okay. 

Great. And then, Administrator Summers alluded 

to this morning some funding coming around 

infrastructure that hasn't been announced yet, 

some grant funding.

 And, you know, I think for us and for 

a lot of other organizations, we would have loved 

to have seen infrastructure funding before a 

giant increase in purchasing.

 MS. LOBER: Right. Right.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 MS. LOBER: Right. I know.

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: So, I guess 

maybe it's more of a comment that I'm really 

hopeful that that infrastructure funding is a 

prelude to continued funding for some of these 

purchasing programs.

 MS. LOBER: Yes. Yes. I mean, that's 

a big issue is, you know, the storage space, and 

all that. And, you know, he knows what's coming 

next, not me. But --

MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: And then last 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
160 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

thing. I know pricing initially was really, 

producers could set their own pricing. But that 

was a little problematic in the beginning stages.

 Has that changed now that you've, you 

know, the program has started a little bit, so 

that, you know, I know, I think when I've talked 

to somebody in Wisconsin, which is doing the 

program a little differently than Minnesota.

 MS. LOBER: Right.

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: They had to 

really adjust and set a ceiling on prices, 

because some prices were just coming in out of 

line. 

MS. LOBER: Well, what we're requiring 

them to do is to follow their state and local 

procurement regulations. So really, you know, it 

depends how they have their state procurement 

laws set up, you know.

 You would think that in most cases 

there would be some type of a limit, or some kind 

of a, whether it's a, you know, sealed bid, or 

whatever they're, whatever procurement vehicle 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
161 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

they're using it should address price.

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: Okay.

 MS. LOBER: But we're not getting 

involved in telling them how to buy this stuff.

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: Okay, great.

 MS. LOBER: Yes.

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: Thank you.

 MR. HUGHES: So, this will be the last 

question before we have to move on to the next 

presenter.

 MEMBER HODGES: Okay. Morris Hodges. 

The first thing I put down here was, wow, kind of 

like the signal we got from outer space some 

years ago, maybe extra terrestrial excitement.

 Because your model, your program is a 

model for what I'm advocating on finding and what 

you're doing with it for other grant programs. 

Thank you.

 I've met with Mississippi Department 

of Agriculture and Commerce. We had a, well, 

they emailed me a couple of months or so ago on 

this program. I've communicated with net work 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
162 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

and et cetera. And asked them to share it. And 

we had a webinar on this.

 Mississippi is off the ground and 

running with some kinks in it. They are working 

on getting that done. But you didn't mention us 

as the additional funding. The names you called 

out, you listed the tribes.

 MS. LOBER: Yes.

 MEMBER HODGES: So, I will be reaching 

out to them when I return home next week. I've 

been affiliated with them about 40 years.

 MS. LOBER: Right.

 MEMBER HODGES: Okay. And then you'll 

know about reaching out to you all, okay. So, 

but our language suggests that it is not just for 

socially disadvantaged, under served, like 

farmers, whatever you want to call it. It is for 

specialty crop producers, small specialty crop 

producers. But especially under served 

producers.

 MS. LOBER: Right. And yes, just to 

make sure that that's clear. The states are 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
163 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

supposed to target the under served producers, 

and target the under served communities. It is 

not a requirement.

 So, in some states it's a real 

challenge for them to find that many, you know, 

local producers that meet that, those 

requirements. So that's, you know, and it's, it 

would make it very difficult for some to follow 

their contracting regulations.

 So, we're asking them to target it. 

And we're asking them to report back on it too. 

So, in their reports they will tell us. So, you 

know, and they have goals.

 They, and they had to tell us how they 

were going to target the under served farmers and 

ranchers. So, it's a big component of what 

they're supposed to be doing. But it is not a 

requirement.

 MEMBER HODGES: Yes. Thank you. In 

conclusion, in my opinion it's about outreach. 

You run this, regardless of what agriculture 

program you're talking about. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
164 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

And I found that the best, one of the 

best ways to do that is, that is, not, it ain't 

about me. It's not us. By them reaching out to 

me. And I also saw it on my email when I 

subscribed.

 And sharing it with, you tell one 

person, this person tells that, and on, and on, 

and the whole thing. That way it gets out to the 

socially disadvantaged farmers. They are invited 

to the webinars. And they understand that they 

are eligible.

 MS. LOBER: Right.

 MEMBER HODGES: So, thank you all.

 MS. LOBER: Right. Well, I just want 

to say, I know we're out of time. But I feel 

like there's more questions. Please contact me, 

and I'll answer your questions.

 You know, we're very glad to help. 

We're very excited about this program. We've 

seen nothing but good things come out of it so 

far.

 We've seen great, you know, the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
165 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

reports, they'll be like Joe's Apple Garden, you 

know, like really small purchases are being made. 

Like, and there's some bigger ones. But it's 

really cool seeing the local element of it.

 And when we see the reports they're 

just, you know, it's over 5,000 line items of 

purchases. And thus far, it's just really, it's 

working the way it's supposed to work it appears.

 So, but anyway, my information is 

there. Darrell has it. But please reach out if 

you have more questions. I'll be glad to answer 

them.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Thank you, Elizabeth. 

I knew you would be popular. So, we appreciate 

you taking time to spend with us.

 MR. HUGHES: And, Kay, I have one 

quick announcement. There's coffee in the back 

for those who need a coffee. Now you can go 

ahead.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. Our next 

speaker this afternoon with be Krista Dickson. 

And she is the Director of the Food Disclosure 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
166 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

and labeling Division here at USDA. And she will 

speak on bioengineered food. So, welcome, 

Krista.

 MS. DICKSON: Hello, everyone. Okay, 

perfect. Well, first let me start and say, look, 

I know I believe I'm the last presentation of the 

day. So I understand, and I won't be offended if 

you go back to get coffee. But hopefully you're 

interested in this topic, and this is an 

interesting presentation for you.

 I wanted to start off a little bit by 

just introducing myself to you. So I've been 

with AMS now for just about a year and a half. 

I've worked for USDA for nearly 20 years prior to 

that, for the Foreign Agriculture Service, and 

also spent some time at the U.S. Trade 

Representative.

 So you might wonder how on earth did 

I end up doing bioengineered foods as well as our 

division actually administers two statues. One 

is the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure 

statute. It's also country of origin labeling. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
167 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So when we get to questions and answers, if you 

have some questions on country of origin 

labeling, I'm also happy to take those while I'm 

up here.

 I will say during my time at USDA with 

the foreign ag service I was a part of the 

original -- I was part of the team that actually 

defended our country of origin labeling at the 

WTO. So I learned the statute forwards and 

backwards during the experience.

 I also worked on a lot of technical as 

well as sanitary and phytosanitary trade issues, 

so BE, GE, food labeling, GMO labeling was a huge 

topic of conversation for many years. And I 

actually was the USDA delegate to the Codex 

Committee on food labeling for many years and 

part of the team that actually shut down the work 

in the committee where we produced an annex about 

labeling of GE foods is how I defined them.

 So that is kind of how I ended up in 

this position, and some of my background. I took 

over in January 1 of 2022 this year as the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
168 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

director when our previous director, Paul Lewis, 

retired. So I'm excited to be here and to talk 

to you today about the National Bioengineered 

Food Disclosure standard.

 Okay, so you can go to next. So 

basically in the summer of 2016, Congress passed 

an amendment to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 

1946. That amendment required the Secretary of 

Agriculture to draft regulations to establish a 

national mandatory bioengineered food disclosure 

standard.

 By providing a uniform standard for 

bioengineered foods, we increased the 

transparency in our food system, and we give 

consumers information about the bioengineered 

status of the foods they consume. While doing 

so, we also avoid a patchwork of state laws and 

regulations that can be costly for manufacturers 

as well as can be confusing for consumers.

 It's important to note that this 

statute is a marketing statute and not a food 

safety statute. The statute, it's very young, we 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
169 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

just started compliance with the statute as of 

January 1 of 2022. So we're really kind of 

learning this as we go, and learning where we are 

in compliance as we get through this first year 

and a half or so of implementation.

 Next, so this just quickly shows how 

we're going to walk through the standard today 

and hopefully some of the different parts of it 

that are helpful for you.

 Next, so first we're going to talk 

about regulated entities. So there are three 

different types of regulated entities under the 

standard. Food manufacturers, and this is anyone 

who packages or labels food for human consumption 

and retail sales.

 I will note here that sometimes 

manufacturers decide to have co-packers pack 

certain items for them. In this case, a 

co-packer can also be a regulated entity. And 

just so you understand what we look for, we 

actually look for what is on the product label.

 So if you are a co-packer, and you are 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
170 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

listed on the label, you would be the person that 

I come to if I need records and if we have to do 

an investigation. If the manufacturer is listed, 

I would go to the manufacturer. So you, as the 

manufacturer, would have to get and maintain 

those records from your co-packer.

 The second type of regulated entity is 

an importer. Again, we follow the Customs and 

Border Patrol definition of an importer which 

essentially is anyone who imports foods for 

retail sale in the United States.

 Our final group of regulated entities 

is retailers. And retailers, again, when 

retailers are subject and on the line for 

maintaining the records themselves, it's when 

they package and label food for retail sales or 

sell bulk food items.

 So I think many of the fruits and 

vegetables obviously end up in bulk bin, so if 

that's the case, that retailer is going to be the 

person who's responsible for maintaining records.

 If for any reason, in the store you 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
171 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

package yourself a green, yellow, and red pepper 

in a package, and you sell it that way, then you 

would also have to maintain that record in the 

instance that it was done within your store, and 

it was not sourced that way.

 Some of the regulated entities that 

are excluded are restaurants of any kind, 

cafeterias, lunch rooms, food stamps, food 

trucks, trains, airplanes, bars, taverns, and 

lounges. There's also an exception here for very 

small food manufacturers. So if you have less 

than $2.5 million in annual sales you are also 

excluded from the standard.

 I will note that with very small 

manufacturers that includes both food and 

non-food receipts, is how we come to that number.

 Next. So while suppliers are not a 

regulated entity under the standard, we do 

consider them very important. And we consider 

their understanding of the standard and the 

requirements to be very important. And that's 

because often, and I believe many of you probably 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
172 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

are, you are the suppliers, and you are on the 

hook for actually providing records to the 

manufacturers.

 I'll note that suppliers can also 

include developers of novelty technologies. And 

so we get a lot of requests from them too as 

well, in terms of what sort of records they would 

need to keep and at what point those records 

would have to be conveyed.

 I will say that any requirements or 

requests for records are private between the 

regulated entity and the suppliers. And we don't 

govern those. And this is a little different 

than the way country of origin labeling works. 

If any of you are familiar with that, with 

country of origin labeling, we actually have 

statutory authority.

 We can go back and reach back to the 

suppliers and request those records ourselves and 

do tracebacks. When it comes to BE foods, we 

cannot. So therefore, as the regulated entity, 

you are the person on the hook to have those 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
173 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

records.

 We can go to the next slide, we 

actually can skip to the BE food definition. So 

just quickly going over the definition of a 

bioengineered food, it is any food that contains 

genetic material that has been modified through 

in vitro rDNA techniques and for which the 

modification could not otherwise be obtained 

through conventional breeding or found in nature.

 So in either of the cases, that it's 

found in nature or produced through conventional 

breeding, we do not consider that rDNA would be 

detectible in those types of situations. So it 

doesn't have to be disclosed. Similarly, there 

are certain conditions or factors which I'm going 

to talk about next where you would not need to 

disclose.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 MS. DICKSON: So factors or 

conditions, so the definition of bioengineered 

foods also includes incidental additives. It's 

the one exception we have for special factors and 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
174 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

conditions. So essentially we follow the 

definition that FDA uses for incidental additives 

which are essentially foods that are used in 

insignificant amounts and have no technical or 

functional effects.

 So examples of incidental additives 

can be things such as vanilla extract, fruit or 

vegetable juices that are added for color 

enhancement and, in some cases, ascorbic acid. 

Now my one disclaimer to this is if you put it on 

the ingredient list, because one thing is if you 

follow the FDA regulations you don't have to add 

it into the ingredient list. If you add it to 

the ingredient list, we're likely going to ask 

you for a record.

 You can submit us a justification of 

why it's an incidental additive. That could be 

one why you could comply. But just be aware of 

that. So if it's something that you know 

qualifies as an incidental additive, just don't 

put it on the ingredient list and we won't ask 

you for anything related to it. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
175 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Next. So we're going to talk about 

detectability a little bit. And if you are using 

either a food or an ingredient derived from a 

food that's on the BE list, what do you need to 

do, essentially?

 So we consider these are three areas 

where, even if a food is on the list or an 

ingredient that comes from it is on the list, you 

would not necessarily have to disclose for a 

product. Because we just basically would certify 

that there would be no detectible in vitro rDNA 

that would be in that product.

 So the first is very simply if a food 

is made from a non-bioengineered food. And that 

can apply in cases such as you have a potato, and 

basically you're sourcing that potato from a 

country where they cannot produce potatoes that 

are GE or GMO.

 So you can very simply just provide me 

the country of origin statement on where that 

potato came from. And that would be one way that 

you would not have to disclose for that, even 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
176 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

though potato is one of the others on the food 

list, which you'll see when we get there.

 Another way is that if the food has 

been refined using a process that essentially 

renders the modified genetic material 

undetectable. You also wouldn't have to -- you 

would not have to disclose.

 And the final case is where you would 

confirm the absence of rDNA by a batch by batch 

or lot by lot test. And we understand that's the 

most expensive and probably the least preferable 

way that most folks are going to provide results 

to us in terms of detectability.

 We can go to the next slide. So 

building on this a little bit, one of the areas 

where we see this used a lot is for what we call 

highly refined ingredients. So these can be 

oils, for example, so oils that are made from 

corn or soy, for example.

 If those have been refined to a point 

that there would no longer be rDNA, what you can 

do is you can do a test, a process validation 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
177 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

that shows that, with that test, there would be 

no rDNA left. You do that once. You submit it 

to us. And then it's good for multiple years. 

So that is not something that has to be done on a 

lot by lot or case by case basis.

 You can go on to the next slide. Oh, 

wait, we should be at what is the difference 

between BE and GMO, one slide back. Am I missing 

one?

 PARTICIPANT: Yeah.

 MS. DICKSON: Okay, never mind. That 

one isn't in there. So I had a slide in my deck 

that didn't show up, okay.

 So my list of bioengineered foods, so 

you've heard me talk a little bit about the list 

of bioengineered foods. AMS created this list in 

order to help regulate entities determine whether 

their food is bioengineered or not. We update 

the list regularly through rule making processes.

 The list includes all bioengineered 

foods that are legally produced and authorized 

for commercial production somewhere in the world. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
178 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Essentially if your food or food item appears on 

this list you must either have a record that 

shows that it wouldn't be subject or you have to 

disclose it.

 Also, if for any reason, I'll add 

here, if you are using something that you know 

is bioengineered, so for example you're maybe 

importing something from another country, and you 

know that they have a bioengineered variety of 

something, and we have not yet added it to our 

food list. If you have actual knowledge that the 

product is bioengineered, you would also have to 

disclose it, even if it's not yet on the list.

 And we can go to the next. Okay. So 

in terms of foods that are subject to the 

standard, so basically the standard applies to 

any foods that are regulated by the Federal Food, 

Drug, and Cosmetic Act, by the Federal Meat 

Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection 

Act, or the Egg Products Inspection Act.

 You can go to the next slide, and now 

I'm going to talk a little bit about, even though 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
179 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

we say it applies to all those foods, there are 

still foods that apply to those acts that will 

not be regulated. And I will say for fruit and 

vegetables, this is probably not the most 

important slide for you, because it applies more 

to the meats.

 But one of the ways we determine if 

the food product itself is regulated or not is by 

looking at the ingredients. And what I like to 

use here is let's, like, use the example of, for 

example, a can of soup. And let's say the can of 

soup has in it vegetables as well as meat 

products. And you want to know, okay, I think 

I'd like to use my soup as a stew. So it might 

have potatoes and carrots in it.

 And potatoes is one of the things that 

shows up on the bioengineered food list. So you 

want to know is that can of soup covered. So for 

my potatoes that are going into the soup, do I 

need to include a certification -- do I need to 

make sure I'm sending a record that would 

demonstrate that it's not bioengineered if the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
180 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

company doesn't want to disclose.

 So the way we determine that is 

actually looking at the ingredient list on the 

product itself. So the first thing we do is we 

look at the first ingredient. And if it's meat, 

catfish, poultry, or an egg product, essentially 

it is not subject to the disclosure standard. So 

if you're buying a steak, for example, that is 

not regulated nor do you have to disclose. So 

that comes off of the list.

 If, however, the first ingredient, and 

this back to my soup example, is something like 

vegetable broth, stock, or water, or poultry 

broth, essentially we then look at the second 

ingredient on the product. And if that product 

is also essentially meat, catfish, poultry, or an 

egg product, it also is not regulated.

 So that is one of the ways we 

determine whether it would be regulated or not. 

So that would help you determine whether 

something that you're supplying, for example, to 

a soup manufacturer might need to have a record 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
181 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

with it.

 We have a full determination tool 

online that you can use that will actually ask 

you a list of about 20 questions and walk you 

through this. And so it will help you 

understand. And I will start with what is the 

first ingredient on your product.

 I will say when it gets to poultry 

broth, poultry broth is a little more complicated 

than some of the other broths out there. And 

there's probably five specific questions related 

to poultry broth that we'll ask you.

 So if you want to know the answer to 

whether something is regulated or not, the 

decision tool is wonderful. I highly recommend 

that you go there and walk through the steps. 

And at the end, it will give you kind of a result 

of whether the product is likely to have to 

disclose or not.

 We also have a second decision tool 

that's there that relates specifically to 

alcoholic beverages. But I don't think anyone in 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
182 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

this group would necessarily need that.

 Okay, can you go to the next one? 

Yes. So the next slide we focus on exemptions. 

We already talked about the two specifically for 

entities, so we'll talk about product exemptions 

now. So the first one is our threshold 

exemption. And essentially that is something 

where we allow each ingredient to contain up to 

five percent of a BE substance as long as it's 

inadvertent or technically unavoidable.

 This one is important to understand. 

And I think people don't always understand how it 

works. So as written, this relates to the 

percentage that the ingredient is in the product 

itself and then that five percent. So if we're 

talking about, going back to my soup example, 

let's say potatoes make up five percent of the 

soup. Your threshold would be five percent of 

that five percent.

 So that means for a potato, if we ran 

a PCR test, we would need to see, for example, 

that it had no more than 0.25 percent as the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
183 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

threshold in order for it to be acceptable. And 

that's important, because it's very different, 

for example, than how the EU and many other 

countries regulate, which is they have this 

straight 0.9 percent threshold across the board.

 But it does give you, in many cases, 

it gives you a higher percentage. If the product 

actually makes up a higher percentage of the 

product, you get a very high percentage, like 

four.

 And honestly, if whatever the BE 

substance is is making up a small percentage of 

the product, it's also probably pretty unlikely 

that we would ever trip that threshold. So it's 

just a little bit about how our threshold is 

structured and why.

 So the second exemption, and we don't 

need to spend a lot of time on this one, is 

animals are fed bioengineered feed. That does 

not automatically make them bioengineered. So 

this applies to a chicken eats grains. Their 

eggs are not considered bioengineered. The cows 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
184 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

have, you know, feed that again has alfalfa or 

something in it that's bioengineered. That does 

not automatically make the milk that they produce 

bioengineered, nor does it need to disclose under 

our definition.

 And then the last category is anything 

that's certified under the National Organic 

Program is automatically exempted and no records 

need to be kept for it.

 We can go to the next. So disclosure 

options, if you have to disclose what do they 

look like? So there are four different ways you 

can disclose on products. The first is an 

on-package text which you can use where it will 

need to say bioengineered food, contains a 

bioengineered food ingredient. That's if there's 

one ingredient or it contains bioengineered food 

ingredients if there are multiple ingredients. 

You can also use the symbol in either black and 

white or color. There is no restriction there.

 The third approach is our electronic 

or digital disclosure. So that usually -- you're 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
185 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

using a QR bar code of some sort. And with the 

QR code itself, you are also required to use the 

words scan here for more information or something 

similar to that. And you also have to include a 

phone number on there.

 So for electronic or digital 

disclosure, there are, like, three different 

components to it. I'll also note with electronic 

or digital disclosure, if you use that option 

when you go to the main page that it takes you 

to, essentially the first page has to be the 

product information page.

 And it must include the on-package 

text or symbol, as are the first two options when 

you go to that page. And no marketing or 

promotional material of any kind may be on that 

page. So that's an important restriction.

 And then the last option is the text 

messaging. And specifically the text messaging, 

I'd just note, it should say text in either a 

command or a word for bioengineered food 

information. That's how it would read. And when 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
186 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

you text that number, you have to come back 

essentially with the language there that's the 

on-package text description if you text the word.

 If you really want to, you could 

disclose in a -- wherever we have exemptions, so 

for example, you're an entity that's exempted or 

you have a food that's highly processed food, if 

you want to declare that your food is 

bioengineered, even though you might have a 

process that completely takes it out, you can do 

that and you can declare it, meaning it's on the 

list somewhere. We don't allow you to declare it 

if it's not on the list at this point. But if 

you want to, you can voluntarily disclose it.

 We can go to the next. In terms of 

the format and where you can disclose it, so 

essentially we look at the primary places. There 

are two primary places which are on the 

information panel adjacent to where the 

manufacturer and distributor information is, or 

on your principal display panel.

 If for any reason it cannot fit on 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
187 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

those two panels, or it would interrupt other 

information that's required by the FDA, you may 

use any other panel on the product itself, and 

that is acceptable. 

We can go ahead to the next. So for 

bulk containers, essentially here you have two 

options. You can either put it on the food 

itself, stickers is what we see very frequently. 

However, if you want a more sustainable approach, 

retailers can use a sign or placard that sits in 

front of that bin. So either one is okay, and 

can be acceptable. The retailer would just need 

to make sure again they're retaining the records 

there in case there were any concerns about it.

 We can go on to the next. And we 

already covered these three types of records 

earlier. So I won't really go through these 

again. You can skip to the next record, I think.

 So these are examples of types of 

records that you can use and keep to meet the 

requirements that we just looked at. So the 

standard allows for third-party certifications. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
188 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

One of the most common types that we see there 

are organic certifications from other countries.

 You can use other third party 

certification standards as well. We often see 

the non-GMO project standard. I will just say, 

just make sure if you're using those other 

third-party standards as your record, that you 

are looking at certifying to our standard.

 We frequently see ones that just 

certify to the EU. Those are not necessarily 

acceptable as they are. You can often explain 

them, and explain processes, and different 

things, and they can be acceptable, but it 

requires us kind of going through the records 

with you.

 The second one is you can include, and 

I talked about this earlier, documentation that 

shows that the ingredient is sourced from another 

country that doesn't have BE production of the 

food. Clearly, laboratory tests are acceptable, 

process verifications are also acceptable.

 We also often see and accept supplier, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
189 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

we get a lot of supplier attestations. Supplier 

attestations are acceptable. Just make sure, and 

this is learning we are just now going through 

sort of our first BE records review, make sure 

that if you're using a supplier attestation 

you're attesting to our standard and to our 

requirements, not the EU requirements which we 

see frequently. And that is important, because 

certain definitions and certain things differ.

 Next slide, so on recordkeeping, 

basically as a regulated entity they are the ones 

who must keep the records. They need to keep 

them for up to two years in most cases. You can 

choose the type of record that you want to keep. 

Records can be in any format, either hard copy or 

electronic. And they can be stored at any 

business location.

 Going through our first records review 

which we're doing right now, I will say that one 

of the things that we had a request for and we're 

looking at, and if you do ever get a request for 

an investigation, we allow for five days which is 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
190 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

what's in the standard to get records together. 

What we found is there are a huge number of 

records depending on what the product was.

 The first one that we got, it was a 

candy bar, and probably over 200 different 

records, I think, that we got to certify to three 

ingredients. We understand it can take a long 

time to put that together. So it is important if 

you get the letter and the request from us to 

respond to us immediately, say you're working on 

that request, and communicate if you need more 

time to get those records together.

 This is not a gotcha type exercise 

where we're honestly trying to, you know, get you 

on small technicalities, like we couldn't get the 

records together in five days. We want to work 

with you. It's going to be a very collaborative 

process as we go through them.

 We'll do a number of back and forths. 

What we like to do is, sometimes if we get a 

record and we can tell that you've made a good 

effort at it, we'll contact you and explain to 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
191 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

you why that record might need improvement or 

might not be a complete submission.

 While we can't reach out to your 

suppliers to get an additional record, you can. 

And often we find that people have something 

that's sufficient. So we will do everything we 

can to let you demonstrate to us that you have 

the records there. And, you know, so I don't 

want anyone to panic if they ever see one of 

these letters at any point. But that's just a 

little bit, I think, on how the process works.

 You can go to the next slide. We 

already -- actually, you can skip this one, 

because it's kind of redundant. This one too, 

just go to the next slide. Yeah.

 So on compliance and enforcement, so 

the standard essentially really is enforced at 

the retail level. Now that being said, there is 

no, unlike country of origin labeling where we 

actually go out and we do retail reviews for a 

certain number of retailers every year, we do not 

do that for the BE standard. The BE standard is 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
192 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

enforced primarily through complaints that we 

receive in.

 So what happens is that we receive a 

complaint of a suspected violation. We then go 

out, and we assess it, and we will possibly 

initiate a records review if needed to 

investigate a certain product. It's very 

important to note here that, and actually this is 

on the next slide. We can go to the next slide.

 This talks a little bit about - this 

is what our complaint portal looks like if you 

submitted a BE foods complaint. So there are 

certain pieces of information that we need in 

order to undertake an investigation and for it to 

be a meritorious complaint.

 Some of the things that we actually 

ask for are specifically we need exactly what's 

on the ingredient list. There's a number of 

questions we ask about the type of ingredients 

that they suspect to be BE, and why they're 

filing a complaint.

 There's also information that we need 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
193 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

about the product name, and where the product was 

purchased, and on what date. We also do accept 

-- the complaint portal allows for the uploading 

of photos. And we recommend that people send us 

photos of the packaging or submit that in.

 We can go on to the next slide. So 

once we basically receive that complaint, what we 

do is we analyze it to see if further 

investigation is warranted. In some cases we 

conduct a records audit which is what I've been 

talking about.

 I will say at the moment that a 

complaint is received, if you are the regulating 

entity, you will receive a letter from us letting 

you know that a complaint has been filed. We 

will then schedule a meeting with you for sort of 

the initiation of a records audit at this point. 

And then we'll go through that process.

 At the point that the audit is 

completed, you will appear as the regulated 

entity. You will get back the results of that 

audit. So you will know exactly how each of your 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
194 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

records was assessed.

 This is very important at the end. We 

do not actually have the authority for BE to 

recall any foods, or to actually levy any fines. 

People say, well, how do you enforce it? What we 

do is, if there is a negative finding of a food 

that we find does require disclosure that was not 

labeled properly, it is placed on our website.

 As of this point, there has been 

nobody that has been placed up there. But 

somebody, I'm sure, at some point, will be placed 

on that list.

 If you want to go to the next slide, 

this is the thing everybody is most interested 

in. So since January 1 of 2022 and 

implementation started through April 10th. How 

many complaint cases have been vetted. So we've 

only had 17 complaints that have been filed so 

far. Of those, 14 of the complaints were closed, 

and the bulk of them for no reasonable grounds.

 I'm going to be honest, I think what 

we see the most frequently is we get a lot of 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
195 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

things. My potato chip contained yellow dye 

number something or other that causes cancer. 

Well, clearly that's not something that falls 

within the BE standard, so we closed the 

complaint out.

 We also get a number of complaints 

where we don't have enough basic information to 

pursue it. You know, there's basic pieces of 

information we need in order to be able to 

initiate a records review. So sometimes they 

fall short on those grounds.

 Altogether, we've had three 

investigative complaints out of those 17. Two 

were closed. And those first two were closed, 

those really related to placement of where the 

declaration was on the package. And really when 

we investigated, and we looked at them, the 

placements were correct given the options that 

exist for where you can place disclosures.

 And right now we do have one open 

complaint case. This is the one I've referred to 

a little bit. And this is one where we're doing 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
196 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

a full records review on it. And I will say I 

think, based on some of our learnings as we're 

going through this process, we do understand, 

especially on supplier attestations, third-party 

certifications, that we've had some lessons that 

we've learned going through the process.

 And we're going to make some 

additional information available that we hope 

will help with what kind of records we're looking 

for to ensure that you have a record that would 

be successful.

 And that should be my last slide, yes, 

at which point we can open it up for questions.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 MR. HUGHES: I was going to --

(Simultaneous speaking.)

 MS. DICKSON: That seems fast.

 MEMBER PUMPLIN: Nathan Pumplin, CEO 

of Norfolk Healthy Produce. We have a 

bioengineered, high antioxidant purple tomato. 

We got non-regulated status under the secure rule 

last September, and we're working to bring it out 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
197 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

to market now.

 So I have a few questions. The first 

one is if you find that there's someone who's 

labeling their product with a bioengineered 

label, and there's a suspicion that it's not 

actually bioengineered, will that be investigated 

and promoted in a similar way?

 MS. DICKSON: We would certainly 

investigate and see. I don't know that we have 

come up with how we might handle that. I can't 

imagine that anyone would actually want to 

disclose and call it bioengineered if it's not. 

But, you know, we haven't had the case yet. So I 

think certainly we would look at that.

 I mean, I think that whole purpose of 

posting things on the website will be to show 

where complaints are coming in, what are they, 

and are they justifiable or not. And I think the 

more of those we do post as we work through the 

different complaints, I think the more helpful it 

will be to everyone to understand, well, this is 

not a violation of the standard, and this is a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

198 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

violation of the standard.

 MEMBER PUMPLIN: Yeah. And so the 

comment there is there's obviously a lot of 

similarities between the USDA organic label and 

the bioengineered label. But the bioengineered 

is seen as sort of a negative. Obviously the 

organic is a premium and a positive. I'll be 

interested to see how that goes forward.

 The other question I have, so our 

tomato is not yet on your list. It will be. 

Right now if you're selling regular tomatoes I 

guess you're exempted from any sort of 

disclosure. Am I correct in interpreting once 

ours is on the list than any other tomatoes being 

sold will need to have additional record keeping 

and disclosing?

 MS. DICKSON: They would, that's how 

it works. Now one thing we do strive to do --

CHAIR RENTZEL: No.

 MS. DICKSON: -- is as we go through

 (Simultaneous speaking.) 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
199 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MS. DICKSON: We are trying to be as 

specific as possible in those modifiers as we're 

looking at tomatoes. And in fact, I think many 

of you have probably seen our proposed rule. And 

on the first BE list, and what you saw when I put 

it up, we had summer squash on there.

 And so one of the requests that we had 

was that's too broad, right. So in the proposed 

rule we are seeking to narrow that modifier for 

summer squash. And in fact, you know, even what 

we've proposed -- what was in the proposed rule 

came back, and we had comments that that wasn't 

narrow enough. So honestly, it's going probably 

even more narrow than that at this point.

 So we are seeking to, as much as 

possible, as we add these items to the list, to 

really keep it to only those items that truly are 

BE. And I think a good example with this, Arctic 

Apples for one, right, where Arctic Apples were 

placed on the list from the beginning.

 In that case, it was easy. We could 

do it by the brand name. Also with summer 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
200 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

squash, it was harder. We looked at mosaic, and 

we're, like, we can't use, you know, mosaic in 

this case, because mosaic's still included, you 

know, several types that were not BE.

 So we are looking to that, and how do 

we do we get down -- and we're being very 

innovative, we've already come up to those, but 

how do we make that narrow and finite?

 MEMBER PUMPLIN: So I could maybe save 

my neck if we said purple tomatoes are BE, and 

then anything that's not purple would escape.

 MS. DICKSON: I'd have to look at it 

to know, but yeah, we can look at -- yeah.

 MEMBER PUMPLIN: Look forward to open 

discussion. Thank you.

 MS. DICKSON: Exactly.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 MEMBER GARREN: So you indicated you 

don't have enforcement authority to initiate a 

recall. But your partner organization, FSIS, and 

FDA, in regards to truth in labeling, wouldn't 

they have the authority to initiate recalls? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
201 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MS. DICKSON: They do but for 

different purposes. So they would not have 

necessarily authority to pull it back in this 

case, you know, for BE labeling, since that falls 

to our regulatory authority.

 Now where you can see it is at the 

state level. Sometimes states have state laws. 

And under the state laws they may have recall 

authority to do certain things in those cases. 

And certainly if we have a case like that, where 

we see something, we reach out to the state and 

we check that. And we refer it to the state, and 

we refer it to them for enforcement if that's the 

case.

 MEMBER GARREN: And it just seems like 

if you put it up on the website, like, how long 

does it stay up on the website, you know, in 

order to -- I guess, so it's completely off the 

market or they just always stay there?

 MS. DICKSON: Well, I've got to be 

honest, that's one we're still figuring out at 

this point. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Since no one has brought it up yet, we 

haven't wrestled with the idea. Because it's 

true. It's, like, how do you know when it's off 

the market, especially when you get into the 

processed foods. Like, you want it to stay up 

there so if any of that product's in the market, 

you know, at any time, people can look it up and 

understand what it is and know they should have a 

disclosure, and it is a BE food.

 Again, our main objective here is we 

want to provide consumers what they're looking 

for which is the assurance, you know, on whether 

there's BE in the product itself.

 MEMBER CIRULI: So I have five 

questions, all unrelated.

 Chris Ciruli. So my first question's 

going to be about the summer squash, right. The 

only thing I'm aware of is yellow. Is that the 

only squash that is in question, or is it Mexican 

or green, Mexican being known as gray?

 MS. DICKSON: Yes, and honestly I'm 

not as familiar with --

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
203 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER CIRULI: Okay.

 MS. DICKSON: -- yellow or gray. What 

I know is what we were looking at was we got down 

to the mosaic varieties, and then we're looking 

at, you know, what within the mosaic variety 

would still be there. And then there's other 

ways to look at, really what they're looking at 

is how are you addressing the virus or what is 

the trade.

 And so I think what they're looking at 

is something along the lines of, like, a protein 

coat, like mosaic.

 MEMBER CIRULI: So we were --

MS. DICKSON: So we did that --

MEMBER CIRULI: -- treating mosaic 

like a disease, right. So mosaic is a disease 

that makes it, like this forms.

 MS. DICKSON: Exactly.

 MEMBER CIRULI: Yeah. And then I've 

never seen eggplant on there. Do you know 

anything about eggplant, like what eggplant 

they're specifically talking about, or just 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
204 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

eggplant in general?

 MS. DICKSON: I don't know off the top 

of my head. But I know there is a biotech 

engineered one out there. I'd be more than happy 

to send it to you if you'd like to know --

MEMBER CIRULI: All right. The rest 

of my comments are totally unrelated to this, but 

since you want to go over country of origin --

MS. DICKSON: Sure, have at it.

 MEMBER CIRULI: I really like your 

complaint form that you have up there. I don't 

know why they don't have that for organics or 

other items, but I like that. So I don't know if 

your organic cohorts have that type of complaint 

form. It's a nice one to have.

 So mine would go more about, like, on 

consumers there is a sticker that you guys change 

from black and yellow for, like, radioactive that 

you went to irradiation, and you went to, like, a 

blue flowery sticker. So no consumer really 

knows what the blue flowery sticker means, right.

 So it's supposed to be on product, and 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
205 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

it is on some product. And when you talk about 

enforcement there's no actual enforcement at the 

store level that you label that differently even 

though it's in part of the recommendation, right.

 So what we're seeing on our end is a 

lot of comingling of mainly Hispanic and Asian 

chains that don't know about the regulations. So 

when people bring irradiated mangos into the 

country, they are labeled. But there's no 

disclosure on the selling part of it, right. So 

they're supposed to be sold separately and not 

comingled with other mangos.

 MS. DICKSON: Right.

 MEMBER CIRULI: But when you go to the 

store, it's just in general thrown in there, and 

there's no disclosure. So I know that's really 

not in your bailiwick to deal with, but since 

we're just airing our thoughts here with you, if 

you have someone up in another departments that 

could deal with those type of issues we would 

love to know.

 MS. DICKSON: Yeah, and I would say 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
206 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

even when it gets to country of origin, if 

they're in the same bin, the really should be 

labeled in a clear way where they're labeled 

differently, where each would have a very 

different sticker that shows different origins. 

But you're talking about where you have some 

coming in that are irradiated from other 

countries. So they should be showing that.

 And honestly, even more helpful is 

what a lot of retailers do sometimes is they'll 

have the placards where it says both are in the 

bin, so you know to kind of pick up and look for 

one versus the other.

 And we certainly, we do try to look 

for that and enforce that when we see it at the 

retail level, when we're out there doing those 

inspections. And I'm going to be honest, that's 

one of the areas where we see, I think, the 

biggest violations for country of origin labeling 

are in fruit and vegetables.

 And it's usually in those big bulk 

bins for that purpose, that people are 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
207 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

comingling, they're throwing things in. Half of 

them are labeled, half of them aren't labeled. 

And you don't know if they're the actual same 

origin or not. And what you find is, depending 

on the origin, they can have very different 

characteristics, right, which is why we require 

that to be labeled, if that's helpful.

 MEMBER BENSON: James Benson, you had 

said you had a slide on bioengineered versus GMO 

that you left out.

 MS. DICKSON: Yes.

 MEMBER BENSON: Can you just briefly 

explain that --

MS. DICKSON: Sure.

 MEMBER BENSON: -- the difference in 

the eyes of the USDA. The non-GMO sticker on 

produce, I mean, if you walk through the produce 

department today, how many items do you see 

stickered non-GMO? And I don't think the 

consumer really understands. They think GMO is 

bad.

 MS. DICKSON: Right. Well, and I'll 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
208 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

say the biggest difference between BE and GMO, or 

GE foods, is that bioengineered is a very, very 

specific definition that talks about in vitro 

rDNA, and specific plant breeding techniques, and 

only allows for, you know, two specific 

exceptions to when something would not be BE 

which is the found in nature really or produced 

through conventional breeding.

 The GE and GMO foods, what we find is 

that many countries use them. It's not well 

defined anywhere, in fact that was why the Codex 

work, like, crashed and burned many years ago. 

No one could agree what was in the definition, 

what it meant.

 So certainly I think one of the 

reasons we say we did not go with those two terms 

was because they were so well -- they were not 

well defined, and we were afraid it would create 

a lot of confusion. Also the statute directed us 

to use bioengineered foods, so we had to go down 

that road.

 But one thing I think that we're doing 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
209 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

to help clear that up in the minds of consumers, 

there's a big campaign that we're working on 

called the Feed Your Mind initiative where we're 

really putting out a lot of materials to help 

explain those differences and to help explain 

this is what a bioengineered food is versus this 

is what a GE or GMO food may be. And this is 

what you can expect when you buy something with 

that terminology on it.

 And I will say, you know, the standard 

does allow for it. You can use, for example, the 

terms GE or GMO. We don't prohibit the use of 

those terms in any way. The only thing is that, 

just because you don't have to disclose for BE, 

does not mean that you can automatically put on 

your product this is a non-GMO, non-BE food.

 So you still have to adhere to those 

third party certification standards and those 

definitions that FSIS and FDA and others 

maintain.

 MEMBER FRASIER: I'm Bruce Frasier, 

Dixondale Farms. What about the food kits that 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
210 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

are comingling, putting in potatoes, squash, my 

melons --

MS. DICKSON: Yeah, ha, ha, ha.

 MEMBER FRASIER: -- you know, putting 

a kit together, and they may have some 

bioengineered products included in that kit. Do 

they have to -- do they stick that label on the 

entire kit where my customers all of a sudden 

will be calling saying and saying is your 

cantaloupe bioengineered?

 MS. DICKSON: They so, just like they 

would on a processed food. So even if only one 

or two ingredients on that food, for example, are 

bioengineered, it has to have the disclosure. 

Same thing if it's a kit, and the kit has five 

different fruits and vegetables in it, and one of 

them is.

 Now you can make as clear as you want 

which one is or which one is not, you know, in 

terms of how you label it, but certainly the 

minimum disclosure that it is required, that 

either the symbol, or the text, or one of those 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
211 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

four options would be on the package to signal 

that something in that package --

MEMBER FRASIER: But the consumer 

would not know which one was?

 MS. DICKSON: No, they don't under the 

current rules.

 MEMBER GARREN: So if it's direct to 

consumer, like they are shipping it directly to 

the consumer, in a box, they'd have to do that?

 MS. DICKSON: You know, that's one I 

haven't considered before. So honestly I have to 

take that one back and think about it. So if 

it's just loose in a box, right, I see Mike 

looking at me, ha, ha.

 MEMBER GARREN: Yeah. Mike, you know, 

does that, but that's all right --

MS. DICKSON: But I'm assuming --

(Simultaneous speaking.)

 MEMBER GARREN: -- yeah.

 MS. DICKSON: -- well, and I guess it 

depends how they put it in the box. Like, you 

know, they could put individual stickers on those 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
212 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

things in the box --

MEMBER GARREN: USDA could --

MS. DICKSON: -- that would be --

(Simultaneous speaking.)

 MS. DICKSON: Yeah. All right, ha, 

ha, ha. I have to be honest, that's one I 

haven't previously considered.

 MEMBER PUMPLIN: Kind of related to 

Bruce's question maybe, but do you have any plans 

to track data on the sales, sort of market data 

of bioengineer groups carrying the labels?

 And so I talked to a lot of retailers, 

for instance, when the law went into effect. 

They're selling rainbow papaya from Hawaii, or 

they're selling the pink little pineapple. And 

then, you know, start of the year they had to 

start putting the stickers on it. So they have 

their own sales data of what the impact is.

 Everything I've heard is no change 

whatsoever. But I think that would be 

interesting to a lot of people to address those 

kind of concerns. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
213 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MS. DICKSON: Yes. So it's really 

difficult. Because we don't, like I mentioned, 

unlike, for example, country of origin where we 

generate data, because we go out and we do these 

reviews each year, we don't go out and do active 

monitoring, you know, at the retail level. So 

we're not generating data on that.

 Now we have become aware that there is 

some data out there that has some information in 

it on bioengineered foods. We can track text at 

this point and look at those numbers. It 

doesn't, unfortunately, track symbols at this 

point. So there's bits and pieces of it that we 

may be able to look at, I think, as we move 

forward.

 It seems like text disclosures are the 

things I can probably, you know, we may be able 

to look at and, you know, provide some 

information on as we move forward. And certainly 

we're looking. Are there different data 

collection things out there that would help 

inform us. But unfortunately, it's just not 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
214 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

something that's real well, you know, necessarily 

reported on scanner data like you can get from 

many other things.

 MEMBER VAZQUEZ: Yes, Jorge Vazquez, 

Latin Specialties. So following up or building 

up on Christopher's comment, I think we need a 

little bit more clarity or a resource tools from 

the USDA explaining what varieties fall into the 

GMO or not, you know.

 Because there is a lot of training 

that goes on in the industry. And I don't think 

most people are aware of what's GMO or not, you 

know. Sometimes not even the farmers know of the 

product is GMO or not.

 MS. DICKSON: Okay. Well, and 

certainly one thing that we're going to start to 

do as we're moving forward on the regular 

rulemaking process is having a regular request 

for information that comes out in the Federal 

Register. 

So one thing I would encourage is if 

there are varieties, if there are things on the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
215 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

list where you feel like they're too broad at 

this point, I mean, sort of like we got the 

request for squash, and to narrow the summer 

squash down, and what that means.

 Now I'll be honest, I didn't think 

about it in terms of red, yellow, green, what 

that means. So I think we have to look at that 

a little bit as well. But certainly you can 

always request that. And any time that comes in, 

that goes into the formal rulemaking process. 

And we will look at and, you know, and reassess 

anything that's already currently on the list.

 That being said, we also have BE food 

disclosure information that you can -- or inbox, 

the BE food disclosure USDA.gov that you can send 

to. So you can send us questions at any time. 

And I have a team of people who literally monitor 

that email inbox every day and get responses back 

within five to ten days.

 So if you ever have questions about 

varieties, about anything, and whether they would 

be included in something that's on the BE food 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
216 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

list, you can send those to us, and we will go 

out and research.

 And I have a lot of technical folks 

who can provide you a really good answer on which 

specific variety. They could go down the whole 

list of squash probably for you, off the top of 

their head and tell you that. Because they 

looked at that at the point that we went into 

adding the product to the BE food list.

 MEMBER GARREN: This is more of a 

comment. Since you have these questions that are 

being answered --

MS. DICKSON: Uh-huh.

 MEMBER GARREN: -- do you have a FAQ 

page that could be generated with those questions 

that are coming in?

 MS. DICKSON: We do. And we often, 

what we do is we monitor what's coming into our 

inbox. And if we notice that there's a question 

that's been coming in we have three or four 

different -- in fact, our FAQ pages, because we 

have a number of them, are kind of itemized by 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
217 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

different topics. And so what we do is we tend 

to add those into the FAQ pages so there's more 

guidance there for you.

 MR. HUGHES: Any other questions?

 Excellent, thank you, Krista.

 MS. DICKSON: Thank you so much.

 MR. HUGHES: We really appreciate you 

coming. Okay.

 MS. DICKSON: Sure.

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah. So before we go 

into the next part of the meeting, we're going to 

do our group glamor shots outside. So here's 

what I need from everyone to make sure that you 

have your USDA visitor badge with the V in the 

bar code. I don't want you to go outside without 

that, because I can't get you back in, especially 

if you leave your license inside, which is what 

we intend to so, just have everyone walk outside 

and --

MS. BARTLEY: Yeah, when I say you 

won't take off the ID. I have to have it to get 

back in. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
218 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: Yeah. Tab is our 

official photographer. And she's going to edit 

the photo to make everyone look beautiful.

 PARTICIPANT: Tab, that's terrific.

 MR. HUGHES: And 25 years younger.

 Okay, let's head out, because she's 

got hard deadline to meet for some other stuff.

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 2:26 p.m. and resumed at 

2:34 p.m.)

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes, DFO 

speaking. I just wanted to state a couple of 

things for the record mostly. We did have, I 

would say, three to four people who registered to 

attend in person. But then when I followed up to 

give them instructions on attending, they said, 

oops, didn't mean to register to attend. So 

there were no oral comments. We completely 

skipped that section today that's on the agenda, 

so I just wanted to acknowledge that.

 The second thing that I wanted to 

acknowledge is that we received written public 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
219 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

comments from one stakeholder. One of the public 

attendees who registered said hey, well since I 

can't attend in person, can I provide written 

comments?

 And I said, yeah, absolutely, since 

you're already registered.

 And he provided those comments just 

the other day, and I think I forwarded it, you 

know, to the entire body. You all received that, 

thumps up? Yes, yes.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 MR. HUGHES: Okay, great. Just wanted 

to get that covered since we sort of sped right 

over that. The Chair and I knew that there were 

no oral or written comments that we needed to 

address for the record.

 The next thing is what we're going to 

do for the remainder of the day which is 

basically the subcommittees that you're part of, 

we're going to get in groups, pull some chairs up 

on the side and have engagement time.

 I'll take it to Kay to sort of talk 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
220 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

more about that if you want.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: I can, yes. Are all 

the chairs back in the room at this point in 

time? Okay.

 I consulted with the chairs to see how 

we wanted to go through this next section. And 

since this is or first time meeting together in 

person, all of them agreed that the felt it would 

be good to take this time to engage in person in 

our subcommittees.

 And then tomorrow when we have the 

open discussion, then we can open it up and share 

a little bit more with each of the subcommittees 

giving reports accordingly.

 So let's see, you all know the chairs 

better than I do but, Chairs, do you want to 

indicate, stand up, do whatever, and we can 

figure out -- okay, there's one, two, three.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. All right, 

well, I thought if there's just four groups, we 

could maybe have a cluster up here in the front, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
221 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

on either side, or in the very middle, and two 

back here. And we'll just go ahead and do some 

subcommittee work if --

MR. HUGHES: Okay, yeah. And you're 

just pulling up chairs.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Yes.

 MR. HUGHES: To create little pods.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Let me also ask who 

distributed these?

 MR. HUGHES: Oh, I did.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: -- for us? You did? 

Do you want to mention a little bit more --

MR. HUGHES: Yes.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: -- about them --

MR. HUGHES: I will.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: -- please?

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. So our colleague 

Karla Stockli was not able to attend today, but 

it just so happened she had a meeting on the 

calendar regarding dried fruit and engaging with 

the USDA, so on the dried fruit and potentially 

using it across various school programs. And we 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
222 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

had a lot of the samples left. And I thought, 

hmm, maybe I should share this with the other 

representatives, and Karla will probably love 

that idea.

 And so I had a ton left and spread 

them out on a table. Try them. And if you love 

them, maybe send Karla Stockli an email and say I 

tried your dried fruit, and it is amazing.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Thank you.

 MR. HUGHES: And there is a document 

that says what the mix is, so I can tell you all 

what the mix is. I just have to get the pamphlet 

in the back.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Thank you.

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 2:38 p.m. and resumed at 

3:42 p.m.)

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. I think we'll 

call this back into, I don't know, whatever the 

official terminology is, but -- back on the 

record. Thank you. Okay. Okay.

 I think most of the working groups had 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
223 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

kind of finished up or come to the point in time 

when they were needing a break, and it is getting 

close to the end of the day. And so we thought 

we ought to just kind of bring you all back and 

thank you for your work this afternoon. I know 

it is a lot of interaction. And I think the 

small group working was very good.

 So with that, unless somebody else has 

some comments or -- Darrell does.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes. I have got some 

quick comments. What I want to say is that 

tomorrow on the agenda, we've got an open 

engagement period as well. And during that 

period, there are two things that I would like to 

do, which it may mean that we don't break out 

into groups.

 It's, one, discuss the structure of 

our subcommittee workgroups and second is to sort 

of have each of the subcommittee leads come and 

give a "this is what we are thinking from this 

subcommittee's perspective." Just so that we can 

have something on the record about what each of 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
224 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the groups -- or just engage everyone. It 

doesn't have to be a recommendation specifically, 

just what the discussion is surrounding.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: And then am I correct 

in my understanding, Darrell, that we will be 

able to engage as like a full group once those --

MR. HUGHES: Things are handled?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Yes.

 MR. HUGHES: Absolutely.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. Okay. All 

right.

 MEMBER BRIANO: We'll have our 

breakout subcommittee meetings and then we'll 

have the update to the total group, correct?

 MR. HUGHES: We will have our -- let's 

first do the discussion about our subcommittee 

structures. Then we'll -- actually no. Let's do 

the update from the subcommittee leads first and 

then the structure about our subcommittees and 

then we can break off into groups.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: Is that okay? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
225 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER BRIANO: Yes. We spoke about 

the charge for tomorrow so we'll have to bring --

MR. HUGHES: Oh, that's a good point. 

Okay. Let's not worry about the update from the 

subcommittee leads. Let's only deal with the 

structure of the subcommittees and then you all 

will break off into subcommittees because a lot 

of the -- tomorrow what's more important is 

discussing the charges in the afternoon. And 

there is going to be 75 minutes for that, for 

each of those charges. Go ahead, Donna.

 MEMBER GARREN: So the charges -- so 

there are two charges I see on the agenda. Will 

those be assigned a specific subgroup because --

MR. HUGHES: They already have been 

assigned a specific subgroup, subcommittee. So 

the market news charge, the data reporting and 

analysis subcommittee, they have engaged with 

John Okoniewski a couple times already.

 MEMBER GARREN: Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: And so when John presents 

tomorrow, he is presenting to the entire body. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
226 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

But there are some members here that will have 

some background.

 MEMBER GARREN: Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: And the same thing with 

SEI, the Inspections Infrastructure, they have 

already engaged with them. And so there are some 

people in the room that will have some knowledge 

to share and ping ideas to bring everyone up to 

speed.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. Everyone clear? 

MR. HUGHES: Yup.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: All right. Well, with 

that, one of the things I would like to do is 

remind you of the meet and greet reception that 

has been sponsored by the American Frozen Food 

Institute by the International Fresh Produce 

Association. Sorry. I had to cheat and look 

because the next one gets longer. It is the 

American Fruit and Vegetable Processor-Grower 

Coalition.

 These three organizations represent 

every segment of our business from fresh to 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
227 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

frozen to processed. And certainly we appreciate 

their sponsoring the reception tonight.

 At the request of my leadership, the 

three of us here, we have made arrangements and 

Chairman Glenn Thompson, Chair of the House Ag 

Committee will be attending the reception this 

evening to kind of give us a Farm Bill update. 

So you can look forward to that at tonight's 

reception so.

 MEMBER GARREN: And that's -- she's 

underplaying this. To get GT Thompson to come to 

something that he is not paid for is huge because 

he is a $10,000 minimum gift in D.C. for 

receptions. So the fact that he is coming, that 

is saying a lot.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 CHAIR RENTZEL: I will say GT is also 

from the State of Pennsylvania, which is where I 

am based as well as Julie, so I played a few 

Pennsylvania constituents. Although we're not 

really in his district, I did play that card with 

him. He has been a longtime supporter of Ag, so 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
228 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

we are very thrilled that he has agreed to come 

out to the reception tonight so.

 If you are not familiar with the 

hotel, you are going to look like you are going 

back in the bowels of the building to find this 

reception room, and you are.

 You will see the entrance to FEMA with 

all the security guards and everything. You keep 

going back down the hallway past the security, 

and FEMA will direct you to the room. It is 

Congressional II, and it is back a hallway.

 MEMBER DEATLEY: That's at the Holiday 

Inn?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: It is at the Holiday 

Inn. That is correct, but you like you're -- if 

you're standing in the lobby, and you're looking, 

the registration is to the left, the 21st 

Amendment is to the right, which is the bar 

there. You go back past the bar, just past that, 

you turn left, and you go down the hallway as far 

as you can go until you see FEMA. And when you 

see FEMA, turn right and go back that hallway. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
229 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

And that is where the room is.

 MEMBER DEATLEY: It's right on the --

(Simultaneous speaking.)

 MR. HUGHES: What's the password?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: What's the password? 

No. It is on the main floor of the hotel. And 

it will run from 5:00 to 7:00 tonight so.

 MEMBER DEATLEY: Do you know if the 

Holiday Inn has parking?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Yes, they do have 

parking. It is on 6th Street. There are 

actually two parking areas. There is a parking 

area across the street and then there is one just 

as you go past the Holiday Inn to the left. 

That's the one that actually takes you into the 

hotel parking area. Okay? Any other business 

for the good of the group?

 MEMBER DEATLEY: Do we leave our names 

here?

 MR. HUGHES: Yes.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. So with that, 

we will recess until tomorrow morning at 9 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
230 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

o'clock.

 MR. HUGHES: Do we have to do a 

motion?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: I don't think so. Oh, 

leave these name tags on the table. Yes, yes. 

Please take these. Yes. Please take these with 

you for tonight.

 MR. HUGHES: So we are officially 

recessed for the evening?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: We are officially 

recessed for the evening.

 MR. HUGHES: Okay.

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 3:51 p.m.) 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

231

A

a.m 1:6 4:2 110:2,3

139:1

abilities 57:11

ability 52:5 67:1 78:14

able 13:20 25:18 28:8

45:5 50:20 61:20 80:3

89:2 91:2 93:13 102:8

104:17 115:8 116:14

117:11 123:1 125:21

195:9 213:14,17

221:18 224:6

above-entitled 110:1

138:22 218:8 222:15

230:13

absence 176:9

absolutely 45:6 53:4,14

53:15 59:17 65:6

133:10 219:5 224:9

accent 24:2

accept 121:18 188:22

193:2

acceptable 183:1 187:4

187:12 188:11,13,20

188:21 189:2

accepted 128:16

access 17:18 20:6,9

22:5 23:6 100:10

119:22 122:20 123:2

125:22 130:11

accomplish 98:2

accomplished 106:8

accountability 64:9

accurate 122:14

ACDA 139:19

acid 174:9

acknowledge 218:20

218:22

acre 25:2 48:4 50:6,9

50:12,14 136:4

acreage 118:16 121:1

127:18,22 128:2,7

130:18,20 136:10,14

136:17

acreages 128:16

acres 48:4 50:12 113:6

127:9 128:14,22

129:1,7,12 137:1

act 91:15 115:17 142:11

168:7 178:18,19,20

178:20

acted 33:7

acting 33:5 106:11

139:21

action 56:3 81:3

active 66:1,16 78:17

213:5

activities 80:8

activity 68:13 69:4

actors 70:6,7

acts 179:2

actual 45:12 85:21

120:5 130:22 178:11

205:2 207:3

add 54:20 67:8 104:3

104:10 105:3 145:20

174:12,13 178:5

199:16 217:2

added 26:2 174:8

178:10

adding 94:9 126:14

216:9

addition 103:14 104:11

124:18 125:4

additional 71:19 94:9

95:7 126:13,14 145:7

156:11 157:7,21

162:6 191:4 196:8

198:15

additive 174:17,20

additives 173:21 174:2

174:6

address 8:1 52:4 120:3

139:9 161:1 212:21

219:16

addressed 57:7

addressing 203:8

adhere 209:17

adjacent 186:19

Adjournment 3:12

adjust 160:11

administer 115:21

116:4 117:11

administered 87:17

121:13

administers 166:20

administration 33:4,7

105:19

administrative 146:21

156:8

administrator 2:1,2,6,8

2:10 28:3 33:1,3,7,10

36:9 40:1 56:21 65:13

139:18 159:2

administrators 33:13

42:20

adopt 79:14

advantage 7:14

advise 132:15

advising 21:6

Advisor 2:3

advisory 1:3 4:6,6 5:17

19:10 29:12 30:6,8,19

31:3,22 43:12 52:11

65:17 66:8 67:8,10

69:2 83:2,14

advocating 161:16

affairs 106:14

affect 26:15 53:2

affiliated 162:11

afford 7:4 87:2

afraid 208:18

afternoon 38:18 139:5

139:6 165:21 223:5

225:9

ag 19:11 21:3 38:14

45:11,14,16 46:6,9,10

46:13 47:17 51:5,16

110:15 130:9 143:16

143:19 144:2 167:6

227:5,22

age 56:10

agencies 134:16

143:15,17 144:9

agency 31:5 87:18

120:9,19 125:2,12

137:10 144:1

agenda 56:3 65:10

140:4 218:19 223:12

225:13

agent 122:6 125:5

ago 46:16 47:16 62:10

135:7 150:4 161:14

161:21 208:12

agree 87:22 208:13

agreed 220:8 228:1

agreeing 29:19

agreement 61:16 142:3

143:14 145:16,16,19

agreements 54:16

105:2 141:21 145:18

agricultural 32:22

125:12 141:20 168:7

agriculture 1:1 45:18

46:9 48:3 59:15 62:11

68:3 115:6 134:17

143:20 150:22 161:20

163:21 166:15 168:9

Agricultures 115:21

ahead 52:18 107:15

110:5 139:4 143:3

165:19 187:5 221:2

225:11

aimed 100:3 150:6

ain't 164:2

air 47:8

airing 205:18

airplanes 171:9

Alabama 151:16 152:9

Alaska 60:8 149:4

151:17 152:1

alcoholic 181:22

alfalfa 184:1

allocates 97:20

allow 75:8 117:12

149:22 158:12 182:8

186:12 189:22 209:11

allowable 146:19

allowed 67:4,9 92:5

146:20

allowing 53:21

allows 69:8 102:17

103:3 148:17 187:22

193:3 208:5

alluded 159:2

almond 15:6 19:15

almonds 19:15 20:2

94:6

alongside 157:18

Altogether 195:12

Alyssa 1:18 17:8 85:8

86:10

amazing 60:6 222:8

amend 145:16,19

amendment 105:3

150:7,19 168:7,8

228:18

America 8:3 49:12,15

American 7:8,10 15:7

19:9 21:13 23:12,17

139:19 142:10 226:15

226:19

amount 35:19 37:7

47:18 62:16 89:20

92:13 93:20 148:12

amounts 64:6 98:20

174:4

AMS 2:1,6,10 28:3 30:4

30:6,11 31:4 32:1

33:3,17 34:1,4,5,5,7,7

34:9,12,14 35:13

39:15 40:2 49:1 56:9

59:10,22 96:17

115:17 120:19 121:12

125:20 166:13 177:16

Amy 1:11 17:21 25:4

analysis 98:7 100:22

101:3,16 108:8 155:8

225:18

analyze 98:6 193:8

Andrew 1:16 12:21

16:14

Andy 16:14

Angel 1:11 11:19

Angeles 26:5 106:10

angles 83:15 102:2

animal 9:19 129:10

animals 183:19

annex 167:18

announced 69:15 70:11

71:13 72:12 145:7

159:4

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
232

announcement 55:9

165:17

annual 67:12 94:4

118:15 127:5 171:12

annually 94:3 128:15

answer 91:13 93:8

95:12 124:14 131:18

164:17 165:11 181:13

216:4

answered 65:1 216:12

answers 95:10 150:1

154:2 155:1 167:1

Anthony 1:19 16:2

anticipating 153:9

156:21

antioxidant 196:20

antioxidants 22:15

anybody 43:18 154:5

anymore 75:11

anything's 10:12

anyway 165:9

anyways 28:14 105:12

API 100:11 102:17

103:14

apologize 28:2,7

app 100:10 102:22

103:2,3

apparel 113:22

apparently 130:3

appear 193:20

appears 165:8 178:1

apple 6:10,21 18:14

61:4 89:2 165:1

apples 18:13,13 199:19

199:19

applicability 76:6

applicant 117:1 123:1

application 71:14 79:15

117:5 121:16 122:22

152:11

applications 72:12

121:18 144:12,13,16

144:19

applied 63:21 150:19

150:21

applies 178:16 179:1,5

183:21

apply 49:10,11 71:11

79:13 87:20 121:17

144:10 150:7 151:1

152:4 175:15 179:2

applying 156:7 158:21

appointee 33:4

appointees 33:15

appreciate 44:2 51:1

55:17 56:7 57:18,18

60:12,20 64:17 84:5

86:5 87:5 109:15

137:17 165:14 217:7

227:1

approach 74:20 83:15

144:5 184:21 187:9

appropriate 149:8

approve 90:3

approved 67:7 68:5

approving 115:12

approximately 87:14

April 1:5 5:18 42:1

194:16

Arctic 199:18,19

area 25:13 33:18 36:5

37:21 39:16 40:4,7,11

61:9,10 67:16 70:17

229:13,16

areas 69:13 72:17 73:3

81:11 86:7 124:22

155:16 175:6 176:15

206:18 229:12

Arizona 15:13,21 21:20

21:21 22:1 152:16

Arkansas 151:17

ARPA 142:11

arrangements 227:4

ascorbic 174:9

Asian 205:6

aside 145:12

asked 42:9 58:7,9 64:1

143:6 162:1

asking 76:11 80:18

137:21 147:20,21

163:10,11

asks 124:9

asparagus 16:19 17:1

aspect 102:12 117:6

aspects 99:18 102:13

121:21

assess 192:5

assessed 194:1

assessments 100:22

assigned 149:17

225:14,16

assistance 35:11 63:7

70:20 71:11,15 87:8

87:10 140:6 141:13

141:16 146:22 156:6

assistant 2:7,8 139:17

141:14

associate 42:19

associated 118:2

association 6:20 7:8

10:7,8,9 14:11 15:7

15:21 24:5,6,7 84:20

139:20 153:12 226:17

assume 102:6,7

assuming 104:19 132:6

211:17

assurance 202:12

atmosphere 5:10

attend 99:21 157:10

218:15,17 219:3

221:18

attended 100:1

attendees 1:9 219:2

attending 100:6 218:16

227:6

attention 140:9

attestation 189:5

attestations 189:1,2

196:4

attesting 189:6

attract 73:3

audit 193:10,17,19,22

auditable 78:3

audits 58:19 80:1 119:1

August 70:12

Austin 22:20

authority 67:11 172:17

194:3 200:19,22

201:3,5,9

authorized 142:9

177:21

automated 36:13

automatically 183:20

184:3,8 209:15

automobile 114:12

available 4:16 83:18

97:2,5 98:21 100:9

119:15 131:15 145:11

148:19 196:8

Avenue 1:7

avocado 14:20

avocados 17:16

avoid 168:17

award 141:2 144:8

awarded 64:4 152:1

158:21

aware 43:20 45:15

140:13 141:4 174:18

202:18 213:8 214:12

awareness 132:19

133:11

awful 67:21

B

ba 26:13,13,13

back 6:18 9:21 29:4

38:14 39:22 42:18

50:3 55:21,21 64:20

74:13 75:18 78:11

83:7,19 85:11 86:3

87:16 89:13 95:8

111:11 129:2 135:22

138:18 163:11 165:17

166:8 172:18,18

177:8 180:12 182:16

186:1 190:19 193:21

199:12 201:3 211:12

215:18 217:16,22

220:3 221:2 222:13

222:19,20 223:4

228:5,9,11,19,22

background 22:9 30:5

32:21 97:10 117:3

121:21 135:22 150:5

167:21 226:2

backgrounds 29:10

backwards 167:10

backyards 11:3

bad 27:9 35:7 70:6

80:13 207:21

badge 217:14

bag 138:3

bailiwick 205:17

Baker 1:11,12 17:20,21

24:8,9 52:19 91:4,4

92:8

bale 34:5

Ballay 1:12 20:11,12

Band 152:6

banks 11:9 35:10 36:1

41:17 46:2 59:4

155:22

banner 74:6

bar 33:16 185:1 190:5

217:15 228:18,19

bars 171:9

BARTLEY 217:20

based 16:22 48:5 61:18

63:5 79:1 101:16

102:9 111:18 120:1

120:16 130:7 142:22

196:2 227:19

basic 134:13 195:7,8

basically 13:7 23:9 30:6

38:8 106:18 115:6,17

117:12,19 118:11

123:7 168:6 175:10

175:16 178:16 189:11

193:7 219:19

basics 121:12 125:2

basis 49:6 52:20 121:18

177:5

batch 176:9,9

Bayou 25:22

beans 53:7,10

beat 25:4

beautiful 218:3

becoming 36:2

beef 34:4 43:16

began 6:20

beginning 42:1 55:20

103:7 113:8 124:10

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
233

131:6 154:18 160:3

199:20

beginnings 9:13

behalf 59:22

believe 5:18 28:6 103:7

107:12 166:6 171:22

beneficial 130:12

benefit 20:8 29:21

31:21 87:21

Benny 47:15

Benson 1:13 14:1,1

207:8,8,12,15

berries 16:19 21:5

berry 24:20

best 13:11 83:10

101:10 102:3 104:8

125:1 138:9 141:9

144:3 153:10,18

164:1,2

better 14:15 22:11

28:13 32:14 39:4,9

126:13 220:16

beverages 114:22

181:22

beyond 29:15 54:15

bid 61:22 160:21

big 31:10,11,20 40:7

44:8 74:8 87:21

104:15,16 106:17

129:10,16 136:17

137:1 146:4,5 159:19

163:16 206:21 209:2

bigger 36:2,3 165:3

biggest 75:14 206:19

208:1

bill 2:9 97:14,19 98:14

102:4 104:19 107:14

109:21 110:6,13,19

111:3 116:17 117:10

117:16 119:10 131:20

137:15,19 157:8

227:7

billion 35:12 40:17 42:2

58:14 68:7,10

Bills 97:17

bin 170:19 187:11

206:2,12

bins 206:22

bioengineer 212:11

bioengineered 3:9 91:8

166:2,19,21 168:3,10

168:13,15 173:5,20

177:14,16,18,20

178:7,9,12 179:17,22

183:19,20,22 184:2,4

184:15,16,17 185:21

186:9 196:20 197:4,6

197:12 198:5,5 207:9

208:2,20 209:6 210:6

210:10,14 213:10

biology 22:9

biotech 204:3

biotechnology 22:12

22:16

bit 14:4 20:17 25:5 27:7

30:5 32:21 61:17 66:4

70:10 73:21 77:15

110:12 116:2 117:14

123:9 125:9 127:8

141:6 144:4,14 150:4

160:5 166:11 175:2

176:15 177:15 178:22

183:15 191:11 192:10

195:22 214:7 215:8

220:13 221:12

bits 213:13

bitterness 24:16

black 26:18 81:13

107:22 184:19 204:18

blackberries 24:18

Blackboard 124:21

blocks 114:5,5,6

bloomer 26:3

blown 65:6

blue 204:20,21

blueberries 18:14

BMW 114:14

board 14:10,13,20,21

15:6,18 17:19 19:10

19:10 30:20 40:1,5

43:16 58:20 61:21

65:17,18 67:8,10,11

69:2 92:12 183:5

boards 15:6 30:10,11

30:14 32:1

body 30:4 219:9 225:22

Boise 24:11

bolster 74:19

boom 136:1

booth 100:6 132:18

booths 100:18

boots 120:20

border 18:19 78:10

81:22 82:1,8 130:1

170:9

born 27:4

Boskovich 24:3

bottled 18:15,15

bottom 113:2,11 131:17

133:2 136:5 150:8

bought 35:7 147:22

148:8

bowels 228:5

box 40:13,13 57:10

58:6 60:22 61:15,19

86:8 211:9,13,21

212:1

boxes 40:15 59:20 60:7

brainstorm 45:2

Branch 2:9

brand 21:3 39:20 43:9

94:17 152:7 199:22

brands 6:14

break 81:17 109:12,19

223:2,15 224:20

225:7

breaking 44:16 82:12

breakout 51:7 102:17

224:13

breaks 106:22 127:21

breeding 91:10 173:9

173:12 208:4,8

brewery 11:7

Briano 1:13 19:13,14

137:21 224:12 225:1

Brief 76:5

briefly 207:12

bright 136:11

bring 11:12 26:14 27:18

39:14 54:21 71:3

196:22 205:8 223:4

225:2 226:8

bringing 29:11 31:4

50:19 74:11

brings 42:17

briskly 119:6

broad 199:8 215:1

broaden 63:16 142:21

broader 91:20 136:10

broke 102:13

broken 107:4,11

broker 78:20 92:22 93:1

93:11,15

brokers 76:21 78:13

93:19 94:15,18

broth 180:13,14 181:9,9

181:12

Brothers 85:10

broths 181:10

brought 43:13 202:1

Bruce 1:15 2:1,6 18:17

25:8 28:4,4 42:5 52:1

53:16 56:7 57:3,21

58:7 60:7,14 65:16

88:6 96:9 103:6 135:4

209:21

Bruce's 51:4 57:17

212:9

budget 68:12

build 10:19 23:1 80:15

88:4 125:9 126:10

157:18

building 1:7 5:3 11:2

71:2 72:1 113:1 114:3

114:4,5 120:9 127:3

142:19 176:15 214:5

228:5

built 119:10

bulk 170:17,19 187:6

194:20 206:21

bullet 156:18

bunch 94:9 158:2

burden 93:13

Bureau's 19:9

burned 208:12

burst 98:14

bus 58:4

business 6:4,20 12:12

14:5,20 15:14 16:16

16:17,20 19:4 20:14

21:10 55:5,8,10 61:21

62:8 79:8,19 118:2,3

120:16 122:12,12

125:7 189:17 226:22

229:16

businesses 12:12

18:11 38:7 44:3 68:6

68:21,22 69:8 79:14

79:20 80:2 81:16

94:16

busy 29:14 140:1

butter 34:3,4

buy 34:21,22,22 35:3,8

35:9,10,11,18 40:10

41:16 48:9 53:6 72:4

89:15 90:10 148:2,14

148:15 149:5 155:19

161:4 209:8

buyers 72:5 73:7,10

buying 35:20 45:21,22

58:14 180:8

C

cabinet 52:13

cafeterias 171:8

calculated 44:20

calendar 54:20 221:20

California 14:3,8,10

15:5 16:7 19:15 20:1

20:4 24:1,2,4,22

50:10,15 101:15

104:15,16 139:19

140:11

call 3:2 5:16 26:3 31:11

39:11 105:4 124:13

133:5 147:1 154:15

162:17 176:16 197:12

222:19

called 16:22 22:21

59:15 70:14 74:18

76:5 162:6 209:3

calling 97:14 210:9

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

calls 154:17 156:3

cameras 36:19 138:5

campaign 209:2

Canada 16:7

Canadian 130:1

cancer 195:2

candy 190:5

cannabinoid 112:7

113:17 128:4

cannabis 111:13,15

canned 53:6,9,9,10

146:11,16

cantaloupe 61:4 210:10

cantaloupes 18:22 26:1

capabilities 88:5

120:11

capability 80:15

capacity 46:5

capture 106:18 127:1

155:13

card 227:21

cardboard 10:16,19

care 4:12 5:6 56:4

career 6:7,9 7:13 12:7

23:16,22 24:7 25:6

26:4 28:7 33:1,2,12

33:14 39:17 48:15

56:9

Carizzo 18:18

Carolina 16:3,3

carries 34:1 84:17

carrots 179:15

carry 89:11

carrying 39:2 212:11

case 33:16 75:11

108:21 169:18 170:20

176:8 177:5,5 187:14

195:21 197:13 199:21

200:3 201:4,10,14

cases 93:18 141:5

143:18 147:4 160:19

173:10 174:9 175:15

183:6 189:13 193:9

194:17 201:9

catch 9:16 73:20 103:1

catching 80:13

category 184:6

catfish 180:6,16

Cattlemen's 43:16

causes 129:7 195:2

CBD 26:2 112:8,8 113:3

113:13,17 128:10

132:7,14 136:2,4,7

137:6

ceiling 160:11

center 22:21 55:8 121:1

155:6

centers 19:3 20:19 55:5

55:10

central 14:3 15:4 20:21

130:1

CEO 196:18

certain 50:5 62:22

81:11 100:3 119:15

121:17 169:18 173:15

189:9,9 191:21 192:7

192:13 201:9

certainly 39:1 57:3

59:12 61:20 65:19

67:15 88:15 197:8,14

201:10 206:14 208:15

210:20 213:19 214:16

215:8 227:1

certificate 77:17 78:1,9

87:20

certificates 75:20

certification 67:13,21

69:9 77:13 78:12 79:9

79:17 87:3,15 88:2

93:12,22 132:5

179:20 188:4 209:18

certifications 86:20

187:22 188:2 196:5

certified 67:14 68:15,18

72:9 75:10,12,13

76:10,14,22 77:1,10

77:11 78:7 79:8 80:2

80:5 81:9 82:3 87:7

87:10 93:9 94:3 184:7

certifier 69:21 73:1

77:20 79:11,11,15

80:16 81:9,16 90:3

certifiers 68:20 76:3

77:15,20 90:11 93:10

94:7,10,12,14,16

96:13

certify 68:5 93:4 94:8

94:14,17,18 175:10

188:10 190:6

certifying 68:20 188:8

cetera 26:12 47:19,19

62:13,16 63:3,3,6,6,6

63:18,18 162:1

CFI 101:20

CFO 20:13

chain 17:9 75:6 76:1

77:8,9 80:1 133:4

134:20 141:20

chains 41:5 72:1 74:9

74:10,19 205:7

chair 1:8,10,10 4:9,10

5:9 6:7 9:3,4 13:13

28:1 53:16 56:6 60:16

60:20 65:3 83:20 95:2

95:15 109:13,17

110:4 131:19 139:3

150:14,16 151:3,7,10

151:13,21 152:10,13

165:13,20 198:19

219:14 220:2,20

221:6,8,11,14,16

222:9,14,18 224:4,8

224:10,21 226:10,12

227:5,17 228:14

229:5,10,21 230:4,10

chairman 19:9 47:15

227:5

chairs 219:20 220:3,5

220:15,16 221:5

challenge 26:19 46:16

58:14 74:14 87:22

163:5

challenged 59:7

challenges 13:6 27:17

29:22 74:17 155:3

change 17:4 27:18

75:14 93:16 98:9

204:17 212:19

changed 40:9 160:4

changes 40:8 45:11

62:19 75:22 78:22

83:12 120:15 122:11

changing 93:21

channels 25:14 104:7

113:15

chapter 135:3

characteristics 207:6

charge 82:8 83:9,9

110:21 121:14 225:2

225:17

charges 39:11 225:9,11

225:12,13

Charleston 16:3,5

chart 98:12

chat 154:12

cheat 226:17

check 90:11 117:3

121:22 201:12

cheese 34:3,4

cherries 18:13

cherry 24:18

Chicago 26:5

Chickasaw 152:4

chicken 105:9 183:21

Chief 2:9 44:22 110:7

110:14

China 58:9,12

chinchillas 135:17

chip 195:1

Choctaw 152:6

choice 85:5

choose 88:16 189:14

Choosing 48:19

Chris 15:12 28:19 39:21

39:22 40:2,5,6,6,7,12

40:18 41:14 42:15

56:21,22 57:12 64:22

85:7,7,9 202:16

CHRISTOPHER 1:14

2:2

Christopher's 214:6

Chuck 28:18,20

chunk 87:16

chunks 99:19

cinder 114:6

circle 16:21

Ciruli 1:14 15:12,12

28:18,20 85:9,9,9

202:14,16 203:1,13

203:15,19 204:6,10

205:14

citrus 14:4,17

city 61:1 120:3

civil 82:7

clarification 92:22

clarity 91:11 214:7

class 36:17

clear 83:17 92:4,15

121:6 162:22 206:3

209:1 210:18 226:10

clearly 29:15 35:7 80:3

188:20 195:3

cliff 156:16

climate 27:17

clock 28:8

close 123:13 124:1

129:6,22 138:4 223:3

closed 194:19 195:4,14

195:14

closely 114:12 120:18

155:20

closer 72:15

closes 82:19

clothing 114:1

cluster 220:22

co-ops 17:12,17,17

87:2

co-packer 169:19,22

170:6

co-packers 169:17

Coalition 226:20

Coast 14:17

coat 203:12

coattail 9:8

cock 51:19

code 106:17,21 185:1,2

217:15

codes 107:18

Codex 167:15 208:11

coffee 12:7,8,9 83:18

165:17,18 166:8

cofounded 24:12

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
235

cog 7:21

cohorts 204:14

collaborate 12:3 13:10

collaboration 108:13

154:2 155:2 156:3

collaborations 154:3

collaborative 190:17

colleague 109:21

221:17

colleagues 6:1

collect 98:6

collection 44:13 45:12

102:14 213:21

collections 108:6

collects 38:13

colleges 107:22

color 174:8 184:20

Colorado 130:19

Columbia 144:18

column 131:4

come 9:13 11:19 22:20

25:16 36:11 43:4

45:17 46:22 50:20

54:14 55:21 57:13

58:7 61:11 81:18

100:7 106:19 110:18

114:15 124:4 128:14

129:2 130:2 138:12

138:18 140:9 164:20

170:2 171:16 186:1

197:10 200:7 223:1

223:19 227:11 228:1

comes 9:17 35:6 36:15

107:2 172:20 175:8

180:10 214:19 215:9

coming 16:2 21:20 22:4

28:18 34:20 49:19

54:8,9,18 55:4,9,12

71:20 75:21 78:18

82:1 93:18 94:10,12

102:21 125:19 126:18

159:3,20 160:12

197:17 206:7 216:16

216:18,20 217:8

227:14

comingled 205:12

comingling 205:6 207:1

210:1

command 185:21

comment 47:19 51:14

51:15 52:3 61:14

85:10 86:5 87:6

159:14 198:3 214:6

216:11

comments 3:10 50:1

51:4,5 56:7 57:14

66:11 78:20 111:8,9

138:2 199:12 204:7

218:18 219:1,4,7,15

223:9,11

Commerce 51:9 62:11

161:20

commercial 11:7

134:22 177:22

commission 14:9 85:21

143:16,19

commit 71:11

committee 1:3,9 4:6

5:17 8:18,19,20 15:11

15:19 17:6 21:13

25:17 26:14,20 29:12

29:16 30:2,8,19 31:3

43:12 52:6,11,16

83:14 167:16,18

227:6

Committee's 83:2

committees 30:7,10,11

30:14 31:22 32:1

commodities 96:22

97:3 98:16 99:3,6

130:10,13 136:22

commodity 36:4 40:7,8

53:5 54:13 58:17

76:21 98:1 99:11

100:4 101:18 108:13

139:7,20 145:8 146:6

147:2,10

common 66:10 188:1

commonly 115:1

communicate 84:14

190:11

communicated 161:22

communication 79:2

communities 142:7

143:11 163:2

community 10:2 11:1

20:8 23:7 61:1,13

63:5 65:20 70:22 71:3

78:20 142:22

companies 12:14 24:13

68:2,17 73:17 86:19

company 6:12 13:3

14:21,22 15:3 17:10

17:10,15 21:7,9 27:3

27:8,12 60:5 77:21

180:1

company's 21:8

compared 117:14

128:15

comparing 44:16

competitive 27:20

complain 35:4

complaint 192:4,11,12

192:15,21 193:3,7,13

193:15 194:17 195:5

195:21 204:11,14

complaints 81:4,7

192:1 194:18,19

195:6,13 197:17,20

complete 79:21 102:13

105:6 191:2

completed 81:22

193:20

completely 36:12

186:10 201:18 218:18

complex 74:9

complexity 79:19

compliance 18:6 79:17

80:12 81:18 86:1,8,8

119:3,18 129:1 169:1

169:4 191:16

compliant 118:12,15

complicated 37:5 181:9

comply 80:4 174:18

component 70:3

163:16

components 185:8

composite 99:13

computed 117:14

concentration 111:14

concept 12:15

concerns 8:21 86:7

187:14 212:22

concluded 91:2

conclusion 63:21 88:11

163:20

concur 47:4,9 56:12

concurred 49:14

conditioning 47:8

conditions 173:15,20

174:1

conduct 83:11 98:7

101:3,16 125:14

193:10

conducting 100:22

101:22 155:8

conference 139:19

conferences 99:22

confirm 176:9

confirming 4:7

confused 96:4

confusing 124:17

168:19

confusion 208:19

congress 15:9 19:8

111:17 116:16 168:6

Congressional 228:11

congressman 47:15

48:10,11

congrove 15:16

Connecticut 151:16

152:1

connecting 72:5

connections 73:6

134:20

cons 61:19,20 62:1

conservation 71:9,11

71:12

consider 61:8 66:1

171:19,19 173:12

175:6

considered 92:6 183:22

211:11 212:7

considering 45:10

consistent 103:11

consistently 97:16

constituents 24:20

227:20

consultancy 101:20

consultant 7:1

consultants 156:11

consulted 220:5

consume 168:16

consumer 34:12 84:5,6

85:5 88:22 90:13

204:20 207:20 211:3

211:8,9

consumer-oriented

34:13

consumers 19:5 23:7

72:4 82:14 84:16,22

133:3 168:15,19

202:11 204:17 209:1

consumption 53:13

169:14

contact 11:16 72:21

149:10 150:8 154:13

164:16 190:22

contacts 101:21

contain 182:8

contained 195:1

containers 187:6

contains 173:5 184:15

184:17

contamination 89:21

CONTENTS 3:1

continually 87:8

continue 18:11 95:5

98:17 102:9 106:6

107:16 143:1 157:7

continued 89:17 159:16

continuing 80:11

contract 73:11 141:2

contracting 42:9 59:18

163:9

contracts 73:17

control 69:20 70:2

controlled 116:20

conventional 86:4

98:10 105:22 173:9

173:11 208:8

conventions 17:3

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
236

conversation 29:11

45:8 47:10 55:19

155:1 167:14

convert 33:11

conveyed 172:9

conviction 116:19

cook 9:15

cool 149:2 165:4

cooperative 6:13 54:16

105:1 141:21

coordinated 52:5,6

coordination 51:17

copies 90:22

copy 123:5 189:15

copyright 81:21

corn 38:11 50:7,12 53:7

53:9 176:19

Cornell 104:14

corner 138:10

corporate 19:20

corporation 145:9

146:6 147:2,10

correct 195:18 198:13

224:4,14 228:15

Cosmetic 178:18

cost 44:19 50:9 85:21

86:21 87:11 88:1

122:7,7 146:21,21

147:5

costing 44:15,16

costly 168:18

costs 45:14 46:6 122:1

122:3,5

cotton 34:2,6 36:12,12

36:15,16 37:5,5 96:22

council 7:6,7 12:20

15:8 19:11

counsel 21:1

count 12:4 56:11 158:8

counties 40:17

countries 17:12 21:10

27:15 68:22 74:11

77:18 183:4 188:2

206:8 208:10

country 16:7 21:11

27:11 29:9 31:11

35:16 36:22 55:8

75:22 81:1 106:19

119:7 127:16 149:16

166:22 167:2,8

172:14,16 175:17,20

178:8 188:19 191:19

204:8 205:9 206:1,19

213:3

countryside 45:17

county 22:3 120:22

couple 25:8 32:3 43:13

43:16 44:5 46:14,15

55:10 56:3 60:12,16

93:6 112:3,22 113:19

138:1 140:4 158:4

161:21 218:12 225:19

course 13:21 43:1,7

47:20 48:11,11,14

97:5 103:12,22

104:15,19 105:20,21

cover 55:8 89:7 122:6

covered 91:20 179:18

187:16 219:13

covering 122:2,4

149:18

covers 131:10

COVID 25:16 58:22

Cowitz 152:5

cows 46:20 47:1 105:10

183:22

CPP 2:7

crashed 208:12

crazy 93:1

create 105:19 208:18

221:7

created 177:16

creating 156:18

credit 48:9 145:8 146:6

147:2,10

Creek 152:8

CRISPR 24:13 92:2

crop 5:15 22:17 24:10

25:21 26:16,17,18

31:13,16 33:18 37:6

38:10 39:15 40:3

42:16 43:7 47:5,14,21

48:5,22 49:15 50:5

54:18 58:3 63:17 64:8

64:14 71:15 96:22

120:16 162:18,18

cropping 89:7

crops 5:13 6:8 7:15

22:11 28:6 39:20

42:19,21 53:11 55:4

55:12 58:17 59:6,13

59:15 67:14,15 95:17

96:17 99:4 110:16

140:15

cross 52:6 108:13

crust 133:19

crystal 121:6

cucumbers 21:5

cultural 149:1

culture 66:12 71:1

curious 153:8 156:15

current 92:11 97:19

101:6 211:6

currently 4:15 24:10

77:10 92:5 94:7 97:2

104:5 115:20 215:12

customers 41:4 210:8

customize 103:18

148:18

customized 148:21

Customs 78:10 81:21

82:3,8 170:8

cut 20:21 27:9 43:20

111:5

cycle 102:8 104:20

107:20 108:10

cyclical 158:10

D

D.C 12:19 44:4 139:13

227:13

da 26:13,13

daddy 9:7

dairies 46:17

dairy 41:19 46:14,19

59:12 97:1 105:9,10

105:11 107:9 148:10

Dakota 130:18

damage 118:16 129:10

129:13

Darrell 2:2 4:4 5:20

12:4 13:14 54:8 55:22

65:5 83:2 95:9,21

108:17 132:1 165:10

218:11 223:9 224:5

Darwin 1:18 15:2 92:18

92:20

data 3:6 38:1,4,9,13,15

38:17,21 39:3,5 44:13

44:19 45:12 50:4,17

50:21 71:5 78:9 95:18

96:3 97:2,5,11 100:9

101:7 102:14 103:5,7

103:8,12,15,20 104:1

104:3,4,9 105:4 107:5

107:10 108:5 121:2

125:9 126:4,14,19,21

127:4 212:10,10,18

213:4,7,9,20 214:2

225:17

database 78:5 79:12

119:21 120:4

date 122:10 193:2

Dave 139:18 141:14

David 1:15,21 21:1 25:1

157:22

Davis 101:15,15

day 9:10 26:13 29:15

34:8 40:2 43:6 47:1

98:8 114:2 130:15,15

166:7 215:18 219:8

219:18 223:3

day-to-day 12:19 66:16

days 10:1 11:17 32:3

41:20 56:3 60:12 90:1

96:1 103:2,20 130:4

189:22 190:16 215:19

DC 1:8

deadline 152:11 158:10

218:7

deal 33:20 44:8 140:20

205:17,20 225:5

dealing 52:2 66:16

130:15

dealt 119:5 130:10

dearth 38:9

DeAtley 1:14 22:19,19

228:12 229:2,8,18

debate 92:11

decades 52:2

decent 148:11

decide 169:17

decided 26:7 123:12

decides 124:1

deciding 88:1

decision 153:19 181:15

181:20

decisions 53:21 54:5

54:17

deck 177:12

declaration 195:16

declare 186:8,11,12

decline 127:19 136:9

declines 136:6

decoupled 110:20

decrease 135:16

Deer 129:15,16

defended 167:8

defer 85:20 115:15

define 84:14 85:3

defined 167:19 208:11

208:18

definitely 56:14 57:7

definition 91:6,9,21

92:16 111:18 117:15

170:9 173:3,4,20

174:2 184:5 208:3,13

definitions 189:9

209:19

definitive 78:7

degree 9:18,20

degrees 47:9

dehi 20:20

delegate 167:15

deliver 41:17

delivered 40:16

deliveries 141:2

Delta 47:6

demand 145:6

demonstrate 80:4

179:22 191:7

demonstrations 100:8

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
237

100:19

department 1:1 42:8

50:17 51:11,22 52:7

59:14 62:11 115:6,21

137:11 143:16,19

161:19 207:18

departments 51:18

68:2 144:2 150:22

205:19

depending 16:14 79:18

99:18 106:13 148:22

156:17 190:3 207:4

depends 160:17 211:21

deputy 2:2,7,10 40:1

42:20 56:21 65:12

139:17

derived 113:21 114:17

175:3

description 186:3

design 59:13

designated 2:2 4:4

designed 61:18

desire 8:5

destination 11:6

destroyed 128:14 129:1

129:5,7,12

details 54:19 125:21

detectability 175:2

176:13

detectable 88:17

detectible 173:13

175:11

determination 181:2

determine 124:21 144:2

177:17 179:7 180:2

180:19,20

determined 69:6 117:9

develop 69:18 83:8

developed 10:10 22:14

78:16 90:18 111:17

developers 172:5

developing 11:4 22:10

69:14

development 43:5 71:1

71:5,19 72:7 73:6

devote 108:9

DFO 83:3 218:11

Dickson 2:6 165:21

166:4 173:19 177:11

196:17 197:8 198:17

198:20 199:1 200:12

200:16 201:1,20

202:21 203:2,14,18

204:2,9 205:13,22

207:11,14,22 210:3

210:11 211:5,10,17

211:20 212:3,5 213:1

214:15 216:13,17

217:6,9

dietary 53:13

differ 189:9

difference 87:13 177:7

207:15 208:1

differences 209:5

different 17:12,13

26:20 29:9 31:17,18

31:19 36:11 39:5

50:13 51:17 52:13

61:2 62:18 80:7 83:15

88:21 89:8 92:11

98:19,20 99:18 103:8

103:15,17 108:6

113:22 117:14 118:17

143:17 146:7 147:9

169:8,12 172:13

183:2 184:12 185:7

188:12 190:5 197:20

201:2 206:5,5 207:5

210:16 213:20 216:21

217:1

differentiating 84:21

differentiation 97:15

differently 32:13 160:8

205:3 206:4

difficult 163:8 213:2

difficulties 141:11

digital 184:22 185:6,9

dipping 126:7

direct 54:1 71:10 87:9

211:7 228:10

directed 208:19

directing 106:12 137:11

direction 5:12

directives 81:10,16

directly 19:4 86:9

149:19 211:8

director 2:3,4,6,9 6:22

14:6 18:6 109:8

165:22 168:1,1

directors 108:14

dirt 30:22

disadvantaged 53:19

54:2 142:5 143:7

148:1 154:8 157:3

162:16 164:9

disappoint 105:5

disclaimer 9:5 174:10

disclose 173:17 175:9

175:22 176:7 178:4

178:13 180:1,9

181:19 184:4,11,13

186:5,14,16 197:12

209:14

disclosed 173:14

disclosing 198:16

disclosure 2:6 3:9

165:22 166:21 168:4

168:10 180:7 184:10

184:22 185:7,9 194:7

198:13 202:9 205:10

205:16 210:14,21

215:14,15

disclosures 195:19

213:16

discuss 223:17

discussing 47:17 225:9

discussion 200:15

220:12 224:3,16

disease 203:16,16

display 39:5 186:21

displayed 132:16

disposal 118:13

dissemination 102:15

distribute 143:10

distributed 142:6 221:9

distributing 155:21

distribution 20:19

139:20 143:9,21

147:5

distributions 147:16,21

distributor 14:18

186:20

distributors 14:17 27:6

59:1

district 144:18 227:21

diverse 29:8

diversity 27:19

divided 99:17 149:16

division 2:7 43:6 62:13

166:1,20

divisions 108:14

Dixondale 18:19 135:6

209:22

doable 99:19

document 16:15 80:18

93:13,14 155:12

222:10

documentation 188:17

doing 10:22 12:7,8,10

32:4,6,6,13,19,19

48:15 66:19 80:1,18

86:15 101:12 104:1

106:8 108:18 149:2

154:11 155:12 156:3

156:14 160:7 161:17

163:17 166:19 168:16

189:19 195:22 206:16

208:22

dollar 64:3

dollars 42:2 47:19

50:11 62:17 63:5 64:7

136:3 137:12 142:10

157:15

domestic 2:9 82:11

109:21 110:7,14

142:4 143:8

domestically 15:15

Donna 1:17 23:11

133:13 225:11

door 43:20 138:4

doors 5:4

download 100:9,10

downs 38:2

Dr 30:17 47:16

draft 168:9

draw 153:11

dried 146:10,15 221:20

221:21 222:8

drive 7:22

drought 129:9

Drug 178:18

drugs 117:2

dry 15:14

due 54:14 129:7 141:3

144:12

Duke 155:10

dump 30:22

dumped 59:6,6

duration 28:6

dwindled 135:13,15

dye 195:1

dynamics 7:18

E

eager 106:12

Eagle 18:19

earlier 47:11 57:3

125:10 127:3 187:17

188:17

early 52:10,14,15 55:1

56:9

earth 166:18

ease 23:6 73:18

easy 37:6,9 38:11 96:1

105:3 199:21

eat 18:12 129:14 138:17

146:12

eats 183:21

economic 142:19

economics 136:20

Economist 44:22

economy 23:1

edit 218:2

editing 92:5

EDT 1:6

education 22:3,5 50:16

80:12

educational 131:12

Eeckhout 1:21 25:1,2

157:22 158:1,16

159:1,13,22 160:10

161:2,5,7

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
238

effect 101:11 116:9

212:13

effective 31:8 32:7

effects 174:5

efficient 32:8 37:18

effort 59:13,21 60:2

110:19 111:4 190:22

efforts 11:4

egg 178:20 180:6,17

eggplant 203:20,21,21

204:1

eggs 34:3,3 148:10

183:22

eight 78:6 116:1 121:9

127:15

Einstandig 1:15 20:22

21:1 51:3

either 80:3 87:1 95:8

100:6 173:10 175:3

178:2 184:19 185:20

187:7,11 189:15

210:22 221:1

elected 138:9

electronic 75:19 77:16

184:21 185:6,8

189:16

element 165:4

elevator 138:12

elevators 138:15

eligible 143:13 164:11

eliminates 146:11

Elizabeth 2:7 54:10

61:16 139:6,11,16

149:11 165:13

Elizabeth's 54:12

elizabeth.lober@usd...

149:12

email 91:3 149:12 164:4

215:18 222:7

emailed 161:21

emails 26:13 154:12

emergency 5:2 35:11

emphasis 44:13,14

55:2

emphasize 67:2 88:19

Emphasizes 67:6

employee 7:5,5 33:2

34:1 39:18

employees 34:9 45:13

Employers 19:11

enable 5:11

encompass 89:6

encourage 79:20 93:5

150:21 214:21

encouraged 155:15

encouraging 156:2

encroach 91:10

ended 167:20

endpoint 89:1

enforce 80:11 194:5

206:15

enforced 191:17 192:1

enforcement 70:6

74:18 80:12 86:2

118:20 119:11,22

121:3,4 122:20

191:16 200:19 201:13

205:2,2

enforcing 74:17

engage 8:21,22 83:10

85:6 220:9 224:1,6

engaged 111:3 225:18

226:6

engagement 3:11

219:21 223:13

engaging 221:20

engineered 204:4

engineering 67:4 91:7

91:10

England 16:7

enhancement 174:9

enjoy 11:14 29:3

109:22

enjoyed 95:13

enjoying 11:13

ensure 96:14 196:10

ensuring 27:19 153:16

enter 142:3

entered 78:10

entering 73:17

entire 84:20 120:7

127:16 128:21 158:19

210:8 219:9 225:22

entirely 39:16 137:6

entities 75:12 169:11

169:12 170:12 171:6

177:17 182:5

entity 143:20 169:19

170:7 171:18 172:12

172:21 186:6 189:11

193:14,21

entr‚e 23:20

entrance 228:7

entry 78:3

environment 21:6

70:22 93:11

environments 70:19

equity 23:2

equivalent 69:7,8

era 39:15

escape 200:11

especially 26:18 51:14

53:11 86:13 95:20

134:15 136:15 157:2

162:19 196:4 202:4

217:16

essentially 170:10

174:1,3 175:5 176:4

178:1 180:6,14,16

182:7 185:11 186:2

186:17 187:6 191:17

establish 38:5 168:9

established 111:18

130:13

establishing 73:5

et 26:12 47:19,19 62:13

62:15 63:3,3,6,6,6,18

63:18 162:1

ethnicity 49:16

EU 183:3 188:10 189:7

evacuate 5:3

evaporated 41:4

evening 227:7 230:9,11

event 157:10

events 100:2 122:5

eventually 103:1 107:3

everybody 8:22 9:10

35:21 52:7 60:13

65:15 103:2 154:16

194:14

everyone's 53:12

exactly 117:17 192:17

193:22 200:16 203:18

example 10:11 11:1,11

48:3 72:8 81:10,13

92:1 114:11 122:16

136:16 154:7 176:18

176:19 178:7 179:10

179:11 180:8,12,21

182:16,21 183:3

186:6 199:18 209:11

210:13 213:3

examples 113:20,20

174:6 187:19

excellent 48:22 49:4

217:5

exception 171:10

173:22

exceptions 75:8 208:6

excess 136:6

excited 16:11 25:16,17

105:17 126:3 145:2

147:12 164:19 168:2

excitement 161:14

exciting 13:15 60:1

125:8 144:20

excluded 91:15,21 92:6

92:10 171:7,13

exclusively 7:11

Excuse 128:11

executive 15:19 23:13

42:17

exempt 76:15

exempted 184:8 186:6

198:12

exemption 80:4 182:7

183:17

exemptions 75:7 76:6

76:15,17 93:6 182:3,5

186:5

exercise 190:13

exist 195:19

existed 30:3

existing 78:5 105:1

155:17

exists 30:2 52:7

expand 76:9 103:22

107:16 133:11

expanding 12:12

105:22 106:17 142:19

expect 148:11 209:8

expectation 90:13

expectations 152:22

expected 83:17 144:14

expensive 37:19,20

176:11

experience 29:21 42:18

42:20 51:6 103:18

167:10

expertise 29:10

explain 85:4 188:11,12

190:22 207:13 209:5

209:5

explaining 214:8

export 76:18 77:21

exportation 85:18

exporters 77:18,18

86:12

exporting 77:21

exports 7:12

extend 104:20 105:3

108:5

Extended 60:7

extends 104:20

extension 156:17

158:17

extensive 118:8 119:21

131:9

externally 102:16

extra 98:14 145:20

158:7 161:14

extract 174:7

extracted 114:21

extracting 112:20

extraction 112:7 113:3

113:17 128:4,10

extremely 49:9

extruded 114:7

eye 36:19

eyes 207:16

F

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
239

face 8:10,11,11 57:1

faces 13:15

facilitated 76:19

facilities 46:3 55:2

119:19

facility 113:12

fact 56:17 66:22 89:4,5

112:2 151:5 199:3,10

208:11 216:21 227:14

factor 46:8

factors 173:15,19,22

fair 17:14 86:17 92:12

fairly 46:17 90:5 114:12

118:19 119:5

fall 129:21 144:12

146:13 152:21 195:11

214:8

fallen 136:5

falls 115:5 195:3 201:4

familiar 10:15 27:16

57:1 172:15 202:22

228:3

family 15:13 16:17,20

20:13 24:9 26:7 87:1

family-operated 21:9

family-owned 14:2 18:8

27:3

fantastic 47:13 60:21

154:16

FAQ 216:14,21 217:2

far 27:17 45:11,13

88:12 91:12 100:16

129:22 140:9 144:8

147:12 148:3,7

155:14 164:21 165:7

194:19 228:20

farm 9:11 10:10,14,19

11:4,10 19:6,9,11

20:9 24:9,10 25:6,21

25:22 26:7,9 74:13

75:18 87:17 97:14,16

97:19 98:14 102:4

104:19 105:19,22

106:2 107:14 110:19

113:2 116:17 117:10

117:16 118:3,14

119:3 120:15,19

122:6 125:2 157:8

158:10,19 227:7

farmbill.hemp@usda...

131:14

farmer 8:6 16:9 17:11

20:10 46:20 48:5

Farmer's 132:13 153:12

farmer-to-farmer 70:15

farmers 16:10 17:11,16

19:3 21:17,18,20 22:6

23:4,5 25:12 26:16,17

26:19 27:13,20 46:15

47:14 48:16,22 49:15

53:19 54:2,5 58:8,10

59:1 63:12,17 64:8

70:16 71:3,10 73:7,18

74:22 86:13,13,21,22

87:13,14,21 88:15

104:3,4 105:8 108:5

113:8,9 124:17 131:6

142:5,18 143:7 154:8

157:3 162:17 163:15

164:9 214:13

farmers' 47:22

farming 9:21 25:6 26:1

47:5 50:12 85:19

105:20 130:12

farms 16:22 17:21

18:20 20:7 24:3 53:20

67:13 68:6,15 87:1,22

113:5 121:11 131:3

135:6 209:22

farms' 68:20

fast 42:6 44:9 47:7

196:17

faster 32:14 37:19

FDA 112:12 133:22

174:2,12 187:2

200:21 209:19

feature 68:19

features 84:21

fed 183:19

federal 2:2 4:5 22:2

35:15 65:17 81:21

107:8 119:16 153:2

178:17,18 214:19

federally 66:21 141:22

144:7 145:13

federated 74:6

fee 31:5 121:14

feed 27:10 74:11 105:9

183:19 184:1 209:3

feedback 29:20 32:16

69:3

feeding 35:14,15

feel 5:9 164:15 215:1

fees 82:6,9

felony 116:19 117:1

felt 6:17 220:8

FEMA 228:7,10,21,22

fiber 112:20 113:15

114:1,8 128:2,7

132:15 136:15,18,20

137:7,13

fibers 113:22

field 59:7 129:21 130:3

fields 7:17 118:3

fifteen 52:21

fighting 50:5

figure 45:13 49:9

220:18

figuring 201:21

filed 193:15 194:18

filing 192:21

fill 46:1 64:22 101:9

filter 95:8

final 79:1 107:12,13

111:5,9,10 170:12

176:8

financial 87:10

financially 16:10

find 37:13 63:19 70:17

72:20 73:7 79:10

82:16 86:6 89:14

125:5,5 131:11

139:12 140:14 163:5

191:5 194:7 197:3

207:4 208:9 228:5

finding 44:14 134:19

161:16 194:6

findings 102:9 125:21

fine 28:12 91:16 138:4

fines 82:6,9 194:4

fingerprinting 121:22

finished 223:1

finite 200:8

first 4:14 6:6 9:18 19:7

19:22 24:14 25:8 29:1

33:2 40:14 42:2,7

45:20 65:10,16 71:17

95:3 97:12,14 99:21

111:4,5 126:7,16

133:12 142:13 146:20

153:21 161:12 166:5

169:4,10 175:13

180:4,5,11 181:7

182:6 184:13 185:11

185:14 189:4,18

190:4 195:14 197:2

199:5 202:16 220:7

224:16,18

fiscal 156:16

fish 148:12

fishermen 142:6

fit 22:17 146:15 186:22

five 5:20 6:2 14:9 26:1

46:21 79:8 82:20

113:5 181:11 182:9

182:15,17,18,19

189:22 190:16 202:14

210:15 215:19

flesh 45:6

flexible 57:17

flights 138:11

flood's 140:15

floor 138:8 229:6

Florida 16:16 41:10

131:1

flour 133:18

flowery 204:20,21

flurry 135:17

focus 81:12 101:17

140:7 182:3

focused 134:8

focuses 7:11 70:15

fold 86:4

folks 11:12 29:2 32:3

33:14 46:13 66:9,15

72:3 73:9 76:8 78:17

113:7,9 115:19

117:12 121:16 122:2

123:12 124:12 126:11

129:17 136:3 137:2,7

176:12 216:3

follow 51:4 160:15

163:8 170:8 174:1,12

followed 148:9 218:15

following 26:10 81:2

98:13 111:2 134:12

214:5

Fong 149:13

food 2:6 3:9 4:5 8:2,7

11:9 12:14,17 15:20

16:3,4,5,6 17:15,18

20:5,5,7,9 22:2,5,5,22

23:1,2,3,5,6,12,17

25:2,11,11 27:5 34:16

34:22,22 35:1,10,10

35:11,12,13,14,19

36:1 40:12,13,15 41:1

41:2,5,9,17 45:22

46:1,1 47:7 52:20,22

53:1 55:5,7 57:10

58:6,14,18 59:4,5,20

60:1,8,22 61:15,16,19

112:11 114:18 126:22

133:14 134:4,16,21

140:6 141:13,15,16

143:10,21 147:3,6,8

153:3,16,20 155:21

155:22,22 158:1

165:22 166:2,21

167:13,16 168:4,10

168:14,21 169:13,14

170:16,17 171:8,8,11

171:15 173:3,5,5

175:3,4,7,13,14 176:1

176:3 177:18 178:1,1

178:11,17 179:8,17

184:15,16,17 185:21

186:7,7,8 187:7

188:20 194:6 202:9

209:6,7,16,22 210:12

210:13 215:13,15,22

216:9 226:15

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
240

foods 6:13 7:7 22:21

36:3 142:4 146:10,12

149:1,1 166:19

167:19 168:13,16

170:10 172:20 173:21

174:3 177:14,16,21

178:15,17 179:1,2

192:12 194:4 202:5

208:2,9,20 213:10

forces 119:16

Ford 114:15

foreign 166:15 167:6

forget 55:3

form 66:11 87:9 204:11

204:15

formal 56:20 57:5 83:8

124:19 215:10

formally 110:20

format 103:11 186:16

189:15

formed 14:22 98:1

formerly 10:6 14:12

forms 6:8 203:17

Fort 16:22

forths 190:19

fortified 22:14

forward 95:5 198:8

200:14 213:15,19

214:17 227:8

forwarded 219:8

forwards 167:9

found 4:15 104:7 164:1

173:9,11 190:2 208:7

founded 22:13

founder 20:5

four 26:11 30:6 58:1

69:13 79:4 80:22 82:4

97:22 98:1 104:18

108:14 154:10 183:10

184:12 211:1 216:20

218:14 220:21

fourth 18:20

fourth-generation 21:8

frankly 134:7

Frasier 1:15 18:17,17

45:10 88:6,6 89:10

127:12 135:4,4,6

144:21 209:21,21

210:4 211:3

fraud 93:15

fraudulently 93:20

freebies 100:13

Freeman 1:16 14:16,17

frequently 187:8 188:9

189:8 194:22

fresh 12:11 14:10 15:19

15:20 18:12 19:16

20:20 24:4 27:8 35:21

40:16 61:11 226:16

226:22

Friends 133:13

front 5:4 30:22 138:13

187:11 220:22

frozen 18:13 23:12,17

23:19 146:11 226:15

227:1

fruit 1:3 5:16 6:8 10:7

14:10 18:7 19:17,17

24:4,21 28:5 30:7

31:2,12,15 37:3 38:18

39:3,8 53:2 57:8

67:15 88:21 174:7

179:3 206:20 221:20

221:21 222:8 226:19

fruition 11:19

fruits 14:18 23:19 34:2

37:9 40:10 41:16

45:18 53:14 56:18

61:11 146:15,16

148:8 170:18 210:16

FSA 87:17,19 120:22

FSIS 133:22 200:20

209:19

full 7:18 16:21 79:17

80:1 81:6 89:6 105:14

181:2 196:1 224:6

full-time 7:4

fun 28:14 29:7

functional 52:6 174:5

fund 20:10 156:21

funded 31:5 62:13

funding 34:19 63:1,8

64:4 85:17 86:13,16

98:15 102:5,7 104:20

134:17 159:3,5,8,15

159:16 162:6

funds 54:3 145:3,9,10

146:6,22 147:10

149:5,8 156:8 157:13

158:11

further 89:11 193:8

fury 153:5

future 46:18 137:9

FVIAC 3:11

G

gain 29:20

game 70:7 153:17

gap 100:22 108:7

gaps 101:9

Garcia 1:16 16:13,14

garden 11:3 19:3,5

165:1

Garren 1:17 23:11,12

133:13,13 200:18

201:15 211:7,15,19

212:2 216:10,14

225:12,20 226:3

227:10

GE 167:13,19 175:18

208:2,9 209:7,12

gears 110:12 123:9

gender 49:16

gene 92:4

general 21:1 84:9 105:4

130:12 134:9 204:1

205:15

generally 33:3 112:12

generate 77:22 213:4

generated 78:4 216:15

generating 213:7

generation 18:20

genetic 67:3 91:6,9,18

173:6 176:5

geospatial 121:2

germination 129:9

getting 38:8 76:11 77:6

92:14 95:22 100:16

106:19 134:4 141:5

141:11 145:2,4 146:5

158:21 161:3 162:5

223:2

giant 159:9

gift 227:13

gin 36:16

gist 142:8

give 11:20 30:4 47:8

63:3 64:10,12,13 66:4

66:10 95:18 121:12

123:16 124:3 152:18

168:14 181:17 183:6

218:16 223:20 227:7

given 27:12 62:16

70:22 82:11 158:5

195:18

gives 69:3 98:14 148:9

150:5 183:7

giving 147:16 220:14

glad 17:4,5 139:14

164:18 165:11

glamor 217:12

Glenn 227:5

global 52:20

GMO 92:4 167:13

175:18 177:8 207:9

207:20 208:1,9 209:7

209:12 214:9,12,14

GMOs 91:18

go 5:3 6:18 13:18 28:3

43:15 46:8 47:7 52:18

67:7 68:5,9 72:9,19

83:1 85:7 92:3 99:11

104:21 107:15 110:5

120:1,4,22 123:1,4

125:4 138:17 139:4

143:3 146:5 147:11

149:9 150:3 153:4

154:17 158:17 165:18

166:8 168:5 169:3

170:4 172:18 173:2

176:14 177:6 178:14

178:21 181:16 182:2

184:10 185:10,15

186:15 187:5,15,17

190:18 191:12,15,20

192:4,9 193:6,18

194:13 198:20 204:8

204:16 205:14 208:16

208:20 213:4,5 216:1

216:5 217:10,15

220:6 221:2 225:11

228:19,20,21,22

229:14

goal 20:6 71:4,22 75:18

78:2

goals 36:8 141:19

142:13 163:13

goes 35:1 53:22 104:6

198:8 214:11 215:10

going 4:17,18 5:19,21

8:16 11:5,10,20 13:14

15:1 16:21 18:1 28:2

28:13 29:5 30:13,16

31:8 32:2,3,10 37:9

38:3,16 39:11,21 43:2

43:10 44:5 46:19,20

47:22 48:19 50:18

55:5,7 58:8 60:8 62:8

64:1,4,11,19,21 65:5

65:7,9 68:8 74:8 75:1

76:21 77:17 78:4 83:8

84:7 92:14 93:8 94:2

99:9 101:16 103:15

103:17 104:8,18

106:2 107:9 108:21

109:5,11,11,17,19

110:5,8,11 120:12

128:2,3,5,7,13 133:20

133:21 135:9 136:15

136:17 137:15,16

138:7 139:8 140:15

141:9 143:14 145:5

147:17 157:6,16,17

163:15 169:7,10

170:20 173:4,15

174:14 175:1 176:12

178:22 179:19 182:16

188:14 189:3,18

190:17 194:21 196:3

196:6,7,15 199:13

202:17 206:17 214:16

217:11 218:2 219:17

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
241

219:20 225:10 228:4

228:4,9

good 4:9 9:10 10:1 13:7

13:20 16:1,13 17:20

19:13 20:22 21:15

22:7 23:11 24:8,19

25:2,19 29:2 35:6,8

41:18 60:13 65:15

66:3,17 70:7 75:21

83:14 93:11 94:15

95:19 101:22 103:12

110:10 123:8 126:17

127:16 133:12 138:20

140:2 156:4 164:20

177:3 190:21 199:18

216:4 220:9 223:7

225:3 229:17

gotcha 190:13

govern 172:13

government 21:12 60:5

67:22 85:14 102:22

115:7,13,18 118:10

governments 69:5

118:10 142:1,2,15

143:6 144:7,10,19

145:13 149:20

GPS 121:2

graces 123:8

grade 34:1,3 36:10

graded 34:6 36:15

grading 32:11 33:22

34:7 36:10,20 37:3,11

37:17

grain 34:2 97:1 112:18

113:15 128:5 129:21

132:14 136:20 137:8

137:13

grains 52:22 183:21

grandfather 20:15

grant 34:15 54:8,9,18

63:11,16 64:13 71:20

159:5 161:17

grants 3:8 34:18 63:22

134:18

grants.gov 26:12

Grape 14:9

grapes 14:4

grasshoppers 129:20

130:2

grateful 9:17 26:20

62:21

gray 202:20 203:2

great 17:4 22:17 25:15

29:3 38:17 42:22

43:11 47:12,20 49:5

56:2 60:18,21 65:3

78:19 83:5 107:5

126:9 128:18,19

132:9,19,19 133:10

134:5 135:21 136:16

144:14 150:13,13

151:7 157:17 159:2

161:5 164:22 219:12

green 24:22 25:9 171:1

202:20 215:6

greenhouse 21:4 118:4

greens 24:16

greet 226:14

grew 9:11 24:9 89:12

grocery 20:18,19 41:9

gross 48:6

ground 7:16 10:13

120:20 123:12,17

153:6 155:14 162:3

grounds 194:20 195:11

group 10:5,7 21:13 29:8

30:6 31:20 39:7 98:2

99:12,16 100:4

101:20,20 170:12

182:1 217:12 223:7

224:6,14 229:17

groups 39:2 60:1 98:1

101:18 107:22 138:14

212:11 219:20 220:21

222:22 223:16 224:1

224:20

grow 15:15 16:3 18:22

19:5 27:20 50:14 72:3

89:12,18 116:14,19

117:12 125:1 134:10

148:19

grower 7:21 12:8 14:3

15:4 23:18 72:8 88:7

116:10 117:20 121:7

grower-owned 6:13

grower-packer-shipper

24:3

grower-shipper 14:13

grower-shippers 16:19

growers 10:8 15:7 18:9

19:22 22:6 25:15

61:20 62:7 71:16

115:16 116:1 118:22

120:20 122:18 123:18

124:3,11 130:15

132:12 134:3

growing 9:22 20:1,15

25:7 50:7,8 69:13

99:7 113:3 118:5,18

119:4,16,19 120:6

124:22 134:11 135:8

136:4 137:7

grown 34:6 74:16 88:21

112:6,17 113:12,16

119:17 120:15 128:3

growth 90:15 98:15,18

98:22 99:5

GT 227:11,17

guards 228:8

guess 8:17 26:3 56:9

85:10 89:17 109:12

120:14 135:14 158:20

159:13 198:12 201:18

211:20

GUEST 2:5

guidance 217:3

guidelines 53:13

guitar 30:21

guys 9:8 41:2 42:14

43:10 44:9 50:12 56:2

80:13 204:17

H

ha 210:3,3,3 211:14,14

212:5,6,6

half 8:17 12:6 33:10,13

33:14 42:13 68:19

81:7 136:8,9 166:13

169:5 207:1,2

halfway 74:13

hallway 4:22 228:9,11

228:20,22

hand 6:4 12:3,3 18:2

handbook 90:17

handle 72:9 144:3

197:10

handled 224:7

handlers 75:9

handles 76:14

Handling 76:18

handout 150:2

hands 36:14 65:22

100:13

hands-on 100:19

handy 122:18 151:16

happen 40:8 48:12 89:5

93:15

happened 38:17 85:16

123:15 157:9 221:19

happening 41:2 48:17

62:19 68:13

happens 123:22 133:6

192:3

happy 12:1 13:1 14:13

15:22 18:9 21:11

131:17 167:3 204:4

hard 8:10,16 95:21

155:13 189:15 218:7

harder 200:1

Harris 19:14

harvest 11:8 41:12

158:13

hat 141:12

hats 8:14

hauled 10:17

Haven 1:12 24:8 90:22

91:4

Hawaii 212:14

he'll 46:21

head 204:3 216:7 218:6

health 12:17 89:7

143:22

healthcare 12:14

healthy 22:8 35:21 53:8

135:2 196:19

hear 28:14 29:7,20

30:16 32:2,5,10,14

34:21 36:4,6,8 37:11

37:21 39:7 40:13 43:2

45:19 46:8 51:7,16,21

55:5 109:20 112:7

129:17 144:22

heard 8:18 48:12 57:3

61:18 62:3 100:14

139:10 147:13 177:15

212:19

heartbreaking 61:10

hearts 115:1

Heather 42:19 43:4

57:20

heavy 73:15,16

hello 4:3 13:1 28:21,22

139:13 166:4

help 10:5 11:12,16 13:7

16:9 32:1,12 36:20

38:5,7 43:4 58:10,19

59:17 70:20 73:6,20

75:15 76:11 79:7 88:4

108:3,4,4 133:15

142:17 153:1 156:11

156:14 164:18 177:17

180:20 181:5 196:9

209:1,4,5 213:21

helpful 39:6 45:4,4

169:9 197:20 206:9

207:7

helping 22:15 73:9

152:22

helps 13:21

hemp 2:9 3:7 26:2

109:21 110:7,8,12,14

110:19,20,22 111:6

111:12,13 112:1,2,4,4

112:6,13,14,17,19

113:2,3,4,12,15,21

114:1,8,13,17,18,19

114:21,21,22,22

115:1,4,8,14,15,22

116:4,8,9,14,17,19

117:12,14,19,20,21

118:9,14,22 119:5,16

120:6,15 121:7,15

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
242

122:16 123:13 124:22

125:14,17 126:6,8,12

126:18,21,22,22

127:1,9,10 128:2,3,9

129:4,14,21 130:8

132:7,21 133:8,18

134:10 135:7 136:4

136:15,20,21 137:8,8

137:21

hempcrete 114:4

herbicides 130:12

hey 33:11 84:3 133:7

154:11,13 219:2

Hi 17:7 20:3,11 132:2

152:15 157:22

hiatus 42:16

high 77:8 88:2 111:16

134:11 183:9 196:20

high-risk 81:11

higher 74:21 137:7

140:19 183:7,8

highest 130:21

highly 176:17 181:15

186:7

hire 156:10

Hispanic 205:6

historically 107:22

history 96:20

hitting 74:20 102:1

hmm 222:2

Hodges 1:17 25:19,20

47:4 48:10 49:4 50:22

60:19 62:9,21 63:15

64:18 117:20 124:8

124:14 161:11,11

162:9,13 163:19

164:13

hold 48:18 124:1,7

holding 82:9

Holiday 228:12,14

229:9,14

Hollywood 106:13

home 26:6 35:6 162:10

honest 32:18 194:21

201:21 206:17 212:6

215:5

honestly 7:19 183:11

190:14 199:13 202:21

206:9 211:11

honor 26:21 139:15

hook 16:18 172:2,22

hooked 16:18

hope 32:15 39:12 43:22

49:20 62:6 90:19

98:17 102:10 140:2

196:8

hopeful 63:10 159:15

hopefully 11:5 37:19

106:4 166:8 169:8

hopes 142:22

hoping 49:6 104:17

105:6 136:12 146:2

157:6

Horizon 15:3 92:21

host 99:22

hosting 100:6,18

hotel 31:1 228:4 229:6

229:16

hothouse 21:4

hotspot 4:18,19,20

hottest 135:7

hour 47:8,9

hours 124:7,13 154:1

house 21:3 25:9 227:5

housed 110:15

housekeeping 4:13

138:2

housing 10:3

Houston 27:2

Hronis 14:2

HTS 106:17,21 107:18

hub 16:4,5 20:5,6 25:2

25:11 34:16 158:1

hubbub 58:8

hubs 25:11 155:21

huge 87:13 136:1

167:13 190:2 227:12

Hughes 2:2 4:3,4 54:10

54:14 55:14 56:1

64:19 82:21 83:1,2

85:7 90:21 92:17

108:16 109:1,5,14,19

131:22 132:1 137:14

137:19 138:1,20

150:10 157:21 161:8

165:16 196:15 217:4

217:7,10 218:1,5,11

218:11 219:12 221:4

221:7,10,13,15,17

222:10 223:10 224:7

224:9,15,22 225:3,15

225:21 226:4,11

229:4,20 230:2,8,12

human 112:11 114:18

126:22 143:22 169:14

humble 9:13

hundred 41:16 50:11

hundreds 47:18 62:17

63:4,4,9 64:7

hunger 25:14

hurry 40:21 41:7 153:6

I

iceberg 148:5

ID 217:21

Idaho 24:11

idea 83:15 100:5 106:3

132:22 148:9 202:2

222:4

ideas 45:1 46:10 126:12

129:13 226:8

identical 69:7

identified 74:16

IFPA 12:21 14:12 17:2

II 228:11

images 59:3,5,5

imagine 118:20 120:9

131:3 197:11

immediately 111:2

190:10

impact 13:3,4 17:10

20:9 23:8 77:17

212:18

impacted 75:2

implement 13:10 69:18

implementation 79:3,5

80:10 169:5 194:16

implemented 49:6

implications 53:1

import 15:14 27:9 75:20

76:19 77:16,22 85:12

importance 76:12

important 7:17 29:20

30:4 31:6 36:5 38:1

43:22 44:1 96:10,14

108:2 116:9 119:8

121:20 168:20 171:19

171:21 179:5 182:11

183:2 185:17 189:8

190:8 192:8 194:2

225:8

importer 14:18 170:8,9

importers 78:13 86:11

importing 17:15 178:8

imports 17:11 77:15

81:14,14 82:5 106:18

126:17 170:10

impossible 10:12

improve 5:13 12:17

107:10 126:10,13,14

141:20

improvement 191:1

improving 87:9

in-depth 100:7 101:3

inadvertent 182:10

inbox 215:14,18 216:19

incarcerated 10:6

incentivize 19:22

incident 117:1

incidental 173:21 174:2

174:6,17,20

include 102:7 172:5

179:20 185:4,13

188:16

included 116:16,18

126:16,20 147:7

200:3 210:6 215:22

includes 76:18 99:3

171:15 173:21 177:20

including 55:4 102:18

income 48:6

Incorporated 14:2

20:12

increase 20:6 23:5 97:4

97:21 104:9 107:5

137:7 140:22 141:9

142:21 159:9

increased 168:13

increases 67:1

increasing 35:20

incredible 124:9

incredibly 60:10 124:16

Independence 1:7

independent 18:8 74:5

93:1 101:17

India 81:14

Indian 116:3

indicate 220:17

indicated 200:18

indirect 146:21

individual 87:1 118:1

119:4 120:2 121:11

122:2 211:22

indoor 113:12

industries 31:17

industry 1:3 5:15,17

6:11,19 7:18 12:11

14:14 15:5 19:16

23:17,21 24:21,21,22

26:5 27:5,19 30:8

31:12,15 38:9 39:2

46:9 57:4 59:16,22

60:1,5,9 83:11 101:5

108:2 114:13 127:11

128:8 137:3,9 214:11

Infinitely 37:4

inflated 93:20

influence 55:11

influx 81:4

inform 108:9 213:22

information 11:16

30:12 79:10 84:9,16

96:15,21 97:21

101:21 102:3 106:17

107:17 119:11,13,15

120:2,5,13 121:5

122:11,21 123:6

125:1 126:17 131:9

147:20 149:10 150:8

154:14 165:9 168:15

185:3,12,22 186:19

186:20 187:2 192:13

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
243

192:22 195:7,9 196:8

213:9,19 214:19

215:14

informative 95:4

infrastructure 53:20

54:4 72:6 159:4,8,15

226:5

ingredient 111:15

174:11,13,14,21

175:3,8 180:3,5,11,15

181:7 182:8,14

184:16,17 188:18

192:18

ingredients 67:3

176:17 179:9 184:18

184:18 190:7 192:19

210:13

initial 135:16

initially 160:1

initiate 192:6 195:10

200:19,22

initiation 193:17

initiative 3:6 69:15

70:11 88:3 95:18 96:3

96:5 97:4,11 125:9

126:5 155:19 209:3

initiatives 34:20

Inman 1:18 15:2,3

92:20,20 94:2,5,22

128:11,13

Inn 228:13,15 229:9,14

innovation 71:22

innovative 200:7

input 31:21 46:6 65:4

inputs 90:12

inquired 91:5

insect 118:16

inside 217:17

insight 5:12

insignificant 174:4

inspection 2:4 43:8

79:16 178:19,19,20

inspections 58:18

67:12 81:1 94:4 119:1

206:17 226:5

inspectors 96:12

instance 106:20 171:4

212:13

Institute 7:9,11 23:13

134:16 226:16

institution 96:12

institutions 134:19

instructions 218:16

insulation 114:4

insurance 71:15

integrity 69:19 72:10

74:12 78:5 79:12

80:19 96:14

intend 217:18

intention 5:9

interact 27:13 113:9

114:12 120:21 122:18

interacting 100:15

interaction 223:6

interactions 100:8

interactive 72:18

interest 19:19 95:3

114:9 131:6 155:6

interested 149:6 150:9

158:17 166:9 194:14

198:8

interesting 127:5

166:10 212:21

interim 111:4,8

interject 64:19

intermediaries 77:9

Internally 102:15

international 15:8 74:9

226:16

internationally 86:18

interpreting 198:13

interrupt 187:1

intersected 41:6

interview 94:15

intimately 27:16

introduce 5:21,22

13:19 29:6 56:19

95:16

introducing 166:12

introduction 56:20

introductions 3:3 28:15

29:4 92:2

investigate 192:7 197:9

investigated 195:17

197:6

investigates 81:6

investigating 135:9

investigation 170:3

189:22 192:14 193:9

investigative 195:13

investing 60:14

Invite 55:20

invited 164:9

inviting 95:20 139:14

involved 14:11 15:5

16:5 110:18 115:4

126:11 132:22 137:3

143:21 147:5,6 161:4

involves 121:22

involving 93:19

Iowa 104:14 151:18

IQF 18:13

irradiated 205:8 206:7

irradiation 204:19

Isabel 1:16 14:16

Island 151:20

issuance 111:3 122:10

issue 45:19 47:10 52:9

52:20 81:9 82:7 92:22

111:4 159:19

issued 111:10 116:12

122:9 123:1

issues 8:20 19:6 39:10

118:12 119:18 120:17

130:9,14 139:9

167:12 205:20

it'll 24:17

item 107:7 178:1

itemized 216:22

items 106:16 114:1,3

114:18 165:6 169:18

170:17 199:16,17

204:13 207:18

J

James 1:13 14:1 207:8

January 79:2 111:11

126:6 167:22 169:2

194:15

JENIFER 1:14

Jennifer 22:19

Jenny 2:10 30:16 65:13

95:4,9 96:6,9,13

Jenny's 83:4,13

job 8:10 33:12 47:1

82:17 84:12 106:11

140:3

jobs 29:15

Joe's 165:1

John 2:3 34:8 43:1,2

108:18,21 109:7,7

225:19,21

joined 16:20

joining 28:10 108:18,19

Jorge 1:21 27:2 214:4

Joseph 16:14

juices 18:15,15 174:8

Julie 1:12 20:11 227:19

jump 64:21

jumped 85:19

June 42:4

justice 23:2

justifiable 135:19

197:18

justification 174:16

K

Karla 221:18 222:3,7

Kay 1:8,10 4:10 12:1,3

13:12 64:20 65:1 96:2

109:16 165:16 219:22

keep 8:4 65:7 107:14,16

107:17 135:12 136:19

172:8 187:20 189:12

189:12,14 199:17

228:8

keeping 23:5 198:15

keeps 96:8

Ken 42:19 57:20

Kentucky 130:20

kept 16:18 58:4 184:9

key 66:5 69:13 70:16

101:21

kick 139:5

kicking 157:11

Kim 2:8 95:16 108:17

108:19 109:6,9,13,14

125:10

KIMBERLY 2:3

kind 16:21 26:3 28:19

34:10 38:15 39:14

42:6 47:22 66:4 68:19

85:2 86:12,15 88:4

93:1 94:16 98:12

101:17 105:4 106:12

121:16 139:22 142:8

142:12 144:4 147:9

150:5 152:21 153:5

153:10,19 156:13

158:13 160:20 161:12

167:20 169:2 171:7

181:17 185:16 188:14

191:14 196:9 206:12

212:8,22 216:22

223:1,4 227:7

kinks 162:4

kit 153:9 210:5,6,8,15

210:15

kitchen 11:8

kits 209:22

knew 40:2 74:7 78:18

165:14 219:14

knock 130:2

Knouse 6:13

know 5:8 8:10 13:14

26:19 28:7 31:14

33:17 39:9 41:2 43:22

44:10 46:12 48:12

52:1 55:22 56:20

57:14 59:8 63:9 65:4

65:20 76:8 83:12,13

92:1 95:21 96:9 99:4

101:2,2 107:1 109:7

121:17 129:8 131:8

131:10 132:21 133:9

133:17,20 134:3

135:9 138:6 140:1,10

140:11,13,19 141:1

143:16 144:9 145:2

146:13 148:16 152:17

154:10,12,13 155:18

155:20,22 156:2,4,6

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
244

157:6,14 158:6,13

159:6,12,19,20 160:1

160:5,6,6,16,18,21

162:14 163:5,7,13

164:15,18,22 165:2,6

166:6 174:19 178:6,9

179:13,18 181:13

184:1 190:14 191:8

193:15,22 195:8

197:9,13 199:10

200:2,4,13 201:4,17

202:3,7,8,12 203:3,5

203:20 204:2,3,5,12

204:13 205:7,16,21

206:12 207:3 208:5

209:10 210:4,19

211:4,10,15,22

212:16 213:6,17,18

214:1,9,13,13 215:11

219:9 220:15 222:19

223:5 229:8

knowing 101:1

knowledge 29:22

178:11 226:7

known 56:22 94:12

115:1 202:20

knows 101:6 159:20

204:21

Krista 2:6 165:21 166:3

217:5

L

label 6:15 84:6 169:21

170:1,16 197:5 198:4

198:5 205:3 210:7,20

labeled 82:2 194:8

205:9 206:3,3 207:2,2

207:7

labeling 2:7 166:1,22

167:3,8,13,13,16,19

172:14,16 191:19

197:4 200:21 201:4

206:19

labels 169:14 212:11

labor 19:6,9,11 27:17

45:11,14,16,20 46:4,6

46:10,10,13 47:9 51:5

51:11,16 52:4

laboratory 118:7 122:8

125:6 188:20

lack 86:20 101:8

lady 106:10

laid 110:21

Lake 18:5

land 73:14

land-grant 101:13

language 76:7 117:17

162:15 186:2

laptops 138:3

Laredo 18:18

large 68:1 90:7 100:1

largely 99:3

larger 27:21 96:5

148:15

largest 15:15 18:21

72:22 130:18

lasagna 10:14

late 26:3

Latin 27:2 214:5

Lauderdale 17:1

launched 24:14

law 119:11,22 121:2,4

122:19 212:13

laws 81:21 160:18

168:17 201:7,8

layer 10:16

layers 94:9

laying 111:5

lead 73:1 140:22 141:10

149:14

leadership 5:22 39:20

42:18,22 43:10 57:11

57:20 58:2 227:3

leading 24:13

leads 223:19 224:18

225:5

Leaf 6:14

leafy 24:22

leaks 9:16

learn 13:10 73:9

learned 155:11 167:9

196:6

learning 7:15 169:3,3

189:3

learnings 196:2

leave 138:3 217:17

229:18 230:5

led 136:7

left 4:22 5:3 54:5 59:6

112:5 113:2,20 177:2

207:10 222:1,5

228:17,20 229:14

legacy 91:8

legal 81:20

legally 177:21

legislate 23:14

legislation 156:20

157:7

lens 16:9 23:2

lessons 155:11 196:5

let's 13:18 41:18 45:1,3

45:5 48:6 62:3,4

63:19 138:17 179:10

179:11 182:17 218:6

220:15 224:15,17

225:4,5

letter 190:9 193:14

letters 191:10

letting 193:14

lettuce 21:5 31:20

level 34:12 62:4,5 68:7

68:11 69:21,21,22

80:16,20 85:18 87:18

88:5 93:15 104:3,10

134:1 153:12 156:22

191:18 201:7 205:3

206:16 213:6

levy 194:4

Lewis 168:1

LFPA 53:18 54:14,15

62:6 140:6 141:12

147:2 158:5,21

license 81:17 116:11,12

116:14 118:11 120:5

121:15,21 122:22

123:3,5,20 124:5

132:11,16,21 133:3

217:17

licensed 121:7 125:17

127:14 133:8

licensees 136:8

licenses 122:9 130:22

licensing 116:16

121:14 122:11

lift 73:15,16 120:8

light 51:14

limit 158:3 160:20

limited 67:7 144:1

limiting 46:7

line 160:13 165:6

170:14

lines 8:11 59:3 203:11

list 64:9 76:15 78:7

105:14 150:18 174:11

174:13,14,21 175:4,7

175:8 176:2 177:14

177:15,16,19,20

178:2,11,13 179:17

180:3,10 181:4

186:12,13 192:18

194:12 198:10,14

199:5,16,20 215:1,12

216:1,6,9

listed 162:7 170:1,3

listening 29:3 31:8

listing 153:15

lists 76:16

literally 75:17 138:8

215:17

little 6:9 13:16 14:4

25:5 27:7 30:5 32:21

54:11 61:17 70:10

73:21 98:14 106:1

107:20 110:12 116:2

117:14 123:9,17

125:9 127:8 138:15

141:6 144:4,14 150:4

160:3,5,8 166:11

172:13 175:2 176:15

177:15 178:22 181:9

183:15 191:11 192:10

195:22 212:15 214:7

215:8 220:13 221:7

221:12

live 15:15 16:15 18:2

24:11

lives 27:6

livestock 36:18 59:11

67:14 74:10 80:21

81:2,15 97:1

LLC 25:21 26:9

loads 10:18

loan 105:20 106:2

loans 105:22

lobby 5:4 228:16

Lober 2:7 61:16 139:6

139:12,17 145:1

149:11 150:13,15

151:2,5,8,11,15,22

152:12 153:13,21

157:5 158:15,22

159:10,12,18 160:9

160:14 161:3,6 162:8

162:12,21 164:12,14

local 17:17 20:7,7,18

22:6 23:1,5 34:20

61:3,9,15 62:5,7,18

63:12,12,18 70:17

71:2 73:3,8 74:4 75:1

88:5 119:15 120:20

132:4 140:6 141:13

141:15,16 142:4,15

142:17 143:8 149:1

153:3,15,16,18,20

155:19,21 156:20

160:15 163:6 165:4

locally 86:18

located 1:7

locating 154:8

location 49:16 120:6,14

122:13 124:22 189:17

locations 123:18

locator 79:11

log 108:21

logistics 12:13 27:8

long 9:6,7 30:3 36:11

42:9 74:9 86:15 143:1

146:16 182:9 190:7

201:16

longer 141:6 176:21

226:18

longstanding 111:19

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
245

longtime 227:22

look 13:5 69:11 72:15

76:5 97:7 99:18 112:4

112:4 126:3,11

127:20 131:13 166:5

169:20,21 180:5,14

184:12 186:17 197:14

200:12,13,14 202:7

203:7 206:12,14

213:11,14,18 215:7

215:11 218:3 226:17

227:8 228:4

looked 187:21 195:17

200:1 216:8

looking 37:12 38:14

84:7 95:11 132:7,11

179:9 180:3 188:8

189:21 196:9 199:3

200:5 202:11 203:3,4

203:7,10 211:14

213:20 228:16

looks 122:17 192:11

loose 211:13

Los 26:5 106:10

lose 81:16

losing 58:8 59:2

losses 58:11

lot 10:2 13:6 17:1 25:13

27:9,13 32:16 34:12

34:15,18,18,21,22,22

35:18 37:14 38:13

46:2 50:13 55:1,6

57:5,16 58:5,9 59:1

60:21 63:1,8,13 65:19

67:21 73:8 75:12

76:20 78:19,22 80:7

80:14 85:2 86:19,22

92:11 94:13 105:12

110:12 114:8,11

117:21 123:10 124:10

124:12,15,20 126:17

129:17 130:15 131:5

131:6,8,10,11 133:19

134:14 136:2 140:21

145:6 153:2,5,17

154:4,22 155:5,16

156:12 157:1 159:7

167:11 172:6 176:10

176:10,16 177:5,5

183:18 189:1 194:22

198:3 205:6 206:10

208:19 209:4 212:12

212:21 214:10 216:3

222:1 223:6 225:7

227:15

lots 6:15 79:9 130:9

Louisiana 151:18 152:2

lounges 171:10

love 8:9 9:22 37:21 39:7

55:21 86:2 125:20

205:21 222:3,6

loved 159:7

low 49:9 90:9 135:19

luck 60:13

lucky 6:14 106:9

lunch 35:2,6,9 110:11

137:14,22 138:7,21

171:8

lunches 36:1

M

ma'am 131:21

machine 37:8

Magic 93:16

mail 19:4

main 5:4 158:12 185:10

202:10 229:6

Maine 46:15,17,19

151:19

maintain 72:10 74:12

141:20 170:5 171:3

209:20

maintaining 170:15,21

majority 20:20 113:4

129:11

makers 153:19

making 48:16 54:5,17

59:20 106:4 112:1

120:10,11 134:21

177:19 183:12

management 122:19

manager 17:9 96:18

108:15

managing 26:7 141:15

mandatory 168:10

mango 14:21 15:18

mangoes 31:18

mangos 85:12 205:8,12

manipulation 103:13

manufacturer 170:3,4,5

180:22 186:20

manufacturers 168:18

169:13,17 171:11,15

172:3

manufacturing 114:14

map 71:8 72:18

mapped 78:11

March 40:22 79:4,21,22

margins 130:8

marijuana 110:20 119:4

129:4

mark 66:21

market 2:3,3,8 21:17,18

21:20 25:15 32:10

34:8 37:22,22 38:16

38:19 39:3,9 43:3

44:12,17 59:2 67:2

70:2,17 71:18 72:6,11

73:6 74:16,20 75:17

78:8,18 80:8,15 81:15

90:9,18 94:1 96:17,19

97:11,21,22 98:18,19

99:10 100:14 101:6

104:4,10 107:9 108:5

108:14,18 109:8

126:6 136:5 153:12

197:1 201:19 202:4,6

212:10 225:17

marketing 6:9,12 7:9,11

19:19 30:10 32:22

43:4,5 63:19 81:8

110:16 113:14 158:13

168:7,21 185:15

marketplace 20:8

markets 6:14 8:8 17:16

22:6 38:2 58:9 66:2

69:9 72:2 73:10 75:1

103:17 104:3 105:8

132:13

MARS 102:15

Marshall 1:10 9:4 12:21

53:16 150:16 151:3,7

151:10,13,21 152:10

152:13

Maryland 157:10

Massachusetts 151:19

Masser 1:12 20:11,12

20:12

Mastronardi 21:2

match 47:21

material 118:6,14

141:11 173:6 176:5

185:16

materials 113:1 114:4

131:12 141:6 209:4

math 48:4 117:17

matter 49:16 72:13

110:1 138:22 151:5

218:8 222:15 230:13

matured 90:9

maximizing 78:14

MDD 43:4

meals 146:12

mean 82:16 128:15

156:5 158:9 159:18

197:15 207:17 209:15

215:2 218:17 223:15

meaning 23:14 129:3

186:11

meaningful 103:16

means 23:8 33:8 70:1

91:12 118:1 182:20

204:21 215:4,7

meant 208:14

meat 41:21 55:1 105:11

148:10 149:5 178:18

179:12 180:5,16

meats 146:13 179:6

mechanism 51:16

mechanisms 73:11

medicine 12:14,17

medium 88:1 112:20

meet 8:6 15:10 39:2,21

82:18 101:4 115:9

144:10 163:6 187:20

218:7 226:14

meeting 1:6 4:17 5:16

57:19 60:12 66:8

94:21 154:13 193:16

217:11 220:7 221:19

meetings 28:19 51:8

91:2 124:2 224:13

meets 82:17

Melendez 1:18 17:7,8

86:10,10

melons 210:2

member 14:1,10,16

15:2,12,20 16:1,13

17:7,20 18:17 19:13

20:3,11,22 21:15 22:7

22:19 23:11 24:8 25:1

25:19 27:1 28:20

44:12 45:10 47:4 49:4

50:22 51:3 52:19

60:19 62:9,12,21

63:15 64:18 84:3 85:9

86:10 88:6 89:10 91:4

92:8,20 94:2,5,22

127:12 128:11,13

132:2 133:13 135:4,6

137:21 144:21 149:13

152:15 153:14 156:15

157:22 158:16 159:1

159:13,22 160:10

161:2,5,7,11 162:9,13

163:19 164:13 196:18

198:2 200:9,14,18

201:15 202:14 203:1

203:13,15,19 204:6

204:10 205:14 207:8

207:12,15 209:21

210:4 211:3,7,15,19

212:2,8 214:4 216:10

216:14 224:12 225:1

225:12,20 226:3

227:10 228:12 229:2

229:8,18

Member-Representat...

1:11,12,12,13,13,14

1:14,15,15,16,16,17

1:17,18,18,19,19,20

1:20,21,21

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
246

members 20:13 226:1

men 10:5

mention 58:5 83:3

90:22 91:18 109:6

127:3 140:8 162:5

221:12

mentioned 33:2 57:21

65:17 71:19 96:2,6,9

96:10 97:16 99:2

103:6 108:6,12 132:4

145:17 213:2

mentioning 107:15

mentor 10:5 17:2

mentoring 70:15

menu 137:22

Mercer 2:3,8 95:17,19

108:20 109:3

meritorious 192:15

mess 40:22

message 38:22 39:1

messages 62:3

messaging 185:19,19

met 4:8 79:4 161:19

method 10:14 59:18

66:12 71:2 92:7

methods 67:6 91:16,21

92:10,12

metrics 126:14

Mexican 18:19 202:19

202:20

Mexico 16:8 27:5

151:18

Miami 16:15

mic 150:16

MICHAEL 1:13

Michelle 43:3

Michigan 17:22 18:1,5

151:20

Micro 113:8

micronized 114:8

mid-sized 23:5

middle 60:3 72:2 75:5

101:4 221:1

Mike 19:14 211:13,15

miles-long 59:3

milk 59:6 107:8 114:19

148:10 184:3

milking 47:1

milling 12:8

million 19:2 40:15

41:15,16,18,21 42:3

60:7 68:12 97:20

142:10 145:8,11,12

171:12

millions 35:13,13 47:18

63:5

mind 8:5 109:3 114:15

136:19 177:11 209:3

minds 209:1

mine 204:16

minimal 93:12

minimally 146:10

minimizing 78:12

minimum 210:21

227:13

Minnesota 25:3 131:1

158:2 160:8

minor 75:3

minority 53:18 54:2

minute 58:6 138:21

minutes 5:20 6:2 39:13

43:16,18 60:17 82:20

109:22 225:10

Mirisciotta 1:19 16:1,2

missing 72:2 177:8

Mississippi 25:22 47:6

152:6 161:19 162:3

Missouri 123:16 151:18

mitigate 58:10

mitigation 58:6,21

mix 222:11,12

mixed 146:17

mobile 100:10 102:21

103:3

model 49:7 161:15,16

modeled 49:20

models 12:13

modern 103:19

modernize 37:4

modernizing 36:9

37:13

modest 41:15

modification 173:8

modified 173:6 176:5

modifier 199:9

modifiers 199:2

Moman 47:16

moment 69:16 193:12

money 38:8 53:18,22

64:2,12,14 101:10

136:2 146:7 147:3,3

153:2 156:9,10 157:1

157:4 158:7

monitor 215:17 216:18

monitoring 213:6

Montana 129:22 130:19

151:17 152:1

month 6:21 59:21

158:19

monthly 154:1,15 156:3

months 42:2 48:20 71:7

79:5,18,20 121:17

123:11 161:21

morning 4:9,11 16:1,13

17:20 19:13 20:22

21:15 22:7 23:11 24:8

25:19 28:10 29:2

38:17 56:8 65:15

95:19 110:6,9,10

139:10 159:3 229:22

Morris 1:17 25:20,20

26:8 161:11

mosaic 200:1,2 203:4,5

203:12,15,16

mosaic's 200:3

motion 230:3

Mound 25:22

move 13:2 65:9 95:5

161:9 213:14,19

moved 6:11 40:5,6,6

moving 25:13 65:7 75:9

86:19 103:10 137:5

214:17

mulch 10:16,18

multi-commodity 100:2

multi-year 99:16 102:5

multinational 68:1

multiple 63:22 177:3

184:18

multitask 4:17

Musselman's 6:14

mustard 24:16

mutagenesis 92:8

MyMarketNews 97:7

102:17 103:10

N

NAFTA 21:10

name 4:4 14:16 15:2

16:13 17:8 19:13

21:16 25:1,19 43:5

83:22 105:10 110:13

120:3 122:12,12

132:1 152:15 193:1

199:22 230:5

name's 17:21

names 149:18 162:6

229:18

narrative 147:17

narrow 76:16 93:7

199:9,13,14 200:8

215:3

Nashville 10:4,13 11:5

NASS 38:13 44:21

136:12

Nate 24:12

Nathan 1:19 22:8

196:18

Nation 152:4

national 6:21 7:3,6 14:7

15:18 19:11 24:6

30:18,19 34:10,13

35:1 38:13 60:3 62:4

65:11,18 68:7,11

70:13 71:12 72:18

73:5 74:1 125:12,14

126:5 134:16 166:21

168:3,10 184:7

nationwide 60:8 106:4

natural 67:2,6 129:7

naturally 59:16

nature 173:9,11 208:7

nearly 166:14

neat 149:3,7

necessarily 54:3 66:15

69:7 86:14 89:1 153:4

175:9 182:1 188:10

201:3 214:1

necessary 27:10

neck 200:10

need 4:16,22 5:7 8:4

31:7 32:8,13,14,18

38:20 39:1 41:8,9

50:3,20 52:4 63:15

64:20 66:9 75:3,12,13

76:9,21 77:1,10,16

79:4,14 80:3 90:3

93:9 101:8 102:20

116:7,10,13 119:14

123:7 136:22 137:1

148:14 165:18 170:2

172:8 173:16 175:4

179:20,20 180:22

182:1,21 183:18

184:4,9,15 187:12

189:12 190:11 191:1

192:13,17,22 195:9

198:15 214:6 217:13

needed 38:4 156:10

192:6 219:15

needing 83:19 156:21

223:2

needs 47:22 79:8

102:20 106:1 108:21

129:5

negative 194:6 198:6

neighbor's 4:20

net 161:22

network 22:2 49:12

61:1 69:3 73:2 96:12

networks 71:3

never 45:5 59:13 63:7

85:16 109:3 177:11

203:20

new 16:7 30:6 32:19

34:19 38:5 39:15,16

39:17,20 43:1,3,5,9

43:12 54:17 58:20

59:18,19 75:11 80:9

100:11 102:14 104:3

104:10 111:7 113:8

124:10,17 128:8

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
247

131:6 144:4 145:3,22

146:1,2 151:17 152:7

newest 56:21

news 2:3,3,8 26:5 32:11

34:8 37:22,22 38:16

38:19 39:3,9 43:3

44:13 63:19 82:10

96:18,19 97:11,22

100:14 101:6 107:9

108:14,19 109:8

126:6 225:17

nice 17:4 32:17 51:3

105:9 204:15

nine 48:20

Nogales 15:13,21

nominated 29:19

non 118:12,14 119:3

129:1

non-BE 209:16

non-bioengineered

175:14

non-food 171:16

non-GMO 188:5 207:16

207:19 209:16

non-organic 88:9,12

89:2 90:4,8

non-profit 16:4 17:18

20:5 21:18 22:22 23:9

25:11 63:5 72:22

non-profits 68:4

non-regulated 196:21

non-traditional 104:7

NOP 2:10 71:7

Norfolk 22:8 196:19

normally 148:14

North 21:13

northern 21:21 25:4

129:22

northwest 24:21

note 168:20 169:16

171:14 172:4 185:8

185:20 192:8

note-taker 84:1

notice 216:19

noticed 64:5

notify 83:16

novelty 172:5

NRCS 21:22 71:12

nuances 124:16

number 7:1 12:2 21:19

34:15 38:6 45:19

51:15 66:3 67:7 78:10

98:15 116:8 128:15

130:19,21 131:17

132:10 133:2 158:5

171:16 185:5 186:1

190:2,19 191:21

192:18 195:2,6

216:22

numbers 135:13,13,15

213:11

nursing 9:20,21

Nut 15:3,8,9 92:21

nutrition 12:18 22:4

35:14,15

nutritionally 22:14

nuts 14:5

O

o'clock 125:19 126:1

136:13 138:21 230:1

Obama 33:6

objective 26:14 202:10

obstacles 147:18

obtain 123:20 124:5

obtained 173:8

obtaining 121:21

obviously 98:17 101:1

106:10 107:2 111:7

113:4 140:10 148:6

170:19 198:3,6

October 158:14

ODI 96:19 99:15 109:10

offended 166:7

offer 124:18 142:13

offhand 62:14

office 44:22 46:15

87:19 124:7,13 125:2

154:1

officer 2:2 4:5 23:8

official 5:7 121:4 218:2

222:20

officially 4:11 230:8,10

officials 52:13 122:20

oh 28:12 60:18 83:5

92:2 107:12 109:3

177:6 221:10 225:3

230:4

Ohio 151:17

oil 114:19,20 127:1

oils 176:18,18

okay 30:11 41:21 42:11

42:14 56:1 65:5 66:3

73:20 76:8 83:21

92:17 94:22 95:2

106:16 109:5 110:4

110:10 115:3 131:19

137:17 138:1 139:3

139:16 151:7,13

155:7 159:1 161:2,5

161:11 162:13,14

165:20 166:4 168:5

177:11,13 178:14

179:13 182:2 187:11

203:1 214:15 217:8

218:6 219:12 220:4

220:18,20 221:4,17

222:18,21,21 224:10

224:10,21,22 225:4

225:20 226:3,10

229:16,21 230:12

Oklahoma 152:5

Okoniewski 2:3 43:2

109:8 225:19

old 18:20 21:19 28:16

28:17 29:2 38:15

56:11 105:10

olive 114:20

on-package 184:14

185:13 186:3

on-site 79:16

onboard 132:6

onboarding 59:19

once 36:15 83:3 91:1

108:7 109:11 130:5

137:15 153:3 177:2

193:7 198:13 224:6

ones 7:22 8:2 68:20

100:3 114:15 165:3

188:9 189:11

ongoing 5:11

onion 18:21 19:2 89:12

90:14,15

online 76:7 82:15 97:5

181:3

onward 89:19

oops 218:17

open 3:11 65:16 87:7

195:20 196:13 200:14

220:12,12 223:12

Opening 3:4

opens 154:16

operate 21:9 67:20

operating 68:21

operation 69:21 76:13

80:16

operation's 90:3

operations 16:11 17:8

76:10 77:16 78:8

80:17 81:8 87:7,9,10

131:5

opinion 49:17 163:20

opportunities 30:1

71:20 134:2 142:19

opportunity 25:15

56:16 83:6 124:4

142:14

opposed 53:21

option 84:13 135:1,2,2

185:9,18

options 37:12 184:11

185:14 187:7 195:18

211:1

oral 3:10 218:18 219:15

orchards 7:16

order 1:6 3:2 5:17 19:4

30:10 87:2 137:2

177:17 183:1 192:14

195:9 201:18

orders 46:1 107:8

Oregon 130:22 151:17

organic 17:15 18:15

25:7 30:18,19 34:10

34:13,14 66:1,10,12

66:17,20 67:1,9,13,17

67:19,21 68:5,11,18

69:4,5,14,15,19 70:2

70:10,13,14,16,19,21

71:1,3,16,18 72:1,6,8

72:10,16,19,22 73:4,8

73:10,13,22 74:1,5,11

74:18 75:8,10,22

76:14,20 78:5,7,18

79:12,14 80:8,19 81:2

81:8,17 82:12,15 84:6

84:11,13,19,21,22

85:22 86:3,15,17 87:6

88:8,15,21 89:2,13,14

90:6,7,10,14,20 91:14

91:17 92:1,5 93:17,20

94:5,6,11,14 95:18

96:3,4,7 97:2,10,12

97:14,21 98:9,16 99:6

99:10,16,22 101:7

103:5 104:6,17 105:8

105:20 106:2,22

107:17 125:9 126:4

184:7 188:2 198:4,7

204:14

organically 72:3 89:19

organics 3:5,6 65:11,18

85:13,14,16,19,20

98:20 99:5 102:18,19

102:19 107:11 204:12

organization 22:21

23:15 83:13 84:17

200:20

organizational 33:21

organizations 7:2,4

63:6 64:6,11 68:1

84:19 159:7 226:21

organizing 152:22

origin 166:22 167:2,8

172:14,16 175:20

191:19 204:8 206:1

206:19 207:4,5 213:3

original 145:18 167:7

origins 206:5

others' 69:9

ought 153:22 223:4

outdoors 113:4

outer 161:13

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
248

outfits 27:21

outlets 132:4 153:18

Outlook 3:5

outreach 80:14 83:11

84:8 99:22 102:2

106:6 107:21 131:12

146:22 163:20

outside 11:5 101:19

217:12,15,18

outstanding 56:15

overall 98:21 107:7

overarching 142:12

overcoming 147:18

overnight 59:2

oversee 66:19 67:1

69:17 70:2,5 115:22

121:10

overseeing 68:7

oversees 96:13

oversight 76:2 115:15

overview 3:5,7 66:4

84:4

overwhelming 130:6

owned 115:22

owner 20:20 25:20

owners 20:14 94:18

ownership 122:12

P

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

4:1

p.m 139:2 218:9,10

222:16,17 230:14

pack 169:17

package 170:16 171:1

171:2 195:16 211:1,2

packages 169:14

packaging 193:5

packed 56:3

packer 14:3

packing 37:15 141:5,11

packing-processing

46:3

page 185:10,11,12,15

185:17 216:15

pages 216:21 217:2

paid 227:12

Pairwise 24:12 91:5

pamphlet 222:12

pandemic 38:2,8 40:14

40:21 47:11 48:21

49:14 50:1 57:10

panel 186:19,21 187:3

panels 187:1

panic 191:9

papaya 212:14

paper 151:11

paperwork 78:13 93:16

93:21

par 153:20

parallel 41:6

Pardon 137:19

parking 229:9,11,12,12

229:16

part 15:10 31:4 36:3

40:8 55:8 65:10 71:4

85:17 88:3 93:8

100:21 119:8,12

130:1 135:14 143:12

167:6,7,17 205:4,10

217:11 219:19

PARTICIPANT 129:15

138:18 177:10 218:4

participate 19:22 146:1

participation 38:20

49:8 145:3 146:3

particular 19:19 63:11

89:11

particularly 75:2 78:20

87:13 148:12

partner 82:4 104:2

120:18 155:17 200:20

partnered 101:13

partnering 104:13

105:18

partners 69:4 73:2

134:21 144:6

partnership 60:6 67:20

70:14 72:16 84:19

85:2 87:6

partnerships 73:5

156:19

parts 143:4 169:8

party 67:22 188:3

209:18

Pass 18:19

passed 168:6

passing 13:5

passion 19:12

passionate 11:11

passions 9:9 12:16

27:18

password 229:4,5

patchwork 168:17

path 73:19

Patrol 170:9

Paul 25:3 158:2 168:1

pay 47:6 87:14 122:7

paying 45:13

payment 71:10

payments 50:6 54:1

pays 48:3

PCR 182:21

PDF 103:11 123:5

Peach 7:6

Peanut 15:8

peas 53:7,10

penalties 82:7

Penn 104:13

Pennsylvania 6:10

20:21 130:22 227:18

227:20

pentecostal 9:6

people 9:14 10:1 11:1

17:22 29:5,14 30:13

30:21 34:16 35:4

41:10 42:9 45:17

46:22 47:6 51:18,20

66:10 69:12 70:20

73:4 75:9 79:12 86:3

86:9 87:19 100:7

103:8,19 111:16

132:18 148:20 155:15

156:11 157:6 158:20

182:12 191:5 193:4

194:5 202:7 205:8

206:22 212:21 214:12

215:17 218:14 226:7

people's 13:15

pepper 171:1

peppers 21:4

percent 35:1,3,5,9

40:16 111:14,21,22

128:1,3,4 129:3 136:6

136:14 148:7 182:9

182:15,17,18,19,22

183:5

percentage 35:19 93:3

182:14 183:7,8,9,12

Perdue 33:11 40:21

41:7

perfect 166:5

performance 145:21

period 48:4 73:12,18

79:3,5 80:10 145:21

223:13,14

permanent 49:6

permanently 49:21

person 25:4 72:21

108:21 124:2 151:12

164:7,7 170:1,21

172:22 218:15 219:3

220:8,9

personal 56:15

perspective 7:20,20

46:13 53:2 56:16 57:8

153:9 223:21

pest 129:10,13

pesticides 67:7 88:16

89:5 130:11

pests 129:13

Peterson 17:21 57:20

PhD 22:10

phone 62:15 131:16

133:2 185:5

photo 218:3

photographer 218:2

photos 193:4,5

physical 120:5 122:13

phytosanitary 167:12

Pichelman 57:21

pick 82:14 84:22 89:1

206:12

pickup 10:18

picture 50:13 112:6,10

112:15,16 129:20

pictures 36:19 112:3

piece 10:13 88:8,8

pieces 192:13 195:8

213:13

piggyback 47:10

pillar 30:17

pilot 106:3 117:11

piloting 36:22

pilots 104:18

pineapple 212:15

ping 226:8

pink 212:15

pinpointed 71:18

pistachio 15:4,7 92:21

pistachios 94:6

pitless 24:18

pizza 133:17,19

placard 187:10

placards 206:11

place 46:8 53:18 56:13

72:9 74:2 95:22

111:22 112:9 116:7

118:9 119:3,7 120:11

123:10 136:8 157:19

195:19

placed 194:8,10,11

199:20

placement 195:15

placements 195:18

places 29:10 42:21 46:2

47:7 74:21 134:19

186:17,18

plain 76:7

plan 98:2 99:17 106:17

107:7 142:10

planning 108:20

plans 134:14 212:9

plant 10:20 20:21 22:9

112:6 118:5 134:12

208:4

planted 128:9,22

130:18,20

planting 127:7 134:9

plants 19:2 36:21 37:15

46:4

plastic 114:7

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
249

plate 8:7 35:22

platform 122:19

play 30:21 227:21

played 227:19

player 104:16

playing 33:16

please 4:18 65:12 66:14

77:12 84:2 95:8 96:16

97:9,18 98:4,11 99:1

99:8,14,20 100:20

102:11 103:21 104:22

105:13,16 106:15

126:15 131:13 164:16

165:10 221:16 230:6

230:6

pleasure 15:9

plowing 41:11

PMA 15:20

Poarch 152:8

pods 221:7

poetry 30:20 66:9,11

point 31:3 36:5 42:4

44:16 62:19 89:17,19

90:18 93:22 96:7

104:11 106:4,8 156:4

156:18 172:8 176:20

186:13 191:10 193:17

193:19 194:9,11

196:13 199:14 201:22

213:11,13 215:2

216:8 220:3 223:1

225:3

points 50:19

police 119:16

policy 23:14 38:5 53:1

63:16

polite 32:18

political 33:4,15

poor 129:9

popping 96:8

popular 67:16 145:6

165:14

population 31:11

port 78:3

portal 97:7 123:2

192:11 193:3

position 6:22 13:7

167:21

positive 198:7

possible 199:2,16

possibly 192:5

post 158:13 197:19

posting 197:16

potato 7:6,8,11 20:20

175:15,16,21 176:1

182:20 195:1

potatoes 7:12 11:8

20:15 34:5 175:17

179:15,16,19 182:17

210:1

potential 43:14

potentially 104:14,15

221:21

pots 9:15 10:4

poultry 59:11 97:1

148:10 178:19 180:6

180:13,16 181:8,9,12

powder 114:22

practices 13:11 20:1

79:15 86:15 88:22

134:10 153:10

pre-prepared 146:12

preacher 9:6

preferable 176:11

prelude 159:16

premium 198:7

prepared 140:20

Prescott 21:17,21

presentation 65:11

83:4 95:5 97:6 150:11

150:11 152:18 166:6

166:10

presentations 65:10

91:1

presented 89:22

presenter 95:6 110:6

161:10

presenting 225:22

presents 83:5 225:21

president 10:6,9 19:18

23:13

Presiding 1:8

Press 1:7

pretended 33:9

pretending 33:9

pretty 31:18,19 48:8

66:9 76:7 92:15 93:12

94:20 143:3 183:13

prevalent 101:18

previous 15:6 168:1

previously 212:7

price 44:13,17,18 96:21

161:1

prices 98:6 127:2

140:18 160:11,12

pricing 126:19,21 136:7

160:1,2

primarily 23:4,20 44:19

117:5 134:18 192:1

primary 116:15 122:17

186:17,18

Prime 34:4

principal 186:21

print 91:16

prior 16:4 49:7 116:21

117:10 127:19 128:8

166:14

priorities 66:6

prioritizing 107:2

prison 82:11

private 6:15 60:5 68:13

85:1 172:11

privilege 26:21

probably 28:13 30:12

38:20 39:4 52:1 99:5

111:22 171:22 176:11

179:4 181:11 183:13

190:5 199:4,13

213:17 216:6 222:3

problem 38:11 112:16

problematic 160:3

problems 133:20,21

141:5

procedures 94:19

118:20

proceeds 20:7

process 18:12 37:13

59:19 67:13 69:22

70:4 71:14 79:21

88:20 89:9 176:4,22

186:10 188:21 190:18

191:11 193:18 196:3

196:6 214:18 215:10

process-based 77:4

processed 67:14

146:10 186:7 202:5

210:12 227:1

processes 67:3 70:5

112:21 177:19 188:12

processing 55:2 135:12

processor 15:4 18:7

23:19 92:21

Processor-Grower

226:19

processors 7:7 135:11

procured 153:16

procurement 36:4 40:7

40:9 53:6 54:13 58:17

139:7 143:5 147:6

160:16,17,22

procurements 140:5

produce 10:4 12:11

15:21 16:16 21:2 22:9

27:9 30:1 35:18,19,22

36:2 40:16 44:15 88:8

88:9,12,18 134:3

148:9 175:17 184:3

196:19 207:17,17

226:16

produced 128:16

167:18 173:11 177:21

208:7

producer 7:21 18:21

48:3 64:1,14 85:5

120:6 122:17 125:17

133:9,18

producers 5:15 50:5

54:19 61:3,9,12 62:18

63:3,12,18 74:10 81:2

118:9 120:12 121:10

124:20 127:7 160:2

162:18,19,20 163:1,6

produces 76:13

producing 133:15

product 24:14 25:13

44:17 62:12 75:10,16

77:2,7 78:14 82:15,17

82:18 85:21 89:12

90:1,19 93:17 104:6

112:22 122:19 126:18

129:3 132:4,14,15,15

148:1 169:21 175:10

175:12 178:12 179:8

180:4,6,15,15,17

181:7,18 182:5,14

183:7,9,13 185:12

187:3 190:3 192:7

193:1,1 197:4 202:13

204:22 205:1 209:16

214:14 216:9

product's 202:6

production 44:19 66:13

67:6,16 71:2 73:4

89:13 106:11 110:14

110:22 111:6 116:5

121:15 130:8 132:21

134:8,13 135:12

136:20,21 177:22

188:19

products 36:11 38:12

41:21 57:8 67:15

72:10 76:14,20 82:1

112:4,11,13,14

113:15,16,16,17,21

114:7,9,13,17,18

126:22 127:22 133:16

134:3,14 143:8 148:8

178:19,20 179:13

184:13 210:6

professors 22:13

program 2:10 4:6,7

6:21 22:3 30:18 33:18

34:10,14 35:2,11

36:12,12 37:18 39:16

40:4,10,13,14,18

42:10,17 48:2,21,21

48:22 49:1,5,8,20,20

53:6 54:9 57:10,22

58:3,10,15,18,22 59:9

59:11,12 61:15,16,19

62:14 63:11 65:12

68:11,11 69:12 70:13

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
250

70:13 71:6,10,16

72:17,19 74:1,6 80:22

81:5 82:7 87:7,11,12

87:16 94:10 95:17

109:22 110:8,15,17

112:1 115:14 119:9

121:13 123:8,21

124:1,6 135:3 139:7

141:13,16,19 142:13

143:1,4,12,13 144:4

144:11 145:5,9

147:14 148:17,18

150:6 155:6,8 157:11

157:12,17 158:19

160:5,8 161:15,22

163:22 164:19 184:8

programs 17:18 20:9

20:10 26:10,15 31:7

32:7,9,12 33:17,19

34:15 35:15,15 38:5,6

38:11 47:11,12,17,17

47:20 49:14 50:2 54:8

54:18 58:19 60:21,22

60:22 61:6,8 63:2,16

69:6 115:8,10,22

116:5,8 117:7,12,13

118:21 123:13 133:11

141:17 155:17 159:17

161:17 221:22

progress 52:9

prohibit 209:12

prohibited 73:13

project 96:6,18,19

99:15 100:21 102:12

108:15 188:5

projects 10:3 97:1

105:7

prominently 132:16

promoted 197:7

promotion 6:18 30:9

85:15

promotional 185:16

promotions 85:11,12

85:16 86:4

properly 194:8

proposal 146:2

proposals 105:5,15

proposed 78:21 199:4

199:8,11,11

proposition 85:3

pros 61:19 62:1

protect 69:19 80:8,19

82:5

protected 21:3 66:21

protecting 70:8

Protection 78:11 81:22

82:8

protections 81:20

protective 21:6

protein 112:13 114:21

126:22 203:11

protests 30:22

proud 8:6 19:21 98:22

provide 5:10,12 8:2

31:7 32:8 33:19 78:2

84:13 87:16 119:22

123:5 133:14 142:14

150:11 175:19 176:12

202:11 213:18 216:4

219:3

provided 117:3,15

122:14 127:4 219:7

providers 56:18

provides 95:10 134:2

134:18

providing 10:4 12:14

100:19 103:14 134:1

168:12 172:2

provisions 79:3 89:8

116:17,18

PRS 48:20 49:19

psychoactive 111:15

public 4:15 66:11 76:7

84:9 106:13 126:2

218:22 219:1

public-private 67:20

84:18

publish 98:7

published 78:21 79:1

97:12 103:9 111:11

Puerto 13:5 60:9

pull 9:8 74:4 201:3

219:20

pulled 36:16 58:16

59:10

pulling 221:5

Pumplin 1:19 22:7,8

196:18,18 198:2

200:9,14 212:8

pungency 24:15

purchase 59:13 62:17

63:12 140:6 141:13

141:15 143:7 147:5,8

purchased 193:2

purchases 35:14 59:20

140:16 141:1,10

142:4 147:15,21

165:2,7

purchasing 3:8 25:13

64:2 140:10 159:9,17

Purdy 2:2 39:22 56:21

57:16 60:18 61:14

62:20 63:14 64:17

65:2

purees 18:15

purple 196:20 200:10

200:11

purpose 75:15 84:1

197:15 206:22

purposes 91:22 201:2

pursue 195:8

push 12:17

pushed 107:9

put 8:7 9:4 29:18 50:2,9

53:18,19 58:9,19 59:8

59:18,19 60:4 62:4

65:19 83:9 99:16

133:2 141:12 153:6

154:12 161:12 174:10

174:21 187:7 190:8

199:5 201:16 209:15

211:21,22

putting 4:20 11:7 58:15

61:8 62:1 133:18

155:9,11 209:4 210:1

210:4 212:17

Q

Q&A 83:1

QR 185:1,2

qualifies 174:20

quality 67:5 107:10

quantities 148:14,15

quarter 154:20

quarterly 147:15

question 60:20 86:12

88:7 92:17 94:15

108:16 121:4 124:13

124:14 127:17 128:18

128:19 129:4 132:10

133:7 134:6 135:14

135:18,22 137:15

138:20 150:14 161:9

198:9 202:19 212:9

216:19

question's 202:16

questioning 84:10

questions 28:9 43:19

55:15,18 60:17 64:22

76:22 83:22 95:8

109:9 124:4,9 131:13

131:18,20 133:19

138:16 150:1 152:20

154:2 155:1 157:21

158:3 164:16,17

165:11 167:1,2 181:4

181:11 192:19 196:13

197:2 202:15 215:16

215:20 216:11,15

217:4

quick 5:1 52:19 65:22

69:11 111:12 150:17

165:17 223:11

quickly 28:3 58:20,21

59:9 99:11 119:6

169:6 173:4

quite 20:17 51:7 52:14

58:2 90:9 100:1 136:9

quorum 4:8

R

radioactive 204:18

rainbow 212:14

rained 9:14

raising 11:8

ramped 94:13

ran 182:20

ranchers 142:6,18

143:7 154:9 163:16

range 33:19 89:6

rDNA 173:7,12 175:11

176:9,21 177:2 208:4

reach 82:14 165:10

172:18 191:3 201:11

reaching 162:9,14

164:3

read 57:6 76:8 91:16

93:6 99:9 151:9

185:22

reading 26:13

reads 66:8

ready 18:12 139:4

146:12 153:4,6

real 38:10 42:17 52:19

66:8 74:17 92:14

111:12 133:1 150:17

163:4 214:1

reality 66:17

realized 43:17

realizing 53:12

really 12:19 13:2 16:8

16:11,11 22:17 27:4

29:8,19 30:4 31:20,21

34:11 35:17 36:21,21

38:1,1,15 39:20 40:9

40:9 42:6 43:9,21

44:1,1,1 46:7,18 50:6

50:20 51:9,10,11

53:12 57:22 59:21

62:2 69:22 70:18,21

74:7 75:4 84:4,13,17

91:17 96:1 98:22 99:4

100:5,15 101:1,3

102:2 103:12,19

104:9 108:8 113:14

115:5 124:9 130:6

143:12 144:20 145:5

148:21 149:2,3,3,6,7

155:13,20 158:12,17

159:14 160:1,11,16

165:2,4,7 169:2 186:4

187:17 191:17 195:15

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
251

195:16 199:17 203:7

204:10,20 205:16

206:2 207:20 208:7

209:4 213:1 216:4

217:7 227:21

realtime 26:15

reason 45:21 88:17

116:15 119:12 170:22

178:5 186:22

reasonable 194:20

reasons 13:9 98:19

208:16

reassess 215:11

rebate 87:12,20

Rebecca 1:20 21:16

84:3 132:2 152:16

recall 194:4 200:20

201:8

recalls 200:22

receipts 171:16

receive 97:6 192:2,3

193:7,14

received 58:11 83:4

111:9 144:13,16,18

148:3 193:13 218:22

219:9

receives 30:12

receiving 64:6

reception 12:22 226:14

227:2,6,9 228:2,6

receptions 227:14

recess 229:22

recessed 230:9,11

recipients 105:20 106:2

143:14

recognize 21:2 29:16

140:18

recognized 112:11,12

141:22 144:7 145:13

recommend 181:15

193:4

recommendation 52:11

52:15 205:4 224:2

recommends 67:10

record 4:7 78:4 110:2

139:1 171:3 174:15

178:2 179:21 180:22

187:18 188:7 189:14

190:21 191:1,4

196:10 198:15 218:9

218:13 219:16 222:16

222:21 223:22 230:14

recordkeeping 76:1

189:10

records 77:3,5 97:12

122:14 123:2 170:2,6

170:15,21 172:2,7,8

172:11,19 173:1

184:8 187:13,16,20

188:14 189:4,12,15

189:18 190:1,3,6,12

190:16 191:8 192:6

193:10,17 194:1

195:10 196:1,9

red 171:1 215:6

redundant 191:14

refer 201:12,13

referred 195:21

refined 176:4,17,20

reflect 103:19

refresher 13:21

regarding 221:20

regardless 49:15 126:2

163:21

regards 53:17 200:21

regenerative 11:10

Reggie 9:3 12:1,3 13:12

REGINALD 1:10

region 81:13 149:17,19

regional 7:3 20:18 23:1

55:4,7 73:9 74:5

81:12 100:3 142:16

regions 71:8 72:16 73:1

101:17 149:16

register 214:20 218:17

registered 26:11 61:21

218:14 219:2,6

registration 228:17

regs 91:19

regular 80:16 81:4

198:11 214:17,18

regularly 94:14 177:19

regulate 177:17 183:4

regulated 169:11,12,19

170:7,12 171:6,18

172:12,21 178:17

179:3,8 180:9,17,19

181:14 189:11 193:20

regulating 70:4 193:13

regulations 75:8 91:15

91:17,22 94:21

160:16 163:9 168:9

168:18 174:12 205:7

regulatory 18:7 23:15

110:22 115:4,15

117:7 201:5

reinforcing 39:12

relate 81:7

related 13:4 47:13

90:16 116:20 117:1

119:18 123:3 174:22

181:11 195:15 212:8

relates 117:8 181:21

182:13

Relations 21:12

relationships 142:21

142:22 156:19

released 126:5

relentless 47:1

relevant 31:6 35:17

37:14 38:16

relief 25:14

relies 77:5

rely 85:1

remain 32:7 134:8

remainder 219:18

Remarks 3:4

remember 28:18 36:10

40:22 105:9 131:22

remind 13:19 226:14

reminder 66:18

remised 39:14

remove 24:15

renders 176:5

renewed 102:5

renting 26:8

Rentzel 1:8,10 4:9,10

13:13 28:1 56:6 60:16

65:3 83:20 95:2,15

109:13,17 110:4

131:19 139:3 150:14

165:13,20 198:19

220:2,20 221:6,8,11

221:14,16 222:9,14

222:18 224:4,8,10,21

226:10,12 227:17

228:14 229:5,10,21

230:4,10

repacker 20:16

repacking 20:17

report 38:17 64:3 98:13

104:2 121:1 125:1

126:6,9,19 127:2

147:15 153:10 163:11

reported 98:16 99:6

119:13 127:22 128:22

214:2

reporting 71:6 96:20

104:9 118:8 120:12

125:3 154:19 225:17

reports 8:19 34:8 82:10

98:8 99:10,13 103:9

118:15,17 127:6

148:3,5 154:22

163:12 165:1,5

220:14

represent 17:21 18:10

19:14 22:10 23:20

31:21 226:21

representative 6:10

21:17 166:17

representatives 34:17

153:19 222:3

representing 22:8

31:10 86:11

represents 23:18

request 72:11 77:12

106:21 125:17 150:7

172:19 189:20,21

190:9,11 214:18

215:3,9 227:3

requested 111:8 156:6

requesting 107:17

requests 140:22 172:6

172:11 199:7

require 75:19 81:10

117:2 194:7 207:6

required 90:11 118:13

118:17 122:13 127:4

154:22 168:8 185:2

187:2 210:21

requirement 116:9,16

163:3,18

requirements 90:16

115:10 116:6 117:18

118:9,21 119:2,10

123:20 124:6 131:16

144:11 147:14 163:7

171:21 172:10 187:21

189:7,7

requires 5:2 70:5

188:14

requiring 93:22 160:14

Rescue 142:10

research 30:9 117:11

134:18 216:2

residue 89:20

resiliency 20:10 141:21

resource 124:10 137:12

214:7

resources 60:14 87:3

108:10 134:7 135:20

137:12

respect 57:15

respected 5:10

respond 190:10

response 48:21 50:2

responses 215:18

responsibility 19:21

30:15

responsible 115:12

121:11 122:2,4

170:21

rest 28:9 57:12 126:2

204:6

Restaurant 24:6

restaurants 40:22

41:10 171:7

restriction 184:20

185:17

restrooms 4:21

result 82:12 88:14

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
252

118:13,14 129:12

141:10 181:17

results 88:10 108:7

118:15 123:6 125:18

126:1,3 129:2 136:13

176:12 193:21

resumed 110:2 139:1

218:9 222:16

retail 24:17 41:5 104:12

126:21 127:1 169:15

170:11,16 191:18,20

206:16 213:6

retailer 170:20 187:12

retailers 133:4 170:13

170:13,14 187:10

191:21 206:10 212:12

retaining 187:13

retired 9:21 168:2

return 137:2 162:10

returned 6:19 26:6

revamp 43:17

review 79:17 117:5

189:4,18 192:6

195:10 196:1

reviewing 115:12

reviews 191:20 213:5

rewarding 6:22

Rhode 151:20

rib 36:19

rich 22:15

Richard 110:6

Richmond 2:9 109:21

110:10,13 127:14

128:12,18 129:16

131:21 132:9 134:5

135:5,21 137:17

Rico 13:5 60:9

right 5:1 12:16 13:6

18:4,4,4 25:10 28:3

28:16,19 29:7 30:14

31:13 33:9 34:17

35:11 36:22 37:15

38:4 41:3 43:6 44:14

45:16 46:7 50:1,10

51:20,20 52:15 53:5

53:11 54:15 56:10

68:14 69:12 75:7,20

91:14 94:1 95:11

112:19 113:11 114:16

115:2 127:8,21 128:1

128:20 130:1,8 131:1

131:4 132:17,17,17

137:4 138:8,12,16

139:16 146:14 147:3

151:6 153:13,21

154:19 158:10,15

159:10,10,12 160:9

162:12,21 164:12,14

189:19 195:20 198:11

199:8,19 202:17

203:16 204:6,21

205:4,10,13 207:6,22

211:13,16 212:5

219:13 220:20 224:11

226:12 228:18,22

229:2

rights 47:17

rigorous 67:13 119:2

rising 46:6

risk 74:21 75:4 77:8

risk-based 74:20

road 208:21

roasting 12:9

robots 46:20 47:2

robust 30:18 38:21

rock 10:21

role 43:1,3,22

roles 30:15

roll 36:21

rolling 121:18

roof 9:16

room 1:7 4:16 57:2

138:3 220:3 226:7

228:6,10 229:1

rooms 171:8

rope 114:3

ropes 70:18

rotation 120:16

round 146:20 147:1

route 24:12

row 53:11

rule 74:17 75:2,11,14

75:22 76:6,12,16

77:11 78:16,21,22

79:1 83:12 93:6 94:12

111:5,9,10 177:19

196:21 199:4,9,11

rulemaking 111:4

214:18 215:10

rules 74:1 80:9,11 81:3

81:18 82:12 89:8 90:5

92:15 111:6 119:6

123:19 124:16 131:11

131:16 134:13 146:7

147:10 211:6

run 22:2 23:14 32:1

33:17 37:8 43:15 44:8

46:4 120:1 123:13

163:21 229:7

running 57:22 70:13

162:4

runs 30:17

rushed 107:21

Ryan 2:4 43:7

S

safe 112:12 135:2

safety 48:21 58:18

62:12 168:22

Saint 25:3

salaries 156:9

sale 76:20 112:8 170:11

sales 6:11 14:7 19:18

68:8,10 73:8 169:15

170:16 171:12 212:10

212:18

sam.gov 26:12

sample 36:16,17 37:6

samples 117:22 118:5

118:6 222:1

sampling 117:18 122:5

122:6 125:3,5

sanitary 167:12

SANTIAGO 1:11 11:22

Sarah 149:13

sauce 18:14

save 200:9

saw 83:4 164:4 199:5

saying 29:13,17 39:17

100:13 210:9,9

227:15

says 206:11 222:11

scale 105:7 136:22

scan 185:3

scanner 214:2

scenario 93:19

schedule 54:21 57:15

57:16 64:20 65:6,7

193:16

scheme 110:22 115:4

school 20:10 35:2,9,22

221:22

Schools 141:17

schoolteacher 35:5

science 9:19 23:13

scientific 22:11 91:9

111:19

scientists 22:10

SCP 2:2,3,3,4,8

script 13:14

Sea 81:13

seafood 148:12

seal 34:14 66:20 74:4

96:7 149:5

sealed 160:21

seals 74:6

search 120:1 121:3

searing 59:5

season 118:18 148:6

158:10,13,19

seasons 19:16

second 46:7 71:8

115:11 116:2 125:15

147:1 170:7 180:14

181:20 183:17 188:16

218:21 223:18

Secondly 142:17

seconds 36:17

secretary 1:11 11:20,22

33:5,11 40:21 41:7

52:12,12 55:3,9 59:7

69:14 70:12 145:7

168:8

section 218:19 220:6

sector 30:1 31:13,16

36:18 38:10 68:13

69:14 80:20 85:1

secure 119:22 196:21

security 22:5 52:20,22

53:1 138:5 228:8,9

see 8:12 11:18 13:15

14:14 29:3 45:4 46:21

51:3 56:4 86:2,3

98:15,21 101:4,8

102:16 103:8 108:2,3

113:20 114:2,11

120:4 122:20 123:6

126:3 130:14 131:5

132:18,20 136:13

165:5 176:2,16

182:21 187:8 188:1,4

188:9,22 189:8 191:9

193:8 194:22 197:9

198:8 201:6,11

206:15,18 207:18

211:13 220:5,15

225:13 228:7,21,22

seed 48:8 90:10,14,16

90:19 112:14 132:7

seeds 90:8 114:17,21

114:22 127:1 137:22

seeing 53:5 60:11

61:11 132:3 165:4

205:5

seeking 97:4 199:9,15

seeks 74:18

seen 34:11 56:8 61:6

112:8 114:8,13

127:19 131:5 136:11

136:17 156:20 159:8

164:20,22 198:6

199:4 203:20

segment 226:22

SEI 226:5

seizures 81:22

selected 17:5

selecting 72:3

sell 61:3,13 69:8 73:9

81:17 133:16 170:17

171:2

seller 93:3

sellers 72:5

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
253

selling 24:16 74:22

132:14 198:11 205:10

212:14,15

send 19:4 84:9 193:4

204:5 215:15,16

216:1 222:7

sending 63:20 179:21

sends 26:12

senior 18:6 57:20

sense 125:6

sent 118:6 125:16

separate 115:5 116:1,3

separated 85:14

separately 205:11

September 158:11,14

196:22

series 106:6 115:9

124:2

serious 13:5

seriously 82:13

Serratos 1:20 21:15,16

84:3,4 132:2,3 152:15

152:16 153:14 156:15

serve 4:10 7:1 12:2,5

12:20 14:20 15:17

21:22 26:21 29:19

65:19

served 14:8 15:19

142:7,18 143:11

157:2 162:16,19

163:1,2,15

serves 124:9

service 15:20 31:5 32:8

32:22 38:14 41:1,3,5

56:11,18 71:12 72:17

105:19 110:16 120:19

120:22 125:2,13

134:22 166:15 167:6

services 33:20,20

36:10 84:8 87:17

133:15 134:2 144:1

serving 21:11 28:5

29:16 61:9 96:18

session 108:19 139:5

sessions 51:8 124:7

set 38:21 80:10 88:22

145:12 147:9 153:4

156:1 160:2,11,18

setting 73:2,11

seven 130:3

shaking 100:13

share 87:11 91:2

125:21 162:1 220:12

222:2 226:8

shared 6:1 56:8

shares 59:2

sharing 119:11 155:3,3

164:6

Sharo 43:3

Shelby 17:22

shelf-stable 53:8

shift 110:11

shifting 123:9

ship 19:2 69:1 77:19

shipper 14:3,18

shipping 20:18 85:21

104:11 211:8

shop 23:15

short 58:16 195:11

shortages 38:3

shots 217:12

shoutout 57:19

show 65:22 70:7,18

71:8 98:13 103:16

112:21 177:13 197:16

showed 60:4

showing 18:2 206:8

shows 96:11 100:1

169:6 177:1 178:3

179:17 188:18 206:5

shut 167:17

shutting 41:1,10

side 6:20 13:18 37:3

38:18 41:3 85:2

106:11 134:8,22

138:15 219:21 221:1

sign 187:10

signal 161:13 211:1

significant 82:6 87:16

120:8 128:6 130:20

136:9

similar 105:21 114:6,19

114:19 126:4 130:11

136:21 185:4 197:7

similarities 198:4

Similarly 173:14

simple 143:4

simply 7:20 175:13,19

Simultaneous 49:3

55:16 64:16 159:11

173:18 196:14,16

198:22 200:17 211:18

212:4 219:11 220:19

227:16 229:3

single 78:9 125:17

single-origin 17:9

singular 31:14

sir 44:11 45:9 47:3

48:18 50:22 51:2

128:12 135:5

sister 125:12 134:15

sit 14:12 21:12

site-specific 70:19

sits 187:10

situations 119:5 173:13

six 22:4 62:10 71:8

72:15

size 27:12 79:19 130:3

sizes 88:1

skin 153:17

skip 173:3 187:18

191:13

skipped 218:19

slide 66:14 102:11

103:21 104:22 105:13

105:16 106:15 107:13

108:11 110:17 111:11

112:22 113:13,18

115:2 116:5 119:7

121:8 122:15 123:8

125:7 127:2 128:10

129:18 130:16 131:7

149:10 173:2 176:14

177:6,8,12 178:21

179:5 182:3 189:10

191:12,15 192:9,9

193:6 194:13 196:12

207:9

slightly 68:9,14

slow 102:22

small 7:3 17:11,11

21:22 23:4 26:15

27:20 36:21 46:17

48:6,22 54:2 55:1

61:20 62:7 68:4 69:17

74:3,22 86:13 87:13

87:14,21,22 89:20

93:11 113:9 162:18

165:2 171:11,14

183:12 190:15 223:7

smaller 25:21 27:13

47:21 86:19 105:7

131:5 132:12

smile 8:13

SNAP 22:3

snapshot 98:13 123:17

snapshots 103:16

sneaks 77:7

social 13:3,4 17:10

19:20

socially 53:19 54:2

142:5 143:6 147:22

154:8 157:2 162:16

164:9

soil 10:20 67:5 89:6

sold 34:7 109:11

137:16 198:15 205:11

solicitations 140:16

solid 50:21

somebody 11:13 50:14

54:9,13 66:8 70:17

92:1 160:7 194:11

223:8

somewhat 19:12

son 9:5

soon 79:20

sorry 4:6 28:11 55:17

107:12 226:17

sort 19:8 24:12 135:8

135:13 150:6 155:8

155:11 172:7 185:1

189:4 193:16 198:6

198:12 212:10 215:2

219:13,22 223:18

sorting 102:18,18,18

103:4,4

sorts 29:9 74:5 89:7

sound 28:16 29:13

31:13

sounds 33:8

soup 179:11,12,14,18

179:19 180:12,22

182:16,18

source 101:22

sourced 171:5 188:18

sourcing 175:16

south 16:3 88:7 130:18

Southeastern 7:7

southern 24:2 129:18

southwest 136:16

soy 176:19

soybeans 38:12 50:7

space 22:17 66:10

86:16,18 87:4 111:7

159:19 161:13

speak 8:19 83:22

136:14 139:15 166:2

speaker 139:5 165:21

SPEAKERS 2:5

speaking 49:3 55:16

64:16 83:3 86:11

108:17 159:11 173:18

196:14,16 198:22

200:17 211:18 212:4

218:12 219:11 220:19

227:16 229:3

speaks 57:10

special 58:19 73:11

173:22

specialist 149:17

specialists 149:18

Specialties 27:2 214:5

specialty 5:13,15 6:8

22:17 24:9 25:21

26:15,17,18 28:6

31:12,15 33:18 38:10

39:15,19 40:3 42:16

42:18,21 43:7 47:5,14

47:21 48:5,22 49:15

50:5 54:18 55:3,12

58:3,17 59:13,15

63:17 64:8,14 95:17

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
254

96:17,21 99:3 110:16

162:18,18

specific 30:15 86:7

90:5,16 100:2 117:16

124:21 181:11 199:2

208:3,4,5 216:5

225:14,16

specifically 61:18

97:20 181:21 182:4

185:19 192:17 203:22

224:2

specifics 52:15 92:14

sped 219:13

speech 43:17

speed 226:9

spend 55:21 111:22

154:4 165:15 183:18

spending 101:10

123:10

spent 12:9 147:3

166:16

sphere 55:11

spice 17:9

spices 17:13,19

spirit 12:5

spoke 225:1

sponsor 99:21

sponsored 226:15

sponsoring 227:2

spot 11:6 136:11

spotty 104:4

spread 222:5

spring 72:12

Springs 18:18

Square 16:22

squares 13:17

squash 41:12 199:6,10

200:1 202:17,19

210:1 215:3,4 216:6

St 158:1

stacked 40:15

staff 2:1 7:5 28:9 59:10

60:10

stages 160:3

stairs 138:11

stakeholder 219:1

stakeholders 83:12

stamps 171:8

stand 42:10 110:21

220:17

standard 70:1 88:20

89:9 168:4,11,12

169:7,13 171:13,18

171:20 178:16,16

180:7 187:22 188:5,8

189:6 190:1 191:17

191:22,22 195:4

197:22 198:1 209:10

standards 30:20 65:18

68:18 69:19 70:21

74:1 77:4 82:10,15,16

82:18 84:8,14,15 85:4

89:6 92:6 188:4,7

209:18

standing 29:4 39:22

71:14 228:16

staple 53:8,10

start 13:18 29:13,17

37:12,17 39:5 42:7

61:8 62:6 79:20 83:21

92:13 141:18 146:1

157:17 166:5,11

181:6 212:16,17

214:16

started 4:11 5:19 6:9

12:7 20:15 23:16,22

25:6 26:4,6 27:3 40:2

40:4,14 42:6,7 45:8

59:20 88:4 101:1

110:5 139:4 155:19

157:11 160:5 169:1

194:16

starting 79:22 91:10

148:5 157:15

state 9:19 22:1 23:7

24:10 35:8 57:3 63:10

68:2 72:20 83:22

87:18 104:13,14

115:6,13,16,18,20,22

116:7,13 117:4

118:10,11 119:15

120:3 123:13 124:1,3

130:2 131:22 143:10

143:15,17 144:3,8,8

144:17,22 148:19,20

148:22 150:20 153:12

153:19 156:21 157:12

158:6 160:15,17

168:17 201:7,7,8,11

201:12 218:12 227:18

state-wide 22:20

stated 89:14

statement 175:20

states 1:1 18:22 27:14

34:6 40:17 53:21 54:4

54:16 61:2 62:2,5,16

68:15 69:1 76:19

77:19,22 82:2 104:2

104:21 105:2 108:6

111:1 113:5 116:1,10

117:11 120:7 121:9

123:12,14 125:18

127:7,15 128:9

129:18 130:17 131:4

131:7 133:21 141:22

142:2,14 143:5 144:2

145:11,14 147:14

148:4,6,18 149:19

150:18 153:1,11

154:4 155:18 156:5

156:12,20 158:6

162:22 163:4 170:11

201:7

statistics 38:14 107:8

125:13 126:8

statues 166:20

status 168:16 196:21

statute 166:22 167:9

168:21,21,22,22

169:1 208:19

statutory 119:9 172:17

stay 31:6 33:12 92:15

123:7 201:17,19

202:5

steak 180:8

stems 119:9

step 89:11 112:20

133:12

stepped 154:11

stepped-up 81:10

stepping 44:2

steps 37:4 79:9 181:16

Sterman 20:12

stew 146:14 179:14

stick 210:7

sticker 204:17,20,21

206:5 207:16

stickered 207:19

stickers 187:8 211:22

212:17

stock 180:13

Stockli 221:18 222:7

stone 19:17

stood 40:18 59:16

69:17 71:6

stop 11:1 26:7 32:19

storage 147:4 159:19

store 170:22 171:4

205:3,15

stored 189:16

stores 20:18,19 41:9

stories 155:4

story 22:16 40:20

straight 5:4 138:12

147:7 183:5

strawberries 41:12

50:8,9,15 97:13

106:20,22

street 5:5 229:11,13

strengthen 76:1,2

142:15,20

Strengthening 74:18

strict 118:19

strive 198:18

strong 8:5 62:3 69:20

70:1,5 98:21

stronger 86:2

structure 33:21 223:17

224:19 225:6

structured 183:16

structures 224:17

students 17:3

stuff 35:8 62:15 151:15

161:4 218:7

subcommittee 8:22

22:1 51:6,8 221:3

223:18,19 224:13,16

224:18 225:5,16,18

subcommittee's 223:21

subcommittees 3:11

219:19 220:10,13

224:19 225:6,7

subgroup 225:14,16

subject 170:14 178:3

178:15 180:7

submission 191:2

submit 79:15 174:16

177:2 193:5

submitted 117:3 118:18

192:12

subscribed 164:5

subset 94:13

substance 116:20

182:9 183:12

substances 73:14

success 105:13 155:3

successful 18:11

100:16 196:11

sudden 59:3 93:17

210:8

sufficient 191:6

sufficiently 90:18

suggestion 41:14,15

suggests 162:15

suite 124:19

summer 168:6 199:6,10

199:22 202:17 215:3

Summers 2:1,6 28:4,12

28:22 44:18 45:15

49:1,22 51:1 52:10

53:4 54:7,12,15 55:17

56:2 159:2

summertime 19:1

Sunset 21:3

supplier 188:22 189:1,1

189:5 196:4

suppliers 171:17 172:1

172:4,12,19 191:4

supply 8:11 17:9 23:6

41:5 72:1 74:9,10,19

75:5 76:1 77:8,9 80:1

133:4 134:20 141:20

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
255

142:16

supplying 180:21

support 16:9 20:7

34:19,20 63:2 64:7,12

67:5 71:9,22 142:17

supporter 227:22

supporting 6:6 63:20

supposed 163:1,17

165:8 204:22 205:11

sure 4:12 10:1 32:7

43:20 50:4 64:17 81:1

82:17 83:16 95:9

102:6 112:1 120:10

120:11 121:1 123:18

124:3 134:11,12,21

145:1 155:7 162:22

179:21 187:13 188:6

189:2,4 194:11 204:9

207:14 217:9,13

surprise 78:19

surprising 88:14

surrounding 224:3

surveillance 80:17,21

survey 45:11 102:1

125:14,16

surveys 44:21 98:7

108:8 125:22

survive 38:7

SUSAN 1:20

Susie 20:3

suspect 192:20

suspected 192:4

suspicion 197:5

sustainability 19:20

sustainable 16:10 20:1

22:21 187:9

Sutphin 1:20 20:3,4

SVP 21:1

SW 1:7

Swartz 1:8,10

sweet 7:6,8,10,12 11:8

swooping 80:17

symbol 184:19 185:14

210:22

symbols 213:12

synthetics 67:9

system 23:1,4 69:20

77:6 78:11,12 102:15

107:8 119:21 120:10

134:4 168:14

systems 16:6 22:2

69:20 70:2,5 142:16

153:3,7

T

T&M 54:13

Tab 218:1,4

table 14:4,9 50:4,20

51:20 52:8 132:17

222:6 230:5

tables 8:7

tags 230:5

Tahoe 20:5

tailored 106:1

take 4:12 28:9,11 36:19

37:6,16 48:2 55:18

56:4 60:17 62:3 65:14

79:18,19 81:3 82:13

88:8 89:18 118:5

126:11 131:13 138:11

150:17 167:3 190:7

211:12 217:21 219:22

220:9 230:6,6

takeaway 52:3 127:5

taken 5:6 7:14 42:10,12

63:11

takes 36:16 93:2,2

185:10 186:10 229:15

talk 6:3,3 8:1 9:6,7

11:17 18:1 25:18

28:17 31:14 32:10,11

34:16 37:2 43:15 45:3

45:6 46:9,13 58:5

69:16 110:8,12

115:10 116:1 117:21

131:15 140:5 168:2

169:10 173:16 175:1

177:15 178:22 182:5

205:1 219:22

talked 42:8 50:11 149:4

160:6 182:4 188:17

212:12

talking 31:16 46:11,16

48:8 49:13 125:10

141:18 154:5 163:22

182:16 193:11 203:22

206:6

talks 52:13 192:10

208:3

target 75:4 142:4 143:6

163:1,2,10,15

targeted 72:1

targeting 142:5 143:11

task 96:1

taste 24:18

taverns 171:9

teaching 132:20

team 5:22 36:4 39:9,20

40:18 41:14 42:22

43:10,12 56:9,12,15

57:9,12 58:16,17 65:3

69:17 81:6 106:9

108:12 149:13,14

167:7,17 215:17

technical 70:20 87:8

120:11 131:9 146:21

156:6 167:11 174:4

216:3

technicalities 190:15

technically 182:10

techniques 173:7 208:4

technologies 172:5

technology 24:11 37:14

37:15,17,20 69:22

102:13 103:1,4

television 26:4

tell 9:14 11:2 18:2 22:16

24:1 28:21,22 32:3,18

40:20 56:14 89:2

91:13 100:14 126:15

134:6 137:10 144:21

163:12,14 164:6

190:21 216:7 222:11

telling 6:5 96:2 106:7

161:4

tells 35:6 164:7

ten 12:9,10 33:17,19

105:7 116:21 130:3

215:19

tend 52:21 81:11 217:1

tends 38:15 75:5

Tennessee 9:12,19

10:6,8 130:22

tents 115:5

term 48:13 91:15 112:7

terminology 209:9

222:20

terms 38:8 39:17 44:17

52:22 74:8 84:5 92:16

130:21 132:3 134:10

152:22 153:17 156:16

172:7 176:13 178:15

186:15 208:16 209:12

209:13 210:20 215:6

terrestrial 161:14

terrific 218:4

territories 144:17

145:12,14

territory 115:16 143:11

test 89:4 118:12,15

123:6 129:2 176:10

176:22 177:1 182:21

tested 88:9

testing 70:3 81:11

88:10,14 117:19

118:7 122:8 125:3

tests 188:20

tetrahydrocannabinol

111:13

Texas 18:18 22:20 27:3

88:7 130:19 135:12

136:16 151:16 152:1

text 103:9 184:14

185:14,18,19,20

186:1,3,3 210:22

213:10,16

thank 6:6 9:8 11:19,21

11:22 12:1 13:12,13

16:12 23:10 25:10

26:22 27:21 28:1,10

29:13,17 43:21 44:6,7

44:7 45:7,7 47:4

49:19,21,22 50:21,22

55:19,19 56:5,6 60:13

60:15,18,20 61:13

63:9 64:18 65:2,21

82:21 84:2 86:6 94:22

95:1,3,14,15,19,20

109:13,14,18,18

131:19 137:18,19

139:12,14 151:3,13

151:21 152:13,16

161:7,18 163:19

164:13 165:13 200:15

217:5,6 222:9,14,21

223:5

thanking 29:18 65:16

thanks 18:16 53:16

61:14 63:13 84:4 91:4

THC 111:14 117:8,9

118:7 129:3 134:11

theirs 156:7

they'd 211:9

thing 4:21 13:2 29:1

32:19 34:11 51:15

85:15 128:8 132:10

136:19 142:9 146:4,5

153:22 155:15 157:12

160:1 161:12 164:8

174:11 180:4 194:14

198:18 202:18 208:22

209:13 210:15 214:16

214:21 218:21 219:17

226:4

things 4:13 5:7 7:14

9:22 10:2,11 11:11

15:9 29:10 32:13

34:12 36:7 41:13

44:20 46:3 57:5 60:6

107:19 125:8 140:4,9

141:7 146:22 147:19

148:16 149:3 156:13

157:8 164:20 174:7

179:16 188:13 189:9

189:20 192:16 195:1

197:16 201:9 207:1

212:1 213:17,21

214:3,22 218:13

223:14 224:7 226:13

think 5:6 7:17 8:4 10:12

12:21 13:20 33:22

36:3,5 37:12 38:19,22

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
256

39:3,4,11 41:19 42:13

42:21 43:11,13 44:21

46:7 48:6 50:3,17,18

52:4,21 53:4 54:8

62:14 64:10 68:8

83:14 86:6,19 88:14

95:2 101:21 137:8

139:4,8 144:5,15

145:17 146:4 149:7

149:21 150:2 152:7

157:5 159:6 160:6,19

170:18 179:13 181:22

182:12 187:18 190:6

191:11 194:21 196:2

197:14,15,18,20

199:3,18 203:10

206:18 207:19,20

208:15,22 211:12

212:20 213:14 214:6

214:11 215:5,7 219:8

222:18,22 223:6

230:4

thinking 29:5 223:20

third 67:22 138:8

156:18 184:21 188:3

209:18

third-generation 15:13

20:14

third-party 187:22

188:7 196:4

thirdly 142:20

Thompson 47:15 227:5

227:11

thought 220:21 222:1

223:3

thoughts 205:18

thousand 48:4 51:18

111:9

thousands 62:17 63:4

64:7

three 13:17,17 21:9

40:18 42:2,13 47:16

55:6 58:1 63:22 73:12

73:15 122:10 135:7

138:11 142:12 144:17

145:21 152:4 154:10

156:17 169:11 175:6

185:7 187:16 190:6

195:12 216:20 218:14

220:18 226:21 227:4

three-part 102:1

threshold 111:18,20,21

182:6,18 183:1,5,14

183:15

thrilled 228:1

throw 28:15

throwing 207:1

thrown 205:15

thumps 219:10

tight 130:7 138:16

tightly 73:3

time 9:6 10:21 28:8,11

29:6,18 30:3 37:12

41:11 43:11,18 44:2

49:18 54:4,22 55:21

60:14 65:19 66:6 74:7

82:12 86:15 95:3

109:12 112:1 116:20

118:12,13,22 123:10

126:7 133:6 137:14

137:18 139:22 140:22

141:1 154:1,5 155:1,2

164:15 165:15 166:16

167:5 183:18 190:8

190:12 202:7 215:9

215:16 219:21 220:4

220:7,9 223:1

timeframe 58:16

timely 152:19

times 15:6 44:6 124:12

141:10 149:22 225:19

timing 140:16

tiny 113:7 127:10

tip 148:4

title 93:2

tobacco 96:22

today 5:11 12:22 18:9

28:20 38:16 39:21

61:17 91:1 95:14

125:19 136:13 168:3

169:7 207:18 218:19

221:18

toe 126:7

tomato 22:14 196:20

198:10

tomatoes 21:4 31:19

198:11,14 199:3

200:10

tomorrow 12:22 108:18

109:6,7 220:11

223:12 225:2,8,22

229:22

ton 36:10 42:20 43:14

222:5

tonight 33:17 227:2

228:2 229:7 230:7

tonight's 227:8

tons 10:17 35:13

tool 121:3 132:20 153:9

181:2,15,20

toolbox 84:20

tools 103:16 130:13

214:7

top 112:5,15,17,19

115:2 131:2 204:2

216:6

topic 92:12 166:9

167:14

topics 135:8 139:9

217:1

total 35:19 99:2 128:2

224:14

totally 204:7

touch 36:14 106:13

touching 77:2,3

Toyota 114:14

trace 75:17 78:14

traceability 75:16 76:2

77:4 78:2 80:1

tracebacks 172:20

track 74:12 212:10

213:10,12

trade 17:15 21:13 24:7

58:6,8,12,21 69:4

76:18,20 84:20 86:17

100:1 107:17 166:16

167:12 203:9

trademarked 66:22

traditional 104:11

130:9 136:21

traditionally 103:9

108:1

tragedy 60:4

trail 78:4

training 80:14 124:19

214:10

trains 171:9

transition 58:3 69:15

70:11,14 72:16 73:12

73:16,18,19 87:6 96:5

102:14 137:4

transitional 71:16

transitioning 86:14

transparency 168:14

transplant 90:4

transplants 18:21

25:10 89:12,15,16,18

89:22 90:6,8,17

transportation 38:4

travel 45:16

traveling 44:3

treating 203:15

Tree 15:8

tribal 107:21 115:7,13

115:16,18 116:8

118:10 141:22 142:2

142:15 143:5 144:7

144:10,19 145:3,13

146:3 149:20

tribe 116:13 117:4

118:11 148:22 149:4

152:5,8

tribes 116:4 145:15,22

147:15 148:13,17

149:2 152:3,4 162:7

trickle 63:8

tried 222:8

trip 183:14

trivia 33:15,16

tropical 14:20

tropicals 14:19

trouble 45:21,22 92:13

154:7

truck 10:18 61:11

Truckee 20:4

trucks 171:9

true 137:6 202:3

truly 9:13 199:17

trust 84:5 86:20

truth 200:21

truthful 133:9

try 4:19 13:10 52:8 65:5

65:7 73:20 89:14

102:2 140:22 141:9

142:21 156:14 157:17

158:3 206:14 222:6

trying 10:10,22 11:10

36:20 37:13 38:7 49:9

50:14 74:4 75:4

104:10 126:9,10

139:12 140:14 155:13

190:14 199:1

Tucker 2:10 30:17,17

65:13,15 82:22 84:12

86:5 87:5 88:13 90:2

91:14 92:10,19 93:5

94:4,11 95:1,13

Tuckwiller 139:18

141:14

turn 9:2 11:6 228:20,22

turned 10:13 42:1 57:9

turning 45:7

turns 102:22

tweaks 75:3

Twenty-five 21:19

twice 47:1 52:21 93:17

109:11 137:16

twine 114:3

two 13:16,16 26:2 29:12

32:15 39:19 41:5

42:19 44:6 46:20 73:5

85:18 101:12 113:14

115:5 123:14 125:8

135:14 142:3 143:4

143:12 145:19 150:17

152:3 156:16 166:20

182:4 185:14 186:18

187:1,6 189:13

195:13,14 208:5,16

210:13 220:18 221:1

223:14 225:13 229:12

two-prong 85:10

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
257

type 11:3 32:16 52:5

98:19 112:13,14

126:18 148:1 155:11

160:20 170:7 189:14

190:13 192:19 204:14

205:20

types 76:10 80:7 89:8

98:20 113:22 114:7,9

118:16 169:12 173:13

187:16,19 188:1

200:4

typical 113:2,21

typically 113:1 123:22

U

U.S 2:9 7:6 21:11 34:5

110:7,14 117:8,20

119:17 126:18 166:16

UC 101:14

Uh-huh 216:13

ultimately 85:5 88:20

111:10 115:11

umbrella 91:20

unable 116:18

unannounced 80:22

unavoidable 182:10

unbelievable 59:21

uncertified 75:9 77:7

81:8

underplaying 227:11

underserved 26:18

63:2,17 64:8 108:1

understand 7:17 51:13

61:5 70:21 76:9

123:19,19,20 124:5,6

134:22 164:10 166:7

169:20 176:10 181:6

182:11,12 190:7

196:3 197:21 202:8

understanding 22:11

83:17 111:19 171:20

224:5

understands 124:15

207:20

Understood 92:19

undertake 192:14

undetectable 176:6

unfortunately 213:12

213:22

uniform 37:7 168:12

unique 67:10,19 68:19

United 1:1 14:12 15:19

18:22 21:12 24:4

27:14 34:6 40:17

68:15 69:1 76:19

77:19,22 82:2 111:1

113:5 116:10 120:7

125:18 127:7 128:9

170:11

universities 101:13

108:1

University 9:19 101:14

101:15 105:18 155:10

unprocessed 146:9

unrelated 202:15 204:7

update 3:6 73:22 95:18

177:18 224:14,18

225:4 227:7

upended 58:22

uploaded 121:2

uploading 193:3

Ups 38:2

upward 98:18,22

urban 10:13 21:22

urge 6:17

usability 107:5

USDA 2:1,6,10 5:12

26:12,14 28:5 33:14

33:16 34:1,7,14 36:3

39:8 49:9 50:2 51:9

51:10,11,12,21 53:3

60:22 63:1,16 65:4

66:19 68:5,18 84:7,12

96:7,11 110:15,21

115:3 121:15 122:9

122:16 132:21,22

133:22 134:7 135:20

152:21 153:8 166:1

166:14 167:5,15

198:4 207:16 212:2

214:8 217:14 221:21

USDA's 26:10

USDA-certified 82:2

USDA.gov 215:15

use 4:18,19 9:15 37:17

67:2 73:13 75:19

77:16 88:16 90:4,6,8

90:17 103:20 108:8

127:21 135:19 149:5

149:7 154:17 179:10

179:10,14 181:3

184:14,19 185:2,9

187:3,10,20 188:3

200:2 208:10,20

209:11,12

user 31:5

users 102:16 103:18

uses 174:2

usually 184:22 206:21

utilize 158:11

V

V 217:14

valid 122:9

validation 176:22

validity 133:5

valuable 5:12

value 85:3 134:20

valued 5:10

Van 1:21 25:1,2 157:22

158:1,16 159:1,13,22

160:10 161:2,5,7

vanilla 174:7

variation 102:19

varieties 203:4 214:8

214:22 215:21

variety 105:15 178:9

203:5 216:5

various 6:7 35:14 105:7

221:22

vast 113:4 129:11

Vazquez 1:21 27:1,2

44:12 214:4,4

veg 15:14 53:2 148:8

vegetable 1:3 4:5 5:17

6:8 10:7 14:19 30:8

31:3,12,15 37:3 38:18

39:3,8 57:8 67:16

174:8 180:13 226:19

vegetables 23:19 24:5

25:7 28:5 34:3 37:10

40:10 41:17 45:19

53:14 56:18 61:12

146:16 170:19 179:4

179:12 206:20 210:16

vehicle 134:17 160:22

vehicles 114:14

vendor 59:19 132:7

vendors 58:20

verbally 61:7

verifications 188:21

verify 116:22 133:5

Vermont 123:15

versa 108:4

version 103:3 126:16

versus 206:13 207:9

209:6

veteran 28:4

vetted 194:17

viable 10:19 16:10 32:7

137:2

vice 1:10 9:3,4 19:18

23:13 53:16 108:4

150:16 151:3,7,10,13

151:21 152:10,13

videos 106:6

view 123:2

Vilsack 33:5

vintage 56:10

violation 192:4 197:22

198:1

violations 82:9 206:19

violators 82:11

Virginia 151:19

virtual 109:2

virus 203:8

visibility 75:21

visible 89:22

visit 45:17

visited 118:22 129:21

visitor 217:14

visits 122:6

visual 127:20

visualization 103:7,16

vitro 173:7 175:11

208:3

voice 5:14 18:10

voices 8:18

volatile 38:2

volume 44:19 96:21

106:20 107:3 126:19

128:7

volumes 57:11 107:1

voluntarily 186:14

voluntary 31:5 38:19,20

volunteer 65:19

volunteering 44:2

voted 21:19

W

wait 66:18 177:7

waiting 42:11 152:17

walk 87:19 90:21

138:10,11 169:7

181:4,16 207:17

217:18

walking 100:12

walks 118:3

wall 5:1

Wallace 155:6

want 4:12 8:17 9:8,10

10:1 11:13 13:8 14:14

18:10 29:13,17 32:5

41:22 42:5,6 43:19,21

44:8 45:1 46:9 52:12

56:20 62:22 65:16

77:19 83:3 84:22 85:6

87:8 103:8,20,22

107:15,15,21 108:2,9

109:16 115:14 121:12

137:5 138:11 140:7

145:22 148:20 151:8

162:17 164:14 179:13

179:18 180:1 181:13

186:4,8,14 187:9

189:14 190:16 191:9

194:13 197:11 202:5

202:11 204:8 210:18

217:15 220:1,16

221:12 223:11

wanted 57:19 58:5 61:7

101:3 123:16 140:8

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
258

149:22 150:6 166:11

218:12,20,21 219:12

220:6

wants 35:21 77:21

115:7 133:4 138:3

149:5

warehouse 118:4

warned 81:19

warranted 193:9

wars 58:12

Washington 1:7 24:10

44:4 151:18 152:6

wasn't 49:17 199:12

watching 140:11

water 9:16 67:5 84:18

89:7 126:8 180:13

watermelon 25:21 26:1

26:9 61:4

watermelons 41:12

way 8:13 9:17 23:18

31:6 36:11 40:10

46:21 57:9 70:16

75:17 77:7 85:20

90:15 97:13 115:3,17

116:22 117:8,13,15

119:20 122:17 133:10

138:9 139:13 140:14

164:8 165:8 171:2,5

172:14 175:21 176:3

176:12 180:2 197:7

206:3 209:13

ways 39:5 83:10 101:12

103:8 104:1,8 114:6

114:20 126:12 164:2

179:7 180:18 184:12

203:7

we'll 13:18 48:18 54:10

54:11 56:4 60:11 65:1

76:1 95:5,9 99:10

107:16 112:21 115:10

136:13 138:4 139:4

141:18 154:21 181:12

182:5 190:19,22

193:18 221:2 222:18

224:12,13,17 225:2

we're 5:21 8:1,15,16

11:5,7 12:21 15:1,3

16:22 17:10 18:4,7

20:14 24:13,17 25:11

27:16 28:2 29:2 32:4

32:20 35:20 36:18,20

36:22 45:5,13,21

50:18 53:5 56:11

62:21 65:7 70:4 73:4

74:20 75:4 80:11

92:21 95:11 96:15

97:4 98:22 101:12

103:10,15 104:1,10

104:13,17 105:6,12

105:17,22 106:7

107:2 110:11 115:11

119:17 121:11 126:2

126:10 131:14 137:11

138:7 139:13 140:10

140:13,19 141:4,8

145:2,2,4 146:2

147:12,20,21 148:4

154:19 155:12 156:2

156:3 157:17 158:16

160:14 161:3 163:10

163:11 164:15,18,19

169:2,7,10 174:14

175:1 182:15 189:19

189:20 190:14 195:22

196:2,7,9,22 199:2

200:2,6 201:21 203:4

205:5,18 206:16

208:22 209:2,3 213:7

213:20 214:16,17

217:11 219:17,20

227:20

we've 24:14 27:5 29:8

36:11 48:14 52:20

58:2 69:6,12,16 80:21

91:1,5 92:4 97:16

100:1 103:9 106:8

114:8,13 126:5,20

127:19 131:5 136:11

136:17 139:9 140:21

147:12 148:3 149:15

149:15 151:22 152:3

154:15 155:15 156:14

164:19,22 194:17

195:12 196:5,6

199:11 200:7 223:12

weak 93:22

weather 8:11 129:9

140:11

webinar 47:14 62:10

162:2

webinars 49:13 106:7

164:10

website 72:19 79:10

84:7,15 131:10 194:8

197:16 201:16,17

websites 97:8

WEDNESDAY 1:5

weeds 129:8

week 71:13 124:8

162:10

weekends 132:13

weekly 124:7

weeks 40:19 46:15 55:6

55:10 62:10 72:13

weigh 36:6 37:7

weight 96:11

welcome 3:3 5:8 28:2

65:4,12 86:9 139:10

139:13 166:2

well-seasoned 56:12

well-versed 57:4 94:20

went 19:8 24:4 110:2

139:1 204:19,19

212:13 216:8 218:9

222:16 230:14

West 9:12 151:19

western 25:7

whatever's 89:20

whatsoever 93:2

212:20

wheel 7:22

wheelers 61:2

wheels 45:7 58:4

102:22

white 184:20

Whitten 1:7

wholesale 104:12 136:6

wholesaler 12:20

wholesalers 59:2

Wi-Fi 4:15,16

wife's 35:5

wild 67:15

willing 33:12 44:7 72:4

Wilson 2:4 43:7

window 121:16

Wisconsin 25:7 105:18

160:7

Wisconsin-Madison

101:14

wisdom 29:21

wonder 166:18

wondered 139:22

wonderful 56:17 82:4

181:15

wondering 87:3

wonky 90:5

wood 10:16,18

Woolf 19:14

word 27:10 48:19 76:11

77:12 79:7 100:16

185:21 186:3

words 185:3

work 5:13 6:18 7:5,15

8:16 9:1 10:3 11:18

13:11 14:17 17:2 18:8

23:3,4,8 24:2,7 25:12

26:8 36:9 40:3 48:18

55:1 56:16 57:9 63:10

70:22 72:21 73:5

80:18 87:2 91:11

95:21 103:15 158:1

161:22 165:8 167:17

190:16 197:19 208:12

221:3 223:5

worked 6:7 17:16,17

50:6 86:17,22 155:16

166:14 167:11

Workforce 71:5

workgroups 223:18

working 6:21 12:6,11

12:13,19 16:6,9,19

17:14,18,19 19:6

21:13 22:22 24:17

39:10 42:15 43:11

51:5 61:5 83:7 92:2

94:17 96:15 98:2

99:16 107:16 125:11

133:7 149:19 155:10

155:12,20 162:4

165:8 190:10 196:22

209:2 222:22 223:7

works 55:22 92:12

134:15 172:14 182:13

191:11 198:18

workshop 154:18

world 8:3 15:16 30:14

51:19 68:17 74:13

103:19 135:8 177:22

worldwide 68:16

worry 225:4

worst 129:19

worth 35:12 49:17

58:14

wouldn't 176:6 178:3

200:21

wow 83:5 132:21

161:12

wrestled 202:2

write 151:15

writing 86:9

written 3:10 74:3 150:4

182:13 218:22 219:3

219:15

WTO 167:9

Wyoming 145:1

X

X 47:18 62:16 64:6

Y

Yavapai 22:3

yeah 177:10 191:15

198:2 200:13,13

203:19 205:22 210:3

211:15,19 212:5

217:10,20 218:1

219:5 221:4

year 8:16 12:6 17:3

19:3,7 33:10 35:12,20

39:19 41:11 42:13

51:6 104:18 111:4

119:14 120:15,15

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
259

C E R T I F I C A T E 

This is to certify that the foregoing transcript 

In the matter of: Fruit and Vegetable Industry

Advisory Committee Meeting

Before: USDA

Date: 04-19-23

Place: Washington, DC

was duly recorded and accurately transcribed under 

my direction; further, that said transcript is a 

true and accurate DPNQMFUFrecord of the 

proceedings. 

-----------------------

Court Reporter 

NEAL R. GROSS

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

7+671:67(

(202) 234-4433 :$6+,1*721'& www.nealrgross.com 
1

 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 + + + + +

 FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 + + + + +

 THURSDAY,

APRIL 20, 2023

 The meeting came to order at 9:02 a.m. EDT

in Press Room 107-A located at the Whitten 

Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington

DC 20250, Kay Swartz Rentzel, Chair, Presiding. 

COMMITTEE ATTENDEES: 

KAY SWARTZ RENTZEL, Chair

REGINALD MARSHALL, Vice Chair

ANGEL SANTIAGO, Secretary

AMY BAKER, Member-Representative

HAVEN BAKER, Member-Representative

JULIE MASSER BALLAY, Member-Representative

JAMES BENSON, Member-Representative

MICHAEL BRIANO, Member-Representative

CHRISTOPHER CIRULI, Member-Representative

JENIFER DEATLEY, Member-Representative

DAVID EINSTANDIG, Member-Representative

BRUCE FRASIER, Member-Representative

ISABEL FREEMAN, Member-Representative

ANDREW GARCIA, Member-Representative

DONNA GARREN, Member-Representative

MORRIS HODGES, Member-Representative

DARWIN INMAN, Member-Representative

ALYSSA MELENDEZ, Member-Representative

ANTHONY MIRISCIOTTA, Member-Representative

NATHAN PUMPLIN, Member-Representative

SUSAN SUTPHIN, Member-Representative

REBECCA SERRATOS, Member-Representative

DAVID VAN EECKHOUT, Member-Representative

JORGE VAZQUEZ, Member-Representative 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
2 

USDA STAFF: 

CHRISTOPHER PURDY, SCP Deputy Administrator

DARRELL HUGHES, Designated Federal Officer

JOHN OKONIEWSKI, Director, SCP Market News

RYAN WILSON, SCP Inspection Director 

GUEST SPEAKERS: 

TONY DORN, Chief of Environmental, Economic and

Demographics Branch

JERRY RAYNOR, Director of Financial Assistant

Program Division

MICHAEL WHITT, Branch Chief

JOHN OKONIEWSKI, Director, SCP Market News

RYAN WILSON, Director, SCP Inspection Director 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
3

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

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

Introductions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

NASS Data Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

NRCS eQIP Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 

FVIAC (Open Engagement). . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 

FVIAC Charge: SCP Market News. . . . . . . . . . 154 

FVIAC Charge: SCP Inspections. . . . . . . . . . 247 

Open Discussion/Other Business . . . . . . . . . 285 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
4 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

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

 (9:02 a.m.)

 MR. HUGHES: Good morning everyone. 

I'm just going to do a quick quorum check. I can 

confirm for the chair that we have quorum.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. Well, good 

morning everyone. Hope you enjoyed last evening, 

I think again one of our sponsors is still here 

in the room with us, but I love what I saw in the 

room, to see all the engagement among the group, 

and that's what it was designed to do. So I hope 

you enjoyed it as well.

 With that we'll go ahead and get 

started, and I'd like to I guess reconvene the 

meeting from yesterday's recess. And I'm going 

to invite Chris Purdy to the podium, or wherever 

he wants to speak from, we can hand him a mic. 

Sorry Chris. I was told to do this, so --

MR. PURDY: Yes, yes. I just want to 

take a moment, I appreciate it. Chris Purdy with 

AMS specialty crops.

 I think most of you know by now, but 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
5 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Darrell is going to be moving up to the 

administrator's office. He's done such a good 

job here with the committee.

 He's done an incredible job with the 

committee in terms of identifying potential 

members, getting everybody on board, setting the 

agenda, handling logistics, and even down to 

making sure people stand right in the picture.

 So we're going to miss Darrell. 

Hopefully he's up there for just a little while, 

but in the meantime, Andy Hatch, who's standing 

back in the room here, is going to be taking over 

running the committee. So you'll be seeing more 

of Andy, he'll be reaching out to you.

 Andy's very experienced at running the 

Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee

 A number of years ago he used to run 

them on a consistent basis, so you've got someone 

who knows what's going on, who knows how to run 

these committees and help get the most 

information and helpful conversation out of it.

 So you're going to miss Darrell, but 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

happy with Andy, and hopefully Darrell will be 

back fairly soon. Thank you.

 MR. HATCH: I look forward to working 

with you all over the next few months. I imagine 

it's going to be mostly convening the 

subcommittee meetings. I'll be available to kind 

of help arrange any future full committee 

meetings, or anything that's necessary, but I 

look forward to talking with you all.

 PARTICIPANT: Thank you.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Thank you. Well, we 

look forward to working with you as well, so. 

Thank you. And Darrell, you will be missed. We 

may invite you back as a special guest.

 Okay. With that we'll go ahead and 

move on to our first agenda item for today.

 Our first item for today is data and 

survey overview presentation from NASS, which 

will be given by Tony Dorn who is the chief of 

Environmental Economics and Demographics Branch. 

So, oh, there he is. He's up there and ready to 

go. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
7 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. DORN: All right. Will do. Good 

morning everybody.

 PARTICIPANT: Good morning.

 MR. DORN: Good morning. Yeah, so 

it's good to be here, glad -- pleasure to be here 

to talk about the farm labor survey that NASS 

does.

 Right off the bat, I know there's a 

lot of interest in the farm labor survey and 

labor wage rates and right away, even the title 

of the survey can be confusing, so we call it the 

farm labor survey. It's also known as the egg 

labor survey or the labor survey or FLS, all the 

same thing, it's the NASS farm labor survey. 

Next.

 Just as a bird's-eye view, what NASS 

does, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 

what we do, we're a designated principal 

statistical agency, that means we're an 

independent statistical agency, so what we do, we 

provide statistics, the facts, the fact-finders 

for agriculture, if you will. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
8 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So what we don't do, we don't do 

policy-making, we don't set regulations, we don't 

do any kind of enforcement or anything like that. 

We're independent of all those functions and we 

don't have a political appointee within NASS to 

maintain our statistical independence.

 Of course confidentiality of data, 

because most of our surveys, including the farm 

labor survey, are collected voluntarily by 

farmers.

 Our census products are mandatory, but 

most of our surveys really are voluntarily. We 

rely on farmers to report to us to provide 

accurate data so that we can provide accurate 

statistics.

 So keeping the confidentiality of that 

data is vital for us, so we do have 

confidentiality pledges, we have of course 

security training, and we take care everything 

that we can do to make sure that the data remains 

secure with us.

 So only authorized persons working for 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
9 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

NASS or employees can access individual records, 

and that's why when we publish usually statelevel data or national-level data, we're very 

careful not to disclose any individual 

information when we do publish those statistics.

 Next. Just a little bit of a history 

of the farm labor survey.

 As probably many of you know, there's 

been quite a few years that the farm labor 

survey's been under the microscope really and 

looked at, and some of the changes that we've 

undergone, at least to highlight a few of them, 

since 2014, the survey collected data for field 

workers, livestock workers, and supervisors, 

managers by occupational groups based on the 

relevant detailed occupation categories based 

from the Bureau of Labor Statistics SOC codes, 

Standard Occupational Classification systems.

 So that started in 2014, and also 

prior to 2014, before that, the survey collected 

data according to the farm labor survey aggregate 

categories, and those are field workers, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
10 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

livestock workers, supervisors, managers, and 

other workers.

 And beginning in November of 2019, the 

annual average livestock workers base wage rates 

were published.

 And for a while, the base wage rates 

and gross hours were published beginning in 

November of 2019, and the base wages and base 

hours were published in February of 2021, which 

was the delayed November 2020 release. That's 

where that was in.

 And the uses for these data were 

limited, so really that data collection was 

discontinued after April 2021.

 Next. Here's an important overview of 

what the farm labor survey is.

 The reference periods, because it's 

such a burden for farmers if we would ask them to 

report all the wages of all their hired workers 

for every day of the year all year long, we 

really have reference periods, so we collect data 

two times a year, but for each of those two times 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

we collect two quarters.

 So we collect in the first period --

January and April is when we first send out the 

questionnaires to collect those two periods.

 So the reference weeks, you know, for 

2022 were January 9 through 15 and April 10 

through 16. So basically one-week periods are 

the reference weeks for how we collect data for 

wages and hours worked.

 The sample sizes right now are about 

17,000 and the collection methods, mail, 

telephone, internet, and you know, sometimes 

face-to-face, whatever we do to try to make 

reporting easier is how we collect the data.

 The primary data items, of course, the 

number of hired workers, gross hours worked, and 

wage rates. We do have a revision policy if 

there are late data. We rarely have any kind of 

late data that we revise previous year or 

previous quarter data, but that is available if 

we ever come across that.

 Next. And methodology. I know it's 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
12 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

early in the morning, but, you know, 

statisticians like to use big words like 

methodology, so some of the highlights on our 

methodology are starting in 2020, we used modelbased estimates of hired workers, average hours 

worked, average wage rates, and the associated 

sub-items reproduced from the current survey.

 And that really helped to provide more 

precise estimates to support our estimates, not 

to make big changes or anything because we rely 

on the data that's reported by the surveys, but 

it helped in precision, including a model to 

support that.

 And the sample size, we really 

optimize that to account for overall declining 

response rates, not just in the farm labor 

survey, but across all across government agencies 

and across all surveys, just there's a general 

decline in response rates, and we kept the sample 

size higher to account for that.

 There were no program or countdown 

changes in 2022, which is very rare because we've 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

had a lot of changes for many years now, so that 

was a nice thing to have where things are stable 

for us.

 Next. Of course some of the uses of 

farm labor survey, you're very familiar with the 

US Department of Labor uses the annual average 

hourly wage rates for the AEWRs and the H-2A 

program, so we're completely independent of --

you know, we produce a publication and the 

reports go on our website, and that's really all 

that we do.

 The Department of Labor takes the 

information that we have and they do their thing. 

We don't have any kind of cooperation or 

partnership in setting those wages rates or doing 

anything like that, that's part of our 

independence.

 But there are more uses beyond that. 

I know there's some programs like USDA. We use 

that to calculate the wage rate index, part of 

the Parity Index in the NASS reports, and BAA 

uses the farm labor survey data also for 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

information such as national income and products 

accounts, and calculations of real farm value 

added from farm employment GEP by state and farm 

output estimates, and in supplements to farm 

wages, employments, and more.

 And a lot of times we just stumble 

across, we'll get calls that there's maybe state 

programs or researchers or universities or just 

whoever using our data so it's hard for us to 

track. I know all the uses of farm labor survey, 

but a lot of times it surprises us who's using 

our data and the extent and the importance of 

that, beyond just what we're aware of.

 Next. So for H-2A and contract 

workers, we get that question a lot, are they 

included? Well, exactly what we define as and 

ask farmers for to report is that on the 

questionnaire, we ask farmers to report any 

directly hired and paid workers.

 So there's a potential for H-2A 

workers to potentially be included, but really 

directly hired, that's where our definition has, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
15 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

and that's been consistent through the years. 

And since contract workers, usually 

they're not directly hired or paid by the farm 

operation or the farmer, they're excluded, since 

a lot of times the farmers won't know the numbers 

of hours necessarily each worker works and have 

access to that information, so that's exactly 

what we ask and collect data for.

 Next. Here's just an example of the 

number of workers from one of our publications 

just to give you an idea. You can see that we 

break those out into the categories of 150 days 

or more, or less than that too. And that's just 

the general historic representation of temporary 

versus more full-time work.

 So that's the type of information. 

And you can see the different quarters, we 

publish those and the reference weeks for those 

quarters, too.

 Next. And here's just a graphic to 

show the number of hired workers. Of course, you 

know, you might expect it's very seasonal and 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
16 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

since, you know, there's a jagged line since we 

don't have every single month, every single week 

in there, it's just our reference periods of 

course during the crop years and everything.

 Let's see, April, and the fall months 

during the harvest season definitely are the 

peaks, and the other quarters are the valleys.

 Next. Just to give you an idea, how 

does our, well, our data track, as far as annual 

combined field and livestock wages, which is what 

the DOL uses, just to kind of show how does it 

look also n a graph?

 So you can see the field and livestock 

wages there combined in the blue chart, and also 

that's just for reference, I also put down in I 

think the dark blue there, the BLS Occupational 

Employment Survey, the code there for the mean of 

agriculture workers.

 So it's the dark blue line, you can 

see it's blended in there with the other line. 

So that's a completely independent survey of 

ours, and really it tracks quite a bit, you know, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
17 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

over the years, so you can see our wages have 

been increasing but it's nice to see in a way 

that confirms that there's an independent federal 

survey that also tracks fairly closely along with 

ours, so.

 Next slide. And over the years too, 

this is an interesting table, how much wages 

increased over the years, so since 2017 and 2018, 

especially starting at 2018,we're looking at, you 

know, six percent, five percent year over year 

and wage rate increases.

 So wages have really been increasing, 

and of course, 2022 was a little bit more, you 

know, seven percent, and we'll see this year too 

with everything else and the crazy economics that 

we're seeing these days you know, what it's going 

to be in 2023, we'll see when that comes out in 

November, but so far it's been fairly consistent, 

and of course, increasing.

 Next. And this is really the table. 

We'll talk about a little bit more, but in our 

publication you can see the hired workers for the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
18 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

U.S. dollars per hour and then below the gross 

wage rates that we published in November, and 

we'll have another publication coming up in May 

too, but that'll just be for the two quarters 

that kind of start off the year.

 Next. The regions for the farm labor, 

of course we can't publish all states, well, 

Florida and Texas being the large size, of course 

there are states that we publish individually but 

for instance like the Southeast includes Alabama 

and South Carolina with Georgia, just because of 

the sample size, and when we combine statistics 

and surveys we can publish those numbers with 

more accuracy and with disclosing individual 

states, so that's why the regions are combined 

for most states.

 And these are how the farm labor 

regions have been defined over decades, so that's 

why we have these.

 Next. And just to give you kind of a 

heat map or cool map index kind of to see where 

the highest wage rates are across the state, as 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
19 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

you might expect, California's dark blue, the 

highest wage rates, and then the Southeast and 

Delta are the lighter color blue, just to show 

how the 2022 at least annual average field and 

livestock wage rates vary across the country.

 So it's kind of easy to see, it's kind 

of nice to see that graphically just to get an 

idea across the country, and it's what you might 

expect.

 Next. All right, and here's just a 

snapshot of half of the regions and states that 

we publish too for the 2021 and 2022 and percent 

of previous year, so you can kind of see how the 

regions and states, how we publish at the lowest 

level compare.

 Of course, not surprisingly in 2022, 

every single region was up, and of course like 

Florida and Delta region here -- Florida and the 

Southeast, I should say, are definitely 

increasing the most at 14 and 15 percent.

 And all the other ones are up at least 

six percent on this slide -- well, three percent 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

for Appalachian II.

 And the next. And then the other 

states -- I just couldn't fit all that in one 

slide -- are also increasing as well in the other 

regions, so. You can see we had quite a few 

increases and there is of course more variation 

by the regions and states. It's not quite as 

smooth because there are variations in states and 

regions, and with the survey along those lines, 

so.

 As you can see, the more -- just plug 

in the more data that we get, the better data 

that we have, you know, the better accuracy and 

precision we have because ground truth from the 

farmers -- we survey farmers, that's what we do, 

so that's really important to make sure we get 

the best data from them as possible.

 All right, next. And I won't go 

through all of this, it's probably small for you 

to see here, apologize for that, but here we do 

publish workers and wage rates by SOC code and 

you can see there's the graders and sorters, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
21 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

equipment operators, and so on.

 So those, we do have that already 

broken out by the types of work, packers and 

handlers and managers too. In the bottom, I 

think you can see that probably in the bottom two 

breakouts.

 So we break apart the farmers, 

ranchers, and other ag managers, and the firstline supervisors, so those are also separate SOC 

code categories that we have data for that we 

currently publish.

 Next. And again here's the 

information about the sample sizes and also the 

response rates.

 We publish that information just to be 

as transparent as we can, to show what regions 

and sample sizes in the regions, and the response 

rates that we're getting in those regions. Of 

course you can look back at years and there's 

just been a general decrease overall response 

rates just because it's more difficult to get 

that data from farmers. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So the next slide, I think, and you 

can see, you know, the Northeast Appalachian, and 

we're ranging, you know, in the 40, 50 percent 

range at least for response rates. So that's why 

we've kept our sample sizes higher to get the 

quantity of data that we need to keep publishing 

the data.

 Next. We do have, if you really want 

to get technical, documents called Methodology 

and Quality Measures on our website. That has 

information about how we do the processes, all 

the steps, that goes from sampling to data 

collection to analysis, to estimation, everything 

in detail as far as how we do our survey, conduct 

our survey, and produce the report.

 So those are out there available, we 

have coefficients of variation. You can see 

that's really a measure of the I guess precision 

of the data, how precise that is.

 So you can see back in 2021 the field 

on livestock 0.7 percent, that's just a percent 

of how the -- well, indications vary around the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
23 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

estimate, so it's very precise. Really 0.7 is a 

very good coefficient of variation, so you know, 

we keep that sample size, and that's really how 

we sample to make sure that we're getting as 

precise estimates as possible.

 Like I said, that information and more 

if you really want to get technical, is out there 

in the quality measures report.

 Next. And that is all, so go ahead. 

Thank you. And I'll be glad to stay here I guess 

for questions, if you would like? Yeah, go 

ahead.

 MEMBER GARREN: So --

MR. HUGHES: State your name.

 MEMBER GARREN: Donna Garren. So, 

does your data -- it's not over-represent, but is 

it higher in the major crops versus specialty 

crops?

 MR. DORN: Well, how we've sampled, 

we've collected data, we call it control data, so 

over the years, for those operations we know, 

especially like in the census of agriculture, we 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
24 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

ask farmers how many, you know, hired workers do 

they have? So we capture that and we have that 

information, so whatever type of work we 

stratify, like they're by number of workers.

 So the operations -- well, you know, 

like nursery, that kind of thing, with a large 

number of hired workers, so those get in a higher 

strata, so we make sure we sample so we get the 

coverage of the types of the types of operations 

with the highest number of workers. That's how 

we really sample.

 So we have more of a direct way to 

make sure we have coverage of the workers. If 

that makes sense?

 MEMBER GARREN: Yeah.

 MR. DORN: Okay.

 MEMBER GARREN: So, you did this in 

2020 to 2022. Do you see -- like, you had some 

that were no responses.

 Do you investigate that further to see 

like, if they've gone out of business or, you 

know, determine, you know, what's the fall-off 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
25 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

rate for those that were possibly impacted by the 

pandemic?

 MR. DORN: Right. And since we sample 

by coverage, usually, you know, the larger 

operations do stay in business, but we often get 

that. We try to make sure when somebody does say 

they're out of business, we find out what 

happened to the operation, did somebody else take 

over so we don't just lose them? And we make 

sure we keep that consistency.

 Sometimes we'll, you know, get them 

back in the sample.

 If some other company or farmer took 

over for them, we definitely ask that because, 

you know, of course, you know, if we don't hear a 

response we want to know that they're in business 

and we try the best we can to keep contacting 

them, at least for follow on for census and 

things like that to know what happens.

 And we have representation in every 

state, so we have at least one state statistician 

and some regional field offices as well, so we 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
26 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

have local ground troops so we're not just all 

working here out of D.C., so we can reach out to 

our partners, like the Department of 

Agriculture's extension, whoever, universities, 

to find out more about, especially really 

important information, producers who might go out 

of business so we can be sure what happened.

 MEMBER GARREN: Great, thanks.

 MR. DORN: Yeah.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Okay, Bruce Frasier, 

Dixondale Farms. All right, let's talk about the 

input into this. If you're not getting farm 

labor contractors, what percentage of the people, 

farmers are using farm labor contracts, 

specifically in the fruit and vegetable?

 MR. DORN: That's a good question, I 

don't have a number for that. Yeah, that's not a 

question we've asked farmers directly because we 

survey farmers -- I guess we've never asked them 

are you using farm labor contractors? We've 

never asked that question, so that's a good 

question, I don't have that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
27 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER FRASIER: Well, my gut feeling 

is that we're missing probably half the labor 

force by not including farm labor contractors in 

the calculations.

 So with that, I question the fact that 

the AEWR keeps rising, now it's rising about a 

rate of $1.00 an hour.

 So I guess my second question is how 

many people are using H-2A labor? And you say 

the direct hires. Do we say how many direct hire 

you use, and H-2A labor and local labor, and 

comparing the pricing accordingly, the cost?

 MR. DORN: Right. Well there is -- I 

think ERS has a charted note of how many, I think 

it's over how many H-2A workers there are. And I 

know it's going considerably -- I think it's 

several hundred, 200,000, 300,000, something like 

that now. Probably all you have that statistic -

- somebody might have that better than me.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Right. You --

MR. DORN: But yeah, they do track 

that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
28 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER FRASIER: You're in the 

ballpark. Okay. So the majority of the people, 

if they're not using farm labor contractors, and 

they're hiring people direct, I would suspect 

that a lot of those are using H-2A workers. 

Okay?

 So when they report their wages, 

they're reporting basically the AEWR. Do you 

find a correlation where they say their wage rate 

is the same as the AEWR, which they are mandated 

to pay?

 MR. DORN: Right, we haven't, you 

know, we don't ask that either, you know, what we 

have of the standard questionnaire. That 

question keeps coming up.

 And we don't have necessarily a direct 

data answer for that but you can see, I mean, 

wages keep going up, so if it was circular, and, 

you know, the wages might be more sticky than 

they are too, so, you know, apparent, you know, 

we haven't really seen that effect yet, but it is 

something that we're watching and we haven't done 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
29 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

anything necessarily directly to get more 

information about that in our surveys, but it is 

a factor that we're aware of.

 MEMBER FRASIER: All right. So if 

you look at the H-2A workers and you look at the 

direct hires of these people, I question how can 

the average wage be going up so dramatically at 

six or seven percent when the vast majority of 

the wage rage of number of workers is at that 

wage that's mandated by the AEWR?

 MR. DORN: Right, and that's a good 

question and I've talked about that with other 

groups too, and we don't exactly ask that 

question to break out the H-2A versus who is 

directly hired outside of that H-2A, so 

obviously, you know, we're getting enough 

responses in that too, that are direct hired that 

must be outside of that H-2A focus, so.

 And yeah, so that is something that's 

going on. I don't have a direct number to tell 

you exactly how many percent of our survey is H2A because we don't ask that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
30 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER FRASIER: Okay. Now the other 

question is, if we're looking at a particular 

week, you ask I think the question in the survey 

says how many workers did you have for this 

particular week? And it asks how many hours did 

they work? Is that correct?

 MR. DORN: Right.

 MEMBER FRASIER: That particular week?

 MR. DORN: Yes.

 MEMBER FRASIER: And the total wages. 

So, from that data, you have total wages, you 

have total hours, now you're coming up with an 

average of what the wages are, or you're coming 

up with the mean of what -- so, Employee A works 

40 hours a week at $10 an hour, you know, say you 

have ten employees -- eight of them are probably 

working just the minimum number of hours.

 You have two that are working that may 

be at the $18 or $20 an hour. So when you 

average them out, you're going to inflate the 

average and the mean would be much lower.

 MR. DORN: Well, it's more complicated 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
31 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

than just taking the straight mean. When we do 

our statistics, we have expansion imputation for 

non-response, we have the model that also goes 

into that, so it's not just a straight mean kind 

of thing that's going on there.

 If that helps explain it because, you 

know, sometimes farmers might report the number 

of workers and maybe not the wages, so then we'd 

have to account for the wages by some other 

response, so that's why, you know, if farmers 

don't report, we use like farmers for imputing or 

like categories to also impute for the nonresponse.

 So we don't just necessarily take 

straight means and things like that. It's a 

little more complicated than that.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Okay.

 MR. DORN: But yeah. If that makes 

sense?

 MEMBER FRASIER: It makes it more 

complicated.

 MR. DORN: It is a little more 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
32 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

complicated than just with simple --

MEMBER FRASIER: And we're paying the 

price. So, you know, would it be a better system 

to actually have a printout of the employees from 

that particular week?

 AEWRs can generate that printout of 

how many employees, what each one was paid to get 

a more realistic data for you to analyze what is 

the mean, or what is the predominant wage that's 

being paid for graders versus tractor drivers, et 

cetera?

 MR. DORN: Yeah, that could be helpful 

for us. The one thing I guess, you know, we ask 

in the survey just those numbers quickly because 

we're trying to turn the data around quickly, do 

the analysis, get the publication out quickly, 

too, so, you know, if we take more time to do, 

and more in-depth or, you know, looking at 

individual workers and things like that, that 

would probably take more time necessarily.

 So that could, you know, put at risk 

getting the numbers out there when we need to I 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
33 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

think. So, you know, if it'd help for, you know, 

farmers to report something better, you know, we 

could see about that as far as if there's a way 

we could use that data and get it in quickly to 

the system.

 MEMBER FRASIER: And finally, what 

would happen if there was a revolt among farmers 

and they just basically provided information that 

was saying that our wage rate's $8 an hour?

 MR. DORN: Well, let's hope that 

doesn't happen, but we do have a history of 

trends, you know, from the reporters that we have 

and of course we looked at historic trends and 

everything, so that's a lot of ways that we can 

catch things that look unusual.

 Now, if everybody, you know, if people 

got together, things like that, hopefully that 

wouldn't happen, we'd have to take a bigger look 

and take a step back, you know, so that would be 

something that would really be problematic.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Yeah, the concern 

amongst, you know, certain ways, you know, our 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
34 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

AEWRs keep going up and up every year. 

Eventually, you know, it's just not the impact of 

the bottom line or, you know, earning or making 

revenue, making a profit.

 It's the concern about the fact that 

this is forcing possibly more transition to 

producing these out of the country. Okay?

 That you could go to British Columbia 

and pay three or four dollars an hour less for 

labor in their AEWR than you would in Washington 

State.

 You can go to Ontario versus Michigan, 

you can go to Mexico versus Florida, you can go 

to Mexico versus, plus the impact of these just 

and the next generation is succession planning. 

Do you want to invest in all the housing and all 

the things for H-2A housing because you know that 

this is the future, this is where you have to 

find labor to do this.

 Does the next generation want to take 

that risk and say I'm going to invest all this 

when these wages are going up a dollar an hour? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
35 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Okay. Within ten years from now, you know, if 

that's the case, they'll be over $25, $30 an hour 

for H-2A users or the -- it becomes a prevailing 

wage I guess is what I'm saying because I have 

both H-2A and local and even though I bring just 

a minimum amount of H-2A people on, need to 

supplement my local labor, you know, I live on 

the Mexican border, so we have pretty much 

plentiful, except not enough, we got about 80 

percent of what we need.

 So I guess, you know, that's the 

impact of these wage rates going up every year. 

It's just not in the profit of the certain farm. 

It's the future, especially the fruit and 

vegetable producers. We're going to see a big 

impact down the line I think as far as moving to 

other countries.

 MR. DORN: Right, and that's why, you 

know, we, all the team working on it en masse and 

working on the report are well aware, you know, 

over the years, have worked on it for quite a few 

years, we're well aware of how important, you 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
36 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

know, all our data is and this data especially 

too, so that's why we, you know, our goal is to 

have the best numbers out there that accurately 

reflects what's going on based on what we're 

asking, so that way, you know, I mean, we don't 

deal with policy again like I mentioned, or even 

forecasting, really, especially for this survey, 

so we don't really do any of that, we just try to 

get the best number.

 And then, you know, the other 

departments, agencies, the policy makers can take 

it from there, so that's really the scope of what 

we do, and you're right, there's lots of impacts, 

things like that, that's why we try to get the 

best data out there for the best decisions, you 

know, that can be made for agriculture.

 MR. HUGHES: So we're going to have 

two more questions, one from David, then Julie, 

before we move to the next presentation.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Yeah. Good 

morning, David Einstandig.

 Just a couple follow-up questions from 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
37 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Bruce, and I think the issue of data integrity 

and accuracy is what you're talking about, and 

you know, forgive my ignorance, I'm not involved 

in this actual recording day-to-day so I don't 

intimately understand the process, but is it 

accurate to say that the methods of telephone, 

mail, et cetera and the voluntary recording, that 

sort of stops where the inquiry is as to the 

accuracy?

 There's no documentation of payroll, 

there's no follow-up to actually see if the 

information that may even just be articulated 

verbally, is accurate? Is that right?

 MR. DORN: Well, it's mostly right. 

Yes, we don't do like audits and go back to ask 

for payroll, things like that, we don't do that.

 But, you know, we do have historic 

trends, we have comparisons of cross-records 

across regions, we do trend analysis, a lot of 

trend analysis for quality control and look at 

and follow up with any outliers if something 

looks strange from, you know, one report or a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
38 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

couple reports.

 We do follow up and verify that. We 

don't go back necessarily. We don't have the 

time or the resources or even the scope to go 

back and do kind of audits or anything, so.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Okay. So --

MR. DORN: So, sort of, yes.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: So to follow up 

the trends, you also indicated I think that the 

trend is that the responsiveness is decreasing 

and not increasing, correct?

 MR. DORN: Yeah, yeah --

MEMBER EINSTANDIG: So the actual 

information from the producers is decreasing 

because you're getting less responses, and I 

think you also said that part of what occurs is 

you get partial responses and then you use 

modeling to fill in the blanks? Is that right?

 MR. DORN: Yeah, and that's always 

been the case. And to offset like, the declining 

response rates, that's why we've increased sample 

sizes, kept them at higher rates than we would 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
39 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

have normally and, you know, we may have to keep 

adding sample sizes to offset that. So we do 

things to offset that --

MEMBER EINSTANDIG: I get that.

 MR. DORN: And non-response, partial 

non-response is something we deal with in all our 

surveys.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: And so lastly, 

when you get a partial response, do you document 

that as a full response? Like, when you say that 

the responses went down two percent, are you 

including responses that were not complete?

 So what I'm getting at is, what's 

trending is, you're getting less and less 

responses and you may even be getting less than 

what you're reporting because partial responses 

are getting reported as responses, but they're 

not full responses, so my question is, has there 

been any discussion within the department as what 

can we do to get actual data and not have to rely 

on modeling that has all of the variables that 

Bruce articulated and wage rates that are pushed 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
40 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

up by mandatory rules and regulations?

 Is there anything that's been 

discussed as to try to increase the accuracy of 

the data, other than just modeling?

 MR. DORN: Well, going back to -- oh, 

I lost my train of thought. A couple things with 

that. What was the first part of that question? 

I'm sorry, maybe I'll --

MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Well, I was 

getting to the conclusion that I think that the 

reporting that responses are X might actually be 

less than X because you're probably including 

partial responses as full responses.

 So my question was if it's a --

there's no check of if the information is 

correct? You don't even know if the person 

responding understood the actual scope of the 

question, and the trend is that you're getting 

less and less responses, and maybe less than what 

you think because they're partial.

 Has there been any discussion 

internally say hey, other than modeling and other 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
41 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

than putting in assumptions, because Bruce 

articulated the problem with some of that, and we 

know when you assume, even though you're looking 

for anomalies, is there anything to say, how can 

we get better and more accurate responses 

efficiently and not relying on just modeling is 

my question?

 MR. DORN: Well, as far as, you know, 

we've always had partial responses and things. 

In the critical items, I mean, there's a recordlevel response rate, and if the record's not 

usable, we don't include that as a response, so 

that's not really anything that's changed over 

decades as far as what we've done.

 So you know, and based on the 

voluntary nature, yeah, we don't go back.

 We have to deal with OMB's Office of 

Management and Budget as far as every time we 

contact farmers, and we have to get approval 

because there's a, you know, respondent burden is 

something because that would be something if we 

went back, we would have to get approval from 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
42 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

OMB, to have that extra respondent burden there'd 

have to be fundings and programs to go through 

all those additional resources, so it's not just 

something that we can say we're going to do 

independently.

 We have to work with OMB who is 

overruling factor with statistical agencies.

 So, you know, it's not something 

necessarily that would be easy to do, so there'd 

have to be a reason -- I mean, more justifiable 

reason I guess and program that would say that we 

would do that, especially different for one 

survey versus other surveys because, you know, 

that's something that we normally haven't done so 

I'm sure, you know, it'd be a big factor to do 

something new and different like that.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: My last question 

or point is, is there any check and balance 

between, for example, the Department of Labor 

that audits H-2A all the time throughout the 

country and actually does get actual data and 

payroll? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
43 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Is there a check and balance between 

the survey in determining the rates and actually 

the department is actually reviewing payrolls to 

make sure that there's no anomalies there?

 Do you know if that occurs?

 MR. DORN: We don't share that type of 

data with the Department of Labor, no, we don't, 

because, you know, we produce our reports to the 

statistical agency, and the data's not shared in 

between.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Thank you very 

much.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Okay. Hi, 

Julie Masser Ballay. So with the divisions of 

the workers that you collect, you said you're 

doing the field workers, livestock workers, 

supervisors, and then other, but when you're 

talking about the field workers -- I'm just 

getting confirmation -- you're not delineating 

between like skilled versus non-skilled?

 So, you know, whether you're just 

picking berries or whether you're driving a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
44 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

tractor, that isn't delineated?

 MR. DORN: It is, on the questionnaire 

there's a specific -- I think it's a whole page 

designated to exactly the type of work that's 

done and the category, so it's very delineated in 

the --

MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: But is that 

part of what's published?

 MR. DORN: Well that's how it is, 

like, so that way we can communicate and farmers 

read that and know which categories to include 

and exclude. So overall the SOC codes would be 

the most comparable way that's published --

MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: But then what 

gets published is going to be the codes that --

just like, for instance, the unskilled?

 MR. DORN: Right. Well yeah, and the 

field and livestock combined, and then the SOC 

codes that we pull should be published. And --

MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Okay.

 MR. DORN: Yeah, if that makes sense.

 MEMBER FRASIER: There are 12 AEWRs 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
45 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

that we presented as far as farm labor work. In 

other words, they're going to break it down and 

one of these bills is going to have -- or the 

AEWR is going to be 12 different ones, when that 

guy's driving a van, he's got to be a truck 

driver. How do they get from three categories to 

12, I guess?

 MR. DORN: Well, and see, I don't know 

if they're going to use part of the SOC code, 

that table I showed, or that, I don't know.

 I mean, we're not involved in that 

kind of policy regulation at all, we're not 

involved with that, so, you know, we haven't been 

asked to collect any different data or there's 

not a program for new statistics, but, you know, 

the SOC codes that we publish are fairly close to 

that, but I don't know what they're doing. You 

know, we don't talk, or, that's their policy 

part, we provide the data that we have.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: So then I have 

another question about your sampling, so it's 

broken out by regions. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

When you sample, are you making sure 

that the sample is kind of spread out over the 

region? Do you find that there's clusters? You 

know, when you're getting the -- and when you get 

those non-responses, how do you account for 

maybe, you know, one section of the region is not 

responding, and you have a very slanted in 

another area?

 MR. DORN: Right, and that's where we 

do sample according to the regions and states 

too, it's not just a national level.

 So we take all that into account 

during sampling and response rates, and if there 

was regions that were trending down, we 

definitely would bump up, you know, the sample 

sizes in those areas to account for that, and if 

it gets to be, you know, unfortunately on the 

labor survey, sometimes when we're down to county 

level or other data that's thinner, sometimes we 

end up where we don't publish, if it's going to 

disclose individual information or the data's 

just not usable, we won't publish that data. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
47 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Of course, fortunately we haven't had 

to do that and gotten into that degree of a 

problem with a lack of data because that would, 

you know, be very difficult I'm sure for the 

programs they use our data, but we have enough, 

we ensure that we have enough where we don't have 

that problem at least so far, and hopefully that 

continues and we can keep adjusting.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Okay. And then 

finally, with this, you are capturing the min an 

and the maximums, though, correct? Like, so, you 

know, people, you know, have minimum labors in a 

region versus, you know, the maximums for longer 

term workers and you have that --

MR. DORN: Right, the number of hired 

workers, yes.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: No, for minimum 

wage, like, basically if I'm going to hire 

somebody in new, I'm going to start, you know, 

pay them, you know, this lower wage, but now that 

they've been with me for a while I'm going to pay 

them this higher wage. You know? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
48 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. DORN: Right.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: I'm going to 

bump them up each year. So, my longer-term 

workers would be paid higher. So in other words, 

you have a bracket of data, right?

 MR. DORN: Right, we don't classify it 

as far as like, other than just the definitions 

of the type of work. We don't classify it by 

like, experience of the individual worker groups.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: No, I'm sorry.

 MR. DORN: Sorry.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: I'm just simply 

like, saying, like, when you're capturing the 

data, you know, there's, you know, some workers 

will be paid $10 an hour, some workers will be 

paid $15 an hour, and now I have a minimum of $10 

and a maximum of $15, my average is, you know, 

13.5 or something like that.

 MR. DORN: Right.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Right?

 MR. DORN: Yeah, that's part of our 

analysis, yeah, that we look at, and if that's 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
49 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

your question, we definitely look at those, that 

part of the analysis.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Yeah, but that 

data would be captured and would be, could be 

included in the publication I guess is what I'm -

- yeah.

 MR. DORN: Oh, yeah, we'd have to 

discuss that with our -- because sometimes if you 

publish a minimum, it could be an individual 

report, so we aren't able to, you know, publish 

an individual report to disclose that. So that's 

minimum or maximum --

MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Yeah. Would 

that like --

MR. DORN: There could be some kind of 

fuzzy range where you might be able to --

MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Five 

percentile, ten, you know, 95 percentile?

 MR. DORN: Yeah, there could be 

something fuzzy like that that we could publish, 

yeah.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Yeah. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
50 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. DORN: But it couldn't be a 

specific target number, right.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Right, okay. 

Okay, thank you.

 MEMBER INMAN: Okay, Darwin Inman, and 

my question's not related to labor, so. I'm over 

here. 

MR. DORN: Okay, sorry. You know, his 

voice is coming from somewhere.

 MEMBER INMAN: My question's not 

related to labor, it's just kind of a general 

NASS question.

 Has there been any talk about 

eliminating subjective estimates and I'm 

specifically speaking to like the almond 

estimate, there's a subjective in May, then it's 

the objective in July, and they can -- because 

the subjectives is done by phone calls to 

growers, hey, what do you think your crop is this 

year, what's it look like?

 That number can change pretty 

dramatically over those two months when they 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
51 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

actually go out and count nuts on trees and do 

weighing, and things like that, and quality 

surveys.

 And it can greatly affect market one 

way or another both times, which traders love, of 

course. But, you know, farmers, handlers, and 

things like that don't.

 Has there been any discussion about 

eliminating the commodity subjective estimates?

 MR. DORN: I'm not sure about the 

almond statistics in particular, but, you know, 

of course we have our crop progress report that's 

similar to that, you know, with the different 

conditions and things like that.

 And I mean, those are very popular 

data items, so I know with that, you know, 

there's not any discussion. I don't know about 

the almonds specifically if there's been any 

discussion, but not that I know of, but I could 

easily check back with you on that if there is 

anything.

 MEMBER INMAN: Yeah --

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

52 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. DORN: But I kind of doubt it, but

 MEMBER INMAN: Yeah, I mean, just 

because there's two it's kind of strange, you 

know, I know some people in industry like that 

because they are trading, you know, based on 

fluctuation, but a lot of other folks would 

prefer to probably see just the objective because 

it is typically closer to actual where the 

subjective in May you haven't had June drop or 

all those kinds of things that can happen in 

fruits and nuts, you know. It can just skew very 

badly in one direction or another.

 Plus it depends on who answers the 

phone. You know, some people will say, well 

large farmers always have somebody answering the 

phone, some people say well, small farmers are 

home so they answer the phone, and things like 

that.

 You don't actually talk to, you know, 

sometimes you're talking to a secretary on a 

large farm, sometimes you're talking to, you 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
53 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

know, the actual farmer and things like that. It 

can fluctuate just immensely. But, you know?

 MR. DORN: Right. Yeah, I can follow 

up. I doubt there's probably a discussion on 

that but I'll follow up and let you know, or let 

the group know.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. Well, thank you 

very much, Tony. It certainly was a very 

engaging presentation and conversation that 

followed. We certainly appreciate it.

 So okay, with that, we will next hear 

from NRCS on a topic that was frequently brought 

up yesterday, the EQIP topic and this particular 

topic is one that is driven by the Labor and 

Production Committee. So with that I will turn 

it over to Bruce and let Bruce give us kind of a 

top line and --

MEMBER FRASIER: Who is this guy? 

(Laughter.) All right, I'm Bruce Frasier, 

Dixondale Farms. I'm head of the Labor and 

Production Committee. 

Coming out of our committee, one of 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
54 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the recommendations we want to make is to expand 

EQIP. Right now, if I'm correct, EQIP covers 

land conservation, water conservation and there 

is also a line in there as far as a transition to 

more organic production. Am I correct? Right 

now, basically it pretty much is focused on land 

conservation, improvements, water conservation 

with pivots, irrigation methods. What we want to 

address is EQIP funding for artificial 

intelligence down the line and robotics 

specifically.

 Right now, I just purchased an 

artificial intelligence cultivator. People from 

California brought in one that was a laser. It 

was a million and a half dollars. Right after 

they left, my phone popped up. I got a pop up ad 

for another artificial intelligence, so I guess 

my phone was listening to our conversation and I 

purchased one that's a mechanical cultivator that 

was 365,000. Nonetheless, that's a big chunk of 

money that's a long term investment. Now we 

can't depreciate it all, there's no accelerated 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
55 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

depreciation so we're looking at using EQIP 

funding to maybe assist farmers in being able to 

afford the equipment.

 MR. HUGHES: Just to jump in really 

quick. Bruce's comments are meant to be sort of 

a recap of a discussion that the Labor Production 

and Infrastructure Sustainability, both 

subcommittees engaged with NRCS on. That summary 

from Bruce, we will likely go back to during the 

Q&A. I didn't want you to think that you had to 

skip over your presentation to dig right into 

that, so we can dig into your presentation and 

then go back to that discussion, because I'm 

pretty sure there's going to be a lot of zingers 

thrown your way. (Laughter.) 

MEMBER WHITT: Definitely not a 

problem. I'm pretty sure that the new cultivator 

that you have is probably a lot more advanced 

than the old 1973 International Cub that I had 

back when I was growing tobacco. So, I guess 

just so I understand who I'm working with here, a 

show of hands if you've worked with the Natural 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
56 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Resources Conservation Service, you've heard or 

learned about EQIP before in the past. Okay, 

most of you, but we do have some folks all right, 

so, I'll provide a little bit of an overview, 

just about our agency and what it is that we do.

 I'll just touch briefly on some of the 

programs we offer and then I'll be working my way 

towards sort of the question that you were having 

about how are we funding some of the conservation 

efforts that are out there, especially in light 

of the emerging technologies. It's definitely an 

exciting time to be around. I mean technology is 

just advancing so quickly.

 MR. HUGHES: I'm sorry to interrupt 

you, Darrell speaking. We probably should 

mention who you are for the record, just so that 

the court reporter --

MEMBER WHITT: Oh, my apologies. I'm 

Whitt. I'm the Policy Branch Chief within our 

Financial Assistance Program Division. My 

general role is I lead a team that develops the 

agency policies for implementing some of our Farm 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
57 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Bill Programs, specifically our Financial 

Assistance Programs. 

We have easement programs and I have 

a colleague that handles those and then there in 

the back in the, is it the bluish-green shirt, 

Mr. Ronnie Maurer. He's my colleague. He's the 

Branch Chief for the Programs Branch, so he 

really works with the day-to-day implementation 

of the programs, getting the funding out to the 

states, the annual sign up guidance and those 

sorts of things. We work closely together to 

make sure that we get our programs out and get 

the funding out and we try to do so in a way that 

is as farmer friendly as possible.

 As I said, I'm with the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service so you can see we 

have a mission, we have a vision and what we're 

trying to achieve. To boil it all down, I mean 

we're really here to help people help the land. 

That was, I think, our old motto. We've morphed 

and grown over time, but really our true vision 

or mission is we work individually with farmers 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
58 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

and ranchers, industry stakeholders and others to 

address natural resource issues that are out 

there. Working with farmers, doing conservation 

planning, identifying resource concerns such as 

soil erosion, water quality issues, wildlife 

habitat improvement, air quality, energy -- all 

the several resource concerns that we have --

soil, water, air, plants, animals and then we 

also factor in human considerations and I might 

have missed one. So, that's where we're going. 

We work with farmers to try to look for those 

opportunities to make your operations more 

sustainable as well as profitable.

 Briefly, if you want to learn more 

information about us, there is a handy, useful 

website farmers.gov. You can find a lot of 

information about our programs, about our agency 

and the services we offer. You can find local 

field offices. We have, I don't know, somewhere 

in the neighborhood of 3,000 field offices across 

the US, not every county, but quite a few of them 

as well as in parishes and cover some territories 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
59 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

as well. You can find access to that information 

on this site, program information.

 I don't know if you'll be sharing a 

copy of these PowerPoints, but there is a link in 

here directly. If you want to find out more from 

your local service center, you can go to this 

link and look up your state and county or parish 

and find your local service center and engage 

with our local field office staff. 

Today, I'm going to be focusing mostly 

on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program 

or EQIP, but we do offer some other conservation 

programs. These are all voluntary conservation 

programs, nobody's forcing you to participate. 

One of the things I love about our agency is we 

actually get requested to come out and to provide 

assistance. Generally, when we're looking at the 

EQIP program, we lovingly refer to that as our 

fixit program. If you have gully erosion or 

you've got run off issues going into streams or 

you need to develop wildlife habitat, this is the 

program that will go out there and fix that 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
60 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

resource concern through the implementation of 

various conservation practices.

 We also have the Conservation 

Stewardship Program and this program is for those 

producers who have really done a great job over 

the years, but there's still just that little bit 

more we can get. Think about you're implementing 

a practice and maybe it's addressing soil 

erosion, but if we made a slight little tweak to 

how we're implementing that practice, maybe we're 

also getting a water quality improvement or an 

air quality improvement. This program works with 

you to fit in those little tweaks through what we 

call enhancements to help address some additional 

resource issues and make those operations even 

more sustainable.

 The other program I have here is the 

Regional Conservation Partnership Program. As 

sort of the name indicates, this is a partner-led 

program. They submit proposals, we enter into 

partnership agreements to focus on regionally 

critical or important items that the partner is 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
61 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

working in. They leverage and bring in funding 

from other sources, state, private, other federal 

resources and it's all to really focus on a 

regionally targeted issue that they're trying to 

accomplish. And region can be a small area 

within a state. It can be an entire state. It 

could cover several states. Regional is sort of 

dynamic depending on the type of issues that 

they're looking at addressing.

 Again, these are voluntary programs 

and they all essentially work to provide an 

incentive payment to those producers to implement 

a practice or an activity or an enhancement 

geared towards making those resource issues 

either nonexistent or less of a problem. Again, 

most of our program contracts, we do work 

directly with farmers and rancher to enter into 

these contracts. The regional conservation 

partnership program, there's a partnership 

agreement, but a lot of the actual conservation 

goes on the ground through contracts with 

individual producers, either directly through us 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
62 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

or from the partner.

 Focusing in a little bit more on EQIP, 

we have three different types of contracts that 

we really focus on. There's our EQIP classic if 

you will, that's what's been around since, I 

believe, the '96 Farm Bill, '02 Farm Bill 

somewhere in there. These are contracts we've 

worked with individual producers. They can be up 

to 10 years in length. Most times we try to 

encourage to keep those a little bit shorter just 

because, I mean, here recently we've all 

experienced inflation so the longer those 

contracts go on, the more impact inflation, even 

in normal circumstances, will have on the 

viability of being able to continue with those 

contracts.

 We also have the Conservation 

Incentive Contracts, this was brand new in the 

2018 Farm Bill. These are similar to EQIP, there 

are some slight nuances. The contracts are at 

least five years and we can extend those up to 

10, but really the intent of the incentive 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
63 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

contracts is to get really focused on priority 

resource concerns within a specific region of the 

state. Targeting no more than, I believe, it's 

three priority resource concerns and we really 

try to focus those contracts and those efforts to 

incentives, bring the max of conservation going 

on, it's more of a surgical approach to 

addressing resource issues.

 Then, we also have Conservation 

Innovation Grants and I'll touch on this a little 

bit later, but these are an actual grant versus a 

producer contract where we will work with a lot 

of times producers, extension agent services, 

universities and others. They will take some 

proven technologies and we can do on farm 

demonstration trials to show how effective they 

are or maybe there's a technology that's proven 

in one part of the state but we need to see if it 

works in another part of the state or the US 

because of geographic differences and what have 

you. This is one that really we use to help 

accelerate some of these newer and emerging 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
64 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

technologies, get that information, get that 

feedback so that we can try to incorporate that 

information into our everyday practices.

 If we're curious about where does EQIP 

fit, you know, where can we implement this, well 

there's a whole lot of places we can implement 

it. It works for crop and livestock producers, 

non-industrial private forest owners, pasture, 

range, crop land and all kinds of different land 

uses. It's good for large operations and small 

operations, medium-sized operations. We 

implement EQIP in both rural and urban ag ops 

sceneries and we've actually even supported aqua 

cultural operations. Everything from coastal 

estuaries, you think about shellfish production 

and inland rice and shrimp ponds and what have 

you and more. I mean it's a very, very flexible 

program. It's got a lot of opportunity to 

address a lot of resource concerns. 

The Farm Bill has about, I think we're 

up to about two billion dollars in annual 

appropriations for EQIP and that's not counting 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
65 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the additional funding we got through the 

Inflation Reduction Act. This year we got an 

additional 250 million just this year under the 

Inflation Reduction Act to put towards EQIP 

specifically and then that ramps up exponentially 

between now and 2026 and assuming we get those 

appropriations, what's 2026? Just over three 

billion in addition to what we would get through 

our normal EQIP. The potential for over five 

billion dollars just for EQIP by 2026, depending 

on what Congress does with the Farm Bill.

 Like all programs, there are 

eligibility requirements. Most farmers and 

ranchers don't have issues with meeting these so 

when we're looking at the actual producer, 

there's applicant eligibility. So, are they 

within an adjusted gross income level? Do they 

have a farm operating plan with the Farm Service 

agency, one of our sister agencies? Are they in 

compliance with highly erodable land and wetland 

compliance provisions of the '85 Farm Bill. Farm 

records are important. There are also land 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
66 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

eligibility requirements. EQIP is limited to 

agricultural land. Again, that agricultural land 

exist in a lot of different settings and 

sceneries, but we do have to identify that there 

is crop or livestock or non-industrial private 

forest land, aquatic operations and the like 

occurring.

 The big one, and this is the one that 

we'll tier off here a little bit, is there has to 

be a resource concern that a practice will 

address. One of the primary goals of EQIP is to 

address resource concerns while also maintaining 

profitability, sustainability and some cases our 

practices can increase profitability. There's 

nothing wrong with that, we actually encourage 

that. There's more likely for the practice to 

have longevity if it not only addresses the 

resource concern, but helps your bottom line. We 

like that, that's great. Sometimes it's hard to 

distinguish when a practice is addressing a 

resource concern and when it's just helping the 

bottom line. If it's only helping the bottom 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
67 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

line, it's not going to be eligible for the 

program, but if we get that resource benefit, 

it's going to be eligible even if it also 

provides that profitability.

 As I mentioned, the Environmental 

Quality Incentives Program is designed to 

implement conservation practices and so we have 

several conservation practices, everything from 

fences, grassed waterways, irrigation systems. 

We've got vegetative practice, management type 

practices. Pest management is probably one we'll 

talk on. Nutrient management, irrigation water 

management. We'll have forestry practices geared 

at improving forest lands, so tree planting or 

appropriate thinnings, wildlife practices, 

plantings and pollinator habitat and those sorts 

of things.

 Each practice comes with what we call 

a standard. That standard provides the general 

prescription for how that practice can be 

implemented and in what types of settings that 

practice is most appropriate and it's somewhat 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
68 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

flexible right? Because you can imagine trying 

to implement nutrient management in the midwest 

versus the coastal plains versus the arid west, 

range land, pasture land, organic, non-organic. 

The standard provides the general outline of how 

to implement that practice. Those go through a 

federal regulation process. I think they're 

updated generally every five years so that we can 

bring in additional and new information.

 We do often release new practices 

through either an interim conservation practice 

and these can be driven from the state level. It 

could be driven from the national level. We have 

a lot of states that are trying to test new and 

emerging opportunities. We can release an 

interim standard and then that gives us a period 

of time to be able to study the effectiveness of 

that practice and then either decide whether or 

not it's something we should adopt permanently or 

if it's not delivering the intended benefits, it 

can go away and we look for another opportunity.

 Of course, I mentioned many practices 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
69 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

do support multiple application techniques, 

trying to address a lot of different settings so 

you can imagine someone maybe that's brand new, 

just getting started learning nutrient management 

or irrigation water management, you're not going 

to hit them with the Cadillac, right? You want 

to teach them to drive in the old Cavalier or 

Chevette, you know, whatever your old vehicle is, 

right? Then once they get the basic 

understanding and premise of what nutrient 

management is then we can work to accelerate the 

understanding and really accentuate and 

accelerate the level at which they're practicing 

nutrient management.

 Now we'll get to sort of the payments. 

We talked about all the great things that 

practices can do, so each practice we will have 

payment rates. Depending on how that practice is 

implemented, that rate may vary within a 

practice. So, think about a fence, we can build 

a barbed wire fence or a woven wire fence. You 

get around heavy pressure areas, you may need a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

wooden fence or guardrail to keep the animals 

from busting through because of the high 

pressure. Each of the ways that you install that 

fence comes with a different cost. We factor 

that in and we have various rates that we can 

offer depending on how that practice is typically 

implemented within the region of the US.

 What we factor into those payment 

rates would include costs associated with labor 

and different types of labor. Is it general 

labor? Is this something that requires a skilled 

operator? Are we doing a construction practice 

versus a management practice where you're hiring 

a crop advisor, those sorts of things. The types 

of materials that go into building that practice. 

Is it vegetative? Is it grass seed and 

fertilizer and lime? Is it structural -- wood, 

concrete, steel, PVC? So, we have those and then 

we can also factor in some foregone income, 

right? Sometimes the practice may take land out 

of production so we're putting in a filter strip 

along a stream. You're taking that land out of 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

production, so often times those practices will 

include foregone income to help offset some of 

the lost income you would get from that area. 

Sometimes working with a practice may reduce your 

yield a little bit, so, we've got a big drought 

going on in the midwest. We worked with 

producers to go from irrigated crop land to 

dryland farming to try to reduce the amount of 

water they're drawing out of aquifers and, of 

course, if you're not irrigating, you're not 

getting as much yield so we can include foregone 

income that will account for that yield 

difference between the irrigated and nonirrigated crop.

 We can also provide some technical 

assistance payments. We have different 

practices, we used to call them conservation 

activity plans, we've since made them a little 

bit more focused in that some of them are more of 

a planning activity, so developing a specific 

plan to support your operation -- a nutrient 

management plan, an organic system plan, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
72 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

irrigation plan, forestry plan. So it's really 

putting the plan together on how to adopt certain 

practices and where to implement them and what 

strategies to use in implementation. 

Then we also have a design 

implementation activity so this is really putting 

together the true formula for that practice once 

you have the general plan of where the practice 

should be and what have you. Then we also have a 

conservation evaluation and monitoring 

activities. We have just a few of these, but 

these are really looking to provide information 

that may help inform you as well as us over the 

long term on how effective that practice is with 

your operation. Like, we have edge of field 

water quality monitoring, so we're really trying 

to measure the amount of soil and nutrients 

coming off that field in relation to the various 

practices that you have. 

That information could be used to 

figure out okay, well is this practice really 

working for me or am I putting in all this extra 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

effort and we're still getting a lot of excessive 

runoff, maybe I need to try something different.

 During the phone conversation this is 

one I know we talked about a little bit, is when 

we're talking about materials versus equipment 

and how we pay for those sorts of things. We 

generally have three categories of practices. 

Those that are management in nature, so we're 

trying to work with you to change how you 

implement a practice. How long you irrigate, 

where you're irrigating, how much fertilizer, 

where you're planting, how often you apply it, 

the time of year, the formula, you know, those 

sorts of things. So, just working with you on 

those management strategies that can offset 

whether or not you get increased runoff or water 

quality issues or what have you.

 Then, we also have another class that 

we consider vegetative practices. So, as the 

name implies, we're planting the filter strips or 

the grass waterways or tree plantings, wildlife 

plantings those sorts of things. And then last, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
74 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

we also have structural practices, so think about 

a waste lagoon, an irrigation system, so the 

actual pivot system or drip irrigation system, 

things like that.

 How we factor those particular costs 

in those somewhat varies depending on the 

practice. Sometimes just looking at a particular 

item, you'll think oh, well, that's equipment, 

well no, with this practice it's actually a 

material. I wanted to just kind of touch on that 

just a little bit. I know you're talking about 

these very expensive weeders, be it laser or 

mechanical, but it's using a lot of technology. 

We would not be able to purchase that equipment. 

That would be considered equipment under that 

practice and we would not be able to provide a 

direct payment to purchase that equipment, but we 

do factor in that if there's a cost to use that 

equipment, such as like a rental rate or 

something like that, so we have a reduced tillage 

practice where we're not purchasing no till 

drills, but we do recognize there's a cost 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
75 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

operating a no till drill to adopt that practice.

 Producers can use that to offset a 

purchase cost if they want or if they're leasing. 

Sometimes that's more affordable and it just 

depends on what fits for them.

 Something that may look more like 

equipment but is actually a practice, we have 

pumping plant practice. You'll see a big 

irrigation pump and you're like well that's a 

piece of equipment. Well, because of the 

standard it's a structural practice that's 

actually considered a material. Sometimes 

there's a little bit of gray area, it can be 

little tricky to try to figure that out and some 

of the general guidance we use, like if somebody 

is building a fence, we're not going to cost 

share or provide a payment for someone to buy a 

tractor and buy the post hole digger or the 

driver, but we do recognize hey, there's a cost 

operating that tractor, there's a cost operating 

that equipment and so sort of a rental rate, if 

you will, is what gets factored into that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
76 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

I think the last thing that I want to 

touch on here just a little bit is the 

Conservation Innovation Grants. These are 

competitive grants. We were averaging about 20 

million a year and the IRA, the Inflation 

Reduction Act, is actually going to increase that 

this year and going into the future. I think it 

puts it closer to 50 million a year that's going 

to be available. We've had, I guess, 711 CIGs 

awarded since 2004 worth almost it looks like 

286.7 million. So this is the program where we 

look for those innovative technologies to see how 

can we best incorporate that into our standards 

so that we can get more efficient, be it weeding 

or improved irrigation practices. Something I 

was hearing recently is you think about these 

large range land operations, thousands of acres, 

do we build miles and miles of fence to 

facilitate an appropriate prescribed grazing 

pattern or something that's new and emerging 

coming out are these radio collars that they can 

put around each cow's neck and they have the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
77 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

radio station towers. They can monitor and 

influence that prescribed grazing pattern 

remotely without having to build all this fence. 

Maybe the cost per acre on prescribed grazing 

goes up a little bit, but if you're not building 

all that fence and managing all that fence, that 

may pan out a little bit. This was a program 

that was influential and that's something we're 

actually working on trying to bring into our 

normal program operations.

 That was the last slide I had. I just 

wanted to touch through that and then I wanted to 

make sure we had plenty of time for questions. 

Ron, if you want to come up, maybe we can tag 

team these.

 MEMBER BRIANO: Check.

 MEMBER WHITT: It's working. 

MEMBER BRIANO: I'm Mike Briano. I'm 

with Harris Woolf California Almonds. I don't 

like how it's working. We are a 30 plus year 

almond processing company, been growing since 

1974. We have, in the last seven years, had a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
78 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

real focused look at sustainability and corporate 

and social responsibility given water factors in 

California and some of the constraints that the 

growers have. We're looking at historic low 

prices in almonds currently given inflationary 

pressures and supply chain issues. So, we have a 

ton of almonds and a ton of issues associated 

with rising costs for the growers.

 We have made a program that provides 

direct payments to growers for particular 

stewardship and I take your words here, we have 

irrigation water management practices, pollinator 

health and habitat, cover cropping, carbon 

reduction and sequestration and recording of good 

farming practices through eco-practices and then 

participation in the California Almond 

Stewardship Program. Along with one of our 

largest CPG partners, we provide direct payments 

to growers. We have 200 plus growers 

representing about 85 million pounds of almonds.

 We feel like we're leading the space 

in this fight here. We're trying to do the right 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
79 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

things, be responsible, but also allow our almond 

farmers to continue the process. These programs 

EQIP and CIG, would we as a group be able to 

incorporate some of these funds on some of these 

broader topics as a resource? Instead of you're 

looking at one or two growers, you have access 

now to 200 growers and we have a pool of that 

money that obviously there would be some sort of 

oversight to the things and the participation of 

this, but would some of these funds be able to 

build programs for grower/owner processors, they 

represent larger groups as opposed to just a 

single farmer here or there.

 MEMBER WHITT: Great question. So, 

and I didn't mention earlier, but one of the 

things that I love about EQIP and CSP is these 

are locally led programs and so through our field 

offices they'll run local work group sessions, so 

they provide input from their local stakeholders, 

which can include producers, ag industry groups, 

wildlife groups, what have you, just depending on 

what the makeup is and the region that they're 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
80 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

in. They solicit feedback on what's needed in 

that area, what resource issues are there and 

that helps to influence sort of the priorities in 

which we're allocating funds. You know, do we 

set up a specific funding pool to specifically 

target a set of resource concerns on a type of 

land use or what have you. 

We also have state technical 

committees and these committees support our state 

conservationists, who are sort of the head person 

over each state. They have a lot of sway in sort 

of the targeting of funds across the entire 

state. So, there are ways to do that where if 

you've got a good group of producers and they're 

advocating they can work through their local work 

group, work through the state technical 

committee, ensure that their voices are heard, 

the resource needs and issues are understood, so 

that we can try as best we can to support that. 

Through the Conservation Innovation Grants, yes, 

there's definitely opportunities for a partner to 

device a project. One of the things about CIG is 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
81 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

it is supposed to benefit EQIP eligible 

producers, so the more actual producers you have 

engaged, the better that agreement or that grant 

looks or that proposal looks.

 If you're wanting to get maybe a 

little bit more surgical on that, you could 

probably look at, that's one of the great things 

with the Regional Conservation Partnership 

Program, we send out a notice for funding 

operations for that and if you're bringing in 

other sources of funding for that, be it private, 

state, other federal agencies, what have you, all 

that can work together to really focus in on 

those needs if the proposal is selected. Thank 

you.

 MEMBER SERRATOS: Hi, I'm Rebecca 

Serratos. I have a question on your relationship 

with FSA and then coming at it from the opposite 

scenario of super small farmers and usually 

individuals, there seems to be like a chicken and 

egg scenario in terms of engaging with NRCS and 

engaging with FSA at the hyper local level, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
82 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

especially for those of us that are more rural 

and maybe are far away from a field station. How 

closely do you all work with FSA?

 MEMBER WHITT: Well, ideally we're 

working extremely close. Now that's not to say 

there's not personality conflicts that develop 

out there, but ideally we're working hand in 

hand. We do consider them a sister agency, they 

consider us a sister agency and often times we 

are co-located in the same service center so that 

when you go into the office, and because we share 

so many records, we depend upon each other for 

support services. We provide technical 

assistance for some of their programs. They 

provide some of the producer record management 

for our programs. So, ideally, they're working 

very closely together to support you as a 

producer to get the services that you need, get 

the records established that you need, so that 

you can participate in their or our programs.

 MEMBER SERRATOS: Awesome. Do you 

know in terms of like eligibility, you all are 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
83 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

looking at a ton more money for a lot of these 

programs moving forward. Have you had questions 

on expanded eligibility for farmers nationwide to 

be able to access your programs?

 MEMBER WHITT: With the Inflation 

Reduction Act, the funding came in to support the 

programs under their existing authority, so if 

the program was already limited by adjusted gross 

income limits, contract or payment limitations, 

those limitations are still in effect. This is 

just additional funding. The one thing the 

Inflation Reduction Act does do is it focuses its 

funds more on climate smart ag and forestry type 

practices. You wouldn't necessarily have the 

full suite of NRCS Conservation Practices 

available, just those that are really focused on 

those climate smart resource issues.

 MEMBER SERRATOS: Okay. So, in terms 

of like say the 2018 Farm Bill and expanding 

services to historically underserved farmers and 

ranchers, eligibility requirements kind of come 

hand in hand with that population of farmers. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
84 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Are you having conversations on how to serve more 

of that population moving forward with this money 

or is it just kind of status quo on your program 

offerings and just you do more grant awards over 

the year?

 MEMBER WHITT: I mean definitely 

getting more awards out there, but absolutely 

providing additional services to our historically 

underserved producers, so limited resource 

farmers, beginning farmers, socially 

disadvantaged tribes, veteran farmers and 

ranchers, there is a big focus not only within 

the program, but also within this administration 

to make sure we're doing more to reach the 

farmers that haven't been reached before. We've 

got a lot of emerging urban farming going on, 

that's on the forefront of what we're doing, so 

we're trying to break in and provide as much 

assistance as we can in urban areas, but also 

still service those producers out in more 

traditional rural areas because we get new and 

beginning farmers out there as well. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
85 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER SERRATOS: Right, but in terms 

of like say five years' worth of sales data would 

still be a requirement? Kind of those nitty 

gritty eligibility --

MEMBER WHITT: No, we don't have an ag 

history requirement for the program.

 MEMBER SERRATOS: But that's the FSA 

side and an FSA side would want that first before 

say getting a farm number to then go over to you 

guys to talk about EQIP.

 MEMBER WHITT: If that's happening 

locally, we probably need to have a different 

conversation, yeah.

 MEMBER SERRATOS: Thank you. 

MEMBER WHITT: Having additional 

history helps with establishing certain records 

and they may have programs that require that, our 

conservation programs don't have a five year 

farming history requirement. The only history 

requirement we would have is actually with our 

irrigation practices because it's geared more 

towards reducing, again we're trying to get 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
86 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

additional resource benefits and if we're 

installing new systems, generally you're having 

an impact on the available water as opposed to 

conserving the water that's already being used. 

So, it's got a two out of five year history.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: Good morning, 

this is Reggie Marshall from Tennessee. I have a 

couple of questions, but, Rebecca, real quick if 

someone is having problems getting a farm and 

tract number, I'm on the Tennessee State Farm 

Service Committee, you can complain to the state 

committee about that because that shouldn't be 

required.

 Question to you, sir, the first 

question is in urban agriculture, there's very 

little land and hydroponics and aquaponics 

operations are needed in those environments. 

With your water conservation programs, are you 

guys looking to allow hydroponics and aquaponics 

in urban environments, not in the ground, but 

above ground operations as a part of your EQIP 

program? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
87 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER WHITT: One of the areas that 

we're really looking at within the urban areas, 

like I said, there's a lot of, oh what do they 

call that, controlled environment agriculture 

going on. They're wanting to do a lot more of 

that, not necessarily just in greenhouses, but in 

warehouses that are converted into grow rooms. 

The way the Farm Bill is currently written, it 

focuses on land eligibility. We have to be able 

to be able to tie our practices to eligible land 

and so in some cases, those operations we may be 

able to deem those on eligible land, but there 

are certain urban operations, you know, we're 

starting to see a lot more rooftop gardening 

going on. Maybe somebody's apartment complex, 

one of the apartment rooms has been converted. 

Some of those areas, we're just not quite there 

yet, the current law as written doesn't allow us 

to get that far, but there may be some controlled 

environment ag operations, like greenhouses and 

structures that are solely supporting 

agricultural production that could meet some of 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
88 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

that eligibility. 

Then looking at the resource issues 

that may exist -- energy, lighting may be a big 

one, the building envelope improvements. We're 

looking at how well is it insulated, those sorts 

of things. Water conservation, irrigation and 

water management, pest management all those 

practices could still potentially apply in some 

of those situations.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: But would it 

have to be in the ground is what I'm asking?

 MEMBER WHITT: Like the plant itself 

in the ground? 

VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: No, the system. 

So, there are grow towers that don't require any 

type of attachment to the ground. You can put 

them in your house. They can produce a 

profitable crop for a family or an individual. 

So, that's where I'm going with this because if 

we're going to have an impact on socially 

disadvantage, underserved minorities and 

distressed people, we've got to include that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
89 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER WHITT: Yes and I don't 

disagree, so a lot of it will just depend on 

where is that grow tower or that hydroponic 

system, where is that located. If it's a 

dedicated structure, we can get past that land 

eligibility because it's just like a dairy 

operation has a milk parlor and confined barns 

and that sort of thing, right? But, we don't 

work on the farmer's house.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: Right.

 MEMBER WHITT: Kind of a thing, so 

that's just where we're at with the current law. 

Congress is actively looking at updating the Farm 

Bill. We'll see what they give us. We let them 

know what the interests are out there, how our 

current rules are impacting participation and 

that sort of thing, but it's up to them to decide 

how far they want move that envelope. 

VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: Okay and the 

last question is for fruit and vegetable growers, 

if I have cattle on my farm, I can apply for a 

well through NRCS, but if I'm raising fruits and 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
90 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

vegetables right now, I can't get a well dug 

through the EQIP program, which without water, my 

crops don't flourish, so what's being done about 

that?

 MEMBER WHITT: That might be more of 

a state driven issue. A well generally by itself 

is not going to be what addresses many resource 

concerns. It would be probably more of a 

facilitating practice. If you had an irrigation 

system and let's say you were drawing water out 

of a stream and we need a different source of 

water to improve your irrigation system, a well 

may be applicable in that situation. But as far 

as installing new wells just for the purpose of 

supporting irrigation doesn't necessarily provide 

that conservation benefit often times.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: But it's 

critical for new and beginning farmers because if 

you've never farmed then you don't have a history 

of irrigation, right?

 MEMBER WHITT: Right.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: So, we need 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
91 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

something in place for that. 

MEMBER WHITT: Right and during the 

last, I think it was under the '14 Farm Bill, we 

did put in a waiver provision to the irrigation 

history and it was for socially disadvantaged and 

limited resource producers. At that time, it 

wasn't necessarily expanded for beginning farmers 

at that time, but we have a new Farm Bill 

hopefully on the horizon and we'll be able to 

take a closer look at that.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: Okay. Thank you 

so much.

 MEMBER WHITT: Yep. 

MEMBER BAKER: Yes, Haven Baker with 

Pairwise. We use CRISPR technology for plant 

genetics and so I have a two-part question I 

guess. I understand that NRCS is funding a 

program with Colorado State to study carbon 

sequestration. Is that under CIG or is that 

something separate?

 MEMBER WHITT: I'm not familiar with 

that one. It could be a commodity program, it 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
92 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

could be CIG, it could be RCP I mean there could 

be a --

MEMBER BAKER: So I guess the -- and 

this might come out of our committee too -- my 

understanding of that program, it's only focused 

on real crops and there's not good science on 

what carbon sequestration means to fruit and veg. 

We're not even looking for government funding, we 

would like to provide solutions, but we don't 

know what the solutions should entail. So that 

is, I think, one thing to be studied specifically 

from the fruit and veg perspective is what are 

going to be the best practices for carbon 

sequestration in the future?

 MEMBER WHITT: We do have a new office 

that's the Dana's shop Climate Team and Climate 

Resilience Team and they're really at the 

forefront of looking for and coordinating a lot 

of those studies, bringing that information in. 

Right now, we do have a set of practice we know 

are delivering on those climate benefits, 

sequestering carbon, reducing greenhouse gases 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
93 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

and that sort of thing, but we're also looking 

for additional studies so that we can better 

quantify how some of our other practices and in 

what setting our other practices are delivering 

those benefits.

 MEMBER BAKER: And maybe that could be 

a followup item at some point to understand how 

much of that work that's being set up actually 

pertains to fruit and veg. Thank you. 

MEMBER WHITT: Yep.

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: David Van 

Eeckhout. Going a little bit back to some of 

what Rebecca was saying about underserved 

producers and access to EQIP funds, looking at 

some of the stuff that came through in the 

Inflation Reduction Act, it's talking about 

basically a doubling at least of EQIP funds that 

are designated specifically for those producers 

and it seems like, and correct me if I'm wrong, 

but it seems like to date the most interaction 

with those producers has been through the high 

tunnel practice. Are you exploring other ways to 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
94 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

better serve those communities besides just that 

one practice? 

And one comment I would have is FSA 

has a great program in their microloan program, 

RMA now has a micro farm insurance policy. I 

would love to see something through NRCS that was 

basically kind of a micro conservation program, 

whether that's part of EQIP or something else, 

but a way to interact with those producers who 

otherwise aren't currently interacting with the 

NRCS.

 MEMBER WHITT: Yes and specifically 

urban ag is a very new arena. We've been 

dabbling in the urban ag arena for a number of 

years now, but as far as the impetus behind a lot 

of the outreach efforts and setting up an office 

of urban ag to really get out and hear what the 

customer needs are, that's really taking place, I 

mean as we speak. It ramped up here a few years 

ago and the momentum is really growing. So, yes, 

absolutely the seasonal high tunnel is an 

extremely common practice. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
95 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

We also implemented some other 

practices. We've released a new one dealing with 

raised beds. In some of the urban areas you may 

have an issue with maybe some of the previous 

facilities that were in the area, so we want to 

make sure that there's good, clean soil for those 

who want to utilize, keep the food safe. We can 

still work with nutrient management and pest 

management. I talked a little bit about our 

payments and sort of the things that we can pay 

for so we're really looking at our payment rates 

to make sure that they're applicable in these 

really small scale settings. A lot of our 

settings, we're used to working with small and 

medium and large operations so you think oh, 

well, we basically use by the acre or so many 

hundreds of acres or what have you, but we start 

getting in these micro settings, we need to look 

at it's a fixed cost kind of a deal, right? It's 

a per each or do we do it by the square foot? 

So, we're really accelerating a lot of our 

studies on that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
96 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Can you tell me in 

general do you have a sense of what the time line 

is on the new practices? Like if you go to your 

state committee or even start at your local and 

get to your state to talk about a new practice, 

how long does it take to get something like that 

implemented?

 MEMBER WHITT: It kind of depends on 

the situation to be honest with you. Are we 

making a tweak to an existing practice? So, I 

talked about interim standards where we're 

introducing a new practice. Sometimes we can do 

what's called a variance, so it's a slight tweak 

to a practice that allows us to study to see if 

we get that additional flexibility. If I had to 

put a time line on it, it's probably not one that 

we would like. It's probably two to three years 

in the normal case situation. We have had 

situations where we have greatly accelerated that 

and gotten practices or interim standards out in 

about a year or so. But we're definitely looking 

for ways to improve that process as well because 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
97 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

there's the technical side of getting that 

practice out and then there's also the program 

implementation side and we work closely hand in 

hand with our other deputy areas within our 

agency to try to coordinate that as much as we 

can.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Okay, thank you.

 MEMBER HODGES: Morris Hodges, Morris 

Watermelon Farm, LLC, a small specialty farm in 

Mound Bayou, Mississippi. I've been working with 

the NRCS since I started my farm in '18 and in 

'19, I reached out to NRCS and ran into a pretty 

good guy, a Caucasian, he's not Black. So here's 

my deal, I've had not such good experience with 

FSA. Loan denial, insurance claims denied, 

denied, you know the game. But NRCS are okay 

with me right now. (Laughter.) (Simultaneous 

speaking.) 

MEMBER WHITT: Well, I hope we all 

stay okay with you.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Let me go to my 

notes here. Right now, the money, lots of money, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
98 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

has gone into NRCS for EQIP recently. I applied 

for land leveling in '19, didn't rank in two 

years in a row. The last two years ranked, but 

didn't have any funds available. Now, I 

understand last time I checked, 10 percent of the 

budget is allocated to small specialty crop 

owners that are farmers. I don't know how much 

my office has spent on EQIP or if they've spent 

the 10 percent on us or not because there's no 

transparency. 

Here's the deal, let's move past that 

and I've been on numerous webinars with NRCS and 

my Congresswoman, etc., etc. and the last 

language was that -- I inquired about if you 

didn't have enough funding in '21, why shouldn't 

those who didn't get funded in '21 because of 

lack of funding, be at the top of the list in 

'22? That sounds logical to me. I was told that 

no, you have to go back into the ranking pool. 

It makes no sense to me. I understand that since 

has been changed, so I'm hopeful that this year, 

I will be funded. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
99 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Let me be clear, this is not about me, 

I'm just an example of the history that we know. 

It needs to stop, that type of behavior. 

Fortunately, again, that rule has been changed. 

I understand EQIP is a year round funding 

program, correct? 

MEMBER WHITT: Maybe to provide a 

little context to that. We get an annual 

appropriation each year for that. We accept 

applications year round, but often times we run 

out of funding before we're able to service all 

the applications that we receive from prior years 

as well as new applications we received that 

year.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Yes, correct, 

exactly what my guy said. Jason Matheson is his 

name, good man. So, in conclusion, I just want 

to say this. I remember when they first told me 

about you didn't rank high enough, okay. Next 

year, you didn't rank high enough. So, on many 

webinars, NRCS, I've made the statement I'll say, 

ranking, and you don't tell me how you rank. I 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
100 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

don't know. So, I said, you take the NFL, Major 

League Baseball, NBA. The worst team in the 

league gets the first pick the next year, that's 

ranking. They ranked last. That creates parity 

in the league. No team dominates. So, in my 

case, my farm looks like a roller coaster. If 

you rank it with the other farms in the county, 

then I'm the worst team in the league so why am I 

not funded? I just wanted to make that 

statement. I think we're past that now again 

since that they designed it that you don't have 

to go back in the ranking pool again. So, I'm 

just hopeful that this year that I'll be funded 

for that program, the land leveling program. 

In conclusion, fencing. I was told I 

wasn't eligible for fencing unless I had some 

type of animal. I have vegetables, watermelon, 

cantaloupes and hemp. Deer like hemp. I'm 

adjacent to a national wildlife refuge. Is that 

something, would I be qualified for a fence?

 MEMBER WHITT: I guess maybe to touch 

on a couple of those points. EQIP is a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
101 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

competitive program, so we are looking to find 

those applications that are going to provide the 

most environmental benefit within that period of 

time. We are looking at the model of how we 

accept applications and manage them through our 

ranking process and then make decisions on 

funding. We're looking through sort an Act Now 

model to see if we can't sort of change that 

dynamic a little bit so that folks aren't having 

to wait so long constantly to find out whether or 

not they're going to receive funding. But it's 

not a guaranteed funding program. It's always 

going to be based upon the amount of 

environmental benefit that your operation and 

practices that you're applying for are going to 

provide with respect to the priorities that are 

established at the state and local level. 

They're going to be the ones that identify 

whether it's mostly focused on water quality or 

soil erosion or irrigation management those kind 

of strategies. 

Keep in mind, it's this big pot of 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
102 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

money and we do break it up to provide a lot of 

different focused areas. So, hopefully you're 

being evaluated in several of those focus areas 

because you should qualify for many of those 

focus areas. But, again, it will never be a 

guarantee of an opportunity to receive funding.

 With the fence practice, I talked a 

little bit earlier about our program is designed 

to achieve resource benefit and when it also 

provides that profit benefit, you know, that's 

great but if all it's doing is assisting on the 

profit side, then it's not going to be one that's 

eligible for the EQIP program. So, building a 

fence to exclude wildlife often falls on the 

profit side without necessarily yielding that 

conservation benefit, so most likely that's not 

going to be eligible under the EQIP program.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Yeah, I get that. 

Thank you. I'm hopeful that it will be approved 

this year and not just for me, for the farmers 

that have experienced what I've gone through and 

given up. A lot of them don't go there no more 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
103 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

and the benefit of future farmers, small 

specialty crop farmers and socially disadvantaged 

whatever you want to call it, I call it Black, to 

be more successful within NRCS. Thank you, sir.

 MEMBER WHITT: Yep. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay, we're going to 

have Bruce kind of wrap this up for us.

 MEMBER FRASIER: All right, first 

question was how much additional funds did you 

say, 5 billion, is that right? 

MEMBER WHITT: I don't have the break 

down by program. Between this year and 2026, 

EQIP, CSP and RCP combined will be just over 11 

billion dollars.

 MEMBER FRASIER: 11 billion, okay. 

MEMBER WHITT: In total, for all those 

years. 

MEMBER FRASIER: And that's the time 

frame that you have to spend that money?

 MEMBER WHITT: So, with the IRA 

funding specifically --

MEMBER FRASIER: Or allocate it. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
104 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER WHITT: We have until September 

30, 2031, to not only get it spent but those 

funds have to be paid out by 2031.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Okay. 

MEMBER WHITT: So, we can't have a 

contract go beyond that date.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Okay, all right. So, 

let's go back to our AI and look at possibly what 

I consider the benefits of this piece of 

equipment I purchased. One is we look at the 

plant health, all right? Because of the fact 

that this, when we take a break I'll show you the 

equipment in motion, but nonetheless it's plant 

health, greater production. It also means less 

herbicides, pesticides and water usage, so I can 

tell immediately after cultivating the field, we 

did half the field with just hoe hands and we did 

half the field with our mechanical cultivator. 

We could tell immediately the uptick in growth 

and less water that needed to be used because of 

the aeration of the soil. The labor savings is 

one factor, that's availability of labor is 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
105 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

really why we purchased this.

 Having said those things, the 

benefits, where does this piece of equipment fall 

in EQIP?

 MEMBER WHITT: I think the potential 

for something like that would be, it sounds like 

it's part of a pest management strategy. When 

we're looking at pest management we're not trying 

to tell people not to use pesticides. If they 

want to use pesticides that's fine, but if you're 

using them, are you applying it at the right 

times, at the right rates? Are you using small 

drops or large drops to reduce drift and that 

sort of thing, right? 

For those producers who are looking to 

go organic, there's definitely a lot of organic 

strategies. We also work with them as part of 

their pest management strategy, how are they 

addressing those resource issues, like you 

mentioned, the amount of water being used and 

soil runoff and those sorts of things. I see 

that as an emerging technology, dovetailing 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
106 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

probably more with that practice. How new it is, 

whether or not it's something that already fits 

within the strategy of the practice now? We'd 

probably have to get with our colleagues in the 

science and technology division. 

Then we would also have to look at 

what was the cost of the technology as far as, 

again, we can't purchase those machines or 

equipment for producers, but there's a cost per 

acre to run that or cost per hour or something 

like that. That's something that could 

potentially factor into that payment rate. If 

it's something that's brand new that we're unsure 

of whether or not it fits, that's where that CIG, 

the Conservation Innovation Grant, program is a 

great program to assist with studying that. So, 

you're keeping those records, you mentioned I 

used this much less water, I've used this much 

less fertilizer or this much less labor, you get 

to analyze sort of all those benefits.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Okay. Thank you.

 MEMBER WHITT: Yep. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
107 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. Mike, Ronnie, 

thank you so much for what you do for us in this 

area. We appreciate your time this morning and 

your explanations of the program as well. 

With that, we're going to go ahead and 

take a 15-minute break. I think we'll reconvene 

here at 11:05.

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 10:49 a.m. and resumed at 

11:06 a.m.) 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. As you're 

coming in and getting seated, I'm just going to 

go ahead and turn it over to Darrel, because he's 

going to kind of lead the discussion through this 

next phase that we have on the program, or the 

agenda.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, indeedy. All right. 

So, Darrel Hughes speaking, the FVIAC Designated 

Federal Officer.

 So, during this open engagement I want 

to sort of use this opportunity to handle various 

business items. And, not necessarily travel 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
108 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

business items.

 I'm going to do travel business items, 

I know there are some per diem questions. We'll 

do that later right before we wrap the meeting.

 The first question, who's leaving 

before 3:30? Is anyone leaving before 3:30?

 (No response.)

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. Perfect. So, 

everyone will be here until the meeting adjourns 

by 4:00 p.m.? All right.

 MEMBER DEATLEY: I'm leaving at the 

break.

 MR. HUGHES: At the break? Okay. 

I'll connect with you. Jenifer. 

All right. So, the main things I want 

to discuss with you all, the structure of our 

subcommittee workgroups. Sort of talk about the 

expectations or our plan for recommendations as 

we move forward over the next several months and 

Andy Hatch steps in to support that.

 And then, just thinking about the next 

full committee meeting. When and where and how 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
109 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

that looks.

 So, the first thing that I want to --

let's go back to the structure of the 

subcommittees. As you all know, we had in the 

early states, lots of duplication.

 And, it wasn't anyone's fault. It's 

just a lot of interesting things that turned out 

to be the same USDA subject matter experts, like 

for Food Safety Subcommittee and the Consumption 

and Nutrition Subcommittee.

 A lot of the topics, but some topics 

are more specific to food safety, but there's 

lots of engagement there that clashed in a good 

way. And, the same thing for Labor Production 

and Infrastructure and Sustainability.

 And so, that got me to thinking, why 

not find a way to consolidate so that we have a 

streamlined approach, but an approach that is 

beneficial to the recommendations overall?

 When I had the meetings with, I'll 

just use Labor Production and Infrastructure and 

Sustainability, that meeting with NRCS, it was 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
110 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

like really engaging. Lots of course just 

pinging back and forth.

 And I was like, you know what, this 

could be, it may be worth this time around, 

instead of having these five subcommittee 

workgroups, we have a subcommittee that is Food 

Safety, Consumption and Nutrition. That's a 

unit.

 And then, Production, Sustainability 

and Infrastructure, and that's a subcommittee. 

Labor -- that conversation is still included; 

I'll just drop it so that it's not so many words.

 And then, I think that what we should 

do is keep the Reporting Data and Analysis 

Subcommittee. That's fine a standalone, that's 

new. And, I don't see any reason why we would 

need to roll that particular committee into any 

of the others.

 And so, this is just me throwing the 

idea out. And, I don't know if, I think if we, 

after hearing this, if there's a need for open 

discussion. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
111 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

I guess we can, do we have to make a 

motion to open discussion on consolidating 

subcommittees? Or --

MEMBER FRASIER: I make a motion to 

fire Chris.

 MEMBER BRIANO: Second.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. HUGHES: Done, I guess.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: I think that was just 

a humorous motion.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes.

 (Laughter.)

 MEMBER FRASIER: Well, I think this 

committee can be in -- if you want to comment on 

it, if you do.

 MR. HUGHES: Oh, if we combine 

committees, what happens to the leads?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Yes. I think we need 

to just have a discussion before we move to 

motion, unless you would like to move to motion 

and then discussion. But, it gets a little more 

complicated following Robert's Rules of Order. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

112 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So, I -- as the Chair I'd like to 

propose that we just move right to some 

discussion.

 MR. HUGHES: Awesome.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: And come to kind of 

some -- express your concerns at this point in 

time. So, please use your microphone.

 If we can, pass it up and down. I'm 

not sure where they all are right now. We've got 

one here.

 MR. HUGHES: We've got one there and

 CHAIR RENTZEL: We'll find the other 

one. But, I will recognize.

 MEMBER BRIANO: I will start real 

quick, if you don't mind. Okay?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Go ahead.

 MEMBER BRIANO: This is Mike Briano. 

Are we required to have charges for each of these 

individual committees?

 Or required a certain amount of 

charges that we work on in a year or two? And, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
113 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

do we have to have separate subcommittees?

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. So, I'll deal with 

the charges. There's no requirement to have 

charges, because I mean, the charges are lit --

that's literally an ask from USDA when we need 

insights or guidance from you all.

 So, whether you have charges or not 

will be dependent on whether USDA presents them 

to you or not.

 MEMBER BRIANO: So, regardless of 

number, we just need to have quality suggestions 

that we're bringing forth, regardless of whether 

that comes from Sustainability or Food Safety? 

MR. HUGHES: Yeah. I wouldn't worry 

about the buckets too much. Because the charge, 

whatever issue we're having, it will naturally 

fall in the right workgroup based on the subject 

matter.

 MEMBER BRIANO: So, then it really 

doesn't matter if we have five subcommittees or 

two subcommittees or three subcommittees.

 MR. HUGHES: Well, from an operations 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
114 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

standpoint it does. Because then if you want to 

re-engage with NRCS and then so does Labor and 

production want to re-engage with NRCS on EQIP 

and potentially modify the program, it makes 

sense for those to be under --

MEMBER BRIANO: It needs to be under 

Sustainability and Infrastructure.

 MR. HUGHES: It will what?

 MEMBER BRIANO: It -- finish your 

thought. Go ahead.

 MR. HUGHES: It would make sense to 

have those two subcommittees just operate as one 

unit, because from -- that same program has a 

production component to it. Which is why Bruce 

was really engaged and wanting to engage with 

EQIP.

 MEMBER BRIANO: Okay.

 MEMBER CIRULI: I feel that as far as 

like our committee merging into the Food Safety 

Committee that I'm fine with that. I'm happy to 

step down as lead to whoever the chairman is of 

the Food Safety Committee. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
115 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

I think it makes more sense to have 

more people giving their input.

 MR. HUGHES: Exactly.

 MEMBER CIRULI: And, I would say that 

the people on my committee were not experts on 

the subject matter that we're in charge of.

 So, if we could broaden that, we're 

happy to broaden that group.

 MR. HUGHES: Great.

 MEMBER INMAN: Real quick, what --

what is the committee's -- (audio interference) 

What's the organization done in the past?

 MR. HUGHES: As far as subcommittees?

 MEMBER INMAN: Yes. This is Darwin.

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. So, right. In the 

past I feel like we've had anywhere from three to 

four to five. It just varies.

 And so, here's what I'll say, in the 

past, it seemed like the subcommittees were 

driven on a specific issue like broadband, or 

real development, or labor production has been a 

subcommittee that I've seen around that hasn't 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
116 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

left at all.

 But, as the USDA initiatives and 

programs and services have evolved, they're --

you look at the prior subcommittees from let's 

just say, five, six, ten years ago, it's like 

okay, well, if we want to engage with them on 

this topic, where does it fit?

 And so, this particular subcommittee 

I -- prior to you all being appointed, I came up 

with high level buckets, where any topic that you 

come up with could be placed in a subcommittee.

 And so, the five that we developed 

were basically on that mind set. They could be 

evergreen subcommittees.

 And so now, this suggestion is just 

the progression of, or, I would say the 

modernizing the approach that I came up with. 

Instead of there being five and having to manage 

five different subcommittees that have 

duplicative thinking at times.

 Can shrink them down to three, have 

more engagement in the subcommittees because 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
117 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

there are more members. And then, you still have 

the evergreen subcommittees that we don't have to 

change or add new committees in two years or 

three years.

 Go ahead David. 

MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Yeah. David 

Einstandig. First, okay, I'm really impressed 

with the quote from the Robert's Rules of Order. 

I mean, that's -- that's going into the well.

 That's nice.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: I like to keep it 

simple.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Yeah. Just to 

buttress what Chris was saying. I think 

absolutely -- I think the subcommittees are too 

small.

 And, I think that's evident on the 

breakout sessions that we've had, you know, the 

Teams meetings or the Zoom meetings. I think 

absolutely you're going to get much more quality 

dialog if we have different lenses.

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
118 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER EINSTANDIG: I just don't think 

it's going to -- we're going to get the quality 

that we need. I mean, this room is great, but we 

don't get together that often.

 And, if this was our full time job and 

everyone's full time job and we had four or five 

people in a subcommittee, yeah, you would get 

into the granularity, you would have the time to 

research issues.

 But, the ability to have more people, 

whether it's 10 or 12, and being able to give 

their experiences, I think we're going to get a 

lot better work.

 And, probably identify, it may be the 

same number of issues or recommendations, but, I 

think they're going to be much more robust. So, 

I fully support that.

 Julie and I were talking right before 

you started, and we said, based upon the dialog 

that we had between our two subcommittees at the 

work -- at the open session we had, that we 

should do, we should get together jointly, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
119 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

because we had an overlap.

 And I think, even data, even the Data 

Subcommittee was overlapping a lot with that we 

were talking about in Labor.

 MR. HUGHES: Right.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: And, we got 

together and said, we want to make sure we 

weren't working on the same thing. So, I think 

you could even think about that.

 But, I'm fully in support of having 

larger subcommittees and consolidating.

 MR. HUGHES: Someone pass Amy a mic.

 MEMBER BAKER: Hi, Amy Baker. I 

actually kind of like to almost argue the 

opposite. But, here's an idea, because I hate 

when people always say, well, it depends.

 And, that's kind of where I'm landing. 

I almost feel like we need to present as a group 

the different ideas or challenges that we want to 

try to solve for.

 And then, maybe as a group we find, 

you know, let's say of the four subcommittees 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
120 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

that we have right now, or five.

 MR. HUGHES: Five.

 MS. BAKER: That maybe there's ten 

different ideas that have, you know, that we put 

up on a board.

 And then, we as a group decide where 

can we make the biggest impact, you know, to 

change or recommendation. And then, we re-divide 

if we need to. You know what I mean?

 MR. HUGHES: Right.

 MEMBER BAKER: Because I haven't heard 

from the other committees on maybe what their 

ideas or strategies are. And, I think that would 

be helpful to know.

 MR. HUGHES: And so, we did that 

approach in the prior two committees. And, it 

was not effective.

 MEMBER BAKER: Oh, okay.

 MR. HUGHES: It was not effective at 

all. And, it becomes not effective because 

ultimately when each of the workgroups put their 

recommendations forward, then you bring it to the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
121 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

group, you're passionate.

 And, at that point, it's almost 

complete. And so, everyone's like yeah, we could 

include that but let's add this to it or let's 

add this phrase.

 But, you know what, we need to just 

keep it. Let's just, let's put both forward. 

And, before you know it, you have 33 

recommendations or 14 recommendations.

 And, when you move that amount of 

recommendations forward, it becomes -- you're 

basically inundating the executives with 

recommendations that some of them we can't really 

do anything with, because it's not a USDA program 

service.

 Or, they're recommendations based on 

things that USDA has already put in place. But, 

because someone wants it to be there, it's there, 

but it's null and void.

 And so, I think having the 

subcommittees have a larger pool of expertise, 

they're able to engage prior to coming together 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
122 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

with more minds, more subject matter experts from 

the industry.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Bruce Frasier, 

Dixondale Farms. My question is, what time frame 

or, you know, do we need to get a recomm -- we 

need to get one out today? Some out today?

 Or, is it, we have two a year and 

we're expected to come up every meeting with it?

 MR. HUGHES: Right. So, we -- I want 

to eliminate the pressure of leaving here today 

and saying, you have to have a recommendation for 

four groups, because one of the things that I 

recognized was that at least 80 percent of this 

body is new.

 And, I wanted you all to first 

experience the engagement in person and get a 

feel for the presentations. And then also, us 

talk openly about the expectations and what's 

actually achievable.

 And so, we're sort of getting into the 

outline for my thinking on what the 

recommendations could have. I will hit that 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
123 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

really quick. But, I think we still have to talk 

about the structure of the subcommittees.

 My thinking is, based on the level of 

engagement with NASS, NRCS and then also the 

charges that I know we'll have from Market News, 

SCI, then I'm going to work with NOP, National 

Organics Program to pull together an outreach 

charge to put forth to one of the groups so that 

we can engage with NOP.

 And, I assume there may be other 

topics just from me talking with Reggie and other 

representatives about things that you've heard 

from the represent -- the USDA subject matter 

experts who presented today, that you may want 

to, in your subcommittee, talk to the others 

about and put forth a potential recommendation or 

suggest a position statement on.

 I think that there is a need to have 

a -- during this session a sort of, all right, 

here are the topics that we all know that we want 

to hit on, and then everyone say, these topics 

will go to this group, these topics go to this 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
124 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

group.

 After this, we have subcommittee 

meetings. Like the first one would be okay, with 

this topic these are the questions that we have 

remaining that we would like to engage with this 

group on, because here's a dra -- here's the -- I 

don't want to call it, I'll just call it a draft 

recommendation.

 Here's a draft recommendation based 

on, like let's say Bruce can write up a draft 

recommendation right now that, on NRCS that you 

all may not necessarily agree with, but it's just 

a start.

 And, we go to NRCS and say here's what 

the -- here's what the subcommittee is thinking. 

And, here's a list of unanswered questions that, 

or discourse, I think those questions are 

sometimes -- well, anyway.

 Here is a list of questions that they 

would like to hear from you on. And then, we go 

to NRCS, or have a, have an additional meeting 

with NRCS to say okay, well, that's where we're 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
125 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

leaning to. 

Are you able to do this? Can you do 

this? Can you do this? Okay, this looks like 

the recommendation that we're likely going to put 

forth based on any information you provide.

 I think that will happen over a couple 

of meetings. And then, if you take that, I just 

use NRCS as an example, if you take NRCS and 

apply it to any other subject, easily based on 

the topics discussed, there are at least, I will 

say, you know, half a dozen subcommittee meetings 

required, or maybe a dozen subcommittee meetings 

required from now until let's say August.

 I think that by the next meeting, full 

in-person meeting, whether it's virtual or inperson, the goal would be to have each 

subcommittee, Bruce or whomever, standing up here 

and saying, this is the recommendations that we 

put forward.

 Here's the draft recommendation. And 

here's a background statement on why we put it 

forward and the benefit of it. And then, open it 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
126 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

up to you all. What do you think?

 And so, just like there was a slide, 

a presentation where the programs went over what 

their issue was. Each subcommittee will, lead 

will come up and do the exact same thing.

 I actually have an example and because 

of the way this is set up, I -- I can -- oh, 

whatever. I'll -- there is an example of how we 

did it last year.

 Each subcommittee, I worked with the 

leads to give them a template. Actually, I gave 

it to you all. That's on the cloudshare site.

 There's a PowerPoint where you have 

the recommendation on one slide, background 

statement, and then you all just discuss it to 

help finalize. Because ultimately each 

recommendation that comes out of a subcommittee 

workgroup, it has to be put forth before the full 

committee for the full committee to vote on and 

say yes, we adopt that recommendation to move 

forward. We accept that recommendation to move 

forward. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
127 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Does that make sense?

 MEMBER FRASIER: Could I ask, Bruce 

Frasier again, is there a sense of urgency to 

maybe get something out on the statistics, ag 

labor statistics right away, considering the 

comments of Congressman Thomson last night?

 That he was going to possibly put 

together a subcommittee for a White Paper. Now, 

we've got to remember, for anything that gets 

done, we have to get Jim Jordan's group out of 

the Judiciary Committee who's in charge of this -

-

MR. HUGHES: Wait, wait. So, I want 

to make clear that that's a legislative process.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: That, so this is an 

advisory committee that provides recommendations 

on USDA programs and services.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Right. Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: And so, there wouldn't be 

-- it wouldn't be, I don't want to say 

appropriate. But, we don't want to tie how we 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
128 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

operate to anything that could be legislative or 

congressional.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: But, if there's a -- if 

there is a time element based on something you 

know that's happening or could be happening, 

obviously when you're engaging with the industry 

representatives on your subcommittee, you can 

make them aware of that so that everyone comes to 

the table ready to engage and you pull together a 

draft recommendation that's ready.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Well, I just say, the 

timing of this survey, it seems in my personal 

opinion, it's the most critical issue facing us 

in the near term as far as the termination of the 

AEWR.

 And what, you know, our concern, which 

is a USDA issue, is how they collect that data 

and how it's used.

 MR. HUGHES: Right. That's something 

that we can touch, or how we collect the data. 

Yeah. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
129 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

CHAIR RENTZEL: This is Kay Rentzel 

again. I do believe that that is appropriate as 

a matter of whether it's data collection or 

whether it's in labor and production.

 But, we -- without guidance to USDA, 

who is the initiator of those surveys, we cannot 

expect any different results, I guess would be my 

comment, so.

 MR. HUGHES: Right.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Donna?

 MEMBER GARREN: Yeah. I still feel a 

little bit rudderless in regards to the process. 

I know when Amy presented the -- Donna Garren, 

I'll say.

 That, you know, we have a group 

discussion of potential ideas, because you know, 

we get into these, the committees that we've had, 

and we just start talking about issues versus 

really coming up with a scope of work for the 

subcommittees.

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah.

 MEMBER GARREN: I just feel like we're 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
130 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

not being given enough direction of what we 

should be doing. And, --

MR. HUGHES: Agree 100 percent.

 MEMBER GARREN: Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: And that's -- that's one 

of the reasons why we introduced the concept of 

the charges.

 In the past, we had the position that 

we didn't want to instruct you all on what to do, 

because we want to receive your feedback and 

insights. You're volunteers. We don't want to 

tax you.

 When there are issues or new services 

that we're launching that we can glean insights 

from, it makes sense for us to come to you and 

say hey, we need your help with this.

 We never had a structure for doing 

that. And, this time around, working with Chris 

Purdy, and Bruce, and other leaders throughout 

AMS, we said okay, let's come up with a format 

for doing that.

 And, it just so happens that when I 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
131 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

first started managing the committee, it was 

using the old format that I quickly realized with 

a group that was mostly new to the advisory 

process, was really ineffective.

 And so, our first two meetings across 

all the subcommittees, I think everyone was like, 

what is happening? Even me.

 I felt like I wasn't doing enough or 

the right thing. And, I think having the concept 

of those charges now in place, will make a great 

difference, because that's really driving focus.

 MEMBER GARREN: Right. And, that 

would be helpful. I mean, because that, I think 

there are also the limitations which just came up 

with Bruce, in regard to that's a legislative.

 And, I understand, you know, the 

separation of the, you know, the different 

branches. I get that.

 MR. HUGHES: Um-hum.

 MEMBER GARREN: But, in regard to 

we're a fruit and vegetable advisory committee, 

and when it comes to food safety, jurisdictional 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
132 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

control is FDA.

 So, are we going to be giving 

recommendations that AMS or, you know, those that 

are involved in the GAP program will then 

possibly give to?

 I mean, because I know you all work 

together.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes.

 MEMBER GARREN: Because those would be 

helpful, you know, to understand. You do a lot 

of nutrition, but then there's also FDA that has 

nutrition responsibility.

 And then, you've got this potential 

national strategy, which involves a bunch of 

different agencies that the -- this 

Administration is doing in regard to hunger and 

nutrition and physical activity.

 MR. HUGHES: Right.

 MEMBER GARREN: And so, it would be 

helpful if we just understood. I think the 

charges coming this afternoon will be helpful for 

me to, you know, be able to have a problem to 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
133 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

solve or to come up with something.

 But, I think we also need direction 

for things like, we know that impact our 

industry, and we need support and help with. How 

do we create the charge that would be most 

relevant to support getting help for that 

recommendation?

 MR. HUGHES: Well, the charge will 

always come from USDA, if we present something to 

you. Here's what's happening. There are two 

competing interests.

 This particular body is tasked with 

providing feedback and insights to USDA programs 

and services. It's very narrow based on that 

definition.

 And, what happens is, when you all get 

together, because there's so much happening with, 

within the industry and even things happening 

outside the industry that's impacting how you all 

operate your businesses and your organizations, 

there are things that touch on USDA that we're 

involved in, but, they sit outside of us. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
134 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

They're outside of our purview.

 And, that's exactly what happens with 

certain things that take place with FDA, EPA, 

Labor Department, and so on and so forth.

 And, we, as the DFO, I'm in this, I'm 

trying to dance this dance where I try to keep us 

looking at USDA specific programs and services 

without saying, no, we can't touch that issue 

because that's not USDA.

 Understanding because I have to be 

sensitive and aware that that's an important 

issue to the industry. Because just because it's 

not something that we touch, we should engage on 

it because ultimately USDA may glean something 

from whatever you put forth.

 So, one of the things that we -- how 

we deal with that balance is, with anything 

that's food safety that maybe FDA related, we'll 

obviously put forth or share whether it's a 

recommendation or a position statement through 

our FDA liaison.

 Or, there's workgroups, food safety 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
135 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

workgroups that we've engaged with that we could 

put forth that recommendation to.

 The thing that we have to understand 

is, when we share that with that particular 

entity, I then, or the DFO role then, can't say 

okay, how are you going to execute that?

 Because oftentimes with 

recommendations, we are tasked with following up 

-- well, not often, we are FACA database. We 

have to upload the recommendations that were put 

forth and the status of them.

 If they -- what happened with them. 

And so, we just have to understand it from a 

process standpoint, any recommendations that are 

not specific to USDA programs and services that 

move forward, they're going to be recommendations 

that I can't follow up on.

 MEMBER BAKER: Yeah. I was just going 

to make a -- Haven Baker, I'll make a comment and 

then a small suggestion.

 The comment is, I mean, the comment is 

actually how I've experienced sort of this messy 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
136 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

start. And, I think it's actually really 

positive in the sense that we formed a 

subcommittee.

 We learned a -- and, it's got a 

narrower scope. We learned a little bit of 

what's actually going on.

 And then, I was able to, you know, 

reach out to the people that are in my industries 

and get their feedback specific to data. But, 

that whole process took a couple of months.

 But, you know, you couldn't -- I 

couldn't start with the feedback if you didn't 

know what subcommittee you're on and actually 

what that subcommittee does.

 So, I actually think it's been 

helpful. But, it has led to a little bit of 

disorientation up until maybe, up until recently.

 So, but I think it's not a -- anyway, 

my feedback is positive. The suggestion would 

be, is if we do collapse a couple of committees, 

maybe we should consider adding a couple of 

people to data so we have roughly the same size. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
137 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: Yeah.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Others? Other 

comments?

 MEMBER FREEMAN: I have a comment. 

This is Isabel Freeman. I think that yesterday 

and today was very, very beneficial for me, 

because I finally had some vision as to why we 

were formed and the committee was formed and 

where to go with it.

 And, it's the main thing that a lot of 

the recommendations that I formed have nothing to 

do with my committee. It has to do more with 

other committees.

 I have here for data and for labor and 

for other things that I wrote down. So, I think 

a combination of -- and I also experienced in the 

other meetings that everything was so redundant 

that I couldn't understand where the cross line 

between nutrition and food safety and all these 

different groups.

 So, I think combining, doing a 

combination is a great idea. And then, following 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
138 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

up with Amy's recommendation that eventually when 

we all have come up with the recommendations that 

we're going to make that it's run through the 

whole group.

 MR. HUGHES: Right.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: Having like a whole 

consolidated group to get some feedback would be 

also very beneficial. Just because there's so 

many members here that have so much experience in 

so many different areas, it's amazing.

 So, we wouldn't want to have anyone 

left out.

 MR. HUGHES: Right. And, that's built 

into the process. So, the next meeting, when I 

talked about the, let's say if you were the lead 

for the Food Safety/Consumption Nutrition 

Subcommittee, you would be up here and you would 

be presenting the draft recommendations to the 

full body.

 And, at the end of each recommendation 

that you put forward, you would be opening it up 

to Q&A for everyone to engage on. And, someone 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
139 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

on your subcommittee would be taking notes on 

potential edits that would need to be made, if at 

all.

 So, the feedback from the full body is 

built into the process.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Donna?

 MEMBER GARREN: Donna Garren. It 

looks like one of our charges is going to be what 

was brought up by Bruce yesterday in regard to 

modernizing inspection.

 MR. HUGHES: Um-hum.

 MEMBER GARREN: I see that as a QA/QC 

kind of thing. Is that going to be under Food 

Safety, Nutrition, and Quality? 

Where do you see that fitting?

 MR. HUGHES: Right now, that one is 

under Infrastructure/Sustainability. And, I 

think it will stay with that combined committee, 

because it's not just the audit.

 It has the audit touch point. But, a 

lot of what their discussion is also production 

and infrastructure and sustainability components 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
140 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

to it.

 So, there's always going to be like, 

you know, that tug of war. It's almost like to 

some extent, you wonder like, do we need 

subcommittees?

 But, we can't make group decisions. 

And so, we've got to break up and get into 

huddles and put some ideas forward.

 I think that the way to address, I 

think, the issue that you're getting at is, there 

will be things or topics that you, from a food 

safety perspective and a QA perspective, will 

want to make sure it's included in that 

recommendation or in that engagement on SCI.

 Which, today during that session, is 

the opportunity. But also, any follow on 

meetings, any member can attend those meetings to 

engage.

 MEMBER GARREN: That's helpful. Thank 

you.

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah.

 MEMBER BRIANO: Donna, this is Mike 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
141 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Briano. In the defense of the Sustainability and 

Infrastructure Committee, we were kind of drug, 

not say drug, that's a bad word to use.

 (Laughter.)

 MEMBER BRIANO: Let's say we were in 

-- we were invited to join. And, we've actually, 

that's what we spent our time yesterday doing, is 

discussing that charge.

 What's interesting, and I think it has 

particular implications in my industry, it has 

application to Darwin's industry. I'm sure all 

of our industries as it maybe.

 I think we had a pretty exiting 

discussion about it yesterday. I think we're 

going to have a lot to add to it today.

 So, I think Darrell is right. We have 

a lot of overlap. And, I think it's going to be 

a good process.

 MR. HUGHES: Whatever process we have 

in place will not be perfect. So, I just want to 

make sure that we all agree to that.

 MEMBER BAKER: Hi, Amy Baker. And, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
142 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

maybe I just like had an ah-ha moment, few and 

far between. But, when you talk about, Mike, 

when you talk about you guys had a charge, like 

we didn't have a charge.

 MR. HUGHES: Exactly.

 MEMBER BAKER: So, maybe that's the 

missing piece --

MR. HUGHES: That was the issue, 100 

percent, yeah.

 MEMBER BAKER: Or parts. Like it --

MR. HUGHES: So, that --

MEMBER BAKER: It will resonate more 

once we get involved in the charge.

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah. The charge from 

NOP, National Organics Program will go to the 

combined committee, because that makes sense for 

it to start there and sit there.

 There could be other -- I should, let 

me make sure that I say this. The charges that 

we have now, let's say if there's something that 

happens in two months, and a program or an 

executive comes to myself or Chris Purdy, and say 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
143 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

hey, we need some insights on this.

 There could be a charge that we put 

forth at that point in time that this body may 

just start digging into and doing research. And 

let's say, if it turns out that it, that there 

are no recommendations by the time your terms 

expire and we get new appointments come in, that 

new committee will pick it up and continue.

 And so, we will make sure that the 

charges continue from one body to the next. 

Ideally everything that we present to you, you 

all will be able to respond to with 

recommendations or position statements prior to 

any terms ending or shifting.

 Go ahead, Susan.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: Susan Sutphin. So, 

the charge that we have, I would just like to 

contribute to it.

 So, nothing against, I like all you 

guys. You know, but, you know, I work with 

really --

MR. HUGHES: We're glad. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
144 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER SUTPHIN: A really, really 

small producers. And, this is talking about 

inspections on a really large scale.

 So, do we have a chance to like, oh, 

I like what Amy's group is working on. And, 

being able to -- I don't know what the other 

charge, like we haven't been presented yet.

 So, would --

MR. HUGHES: I would -- considering 

that there is already suggestions to balance out 

the bodies and have, let's just say, at least 

eight representatives assigned to each 

subcommittee. I think there could be room to 

have you shift as long as we create the balance.

 The one thing that I will ask everyone 

to keep in mind is that you all won't be experts 

on every issue.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: Well, yeah.

 MR. HUGHES: The things that I touch, 

I'm not an expert on. And, I rely on my 

colleagues every single day to help me get 

through and to provide information, you know, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
145 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

insights on touch points.

 And so, the same thing applies to you 

all. There maybe things that you feel, you can 

look at a topic and say, I know nothing about 

that.

 But, once you're engaging, there may 

be relative points where you can provide insights 

to enhance a recommendation.

 We're a team. Teamwork makes the 

dream work.

 MEMBER DeATLEY: I just -- Jenifer 

DeAtley. I just wanted to make one comment. 

Because I thought the presentations also were 

such a critical part of learning for this group.

 But, I did want to comment that the 

majority of the presentations definitely geared 

toward more of that land farming component, 

production component.

 And, I would love to see something 

from the food and nutrition services come to the 

table so that we could all learn a little bit 

more about that consumption and nutrition 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
146 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

component of the USDA.

 MR. HUGHES: You know what's 

interesting is I decided not to engage FNS on 

presenting, because I was thinking, what's the 

issue from our engagement?

 And, I decided, you know what? Let's 

get through the first meeting, regroup, get 

through the restructuring, and then go back to 

that.

 Because I think that's still open. 

And, there could be some engagement with FNS. I 

think from FNS perspective, they're the same as 

this, what are they interested in from a 

recommendation standpoint?

 And, the response is, I don't know.

 MEMBER DeATLEY: Well, I don't know 

either.

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah.

 MEMBER DeATLEY: And, I'm on that 

group, so.

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah. And so, then the 

biggest concern that I have, which I mean, it's 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
147 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

just, it is what it is. We all are.

 If we organize these meetings and we 

get on the meeting and FNS leaders are there and 

we're pinging different questions at them, at the 

end, I'm looking at, okay, what's the takeaway? 

What's next?

 I think at some point there has to be 

consensus among the subcommittee members on okay, 

this is the issue that impacts all of us or most 

of us. And, we can agree on a recommendation or 

a position statement or something so that there's 

going to be some homing in that's required from 

the representatives.

 MEMBER DeATLEY: Well, just to make 

one more comment about that. But, our group did 

talk a lot about the school lunch program.

 MR. HUGHES: Um-hum. Right.

 MEMBER DeATLEY: And, additional like 

food, you know, programming like that. So, if we 

were to begin narrowing down programming, I know 

that that particularly is an interest area.

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. Morris? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
148 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER HODGES: Morris Hodges. I 

concur with the statement prior to that. On my 

committee, Data Analysis, I'm so lost. My group 

is just heavy on the data game.

 MR. HUGHES: Um-hum.

 MEMBER HODGES: And, that is my weak 

area. I don't -- well, I think you said it may 

be okay to switch.

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah.

 MEMBER HODGES: Yeah. Because 

production and analysis, I just feel like I'm not 

contributing and, because they're real heavy.

 MR. HUGHES: Yep.

 MEMBER HODGES: On the data game.

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah.

 MEMBER HODGES: So.

 MR. HUGHES: No, go ahead.

 MEMBER HODGES: Yeah. That's it.

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. That makes sense, 

okay.

 MEMBER HODGES: But, since we're 

restructuring, --

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
149 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: You're open to a shift.

 MEMBER HODGES: And, so someone that's 

heavier than me can go to the data committee.

 MR. HUGHES: And I'll make one 

statement about the data and NASS. And my 

thinking that sits with the Data Reporting and 

Analysis Subcommittee no matter what.

 And, that's because the, that 

particular workgroup is tasked with looking at 

data and analysis and reporting. And so, the 

labor production or sustain -- that particular 

subcommittee, you can pitch the ideas or engage 

with them.

 But really, the draft recommendations 

should come from that entity. The question is 

Bruce, I think for you, you have to figure out, 

do I want to stay here to engage and deal with 

NRCS on EQIP?

 Or jump ship to engage with NASS? We 

can try to split you down the middle, but that's 

not going to help us get to where we need to be.

 MEMBER FRASIER: No, I agree. I 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
150 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

agree.

 MEMBER HUGHES: Yeah.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Bruce Frasier. Yeah, 

it's fine to use the data. We've been working 

together on this, and you know, I let here write 

the charge.

 (Laughter.)

 MEMBER FRASIER: Maybe.

 MR. HUGHES: I think -- I think that 

once we -- I think first we have to agree that 

yes, we'll do the consolidation. And then, one 

by one figure out based on the consolidation 

who's there and then who wants to go where.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Darrell, would you 

like to resolve this before lunch? Or, do you 

want to break for lunch and then we'll pick it up 

and you can just have some additional?

 MR. HUGHES: I think we should go to 

lunch --

CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: And, have some food and 

drinks. And then, I mean, we have 75 minutes 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

151 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

dedicated to each of the charges.

 And, I don't know that we'll use the 

full 75 minutes. So, I expect that we'll have 

some wiggle room.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: Go Jorge.

 MEMBER VAZQUEZ: Jorge Vazquez, 

Houston. Darrell, if we consolidate the teams 

though, I suggest keeping the two leads. Right?

 At least so, you know, one he can 

focus on, you know, the original issues. And 

then the other one on the other one.

 MR. HUGHES: That was my plan. I 

didn't plan to have anyone step down. I was like

 (Laughter.)

 MEMBER GARREN: All right, sorry 

Chris.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 MR. HUGHES: You can re -- you can 

relinquish it. You can give it to someone else 

if you want. You're not -- it's not -- it's just 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
152 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

volunteer.

 MEMBER CIRULI: You follow the next.

 MEMBER DeATLEY: Yeah. Each group 

could have a discussion about that.

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah. Okay. So, I 

think, the food is up there? Awesome. Today's 

menu is going to be burrito bowls.

 So, don't eat too much, because I need 

you to come back here functional. No food comas. 

PARTICIPANT: Make sure there's coffee 

then.

 MR. HUGHES: There is coffee back 

there. We made sure there's coffee there. All 

right.

 (Whereupon, the aboveentitled matter went off the record at 11:49 a.m. 

and resumed at 1:04 p.m.)

 MR. HUGHES: Hello. Hello, hello, 

hello. I think we have mostly everyone in the 

room.

 So, I'm going to jump start, Darrell 

Hughes, the DFO, speaking. I'm going to jump 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
153 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

start the session and pick up where we left off.

 In the interest of time, I've got an 

approach that I think will work better with, just 

with regards to thinking about how we operate the 

subcommittee workgroups.

 We -- this, I guess I'll just say 

this, I think that it could be a good approach 

for the two subcommittees that I talked about 

consolidating together. Like that's Labor 

Production, Infrastructure, Sustainability and 

Food Safety, Consumption and Nutrition.

 Instead of doing this formal approach, 

we informally have the two groups combine, not 

combine, but operate together and see how it 

works.

 And so, we do a casual approach to see 

if the consolidated or collaborative approach 

works best. Consensus on that? Thumbs up?

 Awesome. I think that's the route to 

go. And, that way we can move forward with our 

presentations.

 And then, in the coming meetings, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
154 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

we'll finalize what it looks like based on what 

happens over the next few months. Great.

 Okay. John, before you speak I have 

a question for you about your presentation.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. For the benefit 

of the Committee Members, next up will be John, I 

always mispronounce John's last name, Okoniewski, 

with the Market News Service.

 And, I think we're going to do a 

presentation. Is that right, John? 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: 

CHAIR RENTZEL: 

Well, --

Yes. It's on the 

screen. There we go. 

(Laughter.) 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Yes. Oh, excuse me, 

sorry. All right, I forgot my notes. I'm sorry. 

I was going to ask the group, I know I met with 

the one subcommittee and did a brief presentation 

for them.

 So, I didn't know if the whole group 

wanted to see the presentation. It might take 10 

minutes, 15 minutes. And then we could go into 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
155 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the charges for those who had not seen the 

original presentation.

 It's just about Market News and what 

we do basically.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: I'm seeing some 

positive head nods.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: So, please, proceed.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: All right. Well, my 

name is John Okoniewski. I'm the Director for 

Specialty Crops Market News.

 Prior to you all coming back from 

lunch I left the card for each of you. So, if 

you have any questions later after you're going 

from D.C., fell free to contact me directly.

 I did want to, if you don't mind, do 

a little brain teaser, a little wake up after 

lunch. I've been in a lot of meetings where 

you've gotten back from lunch and need to get a 

little wake up call.

 I'm not saying all of you are in the 

boat. But, sometimes it happens. So, I've got a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
156 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

couple of questions for you.

 I went to the University of Delaware. 

And, I don't know if any of you are sports fans. 

Is there anybody here who can tell me what the 

mascot is for the University of Delaware?

 The who?

 MEMBER CIRULI: I can. The Frozen 

Blue Hens.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: The Frozen Blue Hens?

 MEMBER CIRULI: Yeah, that's right.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: You mean the Fighting 

Blue Hens.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: So, you can get 

Market News and cell phones with our QR code on 

the back. You can check our reports out on that.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: All right. My next 

question. I'm leading up through a, kind of a 

career path here.

 When I got out of the University of 

Delaware, I went to work for F.W. Woolworth. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
157 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Does anybody remember F.W. Woolworth?

 Okay, a few of you do. All right. My 

quiz here is, what does the F.W. stand for in 

F.W. Woolworth?

 I'll give you a hint, it was the name 

of the founder.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: Franklin Wright.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Close. Frank 

Winfield. But, because you got Frank, --

(Laughter.)

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: Do I get a hen?

 (Laughter.)

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: You got the closest, 

well, you can have a hemp lanyard or a pen.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: The hemp.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: All right. That's 

good.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: All right.

 (Off mic comment.)

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Thank you for your 

patience. I'm sorry, I have one last one here 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
158 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

now. So, this is more of a business question.

 So, Market News activities are 

authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Act 

of what year?

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: 1934 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Who gets the closest? 

You said '34? 

MEMBER VAZQUEZ: 1949. 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Anybody else? 

PARTICIPANT: 1962.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: '32.

 MEMBER FRASIER: '85.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: All right. Forty --

PARTICIPANT: Two.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: No, you said '42?

 PARTICIPANT: Right.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay. You got the 

closest. It was 1946.

 PARTICIPANT: All right. My year.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: All right. Okay, 

hopefully that gave you a little chuckle and get 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
159 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

us started here.

 Again, before we, before we get into 

the slide show, I don't want to take up a lot of 

time, because there are some things we want to 

discuss here.

 But, I did want to thank everybody for 

coming and the opportunity to be able to speak. 

Something that we're trying to focus on at Market 

News is really developing relationships with our 

stakeholders.

 We've kind of been, I have a, all my 

brothers and my father are all in the service 

except for me. I had a brother who was in the 

Navy and he said boot camp was hell.

 And, I said well, how do you survive 

boot camp? He said, keep a low profile. So, I 

think Market News has kind of been in that mold 

of keeping a low profile for a number of years 

just because of the industry we work with, 

they're very busy.

 We don't want to take up a lot of 

their time when we're working on markets or on 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
160 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

phone calls with them. So, we've kind of kept a 

low profile. We do our work. We get our reports 

out.

 But, we're trying to do more than 

that. So, we're going to -- we're trying to open 

up more relationships with our stakeholders. 

And, we have -- I have an open door policy. 

As I said, I left you my card. You 

can call me directly, email me directly. I will 

be glad to talk to you.

 If I can't answer your questions, we 

have a number of specialists and staff that would 

love to do that for you. Or, who can answer 

those questions.

 So, I just wanted to throw that out 

there that we really, I really mean that when I 

say we want to develop relationships.

 So, anyway. So, moving on. Just 

quickly, so Market News. We consider Market 

News, I consider Market News to be the eyes and 

ears of American agriculture.

 We have field offices located all 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
161 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

around the country in some of the major wholesale 

markets and most of the major growing areas.

 Our mission is to provide timely, 

accurate, unbiased information. Our motto that 

we use is get it, get it right, and get it out.

 These are the main market levels that 

we report on. And, I'll just briefly tell you 

how we do these reports so you understand how our 

reporters collect this information.

 At the shipping point or FOB level, we 

have again, like, we have offices and reporters 

around the country in different shipping area. 

We have a big office in Phoenix that covers FOB 

reporting for California, Arizona, New Mexico and 

a number of other states.

 But, those reporters will do daily 

interviews by phone. And, they'll speak to 

shippers and producers to get their daily pricing 

on what's being shipped out of the area for that 

day and the volumes of the commodities that are 

being shipped out.

 The terminal or the wholesale markets, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
162 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

again, we have, I think -- I think we have 11, 

not 12 now. We had to close an office recently.

 Our reporters have direct interviews 

on the markets every day. They go into the 

markets anywhere between 5:00 a.m., depending on 

the market you're working in, up to maybe 11:00 

in the morning.

 So, there's a good four or five hour 

period where the reporters are on the market 

talking to the salespeople and collecting the 

fresh arrivals into the market.

 We don't cover, or don't report the 

volumes coming into the markets any longer. But, 

we mainly cover the, just the pricing.

 So, that's at the wholesale level. 

And, I would say probably, on our wholesale 

markets we get anywhere from 90 to 95 percent 

cooperation from the wholesalers. So, we get a 

good sampling at those wholesale markets.

 Retail reporting, we do that based off 

of ads that we get online. We have a program to 

pull advertised prices for, I believe it's 400 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
163 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

chain stores representing about 30,000 individual 

stores around the country and that includes 

Alaska and Hawaii.

 So, we -- and again, that's just the 

advertised prices. Now, there's been some talk. 

And I think it did come from one of the 

subcommittees about the importance of getting the 

regular retail prices.

 And, that also came up as a suggestion 

from one of our counterparts in livestock and 

poultry. So, I think that maybe something that 

we will be taking a look at. That's going to 

continue to be a recommendation from the group.

 So, it's advertised prices. We do it 

once a week. The report goes out on Friday. It 

is a quite lengthy report. But again, they're 

advertised sales.

 At farmers' markets we're trying to 

break -- we're trying to break more into farmers' 

markets. We used to do a few auctions. We don't 

have many, much in the way of auction 

information. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
164 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Yesterday Kim Mercer was here. She 

was talking about the outreach we've been doing 

with organic, or organic data initiative.

 And, that has actually allowed us to 

have some agreements with some of the 

universities. She was talking about Penn State, 

Wisconsin, I think Iowa.

 We're going to try to do something 

with the State of California. To try to get more 

information on farmers' markets, because that's 

an area that we just don't have a good handle on 

right now.

 Staffing, just to give you an idea of 

our staffing, we have a total of about 65 

employees. But, about 50 of those, 52 actually 

do the day to day work.

 State and federal, we have a few state 

agreements left, with the State of South 

Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. That 

list was a little lengthier years ago.

 But, some of the states have run into 

financial problems, budget problems, and they're 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
165 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

cutting those programs out. And, the federal 

part of Market News absorbed their workload.

 These are just some other product 

reports I wanted to show. It's not just 

wholesale market and shipping points.

 But, we do a cold storage report, 

apples for processing. We have a monthly honey 

report that we do that basically just talks about 

how the bees are feeding and the cost of honey.

 Imported nuts, berries are just 

recent, and we started to receive those. And, 

we're trying to get into some additional 

international markets.

 Currently we are reporting wholesale 

markets for Canada and Mexico, I think Rotterdam. 

But, we're trying to expand that list. And, 

those are wholesale markets.

 But, we do import reports. I went --

I'm sorry, I missed one. We went back to 

shipping point. Besides just the major growing 

areas, we do report a lot of imported product as 

well, from Chile mostly in the winter. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
166 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

But, we do report Italian kiwi, I 

believe, and New Zealand, I think New Zealand 

kiwi. We have apples and citrus, I think, out of 

South Africa.

 So, we are trying to expand that mark 

-- some of those markets. We actually had some 

meetings with TIPA in recent months, who would 

like us to expand our lime coverage for limes for 

Peru and, I think, Columbia.

 So, if you have any suggestions on 

additional areas we're willing to entertain 

those.

 Movement data, so this is our supply 

section that handles the movement data for us. 

We cover all types of shipments by truck, rail, 

by air, by boat. And, that includes imports. 

And, you can see Canada and Mexico crossings.

 For anyone interested, Darrell, I 

don't know if I can send you a link invitation. 

We're trying to get the webinar information out 

to everybody as possible.

 MR. HUGHES: That's fine with me. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
167 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay. So, next 

Tuesday at 1:00 Eastern time, we're going to have 

our webinar on our supply section, which covers 

imports, transportation, shipments, and HTS 

codes.

 So, now that we have a -- we have a 

new system -- well, I might get to this in a 

minute when we move, when we get a little further 

here. Can you go to the next slide?

 So, these are just a couple of key 

reports that we issue, aside from the ones that I 

mentioned, national shipping point trends report. 

And, if the slide will come up, I can explain a 

little bit to you once we get there.

 Retail report, this is the retail 

report I was talking about. So, basically it 

just shows you the weekly ads.

 The truck rate report will show the 

cost of trucks going from major growing areas to 

major cities. And, I don't see here, just to 

name a few of them. We've got Baltimore, Boston, 

Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
168 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

New York.

 So, it covers the cost of shipping to 

those major cities. And, we also include in that 

the cost for diesel, we have diesel fuel prices 

in there as well.

 And the shipping point trends is a 

weekly reporter that we do. It basically just 

gives you an outlook of a three-week period.

 The previous two weeks of trading and 

then the current week. And then it will show you 

the shipments based on those three weeks. And 

kind of based on what our reporters pick up 

information from our industry.

 They'll try to give an idea. We don't 

do forecasting. But, we try to give some idea of 

what we think trading is going to be in the 

upcoming week or two, based off of their input.

 Now, the weekly hemp report, this is 

something new. And again, this was developed 

through the use of the Farm Bill funding that we 

got last year.

 So, we're working with our national 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
169 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

hemp group. And, we've developed this report. 

It's in its infant stages.

 Basically, what it is right now is the 

advertised hemp retail prices. But, it also 

reports the imports for hemp. And, this is a 

select number of commodities. I think we have 

five or six commodities in there for hemp that we 

are currently collecting import information for.

 All right. So, roughly we're covering 

about 1,400 markets. And, when we say 1,400 

markets, we don't mean individual physical 

locations, but commodities.

 We have -- we speak to, we do some 

cross checking. We don't just speak to our 

shippers or wholesale folks. We do have some 

buyers that we also speak to.

 And, I would say on a weekly basis, 

that might be a little higher number now. But, 

we speak to buyers on the markets as well as 

people that are in the shipping industry, to kind 

of give us an idea, verify some of the 

information that we're hearing. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
170 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So, we try to get as many pieces of 

the puzzle as we can to try to come up with the 

best and most accurate price that we can put out 

on the, onto our reports.

 And, roughly we have 786 commodities 

that we're currently reporting. And, of those 

141 are organic.

 Data users, this is just a list of 

some of the folks who use our information. RMA, 

NASS, researchers, universities, you can see. I 

notice that a lot of times people don't need our 

information until they actually do realize they 

need it.

 So, they may -- they may see it, they 

may know it's there. They may not call us all 

the time and ask us for prices.

 But, I can tell you, there's been a 

number of times I've gotten calls when I was in 

the field. I can think of one example in New 

York where I was covering Orange County onion 

markets.

 And, I had a grower say hey, my shed 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
171 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

burned down. I had a fire and lost all my 

onions. And, he was having some problems with 

his claim to get some of that, some of his losses 

back and he asked if I could put a report 

together for the average prices that we had been 

collecting over the course of the year for Orange 

County.

 So, I had done that. I put a report 

together and sent that back to him. And, he used 

that and he was able to get a, what he considered 

a fairer price for the losses that he had 

encountered.

 So, what's new? All right, so ACE, 

this will be getting covered in our webinar next 

week. The ACE system, it stands for automated 

commercial environment.

 It took over, the place of the Cognos, 

which is an old system. These were developed by 

CBP. And, the ACE system is a new system.

 Now, while it's more accurate, it 

takes us a little longer to get some data that we 

need. This ties in with the HTS codes. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
172 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So, we have to request to the ITC a 

number of commodities that we would like to have, 

that we would like to start receiving through 

this ACE program.

 But, they have to be approved by ITC 

before we can do that. It has to meet a certain 

volume or money threshold in order for us to get 

that information.

 And unfortunately, it takes about 

every six months until they review them. So, 

it's a long process. And, I think we can only 

request maybe 20 to 22 commodities at a time.

 But, we're building on that. And 

again, next week Patty, Patty Wilke, who is our 

Supply Section Branch Chief, will be giving that 

webinar.

 But, we are getting more information 

through that system. It's more accurate now. 

We're just continuing to add to that list of 

imports.

 Let's see, what else is new? So, 

this, these are just a couple of other reports. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
173 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

We have a report that we do weekly that shows 

Mexico and Canada prices on a report that we do 

weekly.

 And that report, we just started 

getting more imports for nuts, blueberries, mixed 

berries, frozen berries.

 MARS, okay, now we're into the 

technology part, which we'll also be having a 

seminar on, on May 2 to discuss updates in our 

technology.

 So, currently we're on an old system. 

It's a legacy system run off of Oracle. And this 

MARS system, which is the Market Analysis 

Reporting System, that's -- there are two phases 

to this.

 The MARS system is for collection of 

the data, so when our reporters collect their 

information that's the system they put it into, 

our database, before it gets released out to the 

public.

 And then the My Market News portion is 

going to be the public facing part of the, or the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
174 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

technology where the public can go in. And, 

that's where you'd do your data runs.

 And, we also will have a mobile app 

that we developed last year. And, that is also, 

I think we're coming up, getting ready to release 

version three.

 Okay. Here's the My Market News. I'm 

sorry, I got a little bit ahead of myself. But, 

it does include enhanced search tools, APIs for 

those who want to download large sets of data.

 And, just a couple of organizations 

that we work with. We do a lot of work with 

technical assistance projects all around the 

world.

 I've been involved in some of those. 

And, we've done work in Russia, the Ukraine, 

China, India, now we're heavily into South 

America, South Central and North America.

 The MIOA is the Market Information 

Organization of the Americas. It's 33 member 

nations.

 And, we have specialists right now, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
175 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

market news specialists who do training. They 

actually go to the countries that are requesting 

training and we help them to develop a market 

information system.

 And, our hope in doing that is that 

eventually we will be able to get some market 

information on products that are being sold in 

those countries that we can share with our folks 

here in the U.S.

 So, we're still developing this. It's 

taking some time, but we're working on it. I'm 

sorry, we also use FAS. FAS does a lot of the 

funding for those projects.

 And, I think that's -- I'm sorry?

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah. All the 

presentations will be on our --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay. Okay, and 

these were the webinars that I was speaking 

about. We actually had one yesterday, a price 

reporting webinar on our levels of reporting.

 But, you just got your short term 

webinar, or short webinar here today. And, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
176 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

that's all I have in the way of what we do in a 

snapshot at Market News.

 We want to give an opportunity to ask 

any questions, I guess before we go into --

MR. HUGHES: I'd say instead of doing 

questions, hold on a second. Instead of doing 

questions right now, let's get into the charges.

 And then we can do charges based on 

the surveys and the charges. If that makes 

sense. Doing alternating between these two.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay. Okay. So, the 

charges. So, and I had spoken to Darrell and 

some of my other managers about this.

 There's a couple of things on here 

that we would like the committees to look at. 

And like I said, we've already met with the 

subcommittee previously, I know, a couple of 

times.

 I don't remember who all was there. 

I think, yeah, I'm thinking there was, I'm 

missing a couple, Kay, okay. All right.

 So, we did have some good discussions. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
177 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

And, two of the areas that we would like to be 

considered, or have recommendations for, are data 

collection, how we collect information from our 

contacts.

 Currently we use basically a piece of 

paper on a clipboard and a pen. We have tried 

collection through handheld devices. If you've 

ever, I don't know how many of you have been on, 

well, you probably haven't had an opportunity to 

witness a report on the market.

 But, when you have a wholesaler who's 

spitting out prices for 15 or 20 commodities at a 

time, and you're trying to get the size, origin, 

grades, and all those things, and you're writing 

stuff down, it's very hard to do that with a 

handheld device.

 It just hasn't worked for us. But, 

we're open to suggestions for that. We have been 

entertaining more it seems like emails have been 

a possibility. Of having some of our contacts 

email us information.

 That's honestly not a preferred method 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
178 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

for us. But, if it's the only way we can get 

information, we'll take it.

 We prefer and try to train our 

reporters to have one on one, two-way 

conversations instead of just getting information 

from the computer, because you don't have an 

opportunity to really discuss what the market 

conditions are.

 How did you get to this price? You 

know, what kind of pro -- how much product is out 

there?

 You know, so that you get more 

information by discussion. And, we can give more 

information back. Like I said, we have tried to 

have a two-way conversation, not just pull data, 

but give data back.

 So, we're --

MR. HUGHES: John?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Yes?

 MR. HUGHES: We have a question from 

Jorge. Do you want to take it now?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Yes. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
179 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER VAZQUEZ: Hi, Jorge Vazquez, 

Houston, Texas.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Yes.

 MEMBER VAZQUEZ: Have you guys 

considered directly capturing information from 

ERPs? Maybe partnering with the bigger ERP 

providers out there for the produce industry, and 

capturing some of that information?

 And then maybe comparing that to the 

data that you would get from the imports coming 

into the United States, right?

 Or something and then that way you 

could capture the volume as well as the pricing, 

right? From different places. Thank you.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Well, no. We have 

not, have not considered that. But, we are open 

to doing that. I mean, I would be glad to 

discuss that with you further.

 And if you have, again, if you have 

suggestions, we had not gone that route for 

pricing. We do have the volume information 

available, but we have not done the pricing that 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
180 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

you suggested.

 Okay. So anyway, back to the charge. 

So, how we collect information, how we 

disseminate it, different locations, growing 

areas that I mentioned, if you have suggestions 

on different import levels.

 Again, these are reports that I'm 

showing you that we do. That we routinely do. 

We don't know what you all want.

 There may be reports out there that 

you would like to see. And, we've had people 

come to us and ask us to report seafood prices in 

New York City.

 I mean, I tell people, we can report 

whatever you want us to report. But, to make 

that happen, the industry as a whole has to come 

up with a standard that we can report, so that we 

have some kind of uniformity to our current 

policies.

 But, we have people that can do it. 

Now again, if it's a report that's going to take 

some extra staff, then that's something that we 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
181 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

would have to request from my supervisors in the 

back.

 So, they would help us get that 

funding. So, if it's an issue that's really 

important to you, and you know, our upper 

management is aware of that, then we have to work 

towards making that happen.

 But, as far as reporting, any types of 

reports that you think would help your industry, 

we are glad to entertain. Because like I said, 

we don't do this on a day to day basis. We're 

not in the industry. We don't do the trading 

every day. We just report it.

 Yes, sir?

 MEMBER VAZQUEZ: Jorge Vazquez again. 

So, on the retain data that you guys are 

capturing, are you guys making a distinction 

between whether it's a promotional price or a 

regular pricing?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: They're all 

promotional right now.

 MEMBER VAZQUEZ: All promotional. So, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
182 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

regular prices are not included in that retail 

data?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Not yet. No. But, 

we're -- but we, but again, that issue has come 

up a couple of times. So, I'm sure that's going 

to be something on our list of how to make that 

work.

 And, it's not that we, I don't think 

that we can't make it work. We would just have 

to figure it out. Because that's such a large 

undertaking, I mean, we have every reporter in 

the country, the 50 or 52 that we have, they --

this is an increased role for them to do the 

advertised prices.

 So, on top of their normal duties of 

collecting wholesale market prices and shipping 

point prices, when they're done with that, they 

have to start entering data for the wholesale 

markets, or for the retail markets.

 So, to do the regular priced products, 

again, I don't know the answer of how we would do 

it. But, I'm sure we could work something 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
183 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

towards that goal.

 MEMBER VAZQUEZ: I think also by 

looking electronically into the websites of those 

companies and downloading that data 

automatically, you know, rather than having 

people searching and gathering --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: To do the actual data 

entry, right.

 MEMBER VAZQUEZ: Yeah. There's 

products that you can probably leverage to just 

go out there and search for all this data.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER VAZQUEZ: And capture it and 

then, you know, sort it out and present it.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Yeah. Again, we'll 

-- yeah, I'm all for that. I mean, we'll try too 

again, we'll take a look at that.

 We're going to actually have an 

internal manager's meeting sometime in mid-May. 

And, based on, or depending on what we take away 

from here, from these meetings, we'll probably be 

discussing some of those things. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
184 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: Hey John, let me jump in 

real quick.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Yes.

 MR. HUGHES: This is Darrell Hughes 

for the court reporter. Jorge's comments are 

examples of potential things that can be fed into 

recommendations by the way.

 So, I just wanted to throw that out 

there, that that's the ideal engagement and 

feedback that could help with the charge, 

providing that recommendation.

 Do you want to go to the next one? Or 

are you still on this slide?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: No, let me stay on 

this one just for a second.

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah. Just go on.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Because I wanted to 

talk about real quickly, well, maybe I could wait 

until we get to the MARS section.

 So, I'm trying to tackle which, the 

technology is kind of intertwined here on how to 

embrace technology for data collection. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
185 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Yes, if you have ideas on that, 

because we're -- this is one of the, I mean, this 

is one of the few jobs that makes -- I've been 

doing this for 38 years. And, we have had 

vendors come in and try to work with us on 

electronics to try to make this work.

 And, this is just a job that I just 

can't, for me, unless somebody can come along and 

give me some really good ideas on how to make 

this happen, this is like just an old time, we've 

been doing this for over 100 years now, since 

1915, we've been doing this with pen and paper.

 So, if there's a way to make it 

happen, I'd be interested to see what that is. 

So, we're very open to that. Anything that 

would be, that would help.

 Because not only just because it's an 

old time, you know, way of doing things, it would 

make it a lot easier on our reporters to be able 

to get that information out quicker, if we could 

put it into some system instead of waiting to go 

back as a, as you were saying about doing hand, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

186 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

you know, hand entries.

 If there's a way to put it in the 

system that just automatically, you know, you put 

the information in and it just automatically 

downloads it into our database, you've saved 

probably half your day. And, that would get the 

information out quicker.

 So, the types of collection, methods 

of collection, and the types of reports, if you 

could contemplate those and make recommendations, 

we will entertain them.

 Again, we're going to, we take 

everything that's suggested serious. And we'll 

try to make it work to the best of our ability.

 The second charge --

MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Excuse me, just

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Oh, yes?

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Sorry. Sorry, 

Julie Masser Ballay, I'm the Subcommittee Chair 

for the Data Analysis.

 Just making sure I heard that right. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
187 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

You said currently though with the shipping 

points and the wholesale market, you have, you 

said 90 percent response rate?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: At the wholesale 

markets, I would say in the range of 92 to 97, 98 

percent. So, we, you know, we get practically 

everybody on wholesale markets.

 The shipping points, I would say, we 

were just having this conversation with their 

Phoenix office. They said they get about 90, 

somewhere in the rage of 90 to 92 percent of the 

shipping, shippers and growers in those areas.

 So, it's a good sampling. And, we've 

had -- we have had third -- or second-parties try 

to duplicate our efforts in the past. And if, 

you know, if -- I'd even be willing to 

collaborate with them if they think there's a way 

to come up with a better product.

 But, we have had in the past two 

companies who tried to duplicate what we have. 

And our comments from the industry was, this 

isn't working. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
188 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Their sampling size isn't big enough. 

And, the prices that we're getting are not 

accurate.

 So, people have tried, but they have 

not been able to do it. Because we're a neutral 

source, I think people more tend to trust our 

data more than they would from another source.

 Now, people take our data and they'll 

manipulate it. And they'll share that 

information with their members.

 But, we provide the raw data and then 

we do have other folks that take that information 

and disseminate that out to other groups.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Thank you.

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

I wanted to mention that after you discuss this 

charge a little bit, I hear that Julie has some 

potential recommendations from the Subcommittee 

that maybe it's worth talking about and putting 

forth to everyone here. I think that's a good 

idea.

 And so, just to give everyone some 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
189 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

background, like John mentioned, he held a couple 

of meetings with the -- can you hear me? 

He held a couple of meetings with the 

Market Data and reporting, I'm sorry, the Data 

Reporting Analysis Subcommittee. And so, they 

are, there's been good engagement already 

happening.

 And, I think it's worth putting that 

out for everyone to hear also from your 

colleagues. Go ahead John, and then we can hop 

over to Julie.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Well, Bruce had a 

question.

 MR. HUGHES: Oh, go ahead, Bruce. 

Sorry.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Do you review apps 

that are used in your data and formatting it in a 

more useful manner?

 Like Ag, what is it Chris, Ag Plus? 

Right?

 MEMBER CIRULI: It used to be a guy 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
190 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

named Harold Meyers. And then he sold it off to 

whatever that I sent you guys.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Actually, Harold is 

one of our users. He's one of our biggest users.

 MEMBER CIRULI: Yeah. So, he sold the 

service. He repackaged it himself.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right. Yeah.

 MEMBER CIRULI: So, I mean, he's an 

interesting guy to reach out to.

 MEMBER FRASIER: But, it's the format 

that he puts his data in, to where you can just 

say these are the commodities I want. And, it's 

an email that you get every day, you sign up for 

it.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Um-hum.

 MEMBER FRASIER: And, it will give you 

a report for each item that you're interested in, 

instead of having to go through all the data and 

formulate the reports and that stuff.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Yeah. Well, again, 

we're -- as we get ideas, as like we're doing 

now, as we're getting ideas for these apps, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
191 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

again, these are all, I don't want to keep, you 

know, saying these are money related issues.

 But, you know, we do have some limits 

of what we can do. But, you know, we're willing 

to entertain. 

And, one of the things coming up on 

this next charge about technology, is going to be 

data visualization, the types of ways you can 

package information so that it makes more sense 

to you, instead of us just re -- you know, we've 

always been just a raw data provider.

 We haven't really done -- we have some 

Excel tools that we can put some graphs together 

on some of our reports. If you go online, you 

can see some of the reports. We'll have some 

graphing or some color coded things to tell about 

truckability or shortages.

 But, nothing that you -- nothing, 

they're more boxed types of, you know, stagnant 

types of things. We want to try to develop, and 

I'll get to that when we talk about this MARS.

 But, we want to get to some type of 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
192 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

technology where users can go in, take the data, 

and use that data visualization tool to 

manipulate the data to the way they want it.

 So, that it would be customizable by 

each individual instead of having to get it say 

from a, not that I'm trying to, you know, stop 

anybody's business.

 But, they wouldn't maybe have to go to 

another party to get the information. They could 

come to us. They get the information, download 

it, manipulate it the way they want, and they 

have their own graphing.

 Who was up next?

 MEMBER BENSON: James Benson. Can I 

just get some clarification on the FOB shipping 

point?

 When you say you're, you get like what 

was the figure you said, like 90 percent 

cooperation?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Somewhere in 90, 

yeah, around 90 percent rate.

 MEMBER BENSON: So, was that 90 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
193 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

percent of the producers? Or 90 percent of the 

people you called?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: It's -- that's a good 

question. I think it's -- we talk to shippers, 

we talk to growers, we talk to sales, the sales 

staff or brokers in some instances.

 MEMBER BENSON: Okay.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Some of them are 

shippers/growers, some are just shippers, some 

are growers. We have a combination of the above, 

so.

 MEMBER BENSON: Yeah. I was just 

trying to, like I'm in the table grape business, 

and you know, let's say there's, I don't know how 

many producers, let's call it 200.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Um-hum.

 MEMBER BENSON: So, it's 100 percent 

strong. And, I'm just trying to figure out if 

you're telling me it's 90 percent that means 180 

people are reporting processes every day.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: I understand your 

question. Yeah. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
194 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER BENSON: It's fine if you don't 

know the answer.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: No. I'd have to go 

back and check that now. But, we do, I mean, 

it's shippers, growers, and some brokers that we 

talk to.

 MEMBER BENSON: Okay.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: I -- whether it's 90 

percent of all just growers or shippers, that's a 

good question. I -- but, I took it as a 

combination of both.

 MEMBER BENSON: Okay. All right. 

Thank you.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: But, I will get an 

answer and make sure I'm 100 percent on that.

 MEMBER BENSON: All right.

 (Off mic comments.)

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Are we ready?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay. Anybody else?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Do you want Julie to 

make comments now?

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah. Are you -- are you 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
195 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

done with that?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Well, did you want to 

wait until I do the technology part and then come 

back to Julie?

 MR. HUGHES: Yeah. Go ahead.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Finish this part and 

then we'll --

MR. HUGHES: Yeah. Finish that part 

and then we can go on ahead.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay. All right, 

this won't take long though. Again, so, the 

second charge is about what we --

CHAIR RENTZEL: John, wait just a 

minute. Did you want to make a comment, David?

 So, we broke it.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Testing. David 

Einstandig. A couple of quick questions. I know 

you talked about the method of data collection, 

the wholesale terminals.

 If, I guess, the Subcommittee, or one 

of the Subcommittees wanted to find out more 

specifics on granularity how that occurs, --

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
196 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Um-hum.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: How do they go 

about doing that? Like for example, you just 

have somebody that walks through the terminal 

market and looks, terminal markets and looks what 

the sign says?

 Or, do you actually --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: No.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Go back and forth? 

You talked about quantities. Are you only 

looking at, you know, -- I just don't know the 

specifics of it.

 So, it's really hard to articulate how 

do you improve something --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Sure.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: When you don't 

know much about the process.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Sure. I understand. 

And, anybody here, if you want to visit one of 

these markets and walk around with one of our 

reporters, we can set that up. And they can show 

you how they collect the information so you can 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
197 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

see it done in real time.

 But, basically what the reporters do, 

they speak to -- they speak directly to the sales 

staff that are selling the product. So, 

everybody's got their displays set up in the 

morning. It's all nice looking displays.

 So, the reporters walk around and 

they'll see what's out on display. They'll talk 

to the salespeople.

 And it might be, it may be -- they may 

talk to two or three different salespeople at one 

firm. One's covering fruit, one's covering 

vegetables, one's covering something else, maybe 

potatoes and onions.

 And, they will have a conversation 

with that sales staff, what fresh arrivals came 

in today?

 And then, they'll get an idea. Now, 

we don't report them. But, they can get an idea 

of the number of truckloads that came in for a 

day by asking.

 So, they can get some general idea of 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
198 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

what is coming around the market.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: And are they --

and are they, for example saying well, you know, 

the price for 5,000 cases is X. The price for 

10,000 cases is Y.

 I mean, you're looking at the volumes? 

Because the prices differ.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: What they --

MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Does that all --

I mean, is that part -- I'm just asking, I don't 

know. Is that part of the pricing?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Well, again, this is, 

it's kind of a judgment call by the reporters. 

Depending on the size of the, you know, all, the 

wholesalers, there's different sizes of 

wholesalers as far as the volume they're bringing 

in the market.

 So, depending on who that person, and 

you know who it is from working with them for so 

many years, who the large, the large wholesales 

are compared to the small or medium size.

 So, we base the sales, we try to base 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
199 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the sales the best we can, again, based on the 

conversations we have with those sales staff on 

what they tell us is coming into the market. How 

many truckloads they got in for a day for apples, 

or potatoes, or whatever it might be.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Right.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: So, you're asking 

these questions of the same people. You're not 

just going to one potato house. You're talking 

to probably, you know, maybe five or six potato 

houses all in one market.

 You're talking to everybody who's 

selling lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, X through 

Z in vegetables. And, you're, you know, 

depending on whether you're in the Bronx or 

whether you're in Las Angeles or Detroit, the 

number of salespeople is going to vary.

 But, I can remember when I worked in 

the Bronx, my first -- that was my first 

assignment. I was talking to probably 60, 65 

people a day and covering all the commodities, 

fruits, vegetables, onions, potatoes, herbs, you 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
200 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

name it.

 MR. EINSTANDIG: So, the suggestion 

that I have is, because for these Subcommittees 

to, I think, to be able to do yeoman's work, 

maybe there be a dedicated resource that can 

provide information in a more granular fashion to 

the Subcommittee so they could actually 

understand -- I mean, I know we're talking about 

one example of a terminal on how that works.

 But, there's various different means 

of collecting data. So, maybe there's a way to 

get that information, because it's really going 

to be really hard without understanding how to 

give suggestions on a process that we don't know 

the exact process and know the methods.

 So, that's one comment. My second 

comment is, is there a repository that your 

department may have that you've heard over the 

last year, two years, whatever the time period 

may be with, not necessarily just complaints, but 

like industry suggestions?

 We don't think that the prices are 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
201 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

accurate because of A, B, C, D, and whatnot. 

Like, do you guys house the information?

 And maybe the Subcommittee could hear 

or get that access to that data so they can see 

what the industry or parts of the industry or the 

public have expressed about the data so they can 

start to evaluate and say hey, maybe you know, 

that makes sense.

 Or maybe you guys have already said, 

you know, we looked through 100 thousand comments 

and, you know, these are valid points that we'd 

like to tackle.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Um-hum.

 MR. EINSTANDIG: I wonder if you guys 

keep that data?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: No, we do not keep it 

formally. We do -- when we do have folks that 

disagree with, or they don't think a market looks 

correct, I'll get emails or I'll get phone calls 

sometimes.

 Our folks in the field will usually 

get the calls. They'll get them directly from 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the people that they talk to. If they put a 

market out and somebody disagrees with the 

market, they may call them back.

 And, if we can verify what they're 

telling us, we will do a correction on our 

reports and resend them.

 But, we don't have a repository of 

complaints with what --

MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Yeah. Like not 

even complaints, just kind of about the process.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Well, yeah. On --

MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Or maybe 

internally you guys think, you know, if we could 

do A, B, and C. I don't know if you have any 

internal information where you say, these are the 

pain points for us.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: And, this is what 

we'd like to tackle. I mean, maybe you've dealt 

with a little bit of it and the committee can 

take it further.

 So, that was just a suggestion. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
203 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Well, we have, I 

mean, we do that internally with our own 

managers, our field folks and our, the people who 

are doing the reporting, some of our OICs, the 

people that are in charge in the field.

 We have annual meetings. Sometimes 

we'll have biannual meetings where we will sit 

down and discuss those issues that have been 

brought to our attention. How do we better 

improve this? 

How do we do this? We've got, you 

know, working -- again, working closer, this is 

what I'm hoping is going to happen in the future, 

working closer with the industry like we're doing 

now, will bring those issues to light that we can 

go ahead and now focus on.

 Instead of just getting people 

randomly sending us emails from somewhere. Or 

calling us randomly on the phone, where we can 

actually, you know, write up some things as we 

get results back or get feedback from the 

industry. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
204 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Again, TIPA we've talked to. We've 

had meetings with the Western Growers Association 

and now you folks.

 So, we're trying too again, open that 

door to have these conversations so that we can 

make improvements to our reporting. And make 

additions to our reporting.

 And, we can come up with policies that 

are more representative of what you need.

 MR. EINSTANDIG: Okay. And last 

question and last subject was, you talked about 

like third parties, or I guess maybe consultants 

have come in and tried to do the tasks 

independently, and it hasn't really worked.

 And that, I assume, I want to make 

sure I understand. What you were saying was that 

they were trying, those third parties tried to 

come in and undertake the task of determining the 

prices and providing information to report.

 Is that accurate?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right. They were 

trying to basically replicate --

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
205 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. EINSTANDIG: Okay.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: What we're currently 

doing. But, a lot of times we found that they --

you know, we have a larger staff. We've been 

doing this for a long time.

 And, a lot of times it just came down 

to them doing the smaller sampling size, not 

having enough people to do the types of 

interviews that we're doing.

 The other parties that we were talking 

about, I'm sorry, I forgot your name.

 MEMBER CIRULI: Chris.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Chris was saying that 

there's other folks who take our information in 

raw form, and then, they repackage that.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Yes, I guessed 

that. So, my question is, have you gone out to 

third-party consultants, not to undertake the 

entire task of what you're doing, but maybe like 

-- I'm just throwing it out -- like an Edelman or 

something that does a lot of polling and a lot of 

data collection and tries to get accurate data, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
206 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

and gone to those consultants and said, "Hey, 

this is what we want to accomplish. We have the 

resources, certain resources, of the federal 

government behind us. How could we do our task 

more efficiently? Not do it for us, but how can 

we do it more efficiently?"

 Has that been contracted out and 

vetted? Because I think that may be one avenue 

that a committee may want to look to, to get some 

ideas.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: No, we have not. We 

haven't done that recently. But, years ago, we 

did -- I want to say similar, but not exactly to 

your point -- we did something called business 

process re-engineering. So, we took a look at 

every process that we were doing -- from doing 

timesheets to awards, to how we collect data. 

So, we did go through that one time, but it was 

years ago. We have not done that anytime 

recently.

 MEMBER EINSTANDIG: Okay. Thank you 

very much. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
207 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: And so, I want to jump in 

and say that I am going to take the bullet and 

pause all questions until John gets through the 

second charge. Because I want to make sure that 

we leave time for Julie to engage.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Yes, these are just 

two quick points, and I think we probably touched 

on some of those in our discussions, anyway, 

going from our old system, our old Oracle system 

to the new collection system.

 So, what we wanted to ask, though, is, 

when we are trying to switch from one system to 

another, we want to try to get ideas on how you 

feel is the best approach to make that happen. I 

mean, like timelines, what kind of time do you 

think we would need to start getting the word out 

to the industry; avenues that we can make that 

happen?

 Suggestions on how we can make this a 

seamless transition? So that, all of a sudden, 

one day we flip the switch from Oracle to MARS, 

and nobody knows how to access MARS because we 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
208 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

didn't do a good enough job of advertising it, or 

doing demos previously to let them know what was 

coming.

 So, if you have recommendations on how 

to make that work, we would, again, be willing to 

entertain those ideas. Because we want to make 

this an easy transition. It's not always easy, 

and if you're not familiar with the systems and, 

and all of sudden, your data is gone, you're 

going to have some issues.

 And then, the data visualization part, 

we talked a little bit about. This MARS tool 

does have a built-in Microsoft tool, I believe, 

but I think it's limited in what it can do. I 

don't know yet. We haven't seen it. Because, 

unfortunately, this MARS project is not going to 

be done until probably the end of this year.

 So, we're working on the final stages 

of getting all the specialist crops data moved 

over to the new system. So, we're not sure of 

the capabilities of it yet. However, we did just 

talk to a contractor that is currently working on 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
209 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MARS to build a platform, kind of do a pilot for 

us, to see if we can do a pilot on data 

visualization tools that may be aside from MARS 

that might work.

 So, we're in the process of doing 

that, but, again, that's something that is 

important to us, and that did come from industry 

sources. And I had conversations with Bruce 

Summers last year, and that was one of the 

industry's suggestion that was brought to Bruce, 

who shared it with myself and Ken Peterson, about 

coming up with some useful data visualization 

tools.

 So, again, any suggestions on data 

visualization, we're trying to find something 

that's customizable, because it's such a diverse 

-- I mean, you know, we find ourselves doing 

reports for the strawberry industry, the 

watermelon industry, the sweet potato industry, 

the pears or peaches. So, we're getting to the 

point where we're saturated with doing so many 

individual reports for each commodity, that we 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
210 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

just don't have the people to do that.

 So, it would really benefit us to have 

that tool, where you don't have to come to us to 

have us do data runs, where you can do them 

yourself -- or not just to do them yourself, but 

to do them easily. I mean, we don't want it to 

be a painstaking ordeal to go in and try to 

search for data. And I've got to be honest, our 

data search right now is not the best, but it's 

old technology. And that's why we're moving to a 

new technology.

 So, we want to try to make that as 

easy as possible. So, data visualization and how 

to transition, you know, what kind of timelines 

you might think are best, and suggestions on how 

to reach the broadest group in this specialty 

crops industry.

 Because I have limited resources. We 

have built delivery that we use as a tool to get 

the word out, but I don't know exactly who that 

goes to. So, we have sent some links out to some 

of our industry groups that we have talked with 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
211 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

in the past, but we don't have all of them.

 So trying to get the word out, even 

for these webinars, I wish there was a way to 

reach a larger group. But if we had some type of 

a list of specialty crops/industry folks that we 

could broadcast things like these webinars right 

out to them, or anything, it would be beneficial.

 So, that was it for the charges that 

I had.

 It looks like Darrell -- it looks like 

Darrell bailed on me. So, okay, well, Darrell is 

gone.

 So, then, that was it for the charges. 

Like I said, mainly just to briefly go back over, 

it was market reporting and the ways we can 

collect data, new ways to collect and disseminate 

data, and then, the technology part as far as 

transitioning from one system to another.

 So, Julie?

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Yes, this is 

Julie Masser Ballay with Sterman Masser, 

Subcommittee Chair for the Data and Analysis 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
212 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Subcommittee.

 So, we did have some opportunity to 

have some good discussion yesterday. So, when we 

talk about the first charge, one of our concerns 

with the pricing, particularly when we talk the 

retail, is that right now that's a very changing 

marketplace, you know, to pull that pricing from 

just -- you know, that the accurate pricing is 

coming from the wholesale market and the shipping 

points. That's not getting a broad enough 

segment. And, of course, then, as discussed, the 

ads, anytime you have things that are on ad, 

those tend to be loss leaders. So, for that to 

be a standardized pricing is not a good data 

source there.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: So, with that 

changing marketplace, and the retail really being 

the ones that drive the sale for that fresh 

market produce, a lot of people are really 

gravitating more toward the private data that's 

replacing the public data; i.e., the Nielsen 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
213 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

data, when you're talking any of those retail 

reports. I mean, you have to pay for it, but, on 

the other hand, it's very accurate --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: -- and it's 

point of sale. And so, there's a lot of faith in 

it.

 So, we really had a lot of discussion 

surrounding what could be other useful data 

collection that could be very helpful. And when 

we talk about, you know, I think when we spoke at 

our Zoom call, I did mention that I see Market 

News via the commodities as well. Commodities 

will do the planting data to show how much of the 

crops are being planted in the U.S. Being able 

to predict what that market is going to be in the 

future, you know, how much is going to be 

available on the market, would be very helpful.

 Again, additionally, we talk weather 

impacts to the planted crop, which in the 

commodity world, that's the 60 percent 

respondents say they have a good crop; 20 percent 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
214 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

say they have a great crop. There's some 

categories that they do.

 So, getting reports back on how good 

the harvest is going to be, those two items can 

really work as predictors in terms of what is the 

market going to look like. It doesn't 

necessarily help what the market is. That was 

yesterday.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: We need to know 

what is it going to be in a few months, right? 

Should I be fire-selling? Should I be holding 

onto my product?

 So, to be able to know what's that 

market going to look like in the future is really 

-- we really thought that would be the better 

data that would be useful to the industry.

 So, we didn't dive in too much to the 

how we get that data yet. You know, like I think 

David brought up some really, really great points 

in terms of, you know, just kind of understanding 

the nuts and bolts before we even are really able 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
215 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

to give some predictor.

 And the one reason I asked the 

question, because a 92 to 98 percent response 

rate, I mean, that's a great response rate. So, 

obviously, in terms of who you're engaging with, 

it is you're getting a really good response from 

that.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Moving on -- do 

we have anything else we wanted to cover on that? 

Does that summarize it?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Haven, did you want to 

add any more?

 MEMBER BAKER: Yes, I had one other 

piece of data that could be really useful. It 

was one request that came through, so, you know, 

reaching out to the people involved. In all the 

permanent crops -- I know I shouldn't say, "all" 

-- but the ones that I'm familiar with, the 

varietals are having a shorter and shorter time 

with which the farmer keeps them in the field and 

replants. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
216 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

And so, the No. 1 economic decision 

that is being made is what you plant. And these 

crops that don't produce in the first year, no 

one has any planting data. So, they don't know 

how many Cosmic Crisp apples went in last year 

and how many went in the year before, so they 

could make planting decisions.

 And James can speak about grapes, but 

it doesn't even need to be a grower survey. You 

could survey the nurseries, because there's 

aggregation there. There aren't that many. But 

planting data on permanent crops, from my 

understanding, would be incredibly useful to the 

industry, as opposed to the pricing data, what 

got sold yesterday.

 While I've got the mic, I guess I did 

have one other suggestion on dissemination. The 

way our company now does all new hires, in any 

public forum, we're using LinkedIn. We have a 

company LinkedIn page. People figure out that, 

if they're interested, they should be part of it. 

It scales pretty quickly. Announcements can go 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
217 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

out really easily.

 So, LinkedIn is how I would be 

recommending -- I mean, if the USDA has a 

LinkedIn page -- sharing all the tools, because 

the people that are connected will want to know, 

and it's a pretty good app for getting messages 

on what's coming.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Okay. This is 

Julie again.

 I'll just jump into the second charge. 

So, we did have some concerns over the need for 

the mobile app, when that was brought up 

yesterday. Now, being that it's already 

developed, we think it might be worthwhile to 

analyze the usage and the traffic, once that all 

gets rolled out, to see, should it continue to be 

supported? Because that might be some resources 

that can be devoted elsewhere.

 But, really, take time to look at, see 

that usage. Because when we talk about the raw 

data that you're going to get off of this MARS 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
218 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

product. I don't know that people are really 

going to be trying to visualize it on their 

phone, because it could be a lot to digest --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: -- on such a 

small device. You know, typically, a lot of 

these people are going to be sitting at their 

desk, you know, or sitting at their computers, 

with a bank of my three monitors that I look at, 

right? And that's how I'm going to be trying to 

digest that data. So, we think it might be worth 

looking at to make sure that that's actually 

being utilized.

 So, then, when we discussed the 

training, I mean, our opinion is that one-on-one, 

in-person isn't needed; that hosting webinars 

that are recorded and having a presentation in 

some type of easily downloadable form, like a PDF 

that somebody can go through, bookmarked, and 

just follow along. Those are just really handy 

tools that people will keep.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
219 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: And, "Oh, well, 

how do I do this?" And just have those as 

reference guides. We didn't think that that 

needed a huge amount of investment in that 

training.

 And I think, really, to Haven's point, 

just that social media push to -- "Hey, this is 

out there and here's how you can figure out how 

to use it." And just do that. Just kind of spam 

in a whole bunch of different ways that 

information, whether it can go through the local 

farm service, the county, newsletters. A lot of 

people get those. And, yes, you're going to hit 

up your commodity farmers as well, but, you know, 

maybe they'll pass it on to their neighbor then.

 So, those were, effectively, what we 

had discussed in terms of the specific charges 

from yesterday.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay. So, how are we 

on time? Are we good?

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, we're good.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
220 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER FREEMAN: I don't know if 

questions -- this is Isabel Freeman. But I am in 

three markets, and I'm also in four states where 

we import domestically and from different 

countries.

 The market -- you guys do a fantastic 

job at collecting data. And basically, it's 

because the buyer, salespeople, are right at the 

market, and your agents stop by and they have 

access to all of them in a quickly manner.

 However, we all know that markets are 

disappearing slowly, probably slower than we all 

expected. But the bulk of the produce doesn't go 

through markets anymore --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: -- like it used to. 

I mean, San Francisco is now almost nothing 

anymore. And so has the volume in LA and Bronx, 

and everywhere else.

 So, therefore, that's the most 

accurate, I think, data you collect, because the 

agents have direct access. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
221 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Now, the shipping point information in 

which they call companies, I believe that we 

could do a better job. I don't know if you have 

access to the PACA license. Because we all 

update that every single year, and we list and we 

pay for all of our buyers to be listed on the 

PACA license.

 Yet, when you call companies to talk 

to buyers, you end up talking to the whole world, 

like even the operations manager, shipping 

people, forklift drivers. Whoever answers the 

phone --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: -- that's the one who 

is giving you information, and they have no clue 

what they're talking about.

 However, we do list their phone 

numbers and every single buyer for the commodity 

on the PACA license or under our registration 

every single year. So, there might be one that 

terminated or is no longer with a company, but 

the bulk of them are listed there. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
222 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Or, like she mentioned, we could run 

an email to every company to list all the buyers 

and submit it to you, so that the data you are 

collecting is correct, and you're talking to the 

proper person.

 In addition to that, the buying has 

shifted through the years. So now, you have a 

commingle of people that buy open price and fixed 

price, and people that do fixed yearly contracts, 

or monthly, or so on, according to the different 

markets that are developing.

 And when that happens, people have a 

double-interest in how they answer. Because if I 

have a big contract with a food service, with a 

fixed price for the whole year, I want your 

pricing to be high because the only way that I 

could change the fixed price is if I could 

convince them that the market went up, and now, I 

have a minimum and a ceiling. So, I can 

manipulate the data -- or so we think, right? 

This is only one company responding.

 But we feel that, if we respond in 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
223 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

such a way that, hey, let's make it higher, so 

that we could go back --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: -- to our fixed 

contract and say, "Hey, act of God." Now we've 

increased your fixed price because markets are 

this high, past the ceiling.

 And at the same time, though, if you 

speak to people that are buying on open price, 

they want to give a lower market because they 

want to liquidate with the grower as low as they 

can --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right. 

MEMBER FREEMAN: -- so that they can 

the higher profit. 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Sure. 

MEMBER FREEMAN: So, we have all these 

games going on that are shifting in the market. 

However, I really think that, if you made a 

little program that came through Outlook, where 

we voted or we completed it every single morning, 

and we gave you the prices, and there was room 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
224 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

for comments, you wouldn't need to be calling 

companies. You would be talking to the right 

people. We'd be able to complete this survey 

every single morning when we got there and do a 

good job at doing that.

 The comment that retails are driving 

the market, I don't know if that's a true 

comment. Because retails are very flexible at 

adjusting pricing when the markets are really 

bad, because they want the product.

 So, even though you make a commitment 

with any retailer, if the market is now short, 

they're very flexible at going back and 

renegotiating or adjusting. And there's many 

retailers out there that buy at a fixed price, 

and they do promotions on their own. So, they're 

not asking you for a lower price to make that 

promotion. They're taking the hit themself.

 So, there's a lot of both. So, I 

wouldn't say that these retailers are driving the 

market. I think that the buying or the volumes 

that are available are driving the market --

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
225 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: -- and will continue 

to do so.

 Usually, that has been for years --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: -- what the drives 

the market is the supply.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Supply and demand.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: And supply and demand 

is going to continue to drive the market.

 So, supplies was key, and I think that 

getting a good hand in supply -- which you 

mentioned before that you're not reporting on 

volumes anymore.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Not at the wholesale 

markets. From the shipping areas, yes, we are, 

and the imports that we're getting into the U.S., 

we're reporting those, but not the whole 

summaries.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: But the wholesale 

market is key because, when people throw things 

at the wholesale market, it's because the volumes 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
226 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

are --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: -- you know, you know 

right away that there's too much supply. 

Because, otherwise, you don't throw anything at 

the wholesale market.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right. We did it one 

time, report the arrivals into 22 cities around 

the U.S. I would say, probably about 12 years 

ago, we stopped that for two reasons.

 No. 1, as you mentioned, the product 

is not going to those wholesale markets as much 

as they used to, and they're going directly to 

chains. So, a lot of their volume that we 

weren't able to pick up -- and we had no way to 

know what was going to the chains. So, we felt 

that our data was incomplete or inaccurate. If 

we only reported what was coming into the 

wholesale markets, it wasn't really giving a good 

picture of what was coming into chains as well.

 And the secondary part of that is 

budget cuts. We had to determine what parts of 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
227 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the program we had to reduce, and that was one of 

them.

 But, mainly, it was because we just 

weren't getting the correct data, I mean accurate 

data, any longer, because of, like you said, the 

produce going directly to chains.

 Now, we did a pilot. We tried to do 

a pilot a few years ago with the Transportation 

and Marketing Division, but we just couldn't get 

cooperation from the markets that we looked at. 

There was no way that they -- it was either a 

managerial thing or there just wasn't a physical 

way for the markets to collect that data.

 We couldn't do it. We didn't have the 

personnel any longer. So, we were trying to have 

the markets collect the information at the gates, 

as the trucks were rolling in, but they had no 

mechanism to do it. So, we were unable to 

complete that pilot.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: Well, we issue data 

two-three times a day. I mean, we're in there 

getting information. And your agents lately have 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
228 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

been -- with really high prices in different 

commodities -- have been calling not three, four 

times, but even five times a day. Because 

there's disagreements, and they go back and 

forth. And they call the other company, and 

then, they call us back. Because there's 

differences in pricing.

 So, they do a great job. Whether all 

that could be automated, I definitely agree. I 

don't think there's need for so many phone calls. 

I think that having a good program that we could 

answer every single morning would take care of 

all those phone calls.

 And we would be able to answer and put 

all that information, all the comments that we're 

making to the agent --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: -- we could put it 

under the same type of survey.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: As far as market 

conditions and things like that?

 MEMBER FREEMAN: Yes. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
229 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay. Again, that's 

why we're bringing this up. We had discussed 

that at one of the subcommittee meetings.

 So, yes, we'll take a look at these 

things, but you've brought up, everybody's 

brought up, a lot of questions.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: I did want to 

just comment just really quickly --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Yes.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: -- just to 

respond to what Isabel is saying about the 

retail.

 I really think that is crop-specific. 

Because there are a lot of crops in the specialty 

market that do not have the selling power. They 

are price-takers; they are not price-setters.

 And from that perspective, the idea 

that some of those, especially if they're selling 

to distribution and retailers, that they're going 

to disclose their prices, they're giving up a 

competitive advantage by disclosing it. So, I 

think it's challenging to even try and get that 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
230 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

data in an accurate form just because of that.

 I know when I make a contract with my 

retailers, no, no, no, I'm taking that loss. 

When they put me on ad, I'm taking that loss. It 

very much is crop-specific in terms of who has 

that power and that dynamic in that relationship.

 So, I just wanted to be clear. It 

very well might be very true for you. It is not 

true across the board.

 Which, actually, going to, you know, 

jumping to the second charge, then, in terms of 

that standardized format for data visualization, 

that's where that's going to be -- and I think we 

had that discussion on our webinar -- that's 

where that's going to be really, really 

difficult. Because what I would be looking at, 

you know, what Kay would be looking at, it's 

going to be completely different. So, having an 

easy -- just having that raw data pull of just 

here's all the data in a form that I can now open 

in a spreadsheet --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
231 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: -- pivot 

myself, you know, just use it and manipulate that 

how I want. We struggled to see any other way 

that was going to be a standard, just because of 

how different each of these crops can be.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Exactly. I mean, 

exactly. That's why we're saying we're trying to 

get something that's customizable. So, we 

provide the data, but have a tool in there that 

you can use to help you formulate it, manipulate 

it however you want. Or, if you have your own 

tools, like you said --

MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Well, and I 

guess that's the thing. You know, if you use 

Excel, they have pivot tables --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: -- or other 

spreadsheets. As long as you can get it in some 

type of spreadsheet format, got it, whether it's 

an Apple product or a Windows product, whichever 

one, you know, having that be able to download 

and just open in those. Those tools are already 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
232 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

there, is, I guess, what I'm saying. There may 

not be a need at this point to improve upon that.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: Quick, Jorge --

MR. VAZQUEZ: Yes.

 MR. HUGHES: Wait, wait, wait. Jorge 

will ask a question, then Chris.

 I want to mention that there was a 

five-minute break that was built into the agenda. 

That was really for bathrooms. I think everyone 

is just going as they need. So, we're going to 

bypass that and keep engaging. Okay?

 MR. VAZQUEZ: Jorge Vazquez, Latin 

Specialties again.

 So, building up on that comment, the 

prior comment, what is the underlying platform 

that MARS is built on? Because you mentioned the 

last one was Oracle, right? So, what is this? 

What is MARS built on?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: You know, I don't 

really know.

 MR. VAZQUEZ: Because that's key to a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
233 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

lot of things that --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: I couldn't get my 

technical guy here today. Yes, he's not here. 

We couldn't get him on video.

 But, honestly, I'm not sure.

 MR. VAZQUEZ: Okay.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: I should know that 

question, but I don't.

 MR. VAZQUEZ: And also, you mentioned 

that you suffered some budget cuts. I mean, what 

is it? What is the budget that you're working 

on? And how serious is the USDA in investing 

money into this data collection? Because, to me, 

this is at the heart of the whole agency, right?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Sure.

 MR. VAZQUEZ: I mean, if we're able to 

collect who's planting what, what's coming into 

the country, right, what are the costs of 

planting, at least have some idea, so that we 

know when the cost of production falls below the 

price of the item, right? So, we can start 

understanding why. Is it, like, too much is 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

coming from other countries? Is it some 

retailers are using the produce as a punching 

bag, you know, as a loss leader?

 And so, that to me, investing in this 

type of data is at the heart of everything else 

that we're going to be doing at the USDA, right?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MR. VAZQUEZ: I mean, this is the 

beginning. Everything begins and stops with 

money. And that's what we need to be, you know, 

keeping our eye on the ball, you know?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right. Well, I 

didn't touch on that, but Market News is an 

appropriated program. So, we do not charge user 

fees. So, every year it is a little bit of a 

struggle. I mean, we have to stay within our 

means.

 And I don't want to put Bruce on the 

spot -- he's not here -- but having a 

conversation with him, based on that 

conversation, that if there was something that 

the industry really wanted that was beneficial to 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
235 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

them, and it was of great need, that he would 

work hard on trying to secure funding to make 

that happen.

 So, as we're going through these 

items, as we're talking about these, and you're 

making recommendations, when we get these things 

written up or passed forward or upstairs, if 

these are things that they want to entertain, 

then I think they will try to find funding to the 

best they can. I'm not going to answer for the 

funding part. My supervisors are back there. 

So, I don't want to speak out of turn, but I 

think that they will try to find the funding, if 

it's a real need for the industry.

 Yes, sir?

 MEMBER CIRULI: So, I have a couple of 

different thoughts for you.

 One, on your rollout program, I 

believe in, like, regional stuff. So, SEPC, 

TIPA, certainly Western Growers, FPA, some of 

those regional guys are very, very good at 

getting out to shippers, if you're going to roll 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
236 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

something out new.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay.

 MEMBER CIRULI: I, personally, have 

a lot of guys that use your system. So, we would 

be interested in knowing when that's going to 

take place.

 I would hope, when you make this 

change -- one of the important things for us is 

to be able to go back at least three years. So, 

the past history will still be there in the move, 

I'm assuming?

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Yes, it will still be 

there. Right now, we have data going back to, I 

think, 1998.

 MEMBER CIRULI: Okay.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: So, with the new 

system, I think we're going to try to keep at 

least 10 years of data at a time.

 MEMBER CIRULI: And I guess I don't 

really see the need, or I'm not sure, like, the 

budget expenditure, why you would want to chase 

such a small niche, like farmers' markets. Like 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
237 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

who would actually use a farmers' market for 

market information? That seems like a huge cost 

for very little output.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Well, one of our 

philosophies, I guess, is to not leave anybody in 

the marketing channel behind as far as 

information. So, we have -- actually, well, this 

is an auction; it's not a farmers' market now. 

When I worked in Detroit, we had a big a Canadian 

chain store that used to get information from us 

on the Vineland, New Jersey auction, because they 

bought a lot of stuff from Vineland. Now, it's 

not the same thing as a farmers' market.

 But there are farmers' markets, people 

who are in that area, that would like to know 

what their products are being sold for, even in 

different states. So, they can kind of get an 

idea. And they may just be looking at 

reinforcement as to what the prices are, and to 

see if they are actually getting a fair price on 

the market.

 But we try to -- I won't say, "be 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
238 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

everything to everybody" -- but we try not to 

leave anybody behind. So, any information we put 

out, we try to cover as many market channels as 

we can for anybody who does need it.

 Now again, we haven't really spent a 

lot of funding on covering farmers' markets. 

What we're doing right now is, basically, getting 

a fax -- to go back to even faxes -- we're still 

getting from farmers' markets and some emails, 

that we're putting information in the database on 

those few markets. It's not many right now.

 MEMBER CIRULI: Yes. I would think, 

going back to your comment, like 90 percent 

coverage when you're talking to people, I would 

assume that your guys are telling you -- we talk 

to these people a few times a week. So, I don't 

think we talk to, like, Market News every day. 

We talk to them a couple of times a week.

 So, a couple of challenges for you 

going forward. One is we truly don't really know 

how to quote a market until after 10:30 in the 

morning, right? So, in the morning prices, we're 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
239 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

putting them out there; we're trying to sell. We 

don't really have accurate information for you 

until after that. Typically, because you guys 

have to make so many calls, you're calling in the 

morning, but we really don't know that market 

until after that.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay.

 MEMBER CIRULI: I don't know what you 

guys are doing in the way of, like, 

electronically gathering data. Like, in our own 

office, we're going to look at every quote sheet 

that's out there in the morning. Know that they 

are giving you their highest price; they're going 

to be willing to deal for less. And then, we go 

back and try to see how does that work in the 

afternoon.

 Certainly, I think brokers are a 

really important part of our industry. And when 

we actually want to know what a true market is 

trading for, we, actually, call a broker to see 

what they're actually buying for, because that's 

the easiest way to do it. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
240 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Okay.

 MEMBER CIRULI: I think what Isabel 

laid out there that didn't exist 20 years ago, 

that does now, there's a tremendous amount of 

more contract pricing; there is six-week pricing.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER CIRULI: There's a lot of 

different stuff like that that's into effect.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Sure.

 MEMBER CIRULI: That really is hard to 

lay out.

 She was hinting around at what people 

use and push your pricing for is the mid-mostly, 

right? So, if you're not familiar with the term 

"mid-mostly," it's a Cisco term. They actually 

set your prices off that every week. So, they 

take your high, your low, and they go to the 

middle of the U.S. data and they say, "This is 

the market."

 It's really hard in a lot of 

commodities because you're talking different 

varieties, different things. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
241 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Right.

 MEMBER CIRULI: But they use it as a 

generic term for that, which is different from 

what you do.

 If you're going to look at a data 

pool, there's one company out there -- and if 

people want to throw their other companies out 

there, I think they have like 75 percent market 

share -- it's Famous.

 So, if you want to look at --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Sure.

 MEMBER CIRULI: -- actually 

electronically trading data, we trade data 

through that with food service, and we trade data 

through iTrade with retail. So, there is actual 

real data out there.

 And if you're familiar with the old 

days of cantaloupes, that was the actually only 

fair market evaluation ever, where you fax in 

your pricing and you get taxed off of the medium 

price, right? We're not going to go back to 

those days, but can the government do an actual 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
242 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

job of data collection? In cantaloupe, you did 

fantastic because you had to.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: And we hit so many 

things. I know we don't have time to do these.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, I was going to jump 

in.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: I mean, we could talk 

for hours with that stuff that you just brought 

up, but we have thought about some of those 

things. And some of these issues were brought up 

with the Subcommittee.

 But we have looked at social media. 

We talked about how to get our reports out. 

Using LinkedIn was one of the suggestions. We do 

some bits and pieces there and some things on 

Twitter with just some blurbs about Market News, 

but not really getting our reports out.

 We are planning on, for the rollout, 

doing some video-type -- well, having webinars, 

first of all, face-to-face, but, then, developing 

video tutorials, so that people can actually go 

on -- like you go on YouTube and look up a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
243 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

tutorial that tells you how to search for certain 

data or how to use it.

 So, all these things that you just 

brought up are things that we -- not all of them, 

but many of the things that you brought up we had 

been thinking about. So, that just reinforces 

the direction that we're trying to go in.

 MEMBER CIRULI: But the one thing we 

have trouble finding is, like, the chain stores 

on ad, and that's one of the most useful things. 

When you go to a commodity and you say, this week 

there were 14,000 chains on ad, 6,000 on ad, 

that's really useful, but it's hard for us to 

find.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Which part is hard to 

find? You mean you look at the retail report 

that we have now?

 MEMBER CIRULI: I don't look at it --

MR. OKONIEWSKI: Oh, okay.

 MEMBER CIRULI: -- but, like, when we 

pull data to get the chain stores that are on ad, 

that's like one of the most useful data things we 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
244 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

pull.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: Oh, okay. All right.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: But it's under a 

different section.

 MR. HUGHES: We've got to move on.

 MR. OKONIEWSKI: All right. Okay. 

Well, I'm being pulled off the stage.

 (Laughter.)

 So, I will hand that over to Darrell.

 But I appreciate talking with you all, 

and I really do wish we could spend more time 

doing it. So, I hope we have more opportunities 

in the future to really have this kind of 

discussion. This is what I'm talking about. We 

really want to continue this type of thing in the 

future. I know we're not going to do it in one 

day. It's going to be over a period of time, but 

we look forward to hearing from you all and your 

recommendations.

 So, thank you.

 MR. HUGHES: Awesome. Thank you, 

John. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
245 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

One of the things I wanted to say 

before we shift to Ryan, I realize that a lot was 

covered around this particular charge. And one 

of the things that I want to do is make sure that 

the feedback gets to Julie and the rest of the 

Data Reporting and analysis Subcommittee.

 And so, the likes of Isabel, Chris --

who was over here? -- Jorge, I think you all 

should type up some of the feedback, potential 

recommendations, ideas, bullets, and email them 

maybe directly to Julie, so that we can make sure 

that that gets built into the process. I don't 

want to lose the nuggets through just discussion, 

if that makes sense.

 Yes? Thumbs up? Yay. Okay.

 Moving on -- oh, okay. So, I'll just 

go ahead and do the transition.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Well, there is a 

recommendation that we allow the presentation to 

be handled completely, and then, we ask our 

questions as a group.

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
246 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay?

 MR. HUGHES: Perfect.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: And I think that's 

what we'll do with the next presenter.

 MR. HUGHES: Go through the entire 

presentation.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Yes.

 MR. HUGHES: And Ryan says the 

presentation is going to be two minutes. So, 

it's going to be easy.

 (Laughter.)

 So, this is Ryan Wilson who is coming 

up. Ryan Wilson is the Director of the Specialty 

Crops Inspection Division.

 As mentioned before, Ryan has engaged 

with the Labor and Production and Infrastructure 

and Sustainability Subcommittees through a joint 

session and talked about some of the things that 

they would like to do differently and would like 

to hear from you on.

 Bruce mentioned some of this stuff in 

the beginning. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
247 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

And, Donna, this would be your 

opportunity to mention some good QA stuff, if you 

want.

 (Laughter.)

 All right. So, go ahead, Ryan.

 MEMBER GARREN: That would give me 

homework.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. WILSON: No, no, no, there is no 

homework.

 MEMBER GARREN: Oh, no? Okay.

 MR. WILSON: It's Thursday. There is 

no homework tonight, I promise.

 Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you 

all for having me.

 Like Darrell said, my name is Ryan 

Wilson. I am the Director of our Specialty Crops 

Inspection Division -- our new Director from 

about January until now. So, be easy on me 

today, but we should have a pretty good, quick 

presentation, and we'll get to the discussion 

points, and kind of have some good feedback. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
248 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: When you're ready, we'll 

put on the next slide. Just say so.

 MR. WILSON: All right. Great. 

Thanks, Darrell.

 Next slide. And the next slide.

 So, a little bit about the Specialty 

Crops Inspection Division. We're part of the 

USDA, the Agricultural Marketing Service 

Specialty Crops Program, providing competitive, 

efficient, transparent marketing of specialty 

crops. Our mission is to really support the 

global specialty crops market, collaborating with 

the agricultural community to provide trusted, 

impartial, prompt, accurate, quality assurance 

and food safety verification services.

 A lot of you in this room may know/may 

not know -- we were formerly called the Fresh 

Products Branch or the Processed Products Branch 

under the Fruit and Vegetable Program. About 10-

11 years ago, we were combined into what's now 

called the Specialty Crops Inspection Division.

 Next slide. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
249 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So, what do we do? All that -- we 

provide grading and inspection and auditing 

services. The voluntary inspection or auditbased services, the HACCP services --

traceability, food defense, export certification. 

We are the keepers of over 300 fruit and 

vegetable standards for fresh, frozen, processed 

juice; dehydrated products; fruit and vegetable 

products.

 By a quick show of hands, how many in 

this room, for you or your organizations, are 

familiar with our inspection services; have used 

our services?

 (Show of hands.)

 Oh, boy. Okay. Quite a bit. Great.

 So, none of this is really foreign to 

a lot of you. For those that haven't used our 

services, we're really that third-party 

inspection or auditing service coming in, and we 

look at product -- fresh, processed, whatever the 

case may be -- and we provide certificates 

attesting to that quality and condition of the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
250 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

product.

 Next slide.

 Again, what we do. Our services are 

voluntary, generally speaking, except when 

they're not.

 (Laughter.)

 They're not voluntary under Marketing 

Orders, School Lunch commodity procurement 

purchases. That's when they're actually required 

under either Section 8e regulations or School 

Lunch commodity procurement purchases. 

Inspection is part of those requirements for our 

services.

 And one thing that's different from us 

than what you heard from John a minute ago, we, 

generally, are a user-fee-funded organization. 

So, we're going to talk a little bit about that.

 But, for what that means for us, we 

operate much like you all. We are a business. 

We are user-fee-funded. We have to operate like 

a business and recoup our costs.

 Next slide. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
251 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So, a little bit about our 

organization. We have over 600 federal employees 

within our Specialty Crops Inspection Division. 

We've got 14 area offices located across the 

country. That's broken up into three regions: 

our Eastern Region, Central Region, and Western 

Region. Our offices are Los Angeles, Fresno, 

Stockton, Yakima, San Antonio, Oshkosh, South 

Bend, Winter Haven, College Park, Hunt Valley, 

Philadelphia, and up in the Northeast, the Bronx, 

Boston, New Jersey area. Those are our 14 major 

area offices.

 And from there, we all have suboffices in locations that support services a 

little bit further out and inspection points in 

some more remote or rural areas, that we have a 

handful of inspectors providing inspection 

services out there.

 We also have a Federal-State 

Inspection Program with 3400 federal-state 

collaborators who are providing inspection 

services for shipping point inspections, or they 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
252 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

are market licensees that are providing the same 

level of inspection that we would on our federal 

markets in Philadelphia or Los Angeles, depending 

on the location.

 Next slide.

 So, real quick, our current inspection 

services, like I've already said, we really do 

inspection on fresh and processed fruits and 

vegetables, nuts, specialty crop products. We 

certify a number of different things. Generally 

speaking, we're looking at the quality and 

condition of the product or the class, quality, 

and quantity condition upon shipping or receipt 

as it's coming in.

 We have a lot of different ways that 

we could do an inspection. Generally speaking, 

we're looking at product and we base our 

inspections off of the U.S. standards that we 

maintain -- the U.S. standard for apples or 

processed apples or applesauce. We have those 

standards. We're grading to those standards.

 But there are things that we can do a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
253 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

little bit differently. We're able to grade to 

custom specifications, commodity procurement, and 

their purchases. They, generally, have product 

specifications that we can grade to. We'll do 

condition-only inspections, temperature 

inspections; look at net weights or counts, 

depending on those products coming in. So, we 

have a lot of different things that we can do, as 

far as what we're looking at or what we're 

looking for.

 And one of the other areas we're going 

to talk about here shortly, but, really, there's 

the "What are we looking for?" But the bigger 

question is, "How are we looking at the product? 

Where are we looking at the product?" And I want 

to kind of talk a little bit about that, the 

differences of our inspections.

 We have what's called the shipping 

point inspection, where we are, generally, at the 

processing plant for almonds or canned corn, and 

we're grading the product as it's being packed 

and processed for the end consumer. So, that's 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
254 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

our shipping point inspection.

 We do in-line inspections during 

production. Or the other side of it is what's 

called the terminal market inspection, where we 

are looking at product after it gets delivered to 

the final destination.

 So, those are kind of the two really 

main differences in the types of inspections, are 

where we do inspections, depending on the need of 

our applicant, is what we will kind of shift what 

our focus is and what the need is there.

 Next slide.

 So, really, what we're here to talk 

about, kind of the challenges that our Division 

is facing, trying to keep pace with what is a 

rapidly-evolving marketplace, ensuring our 

voluntary quality inspection services are 

relevant and remain valued to the industry. We 

strive to meet nationwide coverage, but, as I 

said, we are a user fee organization.

 So, what does that mean? That means 

that, in some smaller, more remote, rural 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
255 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

locations we may not have inspectors local. So, 

we've had to actually close a number of small 

offices in locations over the past five to 10 

years and provide service out of a larger area.

 And what that ends up doing is, you 

know, that results in higher costs for inspection 

fees, because now we're tacking on travel charges 

at times to get to those remote locations or 

delaying our service. Instead of what used to be 

a two-hour response time, it might be a five-hour 

response time, because an inspector has to drive 

somewhere from a little bit further out or get 

there the next, following day.

 So, it's really one of the challenges 

that we're having. We are, like I said, a userfee service. It's 96 percent of our budget. So, 

we really have to be mindful of the services that 

we're providing, and we're providing them in a 

cost-efficient manner and recovering our costs.

 Go to the next slide.

 So, really, what we're doing here 

today, and for the Committee's consideration, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
256 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

we're looking to the future. How can we use 

technology to provide a faster, more costeffective inspection that meets your needs and 

our responsibilities to provide a third-party 

inspection service?

 And so, the last slide.

 And we can open it up for discussion 

here. It's really the charge, what we've asked 

the Subcommittee to look at.

 The first is, what kind of 

technologies can we use to optimize inspection 

and grading services? What are the technologies 

out there that we could bring in, or rely on, or 

utilize?

 Would a virtual type of inspection 

service leveraging modern technology meet the 

industry's needs? Would this kind of help to 

provide a cost-effective, timely service in 

remote areas?

 And lastly, what kind of concerns 

would you all, as the industry members here, have 

with a virtual inspection protocol? You know, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
257 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

it's all great to go and do something, but what's 

the downside? What are the concerns we want to 

make sure we take into account?

 So, that is the quick run-through on 

the presentation and the slides. We can open it 

up for discussion and questions.

 MEMBER BRIANO: Ryan, Mike Briano, 

Harris Woolf Almonds and head, Sustainability and 

Infrastructure Team.

 We have prepared some comments for 

you. Just it would be a little collaborative 

effort. We'd probably bring some of our team 

members in to make comments.

 There was some passionate discussion 

yesterday because -- and I'll kind of give you 

the high level -- we found this very industryspecific. You mentioned almonds. In our plant, 

we have USDA there every day. We, actually, have 

a parking spot in the front that is dedicated to 

you all.

 But there's two inspections that 

happen. As a grower brings his crop in from the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
258 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

field, that is inspected and that's how it's 

determined how a grower is paid.

 And then, we have an inspection that 

happens in-line and after packaging, which will 

give our buyers an understanding of what product 

they're actually purchasing.

 To go along with that, there's a trust 

level associated with both of those transactions. 

The marketplace will dictate what the 

specification is and what your buyer will accept. 

And if it doesn't work, then the next time 

they're not going to order from Harris Woolf 

Almonds, for example.

 However, there is -- and Darwin can 

even speak to this on the pistachio side -- there 

is, I wouldn't say a distrust, but there's a 

competitive and, unfortunately, it can be a bit 

tit for tat when it comes to buying from the 

field.

 So, at certain times, a grower might 

not agree with how they're getting paid, yet, 

definitely find that the USDA is a trusted 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
259 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

source, and something in between.

 So, if you're going to automate, say, 

almonds, for example, it probably wouldn't 

necessarily be on the incoming side that that 

would be accepted right away, but on the outgoing 

USDA. That's something to take into account.

 Specifications are market-dictated, as 

mentioned. So, on our side, the end-users might 

take a liking to that quickly.

 And then, something that David 

mentioned in our meeting, a pilot program should 

be utilized to tease out efficacy, because let's 

not go to every commodity. And Jorge can speak 

to this. It might not work in bananas, but will 

it work in pistachios and almonds?

 Some other things that we've talked 

about. In almonds specifically, some of our 

internal grading systems are pretty robust, and a 

lot of our end-users prefer our internal line 

sheets to USDA. Most of the time, we pass those 

USDA costs on. So, that's another reason why 

they like our internal line sheets. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
260 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

But, in saying that, maybe you find 

some power users within certain industries that 

have great reputations for internal line sheets, 

and you try a pilot program. This is not 

necessarily leveraging technology, but you're 

leveraging your individual power users. Now, you 

can do an audit over time -- monthly, quarterly, 

yearly -- on how the consumer felt about those 

internal specifications being used.

 And then, two, completely leveraging 

technology -- AI, machine learning. We 

definitely believe that that is a possibility for 

certain commodities.

 I'd like Darwin to talk a bit about a 

company, specifically, his company is utilizing, 

called Qcify, which is automated pictures, and 

then, line sheets -- our grading inspections 

provided specifically after.

 So, Jorge, do you want to talk a bit 

about how it might not work in certain 

commodities?

 Then, Darwin, maybe talk about your 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
261 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

experience in Qcify?

 I'd appreciate that.

 MEMBER VAZQUEZ: Jorge Vazquez, Latin 

Specialties again. Yes, we were trying to 

reimagine inspections and obviously there's a 

need in the industry for a third-party --

objective third-party-kind of tie-breaker when it 

comes to the quality of these fields. And I 

think that's a function that you guys play very 

efficiently, right?

 So in the almond and pistachio 

industry I guess they use optical sorters, so 

that lends itself to pretty easily programming, 

taking that data and doing -- exporting it. And 

somehow you guys submit a grade, right? And so 

that's easy. But in other commodities such as 

bananas, tomatoes, I mean especially the terminal 

markets, like how do you do that right? 

Also there's a need for more 

inspectors. There is a need for more objective 

set of specifications for every single product. 

And I think that's where you guys -- or we think 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
262 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

that's where you guys can play a role, right, 

like working with the product boards and with the 

end users, which might be retailers or food 

service buyers and determining some of the 

defects, the grades that we can all agree on, 

right, so there's no disputes. Because right now 

when we deal with a retailer, for example, we 

send our spec and then they kind of like have 

their own spec, and it's a back and forth, right? 

So there's a lot of friction and a lot of time 

being wasted in that. 

So if you guys were able to engage 

different parties for different commodities, 

right, and like Mike said, maybe a product or a 

category at a time, maybe not everything, as a 

pilot and set that standard spec with pictures 

with the defects and then sub-levels of like this 

is what 10 percent defects look like, these are 

acceptable, these are not. That would be 

fantastic, right? 

So again when we ship something to the 

-- for example to a retailer and then there's a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
263 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

rejection, there's a back and forth with them, 

whether they're right or not, and sometimes you 

guys -- we end up calling you guys, right, to 

decide that. So what better to have like a 

system or a process by which you guys or remotely 

-- because growing inspectors is not logical at a 

certain point, right? I mean, the need for 

inspectors is much greater than the inspectors 

out there. 

So just coming up with a process and 

maybe taking pictures a certain way. You guys 

having a SOP that anybody can follow on the way, 

the methodology for pulling the product out of 

the sample size, right? How is that pulled? And 

then submitting that data electronically to you 

guys and then remotely just coming back with a 

grade, right? 

Obviously some of the challenges with 

that is the human factor; are they pulling the 

samples right, and the trust factor, right? So I 

mean that might be more for the future. This is 

just to plant the seed right now to kind of like 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
264 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

what the system might look like, but obviously we 

have work to do. So that's kind of like what we 

were discussing yesterday in a nutshell.

 MR. WILSON: Yes, let me just jump in 

real quick. A couple of things: One, we do have 

a Standardization Branch that they develop and 

maintain the 300-plus standards for fruit and 

vegetable commodities. Those are your U.S. No. 

1, your U.S. Fancies, Grade A for a product 

depending on what it is. So we can certainly --

our standards really start as the basis for 

specifications most of the time. 

And you'll have my contact 

information. For anybody in the industry we are 

always open to that discussion on our standards 

and making sure that they are relevant to the 

industries that we serve. There's a process to 

amend those. There's a process to go through to 

get those changes, but we're always willing to 

work with the industry and make sure that they're 

relevant for what you all need knowing that a 

standard that was written in 1978 may not 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
265 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

necessarily reflect what you all are packing, 

shipping, buying today in 2023. So we're always 

willing and open to those discussions. Please 

reach out to us and we'll make sure you talk with 

the right people.

 But to that same point, I think 

there's something that we could always do in 

having that dialogue with you all or individual 

customers about their specifications and us 

providing feedback. I like that potential idea. 

I'm going to take that down and kick it around 

with some staff because we were talking about 

that just last week actually.

 MEMBER VAZQUEZ: Yes, I think it's 

engaging with the end users and maybe getting the 

buy-out from -- or buy-in from some of the major 

retailers, some of the major food service 

companies and harmonizing that spec, right, so we 

all know what the rules of the game are per se, 

right, so there's no discrepancy there.

 MR. WILSON: Yes. Okay. Great.

 MEMBER INMAN: Okay. This is Darwin 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
266 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Inman. I'm with Horizon Nut Company. We're a 

pistachio processor in Central California. I 

think we may have been on a Zoom before, but I'm 

not sure.

 So the Qcify product is a color sorter 

essentially. It's more of a picture thing and it 

uses a vacuum to select the product that it is 

removing. It goes across a standard sorting belt 

so it actually replaces -- can replace a hand 

sorter. We've just installed a new shelling line 

that has two of them and we can actually make a 

Fancy Grade basically from the product. We will 

pass it across the table in front of the human 

sorters just to be sure that we're not missing 

anything that didn't -- just safety sake. But it 

works really well.

 The product was first developed to do 

quality analysis. So it will actually track and 

print what you're picking out and give you a 

percentage of defect as far as serious damage or 

chip and scratch or all those kind of things. It 

can pick it up depending on the product, so it 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
267 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

can give grades. 

Now how that would work I don't know. 

You'd have to certify it and then run it through. 

And they're not cheap. I think they're around 90 

grand apiece. And then you have to have the 

coordinating materials to load it and unload it 

and however you're going to pass it through. 

So it's an interesting idea. It's something that 

could -- you know, you verify possibly. 

Again getting to Mike's point growers 

are going to want somebody -- they're going to 

want to feel comfortable that whoever is grading 

their product is a solid impartial third party. 

Customers, a lot of them the same.

 From a sales perspective selling 

pistachios or almonds, which I've done both, the 

third party is important to have especially if a 

market drops and then -- because you'll have 

people in some -- surprisingly in some areas 

folks will try to claim product because the price 

has dropped. So they'll say, ah, these -- this 

doesn't look like it's up to the standard. It 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
268 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

doesn't look like meets Section No. 1. And you 

can go back and say here's my USDA certificate. 

They've tested it. It's Extra No. 1. Pay the 

price we agreed to. So it comes in handy with 

that. I don't know how you would deal with that 

if it's electronic or what not.

 We do do some in-house with certain 

customers that we're very comfortable with or 

large companies overseas, but again that third 

party is important.

 MEMBER BRIANO: Darwin, can I jump 

into your comment? It's Mike. Sorry. 

With retained samples though, because 

we do retain samples with each of these loads, 

should there be an issue, Darwin, could there not 

be then a USDA inspection called in just like in 

fresh fruit later to go over those line sheets?

 MEMBER INMAN: Yes, absolutely.

 MEMBER BRIANO: -- as a stop gap? 

MEMBER INMAN: Absolutely. And the 

retained samples can be pulled. With our almonds 

and pistachios when we ship to Europe we have a -

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
269 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

- aflatoxin sample or over toxin sample, which is 

60 pounds. Lot of that's destroyed, but --

during testing, but it's usually around somewhere 

as well. 

So as far as some of the other stuff 

-- you know, in the pistachio industry we're 

dealing with this internal kernel damage deal 

with the USDA, and I think that's the call we may 

have been on before with --

MEMBER BRIANO: It could have been.

 MEMBER INMAN: -- American Council for 

Pistachios. So this is kind of a new thing where 

there's some new varieties and they're saying 

maybe there's internal kernel damage. And the 

USDA AMS is saying well we want to start grading 

that, or potentially grade that, which would 

require opening pistachios and cutting them open 

and things like that. 

And there's a lot of pushback from our 

industry saying (A) we don't have any complaints. 

Our company's never had any. It's kind of an 

isolated incident; let's let it roll and not do a 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
270 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

patch to the different programs because that 

would -- and in fact for the USDA and the 

processes cost a considerable amount of money to 

institute and could potentially be devastating to 

some growers and things like that just because of 

the process. So that's a conversation for 

another day. But if you're looking to streamline 

and save money just eliminate that completely 

internal kernel damage discussion.

 And the other is -- this was my first 

experience last year, and those kind of tie 

together because we never -- we haven't heard any 

complaints, but we did the -- we did a couple --

two-and-a-half million pounds we roasted and 

salted for a USDA purchase. So we weren't -- we 

were the middle guys. We were the ones that 

supplied the pistachios to the roaster. And it 

was a good process.

 The interesting thing which -- and I 

know there are certain things difference when you 

do these programs when the USDA is buying. We 

had to have someone on site almost constantly, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
271 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

which I understand is kind of different from 

previous -- folks had told me that the product 

has to be tested or certified Extra No. 1 prior 

to pasteurization. So the USDA would come out 

and do that. And I think they were using DFA in 

California to do the actual sampling and testing.

 So prior to pasteurization they would 

come out and certify the product as Extra No. 1 

and then they would put a seal on the bin. And 

then when we're ready to pasteurize they would 

come back out. They would want to take the seal 

off and watch it go into the pasteurizer. And 

then as it comes off the pasteurizer they want to 

put another seal on the bin. And then we would 

go into roasting. Same process. And then we 

would package and then it would ship. But they 

wanted to be there for every drop. 

That seems a little excessive. And 

costly. I mean nobody factored that cost in when 

they did their -- because it said you had to 

maintain traceability, which we do anyways 

because we're all BRC certified or above or below 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
272 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

or whatever it is. 

So from the USDA on that side I found it 

interesting that that was heavily done. And I 

think it's $45 and hour or something you're 

paying the DFA or whoever the folks that were 

required to be there.

 But it seemed -- and I know speaking 

to some of the walnut guys that are involved in 

the walnut purchase that's going -- the large 

walnut purchase that's going on right now sounds 

like that's the same as well, which they hadn't 

seen that level of involvement before. Typically 

it's graded into grade, then it's run and look at 

it again or whatever. Of course all the 

processing paperwork is there. So while I 

understand the philosophy of how do we make this 

better from a cost and speed perspective it seems 

like there are some internal hiccups already that 

maybe can relieve some of that pressure.

 Now of course the pistachio and the 

almond business is different because you do have 

somebody from USDA on site daily for outgoings. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
273 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

And then during the harvest -- well, the almond 

guys will have them there longer in there because 

they stockpile. Pistachios can't. We have to 

hull and then go into silo on the day of harvest. 

So that's a relatively short period of two months 

that the USDA guys are at the hullers. 

But it's always been a good 

relationship and we like the third-part 

verification. If there is a way that we can do 

it we would be open to test and so things. And 

if you want to see information from the Qicfys. 

by all means reach out and we can help you with 

that as well.

 MR. WILSON: No, absolutely. I 

appreciate that. And your comments on the 

pistachio and walnuts, the commodity procurement 

specifications, those processes, I certainly 

appreciate what you're saying and will take some 

of that back to our team. That's something that 

commodity procurement and FNS, Food and 

Nutritional Services -- as they put those buys 

together they're looking at all those different 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
274 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

areas to make sure that it's going to be 

acceptable food-safe product for the end users, 

which it always -- it's some of the -- one of the 

main concerns I know you all have for the 

industry as well, but something that we'll 

definitely make sure we bring up with them.

 MEMBER INMAN: And maybe that's a 

place to test a program.

 MR. WILSON: Yes.

 MEMBER INMAN: I mean because it's 

internal. It's not -- with folks maybe you're 

comfortable with you do some testing as far as 

that goes.

 MR. WILSON: Oh, absolutely. 

Appreciate that. 

MEMBER HAVEN BAKER: Haven Baker from 

Pairwise. Just a quick comment. I mean I know -

- I've seen inspection, so I know less about 

that, but more about technology adoption. And I 

think the temptation here is -- with technology 

adoption is to try to find the best application 

for the technology, but historically what happens 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
275 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

is you're better off ranking by industry 

cooperation or by the least number of players and 

trying it that way. So that's what I'd be 

interested in seeing is a rethinking commodity 

adoption from those two dimensions as opposed to 

the technologies dimension.

 MR. WILSON: Great. Thank you.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: It's Reggie 

Marshall, Tennessee. So I had a conversation 

with our Tennessee Department of Agriculture 

before I came up here about this actual charge. 

And they were extremely excited about it because 

from a producer standpoint we're always trying to 

increase on-farm income. So if we can grow a 

small producer or a mid-size producer into a 

large entity through this process, it's not only 

going to benefit that small or mid-size producer, 

but it's going to do an incredible job for that 

local economy, right?

 MR. WILSON: Yes.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: And it increases 

farm income. So it takes a lot of the angst away 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
276 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

from farmers' sleepless nights if you can have a 

process in place to grow your business and you're 

not having to go through all the hoops that you 

typically have to go through get an inspector out 

to a farm, which is away from your offices now. 

So this is a huge step in the right direction for 

growing on-farm income. So I appreciate it. And 

it also would fit well with urban income as well 

as urban farming is growing exponentially. So 

thank you so much. We're excited about it in 

Tennessee.

 MR. WILSON: No, that's great.

 MEMBER CIRULI: So, Ryan, a couple 

comments: As far as port of entry what's worked 

really well for us is like in the grape industry 

super lots, so when we were able to go from one 

truck to three. And the original talks were like 

up to 10 and the government got nervous and 

capped it. That's been going on for maybe like 

four or five years now. So we could go back and 

take a look. Like are these triple lots working 

and can we go higher? And if it works there, it 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
277 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

would work with avocadoes and it would work with 

tomatoes on the in-bound, right? So it's just 

the speed of time doing that many lots.

 I see your technology-based deal being 

really necessary where you guys have pulled out 

of markets, right? So like in Kentucky where we 

no longer have services. Like when you want to 

do tomato inspections, I think we're paying 

$1,500 for inspection to fly someone into 

Kentucky. 

So my question to you there is can you 

guys come up with a format where we do some type 

of video. You bring in like a state agriculture 

person for the actual third-party and you guys do 

the liaison. 

In the old days when we did like 

identifying bugs and stuff it had to be done at 

the port of entry. Now we identify bugs with 

people in either Sacramento or Dallas via some 

type of video conferencing, high-tech video 

conferencing that works, right? So we're 

outsourcing the actual person that used to be in 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
278 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Arizona. Now they're in Dallas. And it works 

better.

 So I'm sure there's some hybrid that 

we'll come up with. And my thought would be in 

areas where we've lost, like Portland, is there 

state people that we can go to to get the hybrid 

done? But we're going into more video or face 

timing with customers because of the sheer cost 

of the $1,500 to fly them out there.

 MR. WILSON: No, certainly understand. 

And that's what we want to try and address and 

mitigate. That $1,500 isn't sustainable for you. 

How can we meet your needs in that fashion? So I 

appreciate the comment. And looking at our state 

ag departments as that third party to kind of do 

the protocol, the inspection protocol, but 

passing that off to us for the inspection 

certification portion. So I appreciate that. 

Something to keep in mind.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: My comment, I'm just 

elaborating in the same thing that he mentioned 

except that you provide a service. The people 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
279 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

are relying on it. And I understand that the 

remote areas you eliminated or reduced the number 

of inspectors, but they deserve the service 

because it's not five hours, like you mentioned, 

delay. In some cases the inspector is scheduled 

for two or three days. Based on packer rule they 

only have 48 hours to return the product if it's 

not good. So they deserve the service just like 

anybody else. 

So I will make the recommendation to 

your department that if you're going to provide 

the service it needs to be provided equally and 

to everyone one way or another, whether it is 

through new equipment or sending the agents or 

whatever. But there's a lot of people that are 

very upset. And I mean companies, not people. 

And I'm voicing their opinion that inspectors 

have been eliminated from many, many areas that 

are remote and it's not fair to those companies.

 MR. WILSON: No, I appreciate that.

 MEMBER FREEMAN: In addition to what 

he mentioned, the cost and so on. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
280 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. WILSON: Thank you.

 MEMBER AMY BAKER: Hi, Amy Baker here. 

My perspective is from a processor perspective. 

So when we're using the USDA to grade it's more 

because of contracts that we probably have with 

the USDA. And if I use an analogy of our 

domestic origin verification where we get 

certified on an annual basis, what about 

something similar from a grading perspective, 

that we get calibrated once a year, that the USDA 

would deem us qualified to grade versus having an 

inspector come all the time? And like I said, 

the analogy is the DOV audits from a traceability 

perspective. That's been really helpful for us.

 MEMBER BRIANO: So that would be 

calibrating your internal assets --

MEMBER AMY BAKER: Yes.

 MEMBER BRIANO: -- like someone who's 

already doing the grading inside? 

MEMBER AMY BAKER: Yes.

 MEMBER BRIANO: Yes, that's -- I like 

that. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
281 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER FREEMAN: Because the customer 

would complain if it's not -- if upon arrival 

they have a problem. So that's a second check.

 MR. WILSON: Yes, and I think to --

that idea, it's intriguing at the moment. My 

head's starting to spin around that one. It 

might be able to work in some circumstances where 

it's a commodity procurement or specification 

where we're doing an inspection to make sure that 

it meets specifications. That system is going to 

get a little bit more tricky when we're being 

called in to pretty much dispute between two 

parties and here's your final inspection 

certificate.

 But I really do like that idea. I 

want to dwell on that one a little bit. Because 

we have some existing inspection programs that 

are similar. It's called a QAP, a quality 

assurance program, that more or less are -- the 

facility does the grading, but you have an onsite inspector to oversee and verify/validate the 

results of that inspection. And it's a little 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
282 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

bit more hands off. You don't have to have 

three, four, five inspectors depending on how 

much you're producing. You've got one and it's 

really up to your internal QA/QC Department to 

manage the production and quality.

 So we have some things like that 

already, but the idea of a DOV-like inspection 

program is something I hadn't thought about. 

Appreciate that.

 MEMBER AMY BAKER: Sorry. I have the 

mic. 

(Laughter.)

 MEMBER AMY BAKER: I have the speaking 

stick. My dad always says that. Sorry.

 Just another thought, too, that I 

think there's -- when you talk about calibrating 

internal assets, Mike, from a receiving 

perspective. So when we're receiving the raw, 

it's in our growers' best interest to give us the 

best quality fruit that they can. And we'll go 

through several grading processes. And maybe 

there's a tiered approach to how you pay them for 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
283 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the quality. So it's up to them to provide the 

best quality product and then it's up to us 

throughout the process to continue to evaluate 

the quality so at the very end you've got a 

quality product that meets spec and it's much 

more efficient. But maybe that's more up to us 

than it is to you on that part.

 MEMBER VAZQUEZ: Yes, Jorge Vazquez, 

Latin Specialties. Following up on Amy's great 

comments, inspections are not only about 

disputes, but they're also -- every company, when 

you receive your product you have to grade it and 

inspect it to give a report to the -- to your 

internal teams as well as to the grower, right? 

So I think it's important to start developing a 

remote system where -- given the lack of 

qualified workforce out there and the turnover 

something -- where anybody with an SOP, taking 

pictures, taking something in a similar way, and 

sending them over to you guys that would help us 

tremendously, you know? So I think we're on the 

right track. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
284 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

And to Amy's point, if you guys do 

random inspections once a year or whenever, I 

think that will go a long way of building 

credibility and weeding out the bad actors, 

right, the people that abuse the system. So I 

think we're in the beginning of something for 

this.

 MR. HUGHES: Any additional questions?

 (No audible response.)

 MR. HUGHES: Going once? Going twice? 

Sold.

 Thank you, Ryan.

 MR. WILSON: Thank you, all. 

Appreciate your time.

 MR. HUGHES: Thank you.

 (Applause.)

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 CHAIR RENTZEL: You got the only 

applause of the day, so --

(Simultaneous speaking.)

 MR. WILSON: I do my best work at the 

end of the day. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
285 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Thank you so much.

 MEMBER BRIANO: Oh, if you could get 

me those comments, I will put them together as 

well.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, any ideas that were 

thrown out, please send them to Mike similar to 

what we're going to do with Julie on Market News.

 So here's a question for you all: We 

can take a break or keep going to go through just 

other business and do closing remarks and maybe 

end up adjourning a little early. Want to keep 

going?

 PARTICIPANT: Yes.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes? All right. So 

let's do that.

 All right. Other business. I will 

touch on travel right now. 

So here's how travel will work: You 

all will be reimbursed at I believe 75 percent of 

per diem. I think per diem is around 70-

something dollars. And so the first and last day 

and travel, which will be the 18th and the 21st, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
286 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

will be around $59 and some change. 

In between those two days: Wednesday, 

Thursday, per diem will be granted for dinner. 

Per diem will not be provided for breakfast or 

lunch because that's been provided. We don't 

want to double-dip or anything that sort of 

fashion. There's also a -- I think a 

miscellaneous per diem amount of $5. I think 

dinner may be around 36 -- 32 or 36, somewhere in 

the $30 range. So that's the amounts of per 

diem. You all can do the math to tally up how 

much that will be provided to you.

 What I will do is I'll provide a wrapup email. The wrap-up email will be lengthy. It 

will include all of the PDF presentations. It 

will include the per diem information that I just 

provided including the breakdowns for each meal. 

And you all don't have to worry about submitting 

anything for per diem. That's processed on our 

end automatically. But what you do have to do is 

provide receipts.

 So those of you who provided -- or who 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
287 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

stayed at the hotel, the Holiday Inn, obviously 

you'll pay that bill and then we just reimburse 

you until you -- I don't believe you need -- we 

need your hotel receipts on that, but you can 

include them in your email anyway.

 Any Lyft or Uber receipts, obviously 

submit those for reimbursement.

 And I think we covered the flights 

through our CBA, our centrally billed account.

 Those of you who did not stay at the 

Holiday Inn -- oh, wait, I talked to each of 

those individually, so never mind. 

And those who had to book outside of 

the system for travel, I think I've coordinated 

with those folks individually. And then those 

who had different travel plans, I think I 

coordinated -- okay. Great. So I don't need to 

touch on that kind of stuff.

 I'll ask this question: Are there any 

questions about travel that you all have a --

want to throw at me real quick? Go ahead.

 MEMBER HODGES: Yes, I parked at the 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
288 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

airport at Memphis. I drove 100 miles. I'm 

driving back 100 miles from Memphis to Mound 

Bayou. Is that -- I think I read something about 

mileage.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, $0.54 a mile. I 

think mileage is only provided if you're 

traveling here, but --

MEMBER SUTPHIN: No.

 MR. HUGHES: It is to and from?

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: There was a form that 

said even traveling to the airport.

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. Perfect. Then be 

sure to include that in all your documents --

MEMBER HODGES: Oh, okay.

 MR. HUGHES: -- that as well. If it's 

not provided, the Travel Team will let you know 

that they can like reimburse some portion of it.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: The instructions that 

you sent laid that out pretty well. 

I'm sorry. Say that again?

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: The instructions that 

you had sent --

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
289 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: Yes.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: -- laid that out 

pretty well.

 MR. HUGHES: I thought so, but I 

didn't know what was -- I know that some of --

the mileage rate was an old mileage rate that 

needed to be updated, but for the most part the 

guidance on what's included, yes, that Word 

document outlines everything. I will say that 

the Word document -- there are two, one that 

provided the instructions and the second that 

said submit your receipts by this date and submit 

it to this colleague. My colleague Daviya, she 

hasn't been feeling well, so our colleague 

Sharita Daniel is going to step in. 

When I send the wrap-up email it will 

include that new contact information, really for 

two people. And when you submit your receipts 

you're going to submit it to those two people. 

It will be Sharita Daniel and Shelly Jackson. 

And their emails will be included in that email. 

And you'll probably end up copying the mailbox, 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
290 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the SCP FVIAC. Copy that mailbox just so that 

it's retained somewhere that if I need to connect 

with Andy or someone else to help, we can do it. 

We'll have that material.

 Go ahead.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: And just for 

clarity, it wasn't real clear like if we were 

driving here. So I'm just assuming I'm going to 

use that same mileage report just because I drove 

direct.

 MR. HUGHES: Right.

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Yes.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes. 

Go ahead, Susan.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: You mentioned that 

you don't have to submit anything for the meal 

per diem, but then we do have to submit receipts. 

So I felt like you said we didn't have to -- you 

don't have to submit anything for the meal per 

diem.

 MR. HUGHES: Right, for per diem no 

receipts --

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
291 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER SUTPHIN: Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: -- necessary because 

we'll handle that.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: You can I had dinner 

this day and didn't get reimbursed for that?

 MR. HUGHES: Pardon me. Say that 

again? I couldn't hear the -- I heard something 

I had dinner this day.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: Yes, so you don't 

need to submit a receipt. You just have to say I 

had dinner on Thursday night and you'll get $36?

 MR. HUGHES: No, because we don't ask 

for you to document the meal that you've had. We 

assume that you're having a meal to --

MEMBER SUTPHIN: Yes.

 MR. HUGHES: -- just stay healthy.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. HUGHES: So we'll give you that 

per diem.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: Right.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes. 

MEMBER SUTPHIN: Okay. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
292 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MR. HUGHES: There's no documentation 

that's required for that per diem. It's just 

something that we'll process on our end.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: So if you spent less 

or more it doesn't matter? You get 36 for that 

day?

 MR. HUGHES: I guess so.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: Okay.

 MR. HUGHES: But I mean if you spend 

-- yes. If you went over, if you had a $100 

meal, you're only going to get so much, yes. If 

you had a $2 meal, I guess you win. I don't 

know.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 MR. HUGHES: If you had ramen, I mean 

you're winning at life.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. HUGHES: Any other questions on 

travel stuff?

 (No audible response.)

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. Where was I? That 

threw me for a loop. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
293 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

(Laughter.)

 MR. HUGHES: Presentations, I'll 

provide. Any Market News recommendations you all 

will send to Julie. The same thing with the 

inspection.

 As far as subcommittee meetings, I 

think what I'm going to do is just -- I have to 

think about how to connect with Andy on the best 

approach. I know that the two subcommittees that 

we talked about we'll have a consolidated Zoom 

session with each of those. It's just figuring 

out what that first meeting will be. 

I almost think that I may -- we may 

need to -- because we covered so much and learned 

so much, we may need to just to get on the first 

subcommittee call and say hey -- maybe an hour 

for each group and say, all right, this is where 

we are, and everyone confirm it. And if there's 

a need to go back out to a USDA SME -- did I talk 

about this earlier? Did I say this already? I'm 

having a deja vu.

 Okay. If there's a need to go back to 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
294 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

a USDA SME we plan to -- I'll -- well, Andy will 

reach out and schedule another call. I think 

that -- you know we used to have the three-hour 

calls. I think we'll shrink that down to like 

maybe an hour-and-a-half. We don't need to have 

three-hour time blocks on our calendar anymore. 

I think we're growing into a mature body --

(Laughter.)

 MR. HUGHES: -- so we don't need that 

huge block.

 Other business?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Darrell?

 MR. HUGHES: Yes.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Darrell, if I may, 

I've heard some that are strongly interested in 

changing --

MR. HUGHES: Yes.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: -- committee groups. 

And I would suggest they submit it to you at this 

point --

MR. HUGHES: Yes.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: -- in time, or to Andy 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
295 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

so that we can plan for that moving forward.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, let's do this: 

Let's give a -- while I'm still tuned in. You've 

got 24 hours to send me an email and say which 

committee you want to go to.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. HUGHES: Can you do it? 

SECRETARY SANTIAGO: Which committees 

can we get rid of?

 MR. HUGHES: We're not going to get 

rid of any committee technically just yet. It's 

just if you want to move somewhere.

 SECRETARY SANTIAGO: Oh.

 MR. HUGHES: Where you think you want 

to move?

 SECRETARY SANTIAGO: Hawaii?

 (Laughter.)

 SECRETARY SANTIAGO: The Vacation 

Committee.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. HUGHES: Right. GoFundMe 

Committee. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
296 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

(Simultaneous speaking.)

 MR. HUGHES: Oh, thank you. The next 

meeting, the next in-person meeting. 

PARTICIPANT: The next meeting in 

Puerto Rico.

 PARTICIPANT: Yes, Puerto Rico.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, Chris Purdy's there.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. HUGHES: So we have to think when 

we -- approaching the next meeting let's think 

about what makes sense as a whole. And so I'll 

be honest: As much as I think Puerto Rico would 

be a great destination, when you think about our 

USDA services and programs, it's not as heavy --

we don't have a whole lot of presence there. But 

when you think about like some other state, like 

a Texas, Arizona --

PARTICIPANT: Hawaii.

 MR. HUGHES: -- Hawaii --

(Laughter.)

 MR. HUGHES: -- or some of the 

northern states like where there's a huge 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
297 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

presence, I think that makes more of a business 

case that we go there. So I want to approach it 

from that standpoint. And maybe that instead of 

-- and maybe that we throw around some potential 

states and then go from there, because I'll have 

to submit this to my leadership and make sure 

they're okay with it. And I'm sure they'll have 

to submit it to their leadership to make sure 

they're okay with it. So it's not like once we 

pick a location it's final, like we got -- we 

have to answer up. And not in the sky. 

MEMBER CIRULI: So typically one 

comment I would make when I sit on boards like 

this, it's nice for you guys to take into 

consideration the size of the board and that we 

alternate back and forth something that would be 

East Coast versus West Coast.

 MR. HUGHES: Okay.

 MEMBER CIRULI: Just take into 

consideration travel time.

 MR. HUGHES: That would be fair, yes.

 MEMBER CIRCULI: A comment back to you 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
298 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

guys? For the Mango Board we went to Puerto 

Rico. It's incredibly expensive. If you're 

looking to save money, the cheapest meeting we 

ever do is Vegas. Lot of direct flights and 

cheap hotels.

 MEMBER AMY BAKER: Amy Baker. It's 

related but unrelated because it's been bothering 

me this afternoon. As I look around at the tags, 

we've got five or six food hub, farmer's market. 

In the conversations that we've had so far like 

do these initiatives even apply to you that we've 

talked about?

 MEMBER SERRATOS: I mean the first 

charge with why you would want to get prices into 

farmer's markets. And this is my projecting, but 

I assume that LFPA dollars would love to have 

that data at some point whereas right now they're 

relying on states to set the prices. And there's 

a few of us that have talked about, like off on 

the side, how that's the Wild West right now in 

terms of price setting at a local level.

 MEMBER MELENDEZ: What are LFP 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
299 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

dollars?

 MEMBER SERRATOS: Sorry. LFPA was 

what we were arguing about yesterday where a lot 

of you all zoned out.

 (Laughter.)

 MEMBER SERRATOS: I feel like we 

switched days. Yesterday --

MR. HUGHES: Local Food Purchasing 

Agreement.

 MEMBER SERRATOS: The Local Food 

Purchasing Cooperative Agreement. A lot of us 

were way jazzed yesterday and then I got to take 

a little vacation today. And then we flipped.

 So I mean, yes, I think we're seeing 

kind of both ends. And I mean in food safety; 

we've talked about this in the subcommittee, 

we'll go from really, really, really large 

corporate insane amounts of food being processed 

and inspected to hyper local. And I'm just 

noticing --

MEMBER GARREN: And just make a fewer 

number of people? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
300 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER SERRATOS: Right.

 MEMBER AMY BAKER: So my question 

though is so are we solving for this group and 

what we're representing from the industry --

MR. HUGHES: Yes, and here's --

MEMBER AMY BAKER: -- or from the 

USDA, what they want us to solve?

 MR. HUGHES: Both. But here's 

something that I think is important to keep in 

mind: Any particular charge or recommendation --

it may not be that it pertains to every single 

person. It's an issue that impacts a huge 

segment of the industry. And so while -- let's 

say if market -- the market data discussion 

didn't pertain at all to anything that Rebecca 

had going on, there may be something that happens 

in a month or two that is all Rebecca. 

I mean the NRCS engagement. I think 

it was something on a sideline we engaged on, and 

I've already connected her with an NRCS 

colleague. There may actually be a 

recommendation setting the charges aside. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
301 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

Rebecca may say in subcommittee hey, I would like 

to put forth a recommendation of my own regarding 

NRCS. And you all will make sure naturally that 

your perspective is included and considered 

because we selected you all.

 MEMBER HODGES: Hello.

 (Laughter.)

 MR. HUGHES: Oh.

 MEMBER HODGES: I'm sorry. I'm just 

piggybacking off the comment about -- I spoke 

with -- well, in an email to my Mississippi 

Department of Agriculture and Commerce yesterday 

on the additional LFP Program.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes.

 MEMBER HODGES: And they responded 

back. Initially our first Zoom meeting there 

were some issues from specialty crop farmers 

about pricing too low. 

MR. HUGHES: Yes.

 MEMBER HODGES: But that was our first 

engagement and I --

MR. HUGHES: And it was specific to 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
302 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the state? It was a state --

MEMBER HODGES: Yes.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes.

 MEMBER HODGES: It was the state 

making the -- setting the prices.

 MR. HUGHES: Right.

 MEMBER HODGES: And also picking the 

distributors. So the kinks are being worked out 

and I guess it's going to be a state pricing 

game, but they're taking feedback from the 

specialty crop farmers.

 MR. HUGHES: Great. Awesome.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. 

MR. HUGHES: Kay and then Haven.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Well, I was just going 

to chime in on two things: First of all, I think 

all the points that have been made are very good. 

And I could see people zoning in and zoning out 

because this is more important to me than this, 

but I think in the end we also have to remember 

we only have the food that the farmer produces. 

So we're here because of that farmer. So whether 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
303 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

it services my need or your need we still have to 

look at it in that particular perspective.

 So I just wanted to comment that I 

observed it as well, Amy, and I thought it was 

kind of interesting. You could see we all come 

to the table, but we are all here because we 

represent a different perspective and it's in 

order to give guidance to USDA to better serve 

agriculture as a whole. 

MR. HUGHES: Going to go to Haven and 

then Reggie.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Oh, I was just --

MR. HUGHES: Oh.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Oh, no. If we're 

going to stay on this topic, that's fine. If you 

want to talk about next meeting, I have an idea.

 MR. HUGHES: Okay.

 MEMBER HAVEN BAKER: Well, I actually 

just had a logistics question. So remind me, how 

many meetings a year in person? And did you have 

a time frame for the next one?

 MR. HUGHES: Time frame for the next 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
304 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

one will be after October. And so it's just a 

small window because we have to avoid vacation 

and holiday, but it has to happen in the next 

fiscal year.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Deer hunting.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Well, the comment: 

I was at a table for lunch today and I thought it 

was a very good recommendation that wherever we 

choose to meet for our next meeting we consider 

taking that third day to go visit specialty crop 

industries. And depending on where the meeting is 

and what time of year it is perhaps we can visit 

three or four different specialty crop 

operations. So I think it's important for us not 

only to continue to do this, but also see real 

perspectives on the ground other than those that 

we live and breathe 365 days a year. 

So if it's October, that presents a 

little bit more of a challenge because we're 

outside of harvest windows and those types of 

things. But I thought it was a very good 

suggestion that came from at least two people at 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
305 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the table.

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. So I'm going to go 

to Reggie and then I'm going to provide some 

insights to you all.

 Go ahead.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: I'm going to 

focus back on what we were talking about 

previously about all the topics that were brought 

up. As a farmer everything pertaining to the 

farmer, right? So when Bruce was talking about 

technology that's one of the things that is going 

to enhance every farmer because labor is an 

issue. Even though some farms may not be as 

large, labor is still an issue. And we can still 

use H-2A workers. So that type of thing is a 

constant with farmers. 

When you look at market data, whether 

you're looking at farmer's market prices or other 

data it all goes back to the farmer because it 

all impacts our bottom line. So food safety, the 

virtual inspection. So all those things impact 

the farmer. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
306 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

So I was in-tuned and I appreciate 

everything. So you didn't lose me on anything. 

So again, everything goes right back to the farm.

 MR. HUGHES: Next slide? And so what 

I'll say about the meeting is that we have to 

have -- if we're going to have a second meeting 

this calendar year, it will have to be after 

October, and the reason being is because when we 

first came back into being partially in the 

office and we're forecasting our operating 

budget, we didn't know if we would be able to 

sitting here altogether. 

And so we couldn't commit our normal 

travel budget to go anywhere because we didn't 

even know that it would happen, which is why the 

first meeting was really virtual. And so now 

that we are in a different place we can then look 

at our operating budget for this particular 

committee and forecast out to travel or other 

places. 

And so I think it's a great idea to 

visit additional -- I'm sorry, producers or farms 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
307 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

that will -- because you all -- your terms won't 

expire until October of 2024. So there will 

still be room in the first to second quarter of 

2024, that early part of the calendar year, 

because we're going to have a meeting around that 

time for that type of meeting to take place. We 

can still do something in November. It will just 

be with our coats on and Ugg boots or something.

 (Laughter.)

 MEMBER FRASIER: They should come to 

South Texas.

 PARTICIPANT: Or go skiing in Tahoe.

 VICE CHAIR MARSHALL: There's plenty 

to do in Nashville. Anybody want to come to 

Nashville --

(Simultaneous speaking.)

 MR. HUGHES: That's true. We can go 

to some of the southern states.

 Go ahead, David.

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: I was just going 

to say I think that's a great idea, Kay. I would 

actually say if we're going to schedule it along 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
308 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

with an in-person meeting to do it the first day 

so that those of us who come from different sorts 

of local and regional food systems can get some 

education around what a larger packing house is 

doing or whatever so we can be more informed when 

we get to discussions for that meeting.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: And I think it would 

be great to visit a food hub and be a part of 

that.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: Well that's where 

Sacramento would be really good. I mean it's 

kind of the farm to fork capital, but Darwin has 

a pistachio farm there nearby. And then there's 

three food hubs within 60 miles.

 MR. HUGHES: Okay.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: And then I mean 

Oakland -- wouldn't you think, Darwin, like other 

farms in those areas would be good?

 MEMBER INMAN: Yes, I mean the farms 

further south. We have a processing facility up 

there, but it's very small.

 PARTICIPANT: Further south where? 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
309 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER SUTPHIN: Oh, and it's 

mandarins -- mandarin is just coming in in 

November and like they're over Placer County near 

Sacramento. So maybe go to the mandarin 

festival, too.

 MEMBER INMAN: But if you want to see 

something big I'm sure we can get a tour of Blue 

Diamond.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: Right. Oh, that 

would be good. Yes.

 PARTICIPANT: No. 

(Laughter.)

 MEMBER FREEMAN: We could see the 

grapes for grape wine. 

MR. HUGHES: So how about this? Who 

want to volunteer to collect locations that we 

could coordinate with?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: I was just going to 

say if you want, let's maybe set up a small group 

and talk about it, explore some options. 

PARTICIPANT: Yes, the Meeting 

Committee. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
310 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Yes, the Meeting 

Location Committee.

 (Laughter.)

 CHAIR RENTZEL: But more importantly 

let's also look at some dates because we do not 

want to overlap key -- other key industry events 

that already exist. So perhaps if you're telling 

-- I forget, is it September 30th that the fiscal 

year ends or is it October 31st?

 MR. HUGHES: It's September. 

September 30th.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. So it could be 

late October?

 MR. HUGHES: Because I don't want to 

step on IFP, I'm thinking the --

PARTICIPANT: What's that?

 MR. HUGHES: International Fresh 

Produce. Their floral --

(Simultaneous speaking.)

 MEMBER FREEMAN: October 19th through 

the 21st.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. So that's in 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
311 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

the middle of October. So we could look at -- I 

mean I would personally say perhaps we give you a 

chance to get back to your business and look at 

something in early November.

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, those would be the 

ideal -- the very end, that last week of October 

through November 15th. That's out sweet spot. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. And who would 

like to volunteer to come back with a few 

recommendations and --

PARTICIPANT: There she is. Raised 

her hand.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: I'm not going to --

I'll stand by. I'll stand by. 

(Laughter.)

 MEMBER BRIANO: I'll make one comment 

though. If you're going to go to California, go 

to where the larger farms are so you can see --

MEMBER SUTPHIN: Oh, yes. I mean, 

Sacramento, there's a lot of big farms there.

 MEMBER BRIANO: Fresno, Coalinga, 

Tulare, Bakersfield. There's some really 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
312 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

impressive -- and there's some contacts here to 

show you crazy operations. I don't want there 

because that's where I live. So that's --

Sacramento is fine.

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: You know what, we can 

-- there's food hubs in North Carolina and 

Minnesota here. I think that would make -- if we 

wanted a food hub, it would probably be good to 

make sure we connect with --

MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: I don't think 

they want to come in November.

 (Laughter.)

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: We could dog sled.

 MR. HUGHES: One thing that I'll 

mention is that if -- the fact that you mention 

Fresno, the Inspections Division has a huge 

presence in Fresno. And so that would be 

attractive to leadership because then that 

presents the opportunity for us to potentially 

see or engage with our staff who are there. They 

have a very large presence there. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
313 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

MEMBER SUTPHIN: Well Common Market's 

there.

 PARTICIPANT: Who?

 MEMBER SUTPHIN: Not Common Market. 

Food Commons. Food Commons. I think Food 

Commons is based in Fresno.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 PARTICIPANT: Okay. Yes, I'll go. 

That's nice and close for you. 

MR. HUGHES: You said West Coast. You 

didn't say --

PARTICIPANT: I didn't say Fresno, for 

God's sake.

 MEMBER BRIANO: Yes, I live there. I 

don't want to be there, but --

MEMBER FREEMAN: I don't think there's 

anything close by.

 MEMBER BRIANO: -- if we did go there, 

Darwin and I could get you into 10 different 

places. 

(Simultaneous speaking.)

 MEMBER BRIANO: I don't want to go 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
314 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

there though.

 MR. HUGHES: Sounds like it's going to 

be Fresno already. I don't know if we need a 

committee.

 MEMBER INMAN: We could stay in 

Monterrey and take a day trip over.

 PARTICIPANT: Ah, I like that better.

 MEMBER GARREN: Yes.

 MEMBER INMAN: I mean there's plenty 

of fruit packers and greenhouses and everything 

in the --

(Simultaneous speaking.)

 PARTICIPANT: Santa Cruz? Yes.

 PARTICIPANT: Monterrey it is.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. Might I 

suggest; and I'll be willing to help somebody 

else do this, we take a look at maybe what some 

of the airfares might cost us to go to the 

various airports in California and perhaps 

Nashville since our vice chair has suggested 

Nashville, see where we can go that is -- I don't 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
315 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

want to say most economical, but will be somewhat 

reasonable that we're not going to fly to some 

place that's difficult to get to and out of.

 MEMBER FRASIER: Can we throw Texas in 

there, too?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: We can throw Texas in.

 MEMBER FRASIER: If we did Texas we 

could do the Rio Grande Valley which is in 

full --

CHAIR RENTZEL: Sure.

 MEMBER FRASIER: -- leafy green, 

citrus production in October. 

MR. HUGHES: So just so I understand, 

it's going to be Texas --

MEMBER FRASIER: And we have the 

Mexican --

MR. HUGHES: -- Tennessee and 

California that we look at places.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: That we're looking at, 

yes. Okay.

 MEMBER FRASIER: I'll get TIPA --

MEMBER FREEMAN: Make choices that 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
316 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

will be the most economical.

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: Can you take us 

deer hunting? 

MR. HUGHES: Huh?

 MEMBER VAN EECKHOUT: Can you take us 

deer hunting with you?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Okay. So we have 

votes for recreational events as well.

 (Simultaneous speaking.)

 MEMBER MASSER BALLAY: Hey, it's 

called pest control.

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. So I'll just go 

ahead and jump to closing remarks.

 One thing that I noticed about this 

particular committee that I hadn't said even 

before the pandemic when we engaged here at some 

of our in-person meetings, every single 

representative in this room spoke and said 

something. That's notable. I have not seen that 

in a while. I'm appreciate of it. I understand 

that like scheduling these things are crazy. 

There are subcommittee meetings. You all are 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
317 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

very busy. You have many things going on 

including family stuff. And the fact that you 

still came today and engaged and worked while 

engaging I'm appreciative of it. 

I know Chris says Bruce and when you 

will submit your draft recommendations and 

eventually your final recommendations I'm sure it 

will demonstrate the effort that you put forth. 

So thank you. 

Go ahead, Kay.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: I would just like to 

echo Darrell's remarks. I thought too it was a 

very engaging group. I appreciate all of you for 

taking time away from your businesses, your 

employers supporting all of you. It is 

important. And I can speak from my many years of 

working with USDA. They do value what we as 

industry members bring back to them. So it 

certainly is a value to them and it's a value to 

us as representatives. I personally --

So I would also like to just mention, 

Darrell, you have been awesome. 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
318 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

(Applause.)

 CHAIR RENTZEL: I've probably had the 

opportunity to engage with him more than most of 

you, but he is truly a great USDA representative/ 

industry liaison for us. You will be missed in 

this capacity, but I also recognize that 

sometimes other things call us away. And however 

it turns out we wish you well. We wish the best 

for you. So we appreciate your service to this 

committee, not only this specific one, but also 

your history with the committee as well. So 

thank you so much. 

And is Chris still back here? Chris, 

thank you. We're excited to continue to work 

with you and the rest of the staff. It certainly 

is an amazing team from USDA AMS. 

So again thank you. I encourage you 

to stay in touch with the committee chairs. One 

of the things that I'm going to do is also reach 

out to you just to remind you who the committee 

chairs are because I think that that's important 

for you just to remember -- there might be 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
319 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

something come across your plate and you decide 

this is important. I want to share it. I don't 

want to wait until the next committee meeting. 

Or if you're not on that committee make sure your 

thoughts are heard as well. 

Yes, ma'am?

 MEMBER MELENDEZ: Would it be possible 

to include with the chairs like what each group 

is kind of focusing on right now?

 CHAIR RENTZEL: You would like --

MEMBER MELENDEZ: Yes.

 CHAIR RENTZEL: Yes, we can do that. 

MEMBER VAZQUEZ: I'd like to make a 

motion to adjourn.

 PARTICIPANT: Second. 

CHAIR RENTZEL: Motion to adjourn has 

been -- all those in favor?

 (Chorus of aye.)

 CHAIR RENTZEL: All those opposed?

 (No audible response.)

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled meeting 

was adjourned at 3:37 p.m.) 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

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

320

A

a.m 1:6 4:2 107:9,10

152:16 162:5

ability 118:10 186:14

able 49:10,16 55:2

62:15 68:17 74:14,16

79:3,10 83:4 87:9,10

87:12 91:9 99:11

118:11 121:22 125:2

132:22 136:7 143:12

144:6 159:7 171:10

175:6 185:19 188:5

200:4 213:15 214:14

214:22 224:3 226:15

228:14 231:21 233:16

236:9 253:1 262:12

276:16 281:7 306:11

above- 152:15

above-entitled 107:8

319:21

absolutely 84:7 94:21

117:15,20 268:18,20

273:14 274:14

absorbed 165:2

abuse 284:5

accelerate 63:22 69:11

69:13

accelerated 54:22

96:19

accelerating 95:21

accentuate 69:12

accept 99:9 101:5

126:21 258:10

acceptable 262:19

274:2

accepted 259:5

access 9:1 15:7 59:1

79:6 83:4 93:14 201:4

207:22 220:10,22

221:4

accomplish 61:5 206:2

account 12:15,20 31:9

46:5,12,16 71:12

257:3 259:6 287:9

accounts 14:2

accuracy 18:14 20:13

37:2,9 40:3

accurate 8:14,14 37:6

37:13 41:5 161:4

170:3 171:20 172:18

188:3 201:1 204:20

205:22 212:8 213:3

220:21 227:4 230:1

239:2 248:14

accurately 36:3

ACE 171:13,15,19

172:4

achievable 122:19

achieve 57:18 102:9

acre 77:4 95:16 106:10

acres 76:17 95:17

act 65:2,4 76:6 83:6,12

93:16 101:7 158:3

223:5

actively 89:13

activities 72:11 158:2

activity 61:13 71:18,20

72:6 132:17

actors 284:4

actual 37:4 38:13 39:20

40:17 42:21 52:9 53:1

61:20 63:11 65:15

74:3 81:2 183:7

241:15,22 271:6

275:11 277:14,22

ad 54:16 212:12 230:4

243:10,12,12,21

add 117:3 121:4,5

141:15 172:19 215:13

added 14:3

adding 39:2 136:21

addition 65:8 222:6

279:21

additional 42:3 60:14

65:1,3 68:9 83:11

84:8 85:15 86:1 93:2

96:15 103:9 124:21

147:18 150:17 165:12

166:11 284:8 301:13

306:22

additionally 213:19

additions 204:7

address 54:9 58:2

60:14 64:19 66:11,12

69:2 140:9 278:11

addresses 66:17 90:7

addressing 60:8 61:9

63:8 66:20 105:19

adjacent 100:19

adjourn 319:14,16

adjourned 319:22

adjourning 285:11

adjourns 108:9

adjusted 65:17 83:8

adjusting 47:8 224:9,14

administration 84:13

132:16

Administrator 2:2

administrator's 5:2

adopt 68:19 72:2 75:1

126:20

adoption 274:19,21

275:5

ads 162:21 167:17

212:12

advanced 55:18

advancing 56:13

advantage 229:21

advertised 162:22

163:5,14,17 169:4

182:14

advertising 208:1

advisor 70:14

advisory 1:3 5:16

127:17 131:3,21

advocating 80:15

aeration 104:21

AEWR 27:6 28:8,10

29:10 34:10 45:4

128:16

AEWRs 13:7 32:6 34:1

44:22

affect 51:4

afford 55:3

affordable 75:4

aflatoxin 269:1

Africa 166:4

afternoon 132:21

239:16 247:14 298:8

ag 21:8 64:12 79:20

83:13 85:5 87:20

94:13,14,17 127:4

189:20,20 278:15

agencies 12:17 36:11

42:7 65:19 81:12

132:15

agency 7:19,20 43:9

56:5,22 58:17 59:15

65:19 82:8,9 97:5

233:14

agenda 5:7 6:16 107:16

232:9

agent 63:13 228:16

agents 220:9,22 227:22

279:14

aggregate 9:21

aggregation 216:11

ago 5:17 94:20 116:5

164:20 206:12,19

226:10 227:8 240:3

248:20 250:15

agree 124:12 130:3

141:21 147:10 149:22

150:1,10 228:9

258:21 262:5

agreed 268:4

agreement 61:20 81:3

299:9,11

agreements 60:21

164:5,18

agricultural 7:17 66:2,2

87:22 158:3 248:8,13

agriculture 1:1 7:22

16:18 23:22 36:16

86:15 87:4 160:21

275:10 277:13 301:12

303:9

Agriculture's 26:4

ah 267:21 314:7

ah-ha 142:1

ahead 4:13 6:15 23:9

23:12 107:5,13

112:17 114:10 117:5

143:15 148:17 174:8

189:10,15 195:5,9

203:16 245:17 247:5

287:21 290:5,14

305:5 307:19 316:13

317:10

AI 104:8 260:11

air 58:6,8 60:12 166:16

airfares 314:19

airport 288:1,11

airports 314:20

Alabama 18:10

Alaska 163:3

allocate 103:22

allocated 98:6

allocating 80:4

allow 79:1 86:19 87:18

245:19

allowed 164:4

allows 96:14

almond 50:15 51:11

77:21 78:16 79:1

261:11 272:21 273:1

almonds 51:18 77:19

78:5,7,20 253:20

257:8,17 258:13

259:3,15,17 267:16

268:21

alternate 297:16

alternating 176:10

altogether 306:12

ALYSSA 1:18

amazing 138:10 318:16

amend 264:18

America 174:18,18

American 160:21

269:11

Americas 174:20

amount 35:6 71:8 72:17

101:13 105:20 112:21

121:10 219:4 240:4

270:3 286:8

amounts 286:10 299:18

AMS 4:21 130:20 132:3

269:15 318:16

Amy 1:11 119:12,13

129:13 141:22 280:2

280:2,17,20 282:10

282:13 298:6,6 300:2

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
321

300:6 303:4

Amy's 138:1 144:5

283:9 284:1

analogy 280:6,13

analysis 22:13 32:16

37:19,20 48:22 49:2

110:14 148:3,11

149:7,10 173:13

186:21 189:5 211:22

245:6 266:18

analyze 32:8 106:20

217:16

ANDREW 1:16

Andy 5:11,14 6:1

108:20 290:3 293:8

294:1,22

Andy's 5:15

ANGEL 1:11

Angeles 167:22 199:16

251:7 252:3

angst 275:22

animal 100:17

animals 58:8 70:1

Announcements

216:22

annual 10:4 13:6 16:9

19:4 57:10 64:21 99:8

203:6 280:8

anomalies 41:4 43:4

answer 28:17 52:18

160:11,13 182:21

194:2,15 222:13

228:12,14 235:10

297:11

answering 52:16

answers 52:14 221:11

ANTHONY 1:19

Antonio 251:8

anybody 156:4 157:1

158:9 194:19 196:19

237:5 238:2,4 263:12

264:14 279:9 283:18

307:14

anybody's 192:7

anymore 220:14,18

225:14 294:6

anyone's 109:6

anytime 206:19 212:12

anyway 124:18 136:18

160:18 180:2 207:8

287:5

anyways 271:21

apart 21:7

apartment 87:15,16

apiece 267:5

APIs 174:9

apologies 56:18

apologize 20:20

app 174:3 217:6,13

Appalachian 20:1 22:2

apparent 28:20

applause 284:16,19

318:1

Apple 231:20

apples 165:7 166:3

199:4 216:5 252:19

252:20

applesauce 252:20

applicable 90:13 95:12

applicant 65:16 254:10

application 69:1 141:11

274:21

applications 99:10,12

99:13 101:2,5

applied 98:1

applies 145:2

apply 73:12 88:8 89:21

125:9 298:11

applying 101:15 105:11

appointed 116:9

appointee 8:5

appointments 143:7

appreciate 4:20 53:10

107:3 244:10 261:2

273:15,18 274:15

276:7 278:14,18

279:20 282:9 284:14

306:1 316:20 317:13

318:9

appreciative 317:4

approach 63:7 109:18

109:18 116:17 120:16

153:3,7,12,16,17

207:14 282:22 293:9

297:2

approaching 296:10

appropriate 67:15,22

76:19 127:22 129:2

appropriated 234:14

appropriation 99:9

appropriations 64:22

65:7

approval 41:19,22

approved 102:19 172:5

apps 189:17 190:22

April 1:5 10:14 11:3,6

16:5

aqua 64:13

aquaponics 86:16,19

aquatic 66:6

aquifers 71:9

area 46:8 61:5 71:3

75:13 80:2 95:5 107:3

147:21 148:7 161:12

161:19 164:11 237:15

251:4,11,12 255:4

areas 46:16 69:22

84:19,21 87:1,2,17

95:3 97:4 102:2,3,5

138:10 161:2 165:21

166:11 167:19 177:1

180:5 187:12 225:16

251:16 253:11 256:19

267:19 274:1 278:5

279:2,18 308:18

arena 94:13,14

argue 119:14

arguing 299:3

arid 68:3

Arizona 161:14 278:1

296:17

arrange 6:7

arrival 281:2

arrivals 162:11 197:16

226:8

articulate 196:13

articulated 37:12 39:22

41:2

artificial 54:9,13,17

aside 167:11 209:3

300:22

asked 26:18,19,21

45:14 171:4 215:2

256:8

asking 36:5 88:11

197:21 198:10 199:7

224:17

asks 30:5

assets 280:16 282:17

assigned 144:12

assignment 199:20

assist 55:2 106:16

assistance 56:20 57:2

59:17 71:16 82:14

84:19 174:13

Assistant 2:6

assisting 102:11

associated 12:6 70:9

78:7 258:8

Association 204:2

assume 41:3 123:10

204:15 238:15 291:14

298:16

assuming 65:6 236:11

290:8

assumptions 41:1

assurance 248:14

281:19

attachment 88:16

attend 140:17

ATTENDEES 1:9

attention 203:9

attesting 249:22

attractive 312:19

auction 163:21 237:8

237:11

auctions 163:20

audible 284:9 292:20

319:20

audio 115:11

audit 139:19,20 260:7

audit- 249:3

auditing 249:2,19

audits 37:15 38:5 42:20

280:13

August 125:13

authority 83:7

authorized 8:22 158:3

automate 259:2

automated 171:15

228:9 260:16

automatically 183:5

186:3,4 286:20

availability 104:22

available 6:6 11:20

22:16 76:9 83:16 86:3

98:4 179:22 213:18

224:22

avenue 1:7 206:8

avenues 207:17

average 10:4 12:5,6

13:6 19:4 29:7 30:13

30:20,21 48:17 171:5

averaging 76:4

avocadoes 277:1

avoid 304:2

awarded 76:10

awards 84:4,7 206:17

aware 14:13 29:3 35:20

35:22 128:9 134:11

181:6

awesome 82:21 112:4

152:6 153:19 244:21

302:12 317:22

aye 319:18

B

B 201:1 202:14

BAA 13:21

back 5:12 6:2,14 21:19

22:20 25:12 33:19

37:15 38:3,5 40:5

41:16,22 51:20 55:9

55:13,20 57:5 93:12

98:19 100:12 104:8

109:3 110:2 146:8

152:9,12 155:12,19

156:16 165:19 171:4

171:9 178:14,16

180:2 181:2 185:22

194:4 195:4 196:9

202:3 203:21 211:14

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
322

214:3 223:2 224:13

228:4,6 235:11 236:9

236:13 238:8,13

239:15 241:21 262:9

263:1,16 268:2

271:11 273:19 276:20

288:2 293:19,22

297:16,22 301:16

305:7,19 306:3,9

311:3,9 317:18

318:13

background 125:21

126:14 189:1

bad 141:3 224:10 284:4

badly 52:13

bag 234:3

bailed 211:11

Baker 1:11,12 91:14,14

92:3 93:6 119:13,13

120:3,11,18 135:18

135:19 141:22,22

142:6,10,12 215:14

274:16,16 280:2,2,17

280:20 282:10,13

298:6,6 300:2,6

303:18

Bakersfield 311:22

balance 42:18 43:1

134:17 144:10,14

ball 234:11

Ballay 1:12 43:13,14

44:7,14,20 45:20 47:9

47:17 48:2,10,12,20

49:3,13,17,22 50:3

186:16,19,20 188:14

211:20,21 212:17

213:5 214:10 215:9

217:9 218:5 219:1

229:7,10 231:1,13,17

290:6,12 316:10

ballpark 28:2

Baltimore 167:21

bananas 259:14 261:17

bank 218:9

barbed 69:21

barns 89:7

base 10:4,6,8,8 198:22

198:22 252:17

Baseball 100:2

based 9:15,16 12:5

36:4 41:15 52:6

101:13 113:17 118:19

121:16 123:3 124:9

125:5,9 128:5 133:14

150:12 154:1 162:20

168:11,12,17 176:8

183:20 199:1 234:20

249:4 279:6 313:6

basic 69:9

basically 11:7 28:8 33:8

47:18 54:6 93:17 94:7

95:16 116:13 121:12

155:4 165:8 167:16

168:7 169:3 177:5

197:2 204:22 220:7

238:7 266:12

basis 5:18 169:17

181:11 264:11 280:8

bat 7:8

bathrooms 232:10

Bayou 97:10 288:3

beds 95:3

bees 165:9

beginning 10:3,7 84:10

84:22 90:18 91:7

234:9 246:22 284:6

begins 234:9

behavior 99:3

believe 62:6 63:3 129:2

162:22 166:2 208:13

221:2 235:19 260:12

285:19 287:3

belt 266:8

Bend 251:9

beneficial 109:19 137:6

138:8 211:7 234:22

benefit 67:2 81:1 90:16

101:3,14 102:9,10,16

103:1 125:22 154:5

210:2 275:17

benefits 68:20 86:1

92:21 93:5 104:9

105:3 106:20

Benson 1:13 192:14,14

192:22 193:7,12,17

194:1,7,12,16

berries 43:22 165:10

173:6,6

best 20:17 25:17 36:3,9

36:15,15 76:13 80:19

92:13 153:18 170:3

186:14 199:1 207:14

210:9,15 235:10

274:21 282:19,20

283:2 284:21 293:8

318:8

better 20:12,13 27:19

32:3 33:2 41:5 81:3

93:2 94:1 118:13

153:3 187:18 203:9

214:16 221:3 263:4

272:17 275:1 278:2

303:8 314:7

beyond 13:18 14:13

104:6

biannual 203:7

big 12:2,10 35:15 42:15

54:20 66:8 71:5 75:8

84:12 88:3 101:22

161:13 188:1 222:14

237:9 309:7 311:20

bigger 33:18 179:6

253:13

biggest 120:7 146:22

190:4

bill 57:1 62:6,6,19 64:20

65:11,21 83:19 87:8

89:14 91:3,8 168:20

287:2

billed 287:9

billion 64:21 65:8,10

103:10,14,15

bills 45:3

bin 271:9,14

bird's-eye 7:16

bit 9:6 16:22 17:13,21

56:4 60:6 62:2,10

63:11 66:9 71:5,19

73:4 74:11 75:13 76:2

77:5,7 81:6 93:12

95:9 101:9 102:8

129:12 136:5,16

145:21 167:14 174:8

188:17 202:20 208:12

234:15 248:6 249:15

250:17 251:1,15

253:1,16 255:12

258:17 260:14,19

281:11,16 282:1

304:19

bits 242:15

Black 97:13 103:3

blanks 38:18

blended 16:20

block 294:10

blocks 294:6

BLS 16:16

blue 16:14,16,19 19:1,3

156:8,9,12 309:7

blueberries 173:5

bluish-green 57:5

blurbs 242:16

board 5:6 120:5 230:9

297:15 298:1

boards 262:2 297:13

boat 155:22 166:16

bodies 144:11

body 122:14 133:12

138:19 139:4 143:3

143:10 294:7

boil 57:18

bolts 214:22

book 287:13

bookmarked 218:19

boot 159:14,16

boots 307:8

border 35:8

Boston 167:21 251:11

bothering 298:7

bottom 21:4,5 34:3

66:18,22,22 305:20

bought 237:12

bowls 152:7

boxed 191:19

boy 249:15

bracket 48:5

brain 155:17

Branch 2:6,7 6:20

56:19 57:7,7 172:15

248:18,18 264:6

branches 131:18

brand 62:18 69:3

106:13

BRC 271:22

break 15:12 21:7 29:14

45:2 84:18 102:1

103:11 104:12 107:6

108:12,13 140:7

150:16 163:19,19

232:9 285:9

breakdowns 286:17

breakfast 286:4

breakout 117:18

breakouts 21:6

breathe 304:17

Briano 1:13 77:16,18

77:18 111:6 112:15

112:18,18 113:10,19

114:6,9,17 140:22

141:1,5 257:7,7

268:11,19 269:10

280:15,18,21 285:2

311:16,21 313:14,18

313:22

brief 154:18

briefly 56:6 58:14 161:7

211:14

bring 35:5 61:1 63:6

68:9 77:9 120:22

203:15 256:13 257:12

274:6 277:13 317:18

bringing 81:10 92:19

113:12 198:16 229:2

brings 257:22

British 34:8

broad 212:10

broadband 115:20

broadcast 211:6

broaden 115:7,8

broader 79:5

broadest 210:16

broccoli 199:13

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
323

broke 195:15

broken 21:3 45:22

251:5

broker 239:20

brokers 193:6 194:5

239:17

Bronx 199:15,19

220:18 251:10

brother 159:13

brothers 159:12

brought 53:12 54:14

139:9 203:9 209:10

214:20 217:13 229:5

229:6 242:8,10 243:4

243:5 305:8

Bruce 1:15 26:10 37:1

39:22 41:1 53:16,16

53:19 55:9 103:7

114:14 122:3 124:10

125:17 127:2 130:19

131:15 139:9 149:16

150:3 189:13,15

209:8,10 234:18

246:21 305:10 317:5

Bruce's 55:5

buckets 113:15 116:10

budget 41:18 98:6

164:22 226:22 233:10

233:11 236:21 255:16

306:11,14,18

bugs 277:17,18

build 69:20 76:18 77:3

79:11 209:1

building 1:7 70:15

75:16 77:5 88:4

102:13 172:13 232:15

284:3

built 138:13 139:5

210:19 232:9,17,19

245:12

built-in 208:13

bulk 220:13 221:22

bullet 207:2

bullets 245:10

bump 46:15 48:3

bunch 132:14 219:10

burden 10:18 41:20

42:1

Bureau 9:17

burned 171:1

burrito 152:7

business 3:9 24:21

25:5,7,16 26:7 107:22

108:1,2 158:1 192:7

193:13 206:14 250:19

250:21 272:21 276:2

285:10,16 294:11

297:1 311:3

businesses 133:20

317:14

busting 70:2

busy 159:20 317:1

buttress 117:14

buy 75:17,18 222:8

224:15

buy-in 265:16

buy-out 265:16

buyer 220:8 221:18

258:10

buyers 169:16,19 221:6

221:9 222:2 258:5

262:4

buying 222:6 223:9

224:21 239:21 258:18

265:2 270:21

buys 273:21

bypass 232:12

C

C 201:1 202:14

C-O-N-T-E-N-T-S 3:1

Cadillac 69:6

calculate 13:20

calculations 14:2 27:4

calendar 294:6 306:7

307:4

calibrated 280:10

calibrating 280:16

282:16

California 54:14 77:19

78:3,16 161:14 164:9

266:2 271:6 311:17

314:20 315:18

California's 19:1

call 3:2 7:11 23:20

60:14 67:18 71:17

87:4 103:3,3 124:7,7

155:20 160:9 170:15

193:15 198:13 202:3

213:12 221:2,8 228:5

228:6 239:20 269:8

293:16 294:2 318:7

called 22:9 96:13 193:2

206:14 248:17,21

253:18 254:4 260:16

268:16 281:12,18

316:11

calling 203:19 224:1

228:2 239:4 263:3

calls 14:7 50:18 160:1

170:18 201:19,22

228:10,13 239:4

294:4

camp 159:14,16

Canada 165:15 166:17

173:2

Canadian 237:9

canned 253:20

cantaloupe 242:1

cantaloupes 100:18

241:18

capabilities 208:21

capacity 318:6

capital 308:12

capped 276:19

capture 24:2 179:13

183:13

captured 49:4

capturing 47:10 48:13

179:5,8 181:17

carbon 78:13 91:18

92:7,13,22

card 155:13 160:8

care 8:19 228:12

career 156:20

careful 9:4

Carolina 18:11 164:19

164:19 312:6

case 35:2 38:20 96:18

100:6 249:21 297:2

cases 66:13 87:11

198:4,5 279:5

casual 153:16

catch 33:15

categories 9:16,22

15:12 21:10 31:12

44:11 45:6 73:7 214:2

category 44:5 262:15

cattle 89:21

Caucasian 97:13

cauliflower 199:13

Cavalier 69:7

CBA 287:9

CBP 171:19

ceiling 222:19 223:7

cell 156:15

census 8:11 23:22

25:18

center 59:6,8 82:10

Central 174:18 251:6

266:2

centrally 287:9

certain 33:22 35:13

72:2 85:16 87:13

112:21 134:3 172:6

206:3 243:1 258:20

260:2,13,20 263:7,11

268:7 270:20

certainly 53:8,10

235:20 239:17 264:10

273:17 278:10 317:19

318:15

certificate 268:2 281:14

certificates 249:21

certification 249:5

278:18

certified 271:3,22 280:8

certify 252:10 267:3

271:8

cetera 32:11 37:7

chain 78:6 163:1

237:10 243:9,21

chains 226:14,16,20

227:6 243:12

chair 1:8,10,10 4:5,6

6:11 53:7 86:6 88:10

88:14 89:10,19 90:17

90:22 91:11 103:6

107:1,11 111:9,18

112:1,5,13,17 117:11

129:1,10 137:2 139:6

150:14,20 151:5

154:5,12 155:5,8

186:20 189:13 194:18

194:20 195:13 211:22

215:12 245:18 246:1

246:3,7 275:8,21

284:18 285:1 294:12

294:14,18,22 302:13

302:15 303:12,14

304:6 305:6 307:13

308:7 309:18 310:1,4

310:12,22 311:8

314:16,21 315:6,10

315:19 316:7 317:11

318:2 319:10,12,16

319:19

chairman 114:21

chairs 318:18,21 319:8

challenge 304:19

challenges 119:19

238:19 254:14 255:14

263:18

challenging 229:22

chance 144:4 311:3

change 50:21 73:9

101:8 117:3 120:8

222:17 236:8 286:1

changed 41:13 98:21

99:4

changes 9:11 12:10,22

13:1 264:19

changing 212:6,18

294:16

channel 237:6

channels 238:3

charge 3:7,8 113:15

115:6 123:8 127:11

133:5,8 141:8 142:3,4

142:13,14 143:2,17

144:7 150:6 180:2

184:10 186:15 188:17

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
324

191:7 195:12 203:5

207:4 212:4 217:11

230:11 234:14 245:3

256:8 275:11 298:14

300:10

charges 112:19,22

113:3,4,4,7 123:5

130:7 131:10 132:21

139:8 142:19 143:10

151:1 155:1 176:7,8,9

176:12 211:8,13

219:17 255:7 300:22

chart 16:14

charted 27:14

chase 236:21

cheap 267:4 298:5

cheapest 298:3

check 4:4 40:15 42:18

43:1 51:20 77:16

156:16 194:4 281:3

checked 98:5

checking 169:14

Chevette 69:8

Chicago 167:22

chicken 81:20

chief 2:5,7 6:19 56:19

57:7 172:15

Chile 165:22

chime 302:16

China 174:17

chip 266:21

choices 315:22

choose 304:9

Chorus 319:18

Chris 4:16,18,20 111:5

117:14 130:18 142:22

151:18 189:20 205:12

205:13 232:7 245:7

296:7 317:5 318:13

318:13

CHRISTOPHER 1:14

2:2

chuckle 158:22

chunk 54:20

CIG 79:3 80:22 91:19

92:1 106:14

CIGs 76:9

circular 28:18

CIRCULI 297:22

circumstances 62:14

281:7

CIRULI 1:14 114:18

115:4 152:2 156:7,10

189:22 190:5,8

205:12 235:16 236:3

236:15,19 238:12

239:8 240:2,7,10

241:2,12 243:8,18,20

276:13 297:12,19

Cisco 240:15

cities 167:20 168:3

226:8

citrus 166:3 315:12

City 180:13

claim 171:3 267:20

claims 97:15

clarification 192:15

clarity 290:7

clashed 109:13

class 73:18 252:12

classic 62:4

Classification 9:18

classify 48:6,8

clean 95:6

clear 99:1 127:14 230:7

290:7

climate 83:13,17 92:16

92:16,21

clipboard 177:6

close 45:16 82:5 157:8

162:2 255:2 313:9,17

closely 17:4 57:11 82:3

82:17 97:3

closer 52:9 76:8 91:10

203:12,14

closest 157:13 158:6

158:19

closing 285:10 316:13

cloudshare 126:12

clue 221:15

clusters 46:3

co-located 82:10

Coalinga 311:21

Coast 297:17,17 313:10

coastal 64:14 68:3

coaster 100:6

coats 307:8

code 16:17 20:21 21:10

45:9 156:15

coded 191:16

codes 9:17 44:12,15,19

45:16 167:5 171:22

coefficient 23:2

coefficients 22:17

coffee 152:10,12,13

Cognos 171:17

cold 165:6

collaborate 187:17

collaborating 248:12

collaborative 153:17

257:11

collaborators 251:21

collapse 136:20

collars 76:21

colleague 57:4,6

289:13,13,14 300:21

colleagues 106:4

144:21 189:10

collect 10:21 11:1,2,4,8

11:14 15:8 43:15

45:14 128:18,21

161:9 173:17 177:3

180:3 196:22 206:17

211:16,16 220:21

227:13,16 233:17

309:16

collected 8:9 9:13,20

23:20

collecting 162:10 169:8

171:6 182:16 200:11

220:7 222:4

collection 10:13 11:11

22:13 129:3 173:16

177:3,7 184:22 186:8

186:9 195:18 205:22

207:10 213:10 233:13

242:1

College 251:9

color 19:3 191:16 266:5

Colorado 91:18

Columbia 34:8 166:9

comas 152:9

combination 137:16,22

193:10 194:11

combine 18:12 111:16

153:13,14

combined 16:10,14

18:15 44:18 103:13

139:18 142:16 248:20

combining 137:21

come 11:21 59:16

77:14 83:21 92:4

112:5 116:11 122:8

126:5 130:15,20

133:1,9 138:2 143:7

145:20 149:15 152:9

163:6 167:13 170:2

180:12,16 182:4

185:5,8 187:18

192:10 195:3 204:8

204:13,18 209:7

210:3 271:4,8,11

277:12 278:4 280:12

303:5 307:10,14

308:2 311:9 312:11

319:1

comes 17:17 67:18

70:4 113:13 126:17

128:9 131:22 142:22

258:18 261:8 268:4

271:13

comfortable 267:12

268:8 274:12

coming 18:3 28:15

30:12,13 50:9 53:22

72:18 76:21 81:18

107:12 121:22 129:19

132:21 153:22 155:12

159:7 162:13 174:5

179:10 191:6 198:1

199:3 208:3 209:12

212:9 217:7 226:18

226:20 233:17 234:1

246:12 249:19 252:14

253:7 263:10,16

309:2

comment 94:3 111:14

129:8 135:19,21,21

137:4 145:12,15

147:15 157:20 195:14

200:16,17 224:6,8

229:8 232:15,16

238:13 268:12 274:17

278:14,20 297:13,22

301:10 303:3 304:6

311:16

comments 55:5 127:6

137:3 184:5 187:21

194:17,21 201:10

224:1 228:15 257:10

257:13 273:15 276:14

283:10 285:3

Commerce 301:12

commercial 171:16

commingle 222:8

commit 306:13

commitment 224:11

committee 1:3,9 5:3,5

5:13,16 6:7 53:15,21

53:22 80:17 86:11,12

92:4 96:4 108:22

110:17 111:14 114:19

114:20,22 115:5

126:19,19 127:11,17

131:1,21 137:8,12

139:18 141:2 142:16

143:8 148:3 149:3

154:6 202:20 206:9

294:18 295:5,11,19

295:22 306:19 309:22

310:2 314:4 316:15

318:10,11,18,20

319:3,4

committee's 115:11

255:22

committees 5:20 80:9,9

111:17 112:20 117:3

120:12,16 129:17

136:20 137:13 176:15

295:8

commodities 161:20

169:6,7,12 170:5

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
325

172:2,12 177:12

190:12 199:21 213:13

213:13 228:2 240:21

260:13,21 261:16

262:13 264:8

commodity 51:9 91:22

209:22 213:21 219:14

221:18 243:11 250:8

250:11 253:2 259:13

273:16,20 275:4

281:8

common 94:22 313:1,4

Commons 313:5,5,6

communicate 44:10

communities 94:1

community 248:13

companies 183:4

187:20 221:2,8 224:2

241:7 265:18 268:9

279:16,19

company 25:13 77:21

216:18,20 221:21

222:2,21 228:5 241:6

260:15,15 266:1

283:11

company's 269:21

comparable 44:13

compare 19:15

compared 198:21

comparing 27:12 179:9

comparisons 37:18

competing 133:11

competitive 76:4 101:1

229:21 248:9 258:17

complain 86:11 281:2

complaints 200:20

202:8,10 269:20

270:13

complete 39:12 121:3

224:3 227:19

completed 223:21

completely 13:8 16:21

230:18 245:20 260:10

270:8

complex 87:15

compliance 65:20,21

complicated 30:22

31:16,21 32:1 111:22

component 114:14

145:17,18 146:1

components 139:22

computer 178:6

computers 218:8

concept 130:6 131:9

concern 33:21 34:5

60:1 66:10,18,21

128:17 146:22

concerns 58:4,7 63:2,4

64:19 66:12 80:6 90:8

112:6 212:4 217:12

256:20 257:2 274:4

conclusion 40:10 99:17

100:15

concrete 70:18

concur 148:2

condition 249:22

252:12,13

condition-only 253:5

conditions 51:14 178:8

228:21

conduct 22:14

conferencing 277:20

277:21

confidentiality 8:7,16

8:18

confined 89:7

confirm 4:5 293:18

confirmation 43:19

confirms 17:3

conflicts 82:6

confusing 7:11

Congress 65:11 89:13

congressional 128:2

Congressman 127:6

Congresswoman 98:13

connect 108:14 290:2

293:8 312:9

connected 217:5

300:20

consensus 147:8

153:18

conservation 54:3,3,7

54:7 56:1,9 57:16

58:3 59:12,13 60:2,3

60:18 61:18,20 62:17

63:6,9 67:7,8 68:11

71:17 72:10 76:3

80:20 81:8 83:15

85:18 86:18 88:6

90:16 94:7 102:16

106:15

conservationists 80:10

conserving 86:4

consider 73:19 82:8,9

104:9 136:21 160:19

160:20 304:9

considerable 270:3

considerably 27:16

consideration 255:22

297:15,20

considerations 58:9

considered 74:15 75:12

171:10 177:2 179:5

179:16 301:4

considering 127:5

144:9

consistency 25:10

consistent 5:18 15:1

17:18

consolidate 109:17

151:8

consolidated 138:7

153:17 293:10

consolidating 111:2

119:11 153:9

consolidation 150:11

150:12

constant 305:16

constantly 101:10

270:22

constraints 78:3

construction 70:12

consultants 204:12

205:18 206:1

consumer 253:22 260:8

consumption 109:9

110:7 145:22 153:11

contact 41:19 155:15

264:13 289:17

contacting 25:17

contacts 177:4,20

312:1

contemplate 186:10

context 99:8

continue 62:15 79:2

143:8,10 163:13

217:17 225:2,10

244:15 283:3 304:15

318:14

continues 47:8

continuing 172:19

contract 14:14 15:2

63:12 83:9 104:6

222:14 223:5 230:2

240:5

contracted 206:7

contractor 208:22

contractors 26:13,20

27:3 28:3

contracts 26:14 61:16

61:18,21 62:3,7,13,16

62:18,20 63:1,5 222:9

280:5

contribute 143:18

contributing 148:12

control 23:20 37:20

132:1 316:11

controlled 87:4,19

convening 6:5

conversation 5:21 53:9

54:18 73:3 85:13

110:11 178:15 187:9

197:15 234:20,21

270:6 275:9

conversations 84:1

178:5 199:2 204:5

209:8 298:10

converted 87:7,16

convince 222:18

cool 18:21

cooperation 13:14

162:18 192:19 227:10

275:2

Cooperative 299:11

coordinate 97:5 309:17

coordinated 287:14,17

coordinating 92:18

267:6

copy 59:4 290:1

copying 289:22

corn 253:20

corporate 78:1 299:18

correct 30:6 38:11

40:16 47:11 54:2,5

93:19 99:6,15 201:19

222:4 227:4

correction 202:5

correlation 28:9

Cosmic 216:5

cost 27:12 70:4 74:18

74:22 75:3,16,19,20

77:4 95:19 106:7,9,10

165:9 167:19 168:2,4

233:20 237:2 270:3

271:19 272:17 278:8

279:22 314:19

cost- 256:2

cost-effective 256:18

cost-efficient 255:19

costly 271:19

costs 70:9 74:5 78:8

233:18 250:21 255:6

255:19 259:21

Council 269:11

count 51:1

countdown 12:21

counterparts 163:10

counting 64:22

countries 35:17 175:2,8

220:5 234:1

country 19:5,8 34:7

42:21 161:1,12 163:2

182:12 233:18 251:5

counts 253:6

county 46:18 58:21

59:7 100:7 170:20

171:7 219:12 309:3

couple 36:22 38:1 40:6

86:8 100:22 125:6

136:10,20,21 156:1

167:10 172:22 174:11

176:14,17,21 182:5

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
326

189:1,3 195:17

235:16 238:18,19

264:5 270:13 276:13

course 8:7,18 11:15

13:4 15:21 16:4 17:13

17:19 18:7,8 19:16,17

20:6 21:19 25:15

33:13 47:1 51:6,12

68:22 71:10 110:1

171:6 212:11 272:14

272:20

court 56:17 184:5

cover 58:22 61:7 78:13

162:12,14 166:15

215:10 238:3

coverage 24:9,13 25:4

166:8 238:14 254:19

covered 171:14 245:3

287:8 293:14

covering 169:9 170:20

197:12,12,13 199:21

238:6

covers 54:2 161:13

167:3 168:2

cow's 76:22

CPG 78:18

crazy 17:15 312:2

316:21

create 133:5 144:14

creates 100:4

credibility 284:4

Crisp 216:5

CRISPR 91:15

critical 41:10 60:22

90:18 128:14 145:14

crop 16:4 50:19 51:12

64:7,9 66:5 70:14

71:7,14 88:18 98:6

103:2 213:20,22

214:1 252:9 257:22

301:17 302:11 304:10

304:13

crop-specific 229:13

230:5

cropping 78:13

crops 4:21 23:17,18

90:3 92:6 155:11

208:19 210:17 213:15

215:18 216:3,12

229:14 231:5 246:14

247:17 248:7,9,11,12

248:21 251:3

crops/industry 211:5

cross 137:18 169:14

cross-records 37:18

crossings 166:17

Cruz 314:13

CSP 79:16 103:13

Cub 55:19

cultivating 104:16

cultivator 54:13,19

55:17 104:18

cultural 64:14

curious 64:4

current 12:7 87:18

89:12,16 168:10

180:18 252:6

currently 21:11 78:5

87:8 94:10 165:14

169:8 170:6 173:11

177:5 187:1 205:2

208:22

custom 253:2

customer 94:18 281:1

customers 265:9

267:14 268:8 278:8

customizable 192:4

209:16 231:8

cuts 226:22 233:10

cutting 165:1 269:17

D

D 201:1

D.C 26:2 155:15

dabbling 94:14

dad 282:14

daily 161:16,18 272:22

dairy 89:6

Dallas 167:22 277:19

278:1

damage 266:20 269:7

269:14 270:9

Dana's 92:16

dance 134:6,6

Daniel 289:15,20

dark 16:16,19 19:1

Darrel 107:13,18

Darrell 2:2 5:1,9,22 6:1

6:13 56:15 141:16

150:14 151:8 152:21

166:18 176:12 184:4

188:15 211:10,11,11

244:9 247:16 248:4

294:12,14 317:22

Darrell's 317:12

Darwin 1:18 50:5

115:14 258:14 260:14

260:22 265:22 268:11

268:15 308:12,17

313:19

Darwin's 141:11

data 3:4 6:17 8:7,14,17

8:20 9:3,3,13,21

10:12,13,21 11:8,14

11:15,18,19,20 12:11

13:22 14:9,12 15:8

16:9 20:12,12,17

21:10,22 22:6,7,12,19

23:16,20,20 28:17

30:11 32:8,15 33:4

36:1,1,15 37:1 39:20

40:4 42:21 43:7 45:14

45:19 46:19,22 47:3,5

48:5,14 49:4 51:16

85:2 110:14 119:2,2

128:18,21 129:3

136:9,22 137:14

148:3,4,14 149:3,5,6

149:10 150:4 164:3

166:13,14 170:8

171:21 173:17 174:2

174:10 177:2 178:15

178:16 179:10 181:16

182:2,18 183:4,7,11

184:22 186:21 188:7

188:8,11 189:4,4,18

190:11,18 191:8,11

192:1,2,3 195:18

200:11 201:4,6,15

205:22,22 206:17

208:9,11,19 209:2,12

209:14 210:4,8,9,13

211:16,17,22 212:14

212:21,22 213:1,9,14

214:17,19 215:15

216:4,12,14 217:22

218:11 220:7,21

222:3,20 226:17

227:4,5,13,20 230:1

230:12,19,20 231:9

233:13 234:5 236:13

236:18 239:10 240:18

241:5,13,13,14,16

242:1 243:2,21,22

245:6 261:14 263:15

298:17 300:14 305:17

305:19

data's 43:9 46:21

database 135:9 173:19

186:5 238:10

date 93:20 104:6

289:12

dates 310:5

David 1:15,21 36:18,21

93:11 117:5,6 195:14

195:16 214:20 259:10

307:19

Daviya 289:13

day 10:20 144:21

161:20 162:4 164:16

164:16 181:11,11,13

186:6 190:13 193:20

197:21 199:4,21

207:21 227:21 228:3

238:17 244:17 255:13

257:18 270:7 273:4

284:19,22 285:21

291:5,8 292:6 304:10

308:1 314:6

day-to-day 37:4 57:8

days 15:12 17:16

241:18,22 277:16

279:6 286:2 299:7

304:17

DC 1:8

deal 36:6 39:6 41:17

95:19 97:14 98:11

113:2 134:17 149:17

239:14 262:7 268:5

269:7 277:4

dealing 95:2 269:7

dealt 202:19

DeATLEY 1:14 108:11

145:11,12 146:16,19

147:14,18 152:3

decades 18:18 41:14

decide 68:18 89:17

120:6 263:4 319:1

decided 146:3,6

decision 216:1

decisions 36:15 101:6

140:6 216:7

decline 12:19

declining 12:15 38:20

decrease 21:20

decreasing 38:10,14

dedicated 89:5 151:1

200:5 257:19

deem 87:12 280:11

deer 100:18 304:5

316:3,6

defect 266:20

defects 262:5,17,18

defense 141:1 249:5

define 14:16

defined 18:18

definitely 16:6 19:19

25:14 46:15 49:1

55:16 56:11 80:21

84:6 96:21 105:16

145:16 228:9 258:22

260:12 274:6

definition 14:22 133:15

definitions 48:7

degree 47:2

dehydrated 249:8

deja 293:21

Delaware 156:2,5,22

delay 279:5

delayed 10:10

delaying 255:9

delineated 44:1,5

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
327

delineating 43:19

delivered 254:5

delivering 68:20 92:21

93:4

delivery 210:19

Delta 19:3,18

demand 225:8,9

Demographics 2:6 6:20

demonstrate 317:8

demonstration 63:16

demos 208:2

denial 97:15

denied 97:15,16

department 1:1 13:6,12

26:3 39:19 42:19 43:3

43:7 134:4 200:18

275:10 279:11 282:4

301:12

departments 36:11

278:15

depend 82:12 89:2

dependent 113:8

depending 61:8 65:10

69:18 70:6 74:6 79:21

162:5 183:20 198:14

198:18 199:15 252:3

253:7 254:9 264:10

266:22 282:2 304:11

depends 52:14 75:5

96:8 119:16

depreciate 54:22

depreciation 55:1

deputy 2:2 97:4

deserve 279:3,8

design 72:5

designated 2:2 7:18

44:4 93:18 107:18

designed 4:11 67:6

100:11 102:8

desk 218:8

destination 254:6

296:13

destroyed 269:2

detail 22:14

detailed 9:16

determine 24:22 226:22

determined 258:2

determining 43:2

204:18 262:4

Detroit 199:16 237:9

devastating 270:4

develop 59:21 82:6

160:17 175:3 191:20

264:6

developed 116:12

168:19 169:1 171:18

174:4 217:15 266:17

developing 71:20 159:9

175:10 222:11 242:20

283:15

development 115:21

develops 56:21

device 80:22 177:16

218:6

devices 177:7

devoted 217:19

DFA 271:5 272:5

DFO 134:5 135:5

152:22

dialog 117:21 118:19

dialogue 265:8

Diamond 309:8

dictate 258:9

diem 108:3 285:20,20

286:3,4,8,11,16,19

290:17,20,21 291:19

292:2

diesel 168:4,4

differ 198:7

difference 71:13 131:11

270:20

differences 63:20 228:7

253:17 254:8

different 15:17 42:12

42:16 45:4,14 51:13

62:3 64:9 66:3 69:2

70:4,10 71:16 73:2

85:12 90:11 102:2

116:19 117:21 119:19

120:4 129:7 131:17

132:15 137:20 138:10

147:4 161:12 179:14

180:4,6 197:11

198:15 200:10 219:10

220:4 222:10 228:1

230:18 231:5 235:17

237:17 240:8,21,22

241:3 244:4 250:14

252:10,15 253:8

262:13,13 270:1

271:1 272:21 273:22

287:16 303:7 304:13

306:17 308:2 313:19

differently 246:19

253:1

difficult 21:21 47:4

230:16 315:3

dig 55:11,12

digest 218:3,11

digger 75:18

digging 143:4

dimension 275:6

dimensions 275:5

dinner 286:3,9 291:4,8

291:11

direct 24:12 27:10,10

28:4,16 29:6,17,20

74:17 78:10,18 162:3

220:22 290:10 298:4

direction 52:13 130:1

133:2 243:7 276:6

directly 14:19,22 15:3

26:18 29:1,15 59:5

61:17,22 155:15

160:9,9 179:5 197:3

201:22 226:13 227:6

245:11

Director 2:3,3,6,8,8,8

155:10 246:13 247:17

247:18

disadvantage 88:21

disadvantaged 84:11

91:5 103:2

disagree 89:2 201:18

disagreements 228:4

disagrees 202:2

disappearing 220:12

disclose 9:4 46:21

49:11 229:20

disclosing 18:14

229:21

discontinued 10:14

discourse 124:17

discrepancy 265:20

discuss 49:8 108:16

126:15 159:5 173:9

178:7 179:18 188:16

203:8

discussed 40:3 125:10

212:11 218:14 219:17

229:2

discussing 141:8

183:22 264:3

discussion 39:19 40:21

51:8,17,19 53:4 55:6

55:13 107:14 110:22

111:2,19,21 112:3

129:16 139:21 141:14

152:4 178:13 212:3

213:8 230:14 244:14

245:13 247:21 256:7

257:6,14 264:15

270:9 300:14

Discussion/Other 3:9

discussions 176:22

207:8 265:3 308:6

disorientation 136:17

display 197:8

displays 197:5,6

dispute 281:12

disputes 262:6 283:11

disseminate 180:4

188:13 211:16

dissemination 216:17

distinction 181:17

distinguish 66:20

distressed 88:22

distribution 229:19

distributors 302:8

distrust 258:16

dive 214:18

diverse 209:16

division 2:7 56:20

106:5 227:9 246:14

247:18 248:7,21

251:3 254:14 312:17

divisions 43:14

Dixondale 26:11 53:20

122:4

document 39:9 289:9

289:10 291:13

documentation 37:10

292:1

documents 22:9 288:13

dog 312:14

doing 13:15 43:16

45:17 58:3 70:12

84:14,17 102:11

130:2,17,21 131:8

132:16 137:21 141:7

143:4 153:12 164:2

175:5 176:5,6,10

179:17 185:4,11,12

185:18,22 190:21

196:3 203:4,14 205:3

205:5,7,9,19 206:16

206:16 208:2 209:5

209:17,21 224:5

234:6 238:7 239:9

242:19 244:12 255:5

255:21 261:14 277:3

280:19 281:9 308:5

DOL 16:11

dollar 34:22

dollars 18:1 34:9 54:15

64:21 65:10 103:14

285:21 298:16 299:1

domestic 280:7

domestically 220:4

dominates 100:5

Donna 1:17 23:15

129:10,13 139:6,7

140:22 247:1

door 160:7 204:5

Dorn 2:5 6:19 7:1,4

23:19 24:16 25:3 26:9

26:16 27:13,21 28:12

29:11 30:7,9,22 31:18

31:22 32:12 33:10

35:18 37:14 38:7,12

38:19 39:5 40:5 41:8

43:6 44:2,9,17,21

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
328

45:8 46:9 47:15 48:1

48:6,11,19,21 49:7,15

49:19 50:1,8 51:10

52:1 53:3

double-dip 286:6

double-interest 222:13

doubling 93:17

doubt 52:1 53:4

DOV 280:13

DOV-like 282:7

dovetailing 105:22

download 174:10

192:10 231:21

downloadable 218:18

downloading 183:4

downloads 186:5

downside 257:2

dozen 125:11,12

dra 124:6

draft 124:7,9,10 125:20

128:11 138:18 149:14

317:6

dramatically 29:7 50:22

drawing 71:9 90:10

dream 145:10

drift 105:13

drill 75:1

drills 74:22

drinks 150:22

drip 74:3

drive 69:7 212:19

225:10 255:11

driven 53:14 68:12,13

90:6 115:20

driver 45:6 75:19

drivers 32:10 221:11

drives 225:6

driving 43:22 45:5

131:11 224:6,20,22

288:2 290:8

drop 52:10 110:12

271:17

dropped 267:21

drops 105:13,13 267:18

drought 71:5

drove 288:1 290:9

drug 141:2,3

dryland 71:8

dug 90:1

duplicate 187:15,20

duplication 109:5

duplicative 116:20

duties 182:15

dwell 281:16

dynamic 61:8 101:9

230:6

E

earlier 79:15 102:8

293:20

early 12:1 109:5 285:11

307:4 311:4

earning 34:3

ears 160:21

easement 57:3

easier 11:14 185:19

easiest 239:22

easily 51:20 125:9

210:6 217:1 218:18

261:13

East 297:17

Eastern 167:2 251:6

easy 19:6 42:9 208:7,7

210:13 230:19 246:10

247:19 261:16

eat 152:8

echo 317:12

eco-practices 78:15

economic 2:5 216:1

economical 315:1

316:1

economics 6:20 17:15

economy 275:19

Edelman 205:20

edge 72:15

edits 139:2

EDT 1:6

education 308:4

Eeckhout 1:21 93:11,12

158:5 307:20 312:10

316:2,5

effect 28:21 83:10

240:8

effective 63:16 72:14

120:17,19,20 256:3

effectively 219:16

effectiveness 68:17

efficacy 259:12

efficient 76:14 248:10

283:6

efficiently 41:6 206:5,6

261:10

effort 73:1 257:12 317:8

efforts 56:10 63:5 94:16

187:15

egg 7:12 81:21

eight 30:16 144:12

Einstandig 1:15 36:20

36:21 38:6,8,13 39:4

39:8 40:9 42:17 43:11

96:1 97:7,21 99:15

102:18 117:6,7,13

118:1 119:6 195:16

195:17 196:2,9,16

198:2,9 199:6 200:2

201:14 202:9,12,18

204:10 205:1,16

206:21

either 28:13 61:15,22

68:11,18 146:17

227:11 250:10 277:19

elaborating 278:21

electronic 268:6

electronically 183:3

239:10 241:13 263:15

electronics 185:6

element 128:5

eligibility 65:13,16 66:1

82:22 83:3,21 85:4

87:9 88:1 89:6

eligible 67:1,3 81:1

87:10,12 100:16

102:13,17

eliminate 122:10 270:8

eliminated 279:2,18

eliminating 50:14 51:9

email 160:9 177:21

190:13 222:2 245:10

286:14,14 287:5

289:16,21 295:4

301:11

emails 177:19 201:19

203:18 238:9 289:21

embrace 184:22

emerging 56:11 63:22

68:15 76:20 84:16

105:22

Employee 30:14

employees 9:1 30:16

32:4,7 164:15 251:2

employers 317:15

employment 14:3 16:17

employments 14:5

en 35:19

encountered 171:12

encourage 62:10 66:15

318:17

end-users 259:8,19

ends 255:5 299:15

310:9

energy 58:6 88:3

enforcement 8:3

engage 59:8 114:15

116:6 121:22 123:9

124:5 128:10 134:13

138:22 140:18 146:3

149:12,17,19 207:5

262:12 312:21 318:3

engaged 55:8 81:3

114:15 135:1 246:15

300:19 316:16 317:3

engagement 3:6 4:10

107:20 109:13 116:22

122:16 123:4 140:14

146:5,11 184:9 189:6

300:18 301:21

engaging 53:9 81:21,22

110:1 128:7 145:6

215:5 232:12 265:15

317:4,13

enhance 145:8 305:12

enhanced 174:9

enhancement 61:13

enhancements 60:14

enjoyed 4:7,12

ensure 47:6 80:17

ensuring 254:16

entail 92:10

enter 60:20 61:17

entering 182:18

entertain 166:11 181:10

186:11 191:5 208:6

235:8

entertaining 177:19

entire 61:6 80:12

205:19 246:5

entitled 152:16

entity 135:5 149:15

275:16

entries 186:1

entry 183:8 276:14

277:18

envelope 88:4 89:18

environment 87:4,20

171:16

environmental 2:5 6:20

59:11 67:5 101:3,14

environments 86:17,20

EPA 134:3

eQIP 3:5 53:13 54:2,2,9

55:1 56:2 59:12,18

62:2,4,19 64:4,12,22

65:4,9,10 66:1,11

79:3,16 81:1 85:10

86:21 90:2 93:14,17

94:8 98:1,8 99:5

100:22 102:13,17

103:13 105:4 114:3

114:16 149:18

equally 279:12

equipment 21:1 55:3

73:5 74:8,14,15,17,19

75:7,10,21 104:10,13

105:3 106:9 279:14

erodable 65:20

erosion 58:5 59:19 60:9

101:20

ERP 179:6

ERPs 179:6

ERS 27:14

especially 17:9 23:22

26:5 35:14 36:1,7

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
329

42:12 56:10 82:1

229:18 261:17 267:17

essentially 61:11 266:6

established 82:19

101:17

establishing 85:16

estimate 23:1 50:16

estimates 12:5,9,9 14:4

23:5 50:14 51:9

estimation 22:13

estuaries 64:15

et 32:10 37:7

Europe 268:22

evaluate 201:7 283:3

evaluated 102:3

evaluation 72:10

241:19

evening 4:7

events 310:6 316:8

eventually 34:2 138:1

175:6 317:7

evergreen 116:14 117:2

everybody 5:6 7:2

33:16 159:6 166:21

187:7 199:12 238:1

247:14

everybody's 197:5

229:5

everyday 64:3

everyone's 118:6 121:3

evident 117:17

evolved 116:3

exact 126:5 200:15

exactly 14:16 15:7

29:13,21 44:4 99:16

115:3 134:2 142:5

206:13 210:20 231:6

231:7

example 15:9 42:19

99:2 125:8 126:6,8

170:19 196:3 198:3

200:9 258:13 259:3

262:7,22

examples 184:6

Excel 191:13 231:15

excessive 73:1 271:18

excited 275:12 276:10

318:14

exciting 56:12

exclude 44:12 102:14

excluded 15:4

excuse 154:15 186:16

execute 135:6

executive 142:22

executives 121:12

exist 66:3 88:3 240:3

310:7

existing 83:7 96:10

281:17

exiting 141:13

expand 54:1 165:16

166:5,8

expanded 83:3 91:7

expanding 83:19

expansion 31:2

expect 15:22 19:1,9

129:7 151:3

expectations 108:18

122:18

expected 122:8 220:13

expenditure 236:21

expensive 74:12 298:2

experience 48:9 97:14

122:16 138:9 261:1

270:11

experienced 5:15 62:12

102:21 135:22 137:16

experiences 118:12

expert 144:20

expertise 121:21

experts 109:8 115:5

122:1 123:14 144:16

expire 143:7 307:2

explain 31:6 167:13

explanations 107:4

explore 309:20

exploring 93:22

exponentially 65:5

276:9

export 249:5

exporting 261:14

express 112:6

expressed 201:6

extend 62:21

extension 26:4 63:13

extent 14:12 140:4

extra 42:1 72:22 180:22

268:3 271:3,8

extremely 82:5 94:22

275:12

eye 234:11

eyes 160:20

F

F.W 156:22 157:1,3,4

FACA 135:9

face 278:7

face-to-face 11:13

242:20

facilitate 76:19

facilitating 90:9

facilities 95:5

facility 281:20 308:20

facing 128:14 173:22

254:15

fact 27:5 34:5 104:11

270:2 312:16 317:2

fact-finders 7:21

factor 29:3 42:7,15 58:9

70:4,8,19 74:5,18

104:22 106:12 263:19

263:20

factored 75:22 271:19

factors 78:2

facts 7:21

fair 237:20 241:19

279:19 297:21

fairer 171:11

fairly 6:2 17:4,18 45:16

faith 213:6

fall 16:5 105:3 113:17

fall-off 24:22

falls 102:14 233:20

familiar 13:5 91:21

208:8 215:19 240:14

241:17 249:12

family 88:18 317:2

Famous 241:9

Fancies 264:9

Fancy 266:12

fans 156:3

fantastic 220:6 242:2

262:20

far 16:9 17:18 22:14

33:3 35:16 41:8,14,18

45:1 47:7 48:7 54:4

82:2 87:19 89:18

90:13 94:15 106:7

114:18 115:13 128:15

142:2 181:8 198:16

211:17 228:20 237:6

253:9 266:20 269:5

274:12 276:14 293:6

298:10

farm 7:6,9,12,14 8:8 9:7

9:9,21 10:16 12:16

13:5,22 14:2,3,3,4,10

15:3 18:6,17 26:12,14

26:20 27:3 28:3 35:13

45:1 52:22 56:22 62:6

62:6,19 63:15 64:20

65:11,18,18,21,21

83:19 85:9 86:9,10

87:8 89:13,21 91:3,8

94:5 97:9,9,11 100:6

168:20 219:12 275:22

276:5 306:3 308:12

308:13

farmed 90:19

farmer 15:4 25:13 53:1

57:14 79:13 215:21

302:21,22 305:9,10

305:12,19,22

farmer's 89:9 298:9,15

305:18

farmers 8:10,13 10:18

14:17,18 15:5 20:15

20:15 21:7,22 24:1

26:14,18,19 31:7,10

31:11 33:2,7 41:19

44:10 51:6 52:16,17

55:2 57:22 58:3,11

61:17 65:13 79:2

81:19 83:3,20,22

84:10,10,11,15,22

90:18 91:7 98:7

102:20 103:1,2

219:14 301:17 302:11

305:16

farmers' 163:18,19

164:10 236:22 237:1

237:8,13,14 238:6,9

276:1

farmers.gov 58:16

farming 71:8 78:15

84:16 85:19 145:17

276:9

farms 26:11 53:20

100:7 122:4 305:13

306:22 308:18,19

311:18,20

FAS 175:12,12

fashion 200:6 278:13

286:7

faster 256:2

father 159:12

fault 109:6

favor 319:17

fax 238:8 241:19

faxes 238:8

FDA 132:1,11 134:3,18

134:21

February 10:9

fed 184:6

federal 2:2 17:3 61:2

68:7 81:12 107:19

164:17 165:1 206:3

251:2 252:2

federal-state 251:19,20

fee 254:20 255:16

feedback 64:2 80:1

130:10 133:13 136:9

136:12,19 138:7

139:4 184:10 203:21

245:5,9 247:22

265:10 302:10

feeding 165:9

feel 78:21 114:18

115:16 119:18 122:17

129:11,22 145:3

148:11 207:14 222:22

267:12 299:6

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
330

feeling 27:1 289:14

fees 234:15 255:7

fell 155:15

felt 131:8 226:16 260:8

290:18

fence 69:20,21,21 70:1

70:4 75:16 76:18 77:3

77:6,6 100:20 102:7

102:14

fences 67:9

fencing 100:15,16

fertilizer 70:17 73:11

106:19

festival 309:5

fewer 299:21

field 9:13,22 16:10,13

19:4 22:20 25:22

43:16,18 44:18 58:19

58:20 59:9 72:15,18

79:17 82:2 104:16,17

104:18 160:22 170:19

201:21 203:3,5

215:21 258:1,19

fields 261:8

fight 78:22

Fighting 156:11

figure 72:21 75:14

149:16 150:12 182:10

192:18 193:18 216:20

219:8

figuring 293:11

fill 38:18

filter 70:21 73:20

final 208:18 254:6

281:13 297:10 317:7

finalize 126:16 154:1

finally 33:6 47:10 137:7

financial 2:6 56:20 57:1

164:22

find 25:7 26:5 28:9

34:19 46:3 58:16,18

59:1,5,8 101:1,10

109:17 112:13 119:21

195:21 209:15,17

235:9,13 243:14,16

258:22 260:1 274:21

finding 243:9

fine 105:10 110:15

114:20 150:4 166:22

194:1 303:15 312:4

finish 114:9 195:6,8

fire 111:5 171:1

fire-selling 214:12

firm 197:12

first 6:16,17 11:2,3 40:7

85:8 86:14 99:18

100:3 103:8 108:5

109:2 117:7 122:15

124:3 131:1,5 146:7

150:10 199:19,19

212:4 216:3 242:20

256:10 266:17 270:10

285:21 293:12,15

298:13 301:16,20

302:16 306:9,16

307:3 308:1

first- 21:8

fiscal 304:4 310:8

fit 20:3 60:13 64:5

116:7 276:8

fits 75:5 106:2,14

fitting 139:15

five 17:10 49:17 62:21

65:9 68:8 85:2,18

86:5 110:5 113:20

115:17 116:5,12,18

116:19 118:6 120:1,2

162:8 169:7 199:10

228:3 255:3 276:20

279:4 282:2 298:9

five-hour 255:10

five-minute 232:9

fix 59:22

fixed 95:19 222:8,9,15

222:17 223:4,6

224:15

fixit 59:19

flexibility 96:15

flexible 64:17 68:1

224:8,13

flights 287:8 298:4

flip 207:21

flipped 299:13

floral 310:18

Florida 18:8 19:18,18

34:13

flourish 90:3

FLS 7:13

fluctuate 53:2

fluctuation 52:7

fly 277:9 278:9 315:2

FNS 146:3,11,12 147:3

273:20

FOB 161:10,13 192:15

focus 29:18 60:21 61:3

62:4 63:5 81:13 84:12

102:3,5 131:11

151:11 159:8 203:16

254:11 305:7

focused 54:6 63:1

71:19 78:1 83:16 92:5

101:19 102:2

focuses 83:12 87:9

focusing 59:10 62:2

319:9

folks 52:7 56:3 101:9

169:15 170:9 175:8

188:12 201:17,21

203:3 204:3 205:14

211:5 267:20 271:2

272:5 274:11 287:15

follow 25:18 37:21 38:2

38:8 53:3,5 135:17

140:16 152:2 218:20

263:12

follow-up 36:22 37:11

followed 53:10

following 111:22 135:8

137:22 255:13 283:9

followup 93:7

food 95:7 109:9,12

110:6 113:13 114:19

114:22 131:22 134:18

134:22 137:19 138:16

139:13 140:11 145:20

147:19 150:21 152:6

152:9 153:11 222:14

241:14 248:15 249:5

262:3 265:17 273:20

298:9 299:8,10,15,18

302:21 305:20 308:3

308:8,14 312:6,8

313:5,5,5

food-safe 274:2

foot 95:20

force 27:3

forcing 34:6 59:14

forecast 306:19

forecasting 36:7

168:15 306:10

forefront 84:17 92:18

foregone 70:19 71:2,11

foreign 249:16

forest 64:8 66:6 67:14

forestry 67:13 72:1

83:13

forget 310:8

forgive 37:3

forgot 154:16 205:11

fork 308:12

forklift 221:11

form 205:15 218:18

230:1,20 288:10

formal 153:12

formally 201:17

format 130:20 131:2

190:10 230:12 231:19

277:12

formatting 189:18

formed 136:2 137:8,8

137:11

formerly 248:17

formula 72:7 73:13

formulate 190:19

231:10

forth 110:2 113:12

123:8,16 125:5

126:18 134:4,15,19

135:2,11 143:3

188:20 196:9 228:5

262:9 263:1 297:16

301:2 317:8

fortunately 47:1 99:4

Forty 158:14

forum 216:19

forward 6:3,9,12 83:2

84:2 108:19 120:22

121:7,11 125:19,22

126:21,22 135:16

138:21 140:8 153:20

235:7 238:20 244:18

295:1

found 205:3 257:16

272:2

founder 157:6

four 34:9 115:17 118:6

119:22 122:12 162:8

220:3 228:2 276:20

282:2 304:13

FPA 235:20

frame 103:19 122:4

303:21,22

Francisco 220:17

Frank 157:8,9

Franklin 157:7

Frasier 1:15 26:10,10

27:1,20 28:1 29:4

30:1,8,10 31:17,20

32:2 33:6,21 44:22

53:18,19 103:8,15,18

103:22 104:4,7

106:21 111:4,13

122:3,3 127:2,3,15,19

128:3,12 149:22

150:3,3,8 158:12

189:17 190:10,16

304:5 307:10 315:4,7

315:11,15,21

free 155:15

Freeman 1:16 137:4,5

138:6 158:11 220:1,2

220:16 221:14 223:4

223:14,17 225:2,6,9

225:20 226:3 227:20

228:18,22 244:3

278:20 279:21 281:1

309:13 310:20 313:16

315:22

frequently 53:12

fresh 162:11 197:16

212:19 248:17 249:7

249:20 252:8 268:17

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
331

310:17

Fresno 251:7 311:21

312:17,18 313:6,12

314:3

friction 262:10

Friday 163:15

friendly 57:14

front 257:19 266:13

frozen 156:7,9 173:6

249:7

fruit 1:3 5:16 26:15

35:14 89:20 92:7,12

93:9 131:21 197:12

248:19 249:6,8 264:7

268:17 282:20 314:10

fruits 52:12 89:22

199:22 252:8

FSA 81:18,22 82:3 85:7

85:8 94:3 97:15

fuel 168:4

full 6:7 39:10,18 40:13

83:15 108:22 118:5,6

125:14 126:18,19

138:19 139:4 151:3

315:9

full-time 15:15

fully 118:17 119:10

function 261:9

functional 152:9

functions 8:4

funded 98:16,22 100:9

100:13

funding 54:9 55:2 56:9

57:9,13 61:1 65:1

80:5 81:9,11 83:6,11

91:17 92:8 98:15,17

99:5,11 101:7,11,12

102:6 103:21 168:20

175:13 181:4 235:2,9

235:11,13 238:6

fundings 42:2

funds 79:4,10 80:4,12

83:13 93:14,17 98:4

103:9 104:3

further 24:20 167:8

179:18 202:21 251:15

255:12 308:20,22

future 6:7 34:18 35:14

76:7 92:14 103:1

203:13 213:17 214:15

244:13,16 256:1

263:21

fuzzy 49:16,20

FVIAC 3:6,7,8 107:18

290:1

G

game 97:16 148:4,14

265:19 302:10

games 223:18

gap 132:4 268:19

GARCIA 1:16

gardening 87:14

Garren 1:17 23:13,15

23:15 24:15,17 26:8

129:11,13,22 130:4

131:12,20 132:9,19

139:7,7,12 140:19

151:17 247:6,11

299:21 314:8

gases 92:22

gates 227:16

gathering 183:6 239:10

geared 61:14 67:13

85:21 145:16

general 12:18 15:14

21:20 50:11 56:21

67:19 68:5 70:10 72:8

75:15 96:2 197:22

generally 59:17 68:8

73:7 86:2 90:6 250:4

250:16 252:10,16

253:3,19

generate 32:6

generation 34:15,20

generic 241:3

genetics 91:16

geographic 63:20

Georgia 18:11

GEP 14:3

getting 5:6 21:18 23:4

26:12 29:16 32:22

38:15 39:13,14,15,17

40:10,18 43:19 46:4

57:9 60:11 69:4 71:11

73:1 84:7 85:9 86:9

95:18 97:1 107:12

122:20 133:6 140:10

163:7 171:14 172:17

173:5 174:5 178:5

188:2 190:22 203:17

207:16 208:19 209:20

212:10 214:3 215:6

217:6 225:12,17

227:4,22 235:22

237:20 238:7,9

242:17 258:21 265:15

267:10

give 15:11 16:8 18:20

53:16 89:14 118:11

126:11 132:5 151:21

157:5 164:13 168:14

168:15 169:21 176:3

178:13,16 185:9

188:22 190:16 200:14

215:1 223:10 247:6

257:15 258:5 266:19

267:1 282:19 283:13

291:18 295:3 303:8

311:2

given 6:19 78:2,5

102:22 130:1 283:16

gives 68:16 168:8

giving 115:2 132:2

172:15 221:15 226:19

229:20 239:13

glad 7:5 23:10 143:22

160:10 179:17 181:10

glean 130:14 134:14

global 248:12

go 4:13 6:15,22 13:10

20:18 23:9,11 26:6

34:8,12,13,13 37:15

38:3,4 41:16 42:2

51:1 55:9,13 59:6,22

62:13 68:6,21 70:15

71:7 82:11 85:9 96:3

97:21 98:19 100:12

102:22 104:6,8

105:16 107:5,13

109:3 112:17 114:10

117:5 123:22,22

124:14,20 137:9

142:15 143:15 146:8

148:17 149:3 150:13

150:18 151:6 153:20

154:13,22 162:4

167:9 174:1 175:2

176:4 183:11 184:12

184:16 185:21 189:10

189:15 190:18 191:14

192:1,8 194:3 195:5,9

196:2,9 203:16

206:18 210:7 211:14

216:22 218:19 219:11

220:13 223:2 228:4

236:9 238:8 239:14

240:17 241:21 242:21

242:22 243:7,11

245:17 246:5 247:5

255:20 257:1 258:7

259:13 264:18 268:2

268:17 271:12,15

273:4 276:3,4,16,20

276:22 278:6 282:20

284:3 285:9 287:21

290:5,14 293:19,22

295:5 297:2,5 299:17

303:10 304:10 305:2

305:5 306:14 307:12

307:17,19 309:4

311:17,17 313:8,18

313:22 314:19,22

316:12 317:10

goal 36:2 125:16 183:1

goals 66:11

God 223:5

God's 313:13

goes 22:12 31:3 61:21

77:5 163:15 210:21

266:8 274:13 305:19

306:3

GoFundMe 295:21

going 4:4,15 5:1,9,12

5:19,22 6:5 17:16

27:16 28:18 29:7,20

30:20 31:5 34:1,21,22

35:12,15 36:4,17 40:5

42:4 44:15 45:2,3,4,9

46:20 47:18,19,21

48:2 55:14 58:10

59:10,20 63:6 67:1,3

69:5 71:6 75:16 76:6

76:7,8 84:16 87:5,15

88:19,20 90:7 92:13

93:12 101:2,11,13,15

101:18 102:12,17

103:6 107:5,12,14

108:2 117:9,20 118:2

118:2,12,16 123:6

125:4 127:7 132:2

135:6,16,18 136:6

138:3 139:8,13 140:2

141:15,17 147:12

149:21 152:7,21,22

154:9,17 155:14

160:5 163:12 164:8

167:2,19 168:16

173:22 180:21 182:5

183:18 186:12 191:7

199:9,17 200:12

203:13 207:2,9

208:10,16 213:16,17

214:4,6,11,15 217:22

218:2,7,10 219:13

223:18 224:13 225:10

226:12,13,16 227:6

229:19 230:10,13,15

230:18 231:4 232:11

232:11 234:6 235:4

235:10,22 236:5,13

236:17 238:13,20

239:11,13 241:5,21

242:5 244:16,17

246:9,10 250:17

253:11 258:12 259:2

265:11 267:7,11,11

272:9,10 274:1

275:17,18 276:19

278:7 279:11 281:10

284:10,10 285:7,9,12

289:15,19 290:8

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
332

292:11 293:7 295:10

300:16 302:9,15

303:10,15 305:2,3,6

305:11 306:6 307:5

307:20,22 309:18

311:13,17 314:2

315:2,14 317:1

318:19

good 4:3,6 5:2 7:1,3,4,5

23:2 26:16,21 29:11

36:20 64:10 78:14

80:14 86:6 92:6 95:6

97:13,14 99:17

109:13 141:18 153:7

157:17 162:8,19

164:11 176:22 185:9

187:13 188:20 189:6

193:3 194:10 208:1

212:3,14 213:22

214:3 215:6 217:6

219:20,21 224:5

225:12 226:19 228:11

235:21 247:2,14,20

247:22 270:18 273:7

279:8 302:17 304:8

304:21 308:11,18

309:10 312:8

gotten 47:2 96:20

155:19 170:18

government 12:17 92:8

206:4 241:22 276:18

grade 253:1,4 261:15

263:17 264:9 266:12

269:16 272:13 280:4

280:11 283:12

graded 272:13

graders 20:22 32:10

grades 177:14 262:5

267:1

grading 249:2 252:21

253:21 256:12 259:18

260:17 267:12 269:15

280:9,19 281:20

282:21

grand 267:5

Grande 315:8

grant 63:11 81:3 84:4

106:15

granted 286:3

grants 63:10 76:3,4

80:20

granular 200:6

granularity 118:8

195:22

grape 193:13 276:15

309:14

grapes 216:8 309:14

graph 16:12

graphic 15:20

graphically 19:7

graphing 191:16

192:12

graphs 191:13

grass 70:16 73:21

grassed 67:9

gravitating 212:21

gray 75:13

grazing 76:19 77:2,4

great 26:8 60:5 66:19

69:16 79:14 81:7 94:4

102:11 106:16 115:9

118:3 131:10 137:22

154:2 214:1,20 215:4

228:8 235:1 248:3

249:15 257:1 260:3

265:21 275:7 276:12

283:9 287:17 296:13

302:12 306:21 307:21

308:8 318:4

greater 104:14 263:8

greatly 51:4 96:19

green 315:11

greenhouse 92:22

greenhouses 87:6,20

314:10

gritty 85:4

gross 10:7 11:16 18:1

65:17 83:8

ground 20:14 26:1

61:21 86:20,21 88:11

88:13,16 304:16

group 4:10 53:6 79:3,18

80:14,16 115:8

119:18,21 120:6

121:1 123:22 124:1,6

127:10 129:15 131:3

138:4,7 140:6 144:5

145:14 146:20 147:15

148:3 152:3 154:17

154:20 163:13 169:1

210:16 211:4 245:21

293:17 300:3 309:19

317:13 319:8

groups 9:15 29:13 48:9

79:12,20,21 122:12

123:8 137:20 153:13

188:13 210:22 294:18

grow 87:7 88:15 89:3

275:14 276:2

grower 170:22 216:9

223:11 257:22 258:2

258:20 283:14

grower/owner 79:11

growers 50:19 78:4,8

78:10,19,19 79:6,7

89:20 187:12 193:5

193:10 194:5,9 204:2

235:20 267:10 270:5

growers' 282:19

growing 55:20 77:21

94:20 161:2 165:20

167:19 180:4 263:6

276:7,9 294:7

grown 57:21

growth 104:19

guarantee 102:6

guaranteed 101:12

guardrail 70:1

guess 4:14 22:18 23:10

26:19 27:8 32:13 35:4

35:11 42:11 45:7 49:5

54:17 55:20 76:9

91:17 92:3 100:21

111:1,8 129:7 153:6

176:4 195:20 204:12

216:16 231:14 232:1

236:19 237:5 261:12

292:7,12 302:9

guessed 205:16

guest 2:5 6:14

guidance 57:10 75:15

113:6 129:5 289:8

303:8

guides 219:3

gully 59:19

gut 27:1

guy 53:18 97:13 99:16

189:22 190:9 233:3

guy's 45:5

guys 85:10 86:19 142:3

143:20 179:4 181:16

181:17 190:2 201:2,9

201:14 202:13 220:6

235:21 236:4 238:15

239:3,9 261:9,15,22

262:1,12 263:3,3,5,11

263:16 270:16 272:8

273:2,6 277:5,12,14

283:20 284:1 297:14

298:1

H

H- 29:21

H-2A 13:7 14:14,20

27:9,11,15 28:5 29:5

29:14,15,18 34:17

35:3,5,6 42:20 305:15

habitat 58:6 59:21

67:16 78:13

HACCP 249:4

half 19:11 27:2 54:15

104:17,18 125:11

186:6

hand 4:17 82:7,8 83:22

83:22 97:3,4 185:22

186:1 213:3 225:12

244:9 266:9 311:12

handful 251:17

handheld 177:7,16

handle 107:21 164:11

291:3

handled 245:20

handlers 21:4 51:6

handles 57:4 166:14

handling 5:7

hands 55:22 104:17

249:10,14 282:1

handy 58:15 218:20

268:4

happen 33:7,11,18

52:11 125:6 180:16

181:7 185:10,14

203:13 207:14,18

235:3 257:22 304:3

306:15

happened 25:8 26:7

135:12

happening 85:11 128:6

128:6 131:7 133:10

133:17,18 189:7

happens 25:19 111:17

130:22 133:16 134:2

142:21 154:2 155:22

222:12 258:4 274:22

300:16

happy 6:1 114:20 115:8

hard 14:9 66:19 177:15

196:13 200:13 235:2

240:10,20 243:13,15

harmonizing 265:18

Harold 190:1,3

Harris 77:19 257:8

258:12

harvest 16:6 214:4

273:1,4 304:20

Hatch 5:11 6:3 108:20

hate 119:15

Haven 1:12 91:14

135:19 215:12 251:9

274:16,16 302:14

303:10,18

Haven's 219:6

Hawaii 163:3 295:16

296:18,19

he'll 5:14

head 53:20 80:10 155:6

257:8

head's 281:6

health 78:13 104:11,14

healthy 291:16

hear 25:15 53:11 94:17

124:20 188:17 189:2

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
333

189:9 201:3 246:20

291:7

heard 56:1 80:17

120:11 123:12 186:22

200:18 250:15 270:12

291:7 294:15 319:5

hearing 76:16 110:21

169:22 244:18

heart 233:14 234:5

heat 18:21

heavier 149:3

heavily 174:17 272:3

heavy 69:22 148:4,12

296:14

held 189:1,3

hell 159:14

hello 152:18,18,18,19

301:6

help 5:20 6:7 33:1

57:19,19 60:14 63:21

71:2 72:13 126:16

130:16 133:4,6

144:21 149:21 175:3

181:3,9 184:10

185:16 214:7 231:10

256:17 273:12 283:20

290:3 314:17

helped 12:8,12

helpful 5:21 32:12

120:14 131:13 132:10

132:20,21 136:16

140:19 213:10,18

280:14

helping 66:21,22

helps 31:6 66:18 80:3

85:16

hemp 100:18,18 157:14

157:15 168:18 169:1

169:4,5,7

hen 157:11

Hens 156:8,9,12

herbicides 104:15

herbs 199:22

hey 40:22 50:19 75:19

130:16 143:1 170:22

184:1 201:7 206:1

219:7 223:1,5 293:16

301:1 316:10

Hi 43:13 81:16 119:13

141:22 179:1 280:2

hiccups 272:18

high 70:2 93:21 94:21

99:19,20 116:10

222:16 223:7 228:1

240:17 257:16

high-tech 277:20

higher 12:20 22:5 23:17

24:7 38:22 47:22 48:4

169:18 223:1,15

255:6 276:22

highest 18:22 19:2

24:10 239:13

highlight 9:12

highlights 12:3

highly 65:20

hint 157:5

hinting 240:12

hire 27:10 47:18

hired 10:19 11:16 12:5

14:19,22 15:3,21

17:22 24:1,7 29:15,17

47:15

hires 27:10 29:6 216:18

hiring 28:4 70:13

historic 15:14 33:13

37:17 78:4

historically 83:20 84:8

274:22

history 9:6 33:11 85:6

85:16,19,19 86:5

90:19 91:5 99:2

236:10 318:11

hit 69:6 122:22 123:21

219:13 224:18 242:3

Hodges 1:17 97:8,8

148:1,1,6,10,14,16,18

148:21 149:2 287:22

288:14 301:6,9,15,20

302:2,4,7

hoe 104:17

hold 176:6

holding 214:12

hole 75:18

holiday 287:1,11 304:3

home 52:18

homework 247:7,10,13

homing 147:12

honest 96:9 210:8

296:12

honestly 177:22 233:5

honey 165:7,9

hoops 276:3

hop 189:10

hope 4:7,11 33:10

97:19 175:5 236:7

244:12

hopeful 98:21 100:13

102:19

hopefully 5:10 6:1

33:17 47:7 91:9 102:2

158:22

hoping 203:13

horizon 91:9 266:1

hosting 218:16

hotel 287:1,4

hotels 298:5

hour 18:1 27:7 30:15,19

33:9 34:9,22 35:2

48:15,16 106:10

162:8 272:4 293:16

hour-and-a-half 294:5

hourly 13:7

hours 10:7,9 11:9,16

12:5 15:6 30:5,12,15

30:17 242:8 279:4,7

295:4

house 88:17 89:9 199:9

201:2 308:4

houses 199:11

housing 34:16,17

Houston 151:8 179:2

HTS 167:4 171:22

hub 298:9 308:8 312:8

hubs 308:14 312:6

huddles 140:8

huge 219:4 237:2 276:6

294:10 296:22 300:12

312:17

Hughes 2:2 4:3 23:14

36:17 55:4 56:14

107:17,18 108:8,13

111:8,11,16 112:4,11

113:2,14,22 114:8,11

115:3,9,13,15 117:22

119:5,12 120:2,10,15

120:19 122:9 127:13

127:16,20 128:4,20

129:9,21 130:3,5

131:19 132:8,18

133:8 137:1 138:5,13

139:11,16 140:21

141:19 142:5,8,11,14

143:22 144:9,19

146:2,18,21 147:17

147:22 148:5,9,13,15

148:17,19 149:1,4

150:2,9,18,21 151:6

151:13,20 152:5,12

152:18,22 166:22

175:15 176:5 178:18

178:20 184:1,4,4,16

188:15,15 189:15

194:22 195:5,8 207:1

219:21 232:4,6 242:5

244:5,21 245:22

246:2,5,8 248:1 284:8

284:10,15 285:5,14

288:5,9,12,15 289:1,4

290:11,13,21 291:2,6

291:12,16,18,21

292:1,7,9,15,18,21

293:2 294:9,13,17,21

295:2,7,10,14,21

296:2,7,9,19,21

297:18,21 299:8

300:5,8 301:8,14,19

301:22 302:3,6,12,14

303:10,13,17,22

305:2 306:4 307:17

308:15 309:15 310:10

310:14,17 311:5

312:15 313:10 314:2

315:13,17 316:4,12

Huh 316:4

hull 273:4

hullers 273:6

human 58:9 263:19

266:13

humorous 111:10

hundred 27:17

hundreds 95:17

hunger 132:16

Hunt 251:9

hunting 304:5 316:3,6

hybrid 278:3,6

hydroponic 89:3

hydroponics 86:16,19

hyper 81:22 299:19

I

i.e 212:22

idea 15:11 16:8 19:8

110:20 119:15 137:22

164:13 168:14,15

169:21 188:21 197:18

197:19,22 229:17

233:19 237:18 265:10

267:8 281:5,15 282:7

303:16 306:21 307:21

ideal 184:9 311:6

ideally 82:4,7,16 143:11

ideas 119:19 120:4,13

129:16 140:8 149:12

185:1,9 190:21,22

206:10 207:13 208:6

245:10 285:5

identify 66:4 101:18

118:14 277:18

identifying 5:5 58:4

277:17

IFP 310:15

ignorance 37:3

II 20:1

imagine 6:4 68:1 69:3

immediately 104:16,19

immensely 53:2

impact 34:2,14 35:12

35:16 62:13 86:3

88:20 120:7 133:3

305:21

impacted 25:1

impacting 89:16 133:19

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
334

impacts 36:13 147:9

213:20 300:12 305:20

impartial 248:14 267:13

impetus 94:15

implement 61:12 64:5,6

64:12 67:7 68:2,6

72:3 73:10

implementation 57:8

60:1 72:4,6 97:3

implemented 67:21

69:19 70:7 95:1 96:7

implementing 56:22

60:7,10

implications 141:10

implies 73:20

import 165:18 169:8

180:6 220:4

importance 14:12

163:7

important 10:15 20:16

26:6 35:22 60:22

65:22 134:11 181:5

209:7 236:8 239:18

267:17 268:10 283:15

300:9 302:19 304:14

317:16 318:21 319:2

importantly 310:4

imported 165:10,21

imports 166:16 167:4

169:5 172:20 173:5

179:10 225:17

impressed 117:7

impressive 312:1

improve 90:12 96:22

196:14 203:10 232:2

improved 76:15

improvement 58:6

60:11,12

improvements 54:7

88:4 204:6

improving 67:14

imputation 31:2

impute 31:12

imputing 31:11

in- 125:15

in-bound 277:2

in-depth 32:18

in-house 268:7

in-line 254:2 258:4

in-person 125:15

218:16 296:3 308:1

316:17

in-tuned 306:1

inaccurate 226:17

incentive 61:12 62:18

62:22

incentives 59:11 63:6

67:6

incident 269:22

include 41:12 44:11

70:9 71:2,11 79:20

88:22 121:4 168:3

174:9 286:15,16

287:5 288:13 289:17

319:8

included 14:16,21 49:5

110:11 140:13 182:1

289:8,21 301:4

includes 18:10 163:2

166:16

including 8:8 12:12

27:3 39:12 40:12

286:17 317:2

income 14:1 65:17

70:19 71:2,3,12 83:9

275:14,22 276:7,8

incoming 259:4

incomplete 226:17

incorporate 64:2 76:13

79:4

increase 40:3 66:14

76:6 275:14

increased 17:8 38:21

73:16 182:13 223:6

increases 17:11 20:6

275:21

increasing 17:2,12,19

19:20 20:4 38:11

incredible 5:4 275:18

incredibly 216:13 298:2

indeedy 107:17

independence 1:7 8:6

13:17

independent 7:20 8:4

13:8 16:21 17:3

independently 42:5

204:14

index 13:20,21 18:21

India 174:17

indicated 38:9

indicates 60:19

indications 22:22

individual 9:1,4 18:14

32:19 46:21 48:9 49:9

49:11 61:22 62:8

88:18 112:20 163:1

169:11 192:5 209:22

260:6 265:8

individually 18:9 57:22

287:12,15

individuals 81:20

industries 136:8 141:12

260:2 264:17 304:11

industry 1:3 5:16 52:5

58:1 79:20 122:2

128:7 133:4,18,19

134:12 141:10,11

159:19 168:13 169:20

179:7 180:16 181:9

181:12 187:21 200:21

201:5,5 203:14,22

207:17 209:7,18,19

209:19 210:17,22

214:17 216:14 234:22

235:14 239:18 254:18

256:21 261:6,12

264:14,20 269:6,20

274:5 275:1 276:15

300:4,13 310:6

317:18 318:5

industry's 209:10

256:17

industry- 257:16

ineffective 131:4

infant 169:2

inflate 30:20

inflation 62:12,13 65:2

65:4 76:5 83:5,12

93:16

inflationary 78:5

influence 77:2 80:3

influential 77:8

inform 72:13

informally 153:13

information 5:21 9:5

13:13 14:1 15:7,16

21:13,15 22:11 23:6

24:3 26:6 29:2 33:8

37:12 38:14 40:15

46:21 58:15,17 59:1,2

64:1,3 68:9 72:12,20

92:19 125:5 144:22

161:4,9 163:22

164:10 166:20 168:13

169:8,22 170:9,12

172:8,17 173:18

174:19 175:4,7 177:3

177:21 178:2,5,13,14

179:5,8,21 180:3

185:20 186:4,7

188:10,12 191:9

192:9,10 196:22

200:6,12 201:2

202:15 204:19 205:14

219:11 221:1,15

227:16,22 228:15

237:2,7,10 238:2,10

239:2 264:14 273:11

286:16 289:17

informed 308:5

infrastructure 55:7

109:15,21 110:10

114:7 139:22 141:2

153:10 246:16 257:9

Infrastructure/Sustai...

139:17

Initially 301:16

initiative 164:3

initiatives 116:2 298:11

initiator 129:6

inland 64:16

Inman 1:18 50:5,5,10

51:22 52:3 115:10,14

265:22 266:1 268:18

268:20 269:11 274:7

274:10 308:19 309:6

314:5,9

Inn 287:1,11

Innovation 63:10 76:3

80:20 106:15

innovative 76:12

input 26:12 79:19 115:2

168:17

inquired 98:14

inquiry 37:8

insane 299:18

inside 280:19

insights 113:6 130:11

130:14 133:13 143:1

145:1,7 305:4

inspect 283:13

inspected 258:1 299:19

inspection 2:3,8 139:10

246:14 247:18 248:7

248:21 249:2,3,12,19

250:12 251:3,15,17

251:20,21 252:2,6,8

252:16 253:19 254:1

254:4,17 255:6 256:3

256:5,11,15,22 258:3

268:16 274:18 277:9

278:16,17 281:9,13

281:17,22 282:7

293:5 305:21

inspections 3:8 144:3

251:22 252:18 253:5

253:6,17 254:2,8,9

257:21 260:17 261:5

277:8 283:10 284:2

312:17

inspector 255:11 276:4

279:5 280:12 281:21

inspectors 251:17

255:1 261:20 263:6,8

263:8 279:3,17 282:2

install 70:3

installed 266:10

installing 86:2 90:14

instance 18:10 44:16

instances 193:6

institute 270:4

instruct 130:9

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
335

instructions 288:18,21

289:11

insulated 88:5

insurance 94:5 97:15

integrity 37:1

intelligence 54:10,13

54:17

intended 68:20

intent 62:22

interact 94:9

interacting 94:10

interaction 93:20

interest 7:9 147:21

153:2 282:19

interested 146:13

166:18 185:14 190:17

216:21 236:5 275:4

294:15

interesting 17:7 109:7

141:9 146:3 190:9

267:8 270:19 272:3

303:5

interests 89:15 133:11

interference 115:11

interim 68:11,16 96:11

96:20

internal 183:19 202:15

259:18,19,22 260:3,9

269:7,14 270:9

272:18 274:11 280:16

282:4,17 283:14

internally 40:22 202:13

203:2

international 55:19

165:13 310:17

internet 11:12

interrupt 56:14

intertwined 184:21

interviews 161:17

162:3 205:9

intimately 37:5

intriguing 281:5

introduced 130:6

introducing 96:12

Introductions 3:3

inundating 121:12

invest 34:16,21

investigate 24:20

investing 233:12 234:4

investment 54:21 219:4

invitation 166:19

invite 4:16 6:14

invited 141:6

involved 37:3 45:11,13

132:4 133:22 142:13

174:15 215:17 272:8

involvement 272:12

involves 132:14

Iowa 164:7

IRA 76:5 103:20

irrigate 73:10

irrigated 71:7,13,14

irrigating 71:10 73:11

irrigation 54:8 67:9,12

69:5 72:1 74:2,3 75:9

76:15 78:12 85:21

88:6 90:9,12,15,20

91:4 101:20

Isabel 1:16 137:5 220:2

229:11 240:2 245:7

isolated 269:22

issue 37:1 61:4 90:6

95:4 113:16 115:20

126:4 128:14,18

134:8,12 140:10

142:8 144:17 146:5

147:9 167:11 181:4

182:4 227:20 268:15

300:12 305:13,14

issues 58:2,5 59:20

60:15 61:8,14 63:8

65:14 73:17 78:6,7

80:2,18 83:17 88:2

105:19 118:9,15

129:18 130:13 151:11

191:2 203:8,15

208:10 242:10 301:17

it'd 33:1 42:15

Italian 166:1

ITC 172:1,5

item 6:16,17 74:8 93:7

190:17 233:21

items 11:15 41:10

51:16 60:22 107:22

108:1,2 214:4 235:5

iTrade 241:15

J

Jackson 289:20

jagged 16:1

James 1:13 192:14

216:8

January 11:3,6 247:19

Jason 99:16

jazzed 299:12

Jenifer 1:14 108:14

145:11

JERRY 2:6

Jersey 237:11 251:11

Jim 127:10

job 5:3,4 60:5 118:5,6

185:7 208:1 220:7

221:3 224:5 228:8

242:1 275:18

jobs 185:3

John 2:3,8 154:3,6,10

155:10 178:18 184:1

189:1,10 195:13

207:3 244:22 250:15

John's 154:7

join 141:6

joint 246:17

jointly 118:22

Jordan's 127:10

Jorge 1:21 151:6,7

178:21 179:1 181:15

232:4,6,13 245:8

259:13 260:19 261:3

283:8

Jorge's 184:5

judgment 198:13

Judiciary 127:11

juice 249:8

Julie 1:12 36:18 43:14

118:18 186:20 188:17

189:11 194:20 195:4

207:5 211:19,21

217:10 245:5,11

285:7 293:4

July 50:17

jump 55:4 149:19

152:21,22 184:1

207:1 217:11 242:5

264:4 268:11 316:13

jumping 230:11

June 52:10

jurisdictional 131:22

justifiable 42:10

K

Kay 1:8,10 129:1

176:21 230:17 302:14

307:21 317:10

keep 22:6 23:3 25:10,17

28:18 34:1 39:1 47:8

62:10 70:1 95:7

101:22 110:14 117:11

121:7 134:6 144:16

159:16 191:1 201:15

201:16 218:21 232:12

236:17 254:15 278:19

285:9,11 300:9

keepers 249:6

keeping 8:16 106:17

151:9 159:18 234:11

keeps 27:6 28:15

215:21

Ken 209:11

Kentucky 277:6,10

kept 12:19 22:5 38:22

160:1

kernel 269:7,14 270:9

key 167:10 225:11,21

232:22 310:6,6

kick 265:11

Kim 164:1

kind 6:6 8:3 11:18

13:14 16:11 18:5,20

18:21 19:6,6,13 24:6

31:4 38:5 45:12 46:2

49:15 50:11 52:1,4

53:16 74:10 83:21

84:3 85:3 89:11 94:7

95:19 96:8 101:20

103:7 107:14 112:5

119:14,17 139:13

141:2 156:19 159:11

159:17 160:1 168:12

169:20 178:10 180:18

184:21 198:13 202:10

207:15 209:1 210:14

214:21 219:9 237:17

244:13 247:22 253:16

254:7,10,14 256:10

256:17,20 257:15

262:8 263:22 264:2

266:21 269:12,21

270:11 271:1 278:15

287:18 299:15 303:5

308:12 319:9

kinds 52:11 64:9

kinks 302:8

kiwi 166:1,3

know 4:22 7:8 9:8 11:5

11:12,22 12:1 13:9,19

14:10 15:5,22 16:1,22

17:10,14,16 20:13

22:2,3 23:2,21 24:1,5

24:22,22 25:4,11,15

25:15,16,19 27:16

28:13,13,19,20,20

29:16 30:15 31:7,10

32:3,13,17,18,21 33:1

33:1,2,12,16,19,22,22

34:2,3,17 35:1,7,11

35:19,20 36:1,2,5,10

36:16 37:3,17,22 39:1

40:16 41:3,8,15,20

42:8,13,15 43:5,8,21

44:11 45:8,10,13,15

45:17,18 46:4,6,15,17

47:4,12,12,13,19,20

47:22 48:14,14,17

49:10,18 50:8 51:6,11

51:13,16,16,17,19

52:5,5,6,12,15,20

53:1,2,5,6 58:19 59:3

64:5 69:8 73:4,13

74:11 80:4 82:22

87:13 89:15 92:10,20

97:16 98:7 99:2 100:1

102:10 108:3 109:4

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
336

110:3,20 117:18

119:22 120:4,7,9,14

121:6,8 122:5 123:5

123:20 125:11 128:6

128:17 129:13,15,16

131:16,17 132:3,6,10

132:22 133:3 136:7

136:11,13 140:3

143:20,20 144:6,22

145:4 146:2,6,15,16

147:19,20 150:5

151:2,10,11 154:17

154:20 156:3 166:19

170:15 176:17 177:8

178:10,12 180:9

181:5 182:21 183:5

183:14 185:18 186:1

186:3 187:6,16 191:2

191:3,4,10,19 192:6

193:14,14 194:2

195:17 196:11,11,17

198:3,11,14,19

199:10,14 200:8,14

200:15 201:7,10,11

202:13,14 203:12,20

205:4 208:2,15

209:17 210:14,20

212:7,8 213:11,17

214:10,14,19,21

215:16,18 216:4

217:5 218:1,6,8

219:14 220:1,11

221:3 224:7 226:3,3

226:16 230:2,10,17

231:2,14,21 232:20

232:21 233:7,20

234:3,10,11 237:15

238:20 239:5,8,12,19

242:4 244:16 248:17

255:6 256:22 265:19

267:2,9 268:5 269:6

270:20 272:7 274:4

274:17,18 283:21

288:16 289:5,5

292:13 293:9 294:3

306:11,15 312:5

314:3 317:5

know/may 248:16

knowing 236:5 264:21

known 7:12

knows 5:19,19 207:22

L

LA 220:18

labor 7:6,9,10,12,13,13

7:14 8:9 9:7,9,17,21

10:16 12:16 13:5,6,12

13:22 14:10 18:6,17

26:13,14,20 27:2,3,9

27:11,11 28:3 34:10

34:19 35:7 42:19 43:7

45:1 46:18 50:6,11

53:14,20 55:6 70:9,10

70:11 104:21,22

106:19 109:14,21

110:11 114:2 115:21

119:4 127:5 129:4

134:4 137:14 149:11

153:9 246:16 305:12

305:14

labors 47:12

lack 47:3 98:17 283:16

lagoon 74:2

laid 240:3 288:19 289:2

land 54:3,6 57:19 64:9

64:9 65:20,22 66:2,2

66:6 68:4,4 70:20,22

71:7 76:17 80:7 86:16

87:9,10,12 89:5 98:2

100:14 145:17

landing 119:17

lands 67:14

language 98:14

lanyard 157:14

large 18:8 24:6 52:16

52:22 64:10 76:17

95:15 105:13 144:3

174:10 182:10 198:20

198:20 268:9 272:9

275:16 299:17 305:14

312:22

larger 25:4 79:12

119:11 121:21 205:4

211:4 255:4 308:4

311:18

largest 78:18

Las 199:16

laser 54:14 74:12

lastly 39:8 256:20

late 11:18,19 310:13

lately 227:22

Latin 232:13 261:3

283:9

Laughter 53:19 55:15

97:17 111:7,12 141:4

150:7 151:16 154:14

156:13,17 157:10,12

157:18 158:13 244:8

246:11 247:4,8 250:6

282:12 291:17 292:17

293:1 294:8 295:6,17

295:20 296:8,20

299:5 301:7 307:9

309:12 310:3 311:15

312:12

launching 130:14

law 87:18 89:12

lay 240:11

lead 56:21 107:14

114:21 126:4 138:15

leader 234:3

leaders 130:19 147:3

212:13

leadership 297:6,8

312:19

leading 78:21 156:19

leads 111:17 126:11

151:9

leafy 315:11

league 100:2,3,5,8

leaning 125:1

learn 58:14 145:21

learned 56:2 136:4,5

293:14

learning 69:4 145:14

260:11

leasing 75:3

leave 207:5 237:5 238:2

leaving 108:5,6,11

122:10

led 79:17 136:16

left 54:16 116:1 138:12

153:1 155:13 160:8

164:18

legacy 173:12

legislative 127:14

128:1 131:15

lends 261:13

length 62:9

lengthier 164:20

lengthy 163:16 286:14

lenses 117:21

let's 16:5 26:11 33:10

90:10 98:11 104:8

109:3 116:4 119:22

121:4,4,7,7 124:10

125:13 130:20 138:15

141:5 142:20 143:5

144:11 146:6 172:21

176:7 193:14,15

223:1 259:12 269:22

285:15 295:2,3

296:10 300:13 309:19

310:5

lettuce 199:13

level 9:3 19:15 41:11

46:11,19 65:17 68:12

68:13 69:13 81:22

101:17 116:10 123:3

161:10 162:15 252:2

257:16 258:8 272:12

298:21

leveling 98:2 100:14

levels 161:6 175:20

180:6

leverage 61:1 183:10

leveraging 256:16

260:5,6,10

LFP 298:22 301:13

LFPA 298:16 299:2

liaison 134:21 277:15

318:5

license 221:4,7,19

licensees 252:1

life 292:16

light 56:10 203:15

lighter 19:3

lighting 88:3

likes 245:7

liking 259:9

lime 70:17 166:8

limes 166:8

limitations 83:9,10

131:14

limited 10:13 66:1 83:8

84:9 91:6 208:14

210:18

limits 83:9 191:3

line 16:1,19,20 21:9

34:3 35:16 53:17 54:4

54:10 66:18,22 67:1

96:2,16 137:18

259:19,22 260:3,17

266:10 268:17 305:20

lines 20:9

link 59:4,7 166:19

LinkedIn 216:19,20

217:2,4 242:14

links 210:21

liquidate 223:11

list 98:17 124:16,19

164:20 165:16 170:8

172:19 182:6 211:5

221:5,17 222:2

listed 221:6,22

listening 54:18

lit 113:4

literally 113:5

little 5:10 9:6 17:13,21

31:16,22 56:4 60:6,9

60:13 62:2,10 63:10

66:9 71:5,18 73:4

74:11 75:13,14 76:2

77:5,7 81:6 86:16

93:12 95:9 99:8 101:9

102:8 111:21 129:12

136:5,16 145:21

155:17,17,20 158:22

164:20 167:8,14

169:18 171:21 174:8

188:17 202:20 208:12

223:20 234:15 237:3

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
337

248:6 250:17 251:1

251:15 253:1,16

255:12 257:11 271:18

281:11,16,22 285:11

299:13 304:19

live 35:7 304:17 312:3

313:14

livestock 9:14 10:1,4

16:10,13 19:5 22:21

43:16 44:18 64:7 66:5

163:10

LLC 97:9

load 267:6

loads 268:14

Loan 97:15

local 26:1 27:11 35:5,7

58:18 59:6,8,9 79:18

79:19 80:15 81:22

96:4 101:17 219:11

255:1 275:19 298:21

299:8,10,19 308:3

locally 79:17 85:12

located 1:7 89:4 160:22

251:4

location 252:4 297:10

310:2

locations 169:12 180:4

251:14 255:1,3,8

309:16

logical 98:18 263:6

logistics 5:7 303:19

long 10:20 54:21 72:14

73:10 96:6 101:10

144:14 172:11 195:11

205:5 231:18 284:3

longer 47:13 62:12

162:13 171:21 221:21

227:5,15 273:2 277:7

longer-term 48:3

longevity 66:17

look 6:3,9,12 16:12

21:19 29:5,5 33:15,18

37:20 48:22 49:1

50:20 58:11 59:7

68:21 75:6 76:12 78:1

81:7 91:10 95:18

104:8,10 106:6 116:4

145:4 163:12 176:15

183:17 206:9,15

214:6,15 217:20

218:9 229:4 239:11

241:5,10 242:22

243:16,18 244:18

249:20 253:6 256:9

262:18 264:1 267:22

268:1 272:13 276:21

298:8 303:2 305:17

306:17 310:5 311:1,3

314:18 315:18

looked 9:11 33:13

201:10 227:10 242:12

looking 17:9 30:2 32:18

41:3 55:1 59:17 61:9

65:15 72:12 74:7 78:4

79:6 83:1 86:19 87:2

88:2,5 89:13 92:8,18

93:1,14 95:11 96:21

101:1,4,7 105:8,15

134:7 147:5 149:9

183:3 196:11 197:6

198:6 218:12 230:16

230:17 237:18 252:11

252:17 253:9,10,13

253:14,15 254:5

256:1 270:7 273:22

278:14 298:3 305:18

315:19

looks 37:22 76:10 81:4

81:4 100:6 109:1

125:3 139:8 154:1

196:5,5 201:18

211:10,10

loop 292:22

Los 167:22 251:7 252:3

lose 25:9 245:13 306:2

loss 212:13 230:3,4

234:3

losses 171:3,11

lost 40:6 71:3 148:3

171:1 278:5

lot 7:9 13:1 14:6,11,15

15:5 28:5 33:14 37:19

52:7 55:14,18 58:16

61:20 63:12 64:6,18

64:19 66:3 68:14 69:2

73:1 74:13 80:11 83:1

84:16 87:3,5,14 89:2

92:18 94:15 95:13,21

102:1,22 105:16

109:7,11 118:13

119:3 132:10 137:10

139:21 141:15,17

147:16 155:18 159:3

159:21 165:21 170:11

174:12 175:12 185:19

205:3,6,21,21 212:20

213:6,8 218:3,6

219:12 224:19 226:14

229:6,14 233:1 236:4

237:12 238:6 240:7

240:20 245:2 248:16

249:17 252:15 253:8

259:19 262:10,10

267:14 269:2,19

275:22 279:15 296:15

298:4 299:3,11

311:20

lots 36:13 97:22 109:5

109:13 110:1 276:16

276:21 277:3

love 4:9 51:5 59:15

79:16 94:6 145:19

160:13 298:16

lovingly 59:18

low 78:4 159:16,18

160:2 223:11 240:17

301:18

lower 30:21 47:20

223:10 224:17

lowest 19:14

lunch 147:16 150:15,16

150:19 155:13,18,19

250:8,11 286:5 304:7

Lyft 287:6

M

ma'am 319:6

machine 260:11

machines 106:8

mail 11:11 37:7

mailbox 289:22 290:1

main 108:15 137:10

161:6 254:8 274:4

maintain 8:6 252:19

264:7 271:21

maintaining 66:12

major 23:17 100:1

161:1,2 165:20

167:19,20 168:3

251:11 265:16,17

majority 28:2 29:8

145:16

makers 36:11

makeup 79:22

making 5:8 34:3,4 46:1

61:14 96:10 181:7,17

186:22 228:16 235:6

264:16 302:5

man 99:17

manage 101:5 116:18

282:5

management 41:18

67:10,11,12,13 68:2

69:4,5,11,14 70:13

71:22 73:8,15 78:12

82:15 88:7,7 95:8,9

101:20 105:7,8,18

181:6

manager 221:10

manager's 183:19

managerial 227:12

managers 9:15 10:1

21:4,8 176:13 203:3

managing 77:6 131:1

mandarin 309:2,4

mandarins 309:2

mandated 28:10 29:10

mandatory 8:11 40:1

Mango 298:1

manipulate 188:9 192:3

192:11 222:20 231:2

231:10

manner 189:19 220:10

255:19

map 18:21,21

mark 166:5

market 2:3,8 3:7 51:4

123:5 154:8 155:3,11

156:15 158:2 159:8

159:17 160:19,19,20

161:6 162:6,9,11

165:2,5 173:13,21

174:7,19 175:1,3,6

176:2 177:10 178:7

182:16 187:2 189:4

196:5 198:1,17 199:3

199:11 201:18 202:2

202:3 211:15 212:9

212:20 213:12,16,18

214:6,7,15 220:6,9

222:18 223:10,18

224:7,12,21,22 225:7

225:10,21,22 226:6

228:20 229:15 234:13

237:1,2,8,13,21 238:3

238:17,21 239:5,19

240:19 241:8,19

242:16 248:12 252:1

254:4 267:18 285:7

293:3 298:9 300:14

300:14 305:17,18

313:4

Market's 313:1

market-dictated 259:7

marketing 158:3 227:9

237:6 248:8,10 250:7

marketplace 212:7,18

254:16 258:9

markets 159:22 161:2

161:22 162:4,5,13,17

162:19 163:18,20

164:10 165:13,15,17

166:6 169:10,11,19

170:21 182:19,19

187:5,7 196:5,20

220:3,11,14 222:11

223:6 224:9 225:16

226:12,19 227:10,13

227:16 236:22 237:14

238:6,9,11 252:3

261:18 277:6 298:15

MARS 173:7,13,16

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
338

184:19 191:21 207:21

207:22 208:12,16

209:1,3 217:22

232:17,19

Marshall 1:10 86:6,7

88:10,14 89:10,19

90:17,22 91:11 275:8

275:9,21 305:6

307:13

mascot 156:5

masse 35:19

Masser 1:12 43:13,14

44:7,14,20 45:20 47:9

47:17 48:2,10,12,20

49:3,13,17,22 50:3

186:16,19,20 188:14

211:20,21,21 212:17

213:5 214:10 215:9

217:9 218:5 219:1

229:7,10 231:1,13,17

290:6,12 316:10

material 74:10 75:12

290:4

materials 70:15 73:5

267:6

math 286:11

Matheson 99:16

matter 107:8 109:8

113:18,20 115:6

122:1 123:13 129:3

149:7 152:16 292:5

mature 294:7

Maurer 57:6

max 63:6

maximum 48:17 49:12

maximums 47:11,13

meal 286:17 290:16,19

291:13,14 292:11,12

mean 16:17 28:17

30:14,21 31:1,4 32:9

36:5 41:10 42:10

45:11 51:15 52:3

56:12 57:18 62:11

64:17 84:6 92:1 94:19

113:4 117:9 118:3

120:9 131:13 132:6

135:21 146:22 150:22

156:11 160:16 169:11

179:17 180:14 182:11

183:16 185:2 190:8

194:4 198:6,10 200:8

202:19 203:2 207:15

209:17 210:6 213:2

215:4 217:3 218:15

220:17 227:4,21

231:6 233:10,16

234:8,16 242:7

243:16 254:21 261:17

263:7,21 271:19

274:10,17 279:16

292:9,15 298:13

299:14,15 300:18

308:11,16,19 311:2

311:19 314:9

means 7:19 31:15 92:7

104:14 193:19 200:10

234:17 250:18 254:21

273:12

meant 55:5

measure 22:18 72:17

measures 22:10 23:8

mechanical 54:19

74:13 104:18

mechanism 227:18

media 219:7 242:12

medium 95:15 198:21

241:20

medium-sized 64:11

meet 87:22 172:6

254:19 256:16 278:13

304:9

meeting 1:6 4:15 65:14

108:4,9,22 109:22

122:8 124:21 125:14

125:15 138:14 146:7

147:3 183:19 259:11

293:12 296:3,3,4,10

298:3 301:16 303:16

304:9,11 306:5,6,16

307:5,6 308:1,6

309:21 310:1 319:3

319:21

meetings 6:6,8 109:20

117:19,19 124:3

125:7,11,12 131:5

137:17 140:17,17

147:2 153:22 155:18

166:7 183:21 189:2,3

203:6,7 204:2 229:3

293:6 303:20 316:17

316:22

meets 256:3 268:1

281:10 283:5

MELENDEZ 1:18

298:22 319:7,11

member 23:13,15 24:15

24:17 26:8,10 27:1,20

28:1 29:4 30:1,8,10

31:17,20 32:2 33:6,21

36:20 38:6,8,13 39:4

39:8 40:9 42:17 43:11

43:13 44:7,14,20,22

45:20 47:9,17 48:2,10

48:12,20 49:3,13,17

49:22 50:3,5,10 51:22

52:3 53:18 55:16

56:18 77:16,17,18

79:14 81:16 82:4,21

83:5,18 84:6 85:1,5,7

85:11,14,15 87:1

88:12 89:1,11 90:5,21

91:2,13,14,21 92:3,15

93:6,10,11 94:12 96:1

96:8 97:7,8,19,21

99:7,15 100:21

102:18 103:5,8,11,15

103:16,18,20,22

104:1,4,5,7 105:5

106:21,22 108:11

111:4,6,13 112:15,18

113:10,19 114:6,9,17

114:18 115:4,10,14

117:6,13 118:1 119:6

119:13 120:11,18

122:3 127:2,15,19

128:3,12 129:11,22

130:4 131:12,20

132:9,19 135:18

137:4 138:6 139:7,12

140:17,19,22 141:5

141:22 142:6,10,12

143:16 144:1,18

145:11 146:16,19

147:14,18 148:1,6,10

148:14,16,18,21

149:2,22 150:2,3,8

151:7,17 152:2,3

156:7,10 157:7,11,15

158:5,8,11,12 174:20

179:1,4 181:15,22

183:2,9,13 186:16,19

188:14 189:17,22

190:5,8,10,16 192:14

192:22 193:7,12,17

194:1,7,12,16 195:16

196:2,9,16 198:2,9

199:6 202:9,12,18

205:12,16 206:21

211:20 212:17 213:5

214:10 215:9,14

217:9 218:5 219:1

220:1,16 221:14

223:4,14,17 225:2,6,9

225:20 226:3 227:20

228:18,22 229:7,10

231:1,13,17 235:16

236:3,15,19 238:12

239:8 240:2,7,10

241:2,12 243:8,18,20

244:3 247:6,11 257:7

261:3 265:14,22

268:11,18,19,20

269:10,11 274:7,10

274:16 276:13 278:20

279:21 280:2,15,17

280:18,20,21 281:1

282:10,13 283:8

285:2 287:22 288:8

288:10,14,18,21

289:2 290:6,12,15

291:1,4,9,15,20,22

292:4,8 297:12,19,22

298:6,13,22 299:2,6

299:10,21 300:1,2,6

301:6,9,15,20 302:2,4

302:7 303:18 304:5

307:10,20 308:10,16

308:19 309:1,6,9,13

310:20 311:13,16,19

311:21 312:5,10,14

313:1,4,14,16,18,22

314:5,8,9 315:4,7,11

315:15,21,22 316:2,5

316:10 319:7,11,13

Member-Representat...

1:11,12,12,13,13,14

1:14,15,15,16,16,17

1:17,18,18,19,19,20

1:20,21,21

members 5:6 117:1

138:9 147:8 154:6

188:10 256:21 257:13

317:18

Memphis 288:1,2

mention 56:16 79:15

188:16 213:12 232:8

247:2 312:16,16

317:21

mentioned 36:6 67:5

68:22 105:20 106:17

167:12 180:5 189:1

222:1 225:13 226:11

232:17 233:9 246:15

246:21 257:17 259:8

259:11 278:21 279:4

279:22 290:15

menu 152:7

Mercer 164:1

merging 114:19

messages 217:6

messy 135:22

met 154:17 176:16

method 177:22 195:18

methodology 11:22

12:3,4 22:9 263:13

methods 11:11 37:6

54:8 186:8 200:15

Mexican 35:8 315:16

Mexico 34:13,14 161:14

165:15 166:17 173:2

Meyers 190:1

mic 4:17 119:12 157:20

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
339

194:17 216:16 282:11

MICHAEL 1:13 2:7

Michigan 34:12

micro 94:5,7 95:18

microloan 94:4

microphone 112:7

microscope 9:10

Microsoft 208:13

mid-May 183:19

mid-mostly 240:13,15

mid-size 275:15,17

middle 149:20 240:18

270:16 311:1

midwest 68:2 71:6

Mike 77:18 107:1

112:18 140:22 142:2

257:7 262:14 268:12

282:17 285:6

Mike's 267:10

mile 288:5

mileage 288:4,6 289:6

289:6 290:9

miles 76:18,18 288:1,2

308:14

milk 89:7

million 54:15 65:3 76:5

76:8,11 78:20 270:14

min 47:10

mind 101:22 112:16

116:13 144:16 155:16

278:19 287:12 300:10

mindful 255:17

minds 122:1

minimum 30:17 35:6

47:12,17 48:16 49:9

49:12 222:19

Minnesota 312:7

minorities 88:21

minute 167:8 195:14

250:15

minutes 150:22 151:3

154:22,22 246:9

MIOA 174:19

MIRISCIOTTA 1:19

miscellaneous 286:8

mispronounce 154:7

missed 6:13 58:10

165:19 318:5

missing 27:2 142:7

176:21 266:14

mission 57:17,22 161:3

248:11

Mississippi 97:10

301:11

mitigate 278:12

mixed 173:5

mobile 174:3 217:13

model 12:12 31:3 101:4

101:8

model- 12:4

modeling 38:18 39:21

40:4,22 41:6

modern 256:16

modernizing 116:17

139:10

modify 114:4

mold 159:17

moment 4:20 142:1

281:5

momentum 94:20

money 54:21 79:8 83:1

84:2 97:22,22 102:1

103:19 172:7 191:2

233:13 234:10 270:3

270:8 298:3

monitor 77:1

monitoring 72:10,16

monitors 218:9

Monterrey 314:6,14

month 16:2 300:17

monthly 165:7 222:10

260:7

months 6:4 16:5 50:22

108:19 136:10 142:21

154:2 166:7 172:10

214:11 273:5

morning 4:3,7 7:2,3,4

12:1 36:21 86:6 107:3

162:7 197:6 223:21

224:4 228:12 238:22

238:22 239:5,12

morphed 57:20

Morris 1:17 97:8,8

147:22 148:1

motion 104:13 111:2,4

111:10,20,20 319:14

319:16

motto 57:20 161:4

Mound 97:10 288:2

move 6:16 36:19 89:18

98:11 108:19 111:19

111:20 112:2 121:10

126:20,21 135:16

153:20 167:8 236:10

244:5 295:12,15

moved 208:19

movement 166:13,14

moving 5:1 35:16 83:2

84:2 160:18 210:10

215:9 245:16 295:1

multiple 69:1

N

n 16:12

name 23:14 60:19

73:20 99:17 154:7

155:10 157:5 167:21

200:1 205:11 247:16

named 190:1

narrow 133:14

narrower 136:5

narrowing 147:20

Nashville 307:14,15

314:21,22

NASS 3:4 6:18 7:6,14

7:16 8:5 9:1 13:21

50:12 123:4 149:5,19

170:10

NATHAN 1:19

national 7:17 14:1

46:11 68:13 100:19

123:6 132:14 142:15

167:12 168:22

national-level 9:3

nations 174:21

nationwide 83:3 254:19

natural 55:22 57:15

58:2

naturally 113:16 301:3

nature 41:16 73:8

Navy 159:14

NBA 100:2

near 128:15 309:3

nearby 308:13

necessarily 15:6 28:16

29:1 31:14 32:20 38:3

42:9 83:14 87:6 90:15

91:7 102:15 107:22

124:12 200:20 214:7

259:4 260:5 265:1

necessary 6:8 277:5

291:2

neck 76:22

need 22:6 32:22 35:6

35:10 59:21 63:18

69:22 73:2 82:18,19

85:12 90:11,22 95:18

110:17,21 111:18

113:5,11 118:3

119:18 120:9 121:6

122:5,6 123:18

130:16 133:2,4 139:2

140:4 143:1 149:21

152:8 155:19 170:11

170:13 171:22 204:9

207:16 214:10 216:9

217:12 224:1 228:10

232:2,11 234:10

235:1,14 236:20

238:4 254:9,11 261:6

261:19,20 263:7

264:21 287:3,4,17

290:2 291:10 293:14

293:15,19,22 294:5,9

303:1,1 314:3

needed 80:1 86:17

104:20 218:16 219:4

289:7

needs 80:18 81:14

94:18 99:3 114:6

256:3,17 278:13

279:12

neighbor 219:15

neighborhood 58:20

nervous 276:18

net 253:6

neutral 188:5

never 26:19,21 90:19

102:5 130:17 269:21

270:12 287:12

new 42:16 45:15 47:19

55:17 62:18 68:9,10

68:14 69:3 76:20

84:21 86:2 90:14,18

91:8 92:15 94:13 95:2

96:3,5,12 99:13 106:1

106:13 110:16 117:3

122:14 130:13 131:3

143:7,8 161:14 166:2

166:2 167:7 168:1,19

170:19 171:13,19

172:21 180:13 207:10

208:20 210:11 211:16

216:18 236:1,16

237:11 247:18 251:11

266:10 269:12,13

279:14 289:17

newer 63:22

news 2:3,8 3:7 123:5

154:8 155:3,11

156:15 158:2 159:9

159:17 160:19,20,20

165:2 173:21 174:7

175:1 176:2 213:13

234:13 238:17 242:16

285:7 293:3

newsletters 219:12

NFL 100:1

nice 13:2 17:2 19:7

117:10 197:6 297:14

313:9

niche 236:22

Nielsen 212:22

night 127:6 291:11

nights 276:1

nitty 85:3

nobody's 59:14

nods 155:6

non- 31:12 71:13

non-industrial 64:8

66:5

non-organic 68:4

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
340

non-response 31:3

39:5,6

non-responses 46:5

non-skilled 43:20

nonexistent 61:15

NOP 123:6,9 142:15

normal 62:14 65:9

77:10 96:18 182:15

306:13

normally 39:1 42:14

North 164:19 174:18

312:6

Northeast 22:2 251:10

northern 296:22

notable 316:19

note 27:14

notes 97:22 139:1

154:16

notice 81:9 170:11

noticed 316:14

noticing 299:20

November 10:3,8,10

17:18 18:2 307:7

309:3 311:4,7 312:11

NRCS 3:5 53:12 55:8

81:21 83:15 89:22

91:17 94:6,11 97:11

97:12,16 98:1,12

99:21 103:4 109:22

114:2,3 123:4 124:11

124:14,21,22 125:8,8

149:18 300:18,20

301:3

nuances 62:20

nuggets 245:13

null 121:19

number 5:17 11:16

15:10,21 24:4,7,10

26:17 29:9,20 30:17

31:7 36:9 47:15 50:2

50:21 85:9 86:10

94:14 113:11 118:15

159:18 160:12 161:15

169:6,18 170:18

172:2 197:20 199:17

252:10 255:2 275:2

279:2 299:22

numbers 15:5 18:13

32:14,22 36:3 221:18

numerous 98:12

nurseries 216:10

nursery 24:6

Nut 266:1

nutrient 67:12 68:2

69:4,10,14 71:21 95:8

nutrients 72:17

nutrition 109:10 110:7

132:11,12,17 137:19

138:16 139:14 145:20

145:22 153:11

Nutritional 273:21

nuts 51:1 52:12 165:10

173:5 214:22 252:9

nutshell 264:3

O

Oakland 308:17

objective 50:17 52:8

261:7,20

observed 303:4

obviously 29:16 79:8

128:7 134:19 215:5

261:5 263:18 264:1

287:1,6

occupation 9:16

occupational 9:15,18

16:16

occurring 66:7

occurs 38:16 43:5

195:22

October 304:1,18 306:8

307:2 310:9,13,20

311:1,6 315:12

offer 56:7 58:18 59:12

70:6

offerings 84:4

office 5:2 41:17 59:9

82:11 92:15 94:16

98:8 161:13 162:2

187:10 239:11 306:10

Officer 2:2 107:19

offices 25:22 58:19,20

79:18 160:22 161:11

251:4,7,12,14 255:3

276:5

offset 38:20 39:2,3 71:2

73:15 75:2

oftentimes 135:7

oh 6:21 40:5 49:7 56:18

74:8 87:3 95:15

111:16 120:18 126:7

144:4 154:15 186:18

189:15 219:1 243:19

244:2 245:16 247:11

249:15 274:14 285:2

287:11 288:14 295:13

296:2 301:8 303:12

303:13,14 309:1,9

311:19

OICs 203:4

okay 4:6 6:15 24:16

26:10 28:2,6 30:1

31:17 34:7 35:1 38:6

43:13 44:20 47:9 50:3

50:4,5,8 53:7,11 56:2

72:21 83:18 89:19

91:11 97:7,16,20

99:19 103:6,15 104:4

104:7 106:21 107:1

107:11 108:8,13

112:16 113:2 114:17

115:15 116:6 117:7

120:18 124:3,22

125:3 127:15,19

128:3 130:4,20 135:6

147:5,8,22 148:8,19

148:20 150:20 151:5

152:5 154:3,5 155:7

157:2 158:18,21

167:1 173:7 174:7

175:17,17 176:11,11

176:21 180:2 189:12

193:7 194:7,12,19

195:10 204:10 205:1

206:21 211:11 212:16

215:8 217:8,9 219:19

219:22 229:1 232:3

232:12 233:6 236:2

236:15 239:7 240:1

243:19 244:2,6

245:15,16,22 246:1

247:11 249:15 265:21

265:22 287:17 288:12

288:14 291:1,22

292:8,21 293:22

297:7,9,18 302:13

303:17 305:2 308:15

310:12,22 311:8

313:8 314:16 315:20

316:7,12

Okoniewski 2:3,8 154:7

154:11,15 155:7,9,10

156:9,11,14,18 157:8

157:13,16,19,21

158:6,9,14,16,18,21

167:1 175:17 176:11

178:19,22 179:3,15

181:20 182:3 183:7

183:12,15 184:3,14

184:17 186:18 187:4

189:12 190:3,7,15,20

192:20 193:3,8,16,21

194:3,8,14,19 195:2,6

195:10 196:1,8,15,18

198:8,12 199:7

201:13,16 202:11,17

203:1 204:21 205:2

205:13 206:11 207:6

212:16 213:4 214:9

215:8 217:8 218:4,22

219:19,22 220:15

221:13 223:3,13,16

225:1,5,8,15 226:2,7

228:17,20 229:1,9

230:22 231:6,16

232:3,20 233:2,7,15

234:7,12 236:2,12,16

237:4 239:7 240:1,6,9

241:1,11 242:3,7

243:15,19 244:2,6

old 55:19 57:20 69:7,8

131:2 171:18 173:11

185:10,18 207:9,9

210:10 241:17 277:16

289:6

OMB 42:1,6

OMB's 41:17

on- 281:20

on-farm 275:14 276:7

once 69:9 72:7 142:13

145:6 150:10 163:15

167:14 217:16 280:10

284:2,10 297:9

one's 197:12,12,13

one-on-one 218:15

one-week 11:7

ones 19:21 45:4 101:18

167:11 212:19 215:19

270:16

onion 170:20

onions 171:2 197:14

199:22

online 162:21 191:14

Ontario 34:12

open 3:6,9 107:20

110:21 111:2 118:21

125:22 146:10 149:1

160:5,7 177:18

179:16 185:15 204:4

222:8 223:9 230:20

231:22 256:7 257:5

264:15 265:3 269:17

273:10

opening 138:21 269:17

openly 122:18

operate 114:12 128:1

133:20 153:4,14

250:19,20

operating 65:18 75:1

75:20,20 306:10,18

operation 15:4 25:8

71:21 72:15 89:7

101:14

operations 23:21 24:5

24:9 25:5 58:12 60:15

64:10,11,11,14 66:6

76:17 77:10 81:10

86:17,21 87:11,13,20

95:15 113:22 221:10

304:14 312:2

operator 70:12

operators 21:1

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
341

opinion 128:14 218:15

279:17

opportunities 58:12

68:15 80:21 244:12

opportunity 64:18

68:21 102:6 107:21

140:16 159:7 176:3

177:9 178:7 212:2

247:2 312:20 318:3

opposed 79:12 86:3

216:14 275:5 319:19

opposite 81:18 119:15

ops 64:12

optical 261:12

optimize 12:15 256:11

options 309:20

Oracle 173:12 207:9,21

232:18

Orange 170:20 171:6

ordeal 210:7

order 1:6 3:2 111:22

117:8 172:7 258:12

303:8

Orders 250:8

organic 54:5 68:4 71:22

105:16,16 164:3,3

170:7

Organics 123:7 142:15

organization 115:12

174:20 250:16 251:2

254:20

organizations 133:20

174:11 249:11

organize 147:2

origin 177:13 280:7

original 151:11 155:2

276:17

Oshkosh 251:8

outgoing 259:5

outgoings 272:22

outliers 37:21

outline 68:5 122:21

outlines 289:9

outlook 168:8 223:20

output 14:4 237:3

outreach 94:16 123:7

164:2

outside 29:15,18

133:19,22 134:1

287:13 304:20

outsourcing 277:22

over-represent 23:16

overall 12:15 21:20

44:12 109:19

overlap 119:1 141:17

310:6

overlapping 119:3

overruling 42:7

overseas 268:9

oversee 281:21

oversight 79:9

overview 3:4,5 6:18

10:15 56:4

owners 64:8 98:7

P

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

4:1

p.m 108:10 152:17

319:22

PACA 221:4,7,19

pace 254:15

package 191:9 271:16

packaging 258:4

packed 253:21

packer 279:6

packers 21:3 314:10

packing 265:1 308:4

page 44:3 216:20 217:4

paid 14:19 15:3 32:7,10

48:4,15,16 104:3

258:2,21

pain 202:16

painstaking 210:7

Pairwise 91:15 274:17

pan 77:7

pandemic 25:2 316:16

paper 127:8 177:6

185:12

paperwork 272:15

Pardon 291:6

parish 59:7

parishes 58:22

parity 13:21 100:4

Park 251:9

parked 287:22

parking 257:19

parlor 89:7

part 13:16,20 38:16

40:7 44:8 45:9,19

48:21 49:2 63:18,19

86:21 94:8 105:7,17

145:14 165:2 173:8

173:22 195:3,6,8

198:10,11 208:11

211:17 216:21 226:21

235:11 239:18 243:15

248:7 250:12 283:7

289:7 307:4 308:8

partial 38:17 39:5,9,16

40:13,20 41:9

partially 306:9

PARTICIPANT 6:10 7:3

152:10 158:10,15,17

158:20 285:13 296:4

296:6,18 307:12

308:22 309:11,21

310:16 311:11 313:3

313:8,12 314:7,13,14

319:15

participate 59:14 82:20

participation 78:16

79:9 89:16

particular 30:2,5,8 32:5

51:11 53:13 74:5,7

78:10 110:17 116:8

133:12 135:4 141:10

149:9,11 245:3

300:10 303:2 306:18

316:15

particularly 147:21

212:5

parties 204:12,17

205:10 262:13 281:13

partner 60:22 62:1

80:21

partner-led 60:19

partnering 179:6

partners 26:3 78:18

partnership 13:15

60:18,21 61:19,19

81:8

parts 142:10 201:5

226:22

party 192:9 267:13,17

268:10 278:15

pass 112:8 119:12

219:15 259:20 266:13

267:7

passed 235:7

passing 278:17

passionate 121:1

257:14

pasteurization 271:4,7

pasteurize 271:10

pasteurizer 271:12,13

pasture 64:8 68:4

patch 270:1

path 156:20

patience 157:22

pattern 76:20 77:2

Patty 172:14,14

pause 207:3

pay 28:11 34:9 47:20,21

73:6 95:10 213:2

221:6 268:3 282:22

287:2

paying 32:2 272:5

277:8

payment 61:12 69:18

70:8 74:17 75:17 83:9

95:11 106:12

payments 69:15 71:16

78:10,18 95:10

payroll 37:10,16 42:22

payrolls 43:3

PDF 218:18 286:15

peaches 209:20

peaks 16:7

pears 209:20

pen 157:14 177:6

185:12

Penn 164:6

people 5:8 26:13 27:9

28:2,4 29:6 33:16

35:6 47:12 52:5,15,17

54:13 57:19 88:22

105:9 115:2,5 118:7

118:10 119:16 136:8

136:22 169:20 170:11

180:11,14,20 183:6

188:4,6,8 193:2,20

199:8,21 202:1 203:3

203:5,17 205:8 210:1

212:20 215:17 216:20

217:5 218:1,7,21

219:13 221:11 222:8

222:9,12 223:9 224:3

225:21 237:14 238:14

238:16 240:12 241:7

242:21 265:5 267:19

277:19 278:6,22

279:15,16 284:5

289:18,19 299:22

302:18 304:22

percent 17:10,10,14

19:12,20,22,22 22:3

22:21,21 29:8,21

35:10 39:11 98:5,9

122:13 130:3 142:9

162:17 187:3,6,11

192:18,21 193:1,1,17

193:19 194:9,15

213:21,22 215:3

238:13 241:8 255:16

262:18 285:19

percentage 26:13

266:20

percentile 49:18,18

perfect 108:8 141:20

246:2 288:12

period 11:2 68:16 101:3

162:9 168:8 200:19

244:17 273:5

periods 10:17,21 11:4,7

16:3

permanent 215:18

216:12

permanently 68:19

person 40:16 80:10

122:16 125:16 198:18

222:5 277:14,22

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
342

300:12 303:20

personal 128:13

personality 82:6

personally 236:3 311:2

317:20

personnel 227:15

persons 8:22

perspective 92:12

140:12,12 146:12

229:17 267:15 272:17

280:3,3,9,14 282:18

301:4 303:2,7

perspectives 304:16

pertain 300:15

pertaining 305:9

pertains 93:9 300:11

Peru 166:9

pest 67:11 88:7 95:8

105:7,8,18 316:11

pesticides 104:15

105:9,10

Peterson 209:11

phase 107:15

phases 173:14

Philadelphia 167:22

251:10 252:3

philosophies 237:5

philosophy 272:16

Phoenix 161:13 187:10

phone 50:18 52:15,17

52:18 54:16,18 73:3

160:1 161:17 201:19

203:19 218:3 221:12

221:17 228:10,13

phones 156:15

phrase 121:5

physical 132:17 169:11

227:12

pick 100:3 143:8 150:16

153:1 168:12 226:15

266:22 297:10

picking 43:22 266:19

302:7

picture 5:8 226:20

266:6

pictures 260:16 262:16

263:11 283:19

piece 75:10 104:9 105:3

142:7 177:5 215:15

pieces 170:1 242:15

piggybacking 301:10

pilot 209:1,2 227:7,8,19

259:11 260:4 262:16

pinging 110:2 147:4

pistachio 258:15

261:11 266:2 269:6

272:20 273:16 308:13

pistachios 259:15

267:16 268:22 269:12

269:17 270:17 273:3

pitch 149:12

pivot 74:3 231:1,15

pivots 54:8

place 91:1 94:18 121:17

131:10 134:3 141:20

171:17 236:6 274:8

276:2 306:17 307:6

315:3

placed 116:11

Placer 309:3

places 64:6 179:14

306:20 313:20 315:18

plains 68:3

plan 65:18 71:21,22,22

72:1,1,2,8 108:18

151:13,14 294:1

295:1

planning 34:15 58:4

71:20 242:18

plans 71:18 287:16

plant 75:8 88:12 91:15

104:11,13 216:2

253:20 257:17 263:22

planted 213:15,20

planting 67:14 73:12,20

213:14 216:4,7,12

233:17,19

plantings 67:16 73:21

73:22

plants 58:8

plate 319:1

platform 209:1 232:16

play 261:9 262:1

players 275:2

please 112:7 155:8

265:3 285:6

pleasure 7:5

pledges 8:18

plentiful 35:9

plenty 77:13 307:13

314:9

plug 20:11

plus 34:14 52:14 77:20

78:19 189:20

podium 4:16

point 42:18 93:7 112:6

121:2 139:20 143:3

147:7 161:10 165:20

167:12 168:6 182:17

192:16 206:14 209:21

213:6 219:6 221:1

232:2 251:22 253:19

254:1 263:7 265:6

267:10 284:1 294:20

298:17

points 100:22 145:1,7

165:5 187:2,8 201:11

202:16 207:7 212:10

214:20 247:22 251:15

302:17

policies 56:22 180:19

204:8

policy 11:17 36:6,11

45:12,18 56:19 94:5

160:7

policy-making 8:2

political 8:5

pollinator 67:16 78:12

polling 205:21

ponds 64:16

pool 79:7 80:5 98:19

100:12 121:21 241:6

pop 54:16

popped 54:16

popular 51:15

population 83:22 84:2

port 276:14 277:18

portion 173:21 278:18

288:17

Portland 278:5

position 123:17 130:8

134:20 143:13 147:11

positive 136:2,19 155:6

possibility 177:20

260:12

possible 20:17 23:5

57:14 166:21 210:13

319:7

possibly 25:1 34:6

104:8 127:7 132:5

267:9

post 75:18

pot 101:22

potato 199:9,10 209:19

potatoes 197:14 199:5

199:22

potential 5:5 14:20 65:9

105:5 123:16 129:16

132:13 139:2 184:6

188:18 245:9 265:10

297:4

potentially 14:21 88:8

106:12 114:4 269:16

270:4 312:20

poultry 163:11

pounds 78:20 269:2

270:14

power 229:15 230:6

260:2,6

PowerPoint 126:13

PowerPoints 59:4

practically 187:6

practice 60:8,10 61:13

66:10,16,20 67:10,18

67:20,22 68:6,11,18

69:17,18,20 70:6,12

70:13,15,20 71:4 72:7

72:8,14,21 73:10 74:7

74:9,16,21 75:1,7,8

75:11 90:9 92:20

93:22 94:2,22 96:5,10

96:12,14 97:2 102:7

106:1,3

practices 60:2 64:3

66:14 67:7,8,11,13,15

68:10,22 69:17 71:1

71:17 72:3,19 73:7,19

74:1 76:15 78:12,15

83:14,15 85:21 87:10

88:8 92:13 93:3,4

95:2 96:3,20 101:15

practicing 69:13

precise 12:9 22:19 23:1

23:5

precision 12:12 20:14

22:18

predict 213:16

predictor 215:1

predictors 214:5

predominant 32:9

prefer 52:8 178:3

259:19

preferred 177:22

premise 69:10

prepared 257:10

prescribed 76:19 77:2

77:4

prescription 67:20

presence 296:15 297:1

312:18,22

present 119:18 133:9

143:11 183:14

presentation 6:18

36:19 53:9 55:11,12

126:3 154:4,10,18,21

155:2 218:17 245:19

246:6,9 247:21 257:5

presentations 122:17

145:13,16 153:21

175:16 286:15 293:2

presented 45:1 123:14

129:13 144:7

presenter 246:4

presenting 138:18

146:4

presents 113:8 304:18

312:20

Presiding 1:8

Press 1:7

pressure 69:22 70:3

122:10 272:19

pressures 78:6

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
343

pretty 35:8 50:21 54:6

55:14,17 97:12

141:13 216:22 217:6

247:20 259:18 261:13

281:12 288:19 289:3

prevailing 35:3

previous 11:19,20

19:13 95:4 168:9

271:2

previously 176:17

208:2 305:8

price 32:3 170:3 171:11

175:19 178:9 181:18

198:4,4 222:8,9,15,17

223:6,9 224:15,17

233:21 237:20 239:13

241:21 267:20 268:4

298:21

price-setters 229:16

price-takers 229:16

priced 182:20

prices 78:5 162:22

163:5,8,14 168:4

169:4 170:16 171:5

173:2 177:12 180:12

182:1,14,16,17 188:2

198:7 200:22 204:19

223:22 228:1 229:20

237:19 238:22 240:16

298:14,18 302:5

305:18

pricing 27:12 161:18

162:14 179:13,21,22

181:19 198:11 212:5

212:7,8,14 216:14

222:16 224:9 228:7

240:5,5,13 241:20

301:18 302:9

primary 11:15 66:11

principal 7:18

print 266:19

printout 32:4,6

prior 9:20 99:12 116:4,9

120:16 121:22 143:13

148:2 155:12 232:16

271:3,7

priorities 80:3 101:16

priority 63:1,4

private 61:2 64:8 66:5

81:11 212:21

pro 178:10

probably 9:8 20:19 21:5

27:2,18 30:16 32:20

40:12 52:8 53:4 55:18

56:15 67:11 81:7

85:12 90:8 96:16,17

106:1,4 118:14

162:16 177:9 183:10

183:21 186:6 199:10

199:20 207:7 208:17

220:12 226:9 257:12

259:3 280:5 289:22

312:8 318:2

problem 41:2 47:3,7

55:17 61:15 132:22

281:3

problematic 33:20

problems 86:9 164:22

164:22 171:2

proceed 155:8

process 37:5 68:7 79:2

96:22 101:6 127:14

129:12 131:4 135:14

136:10 138:14 139:5

141:18,19 172:11

196:17 200:14,15

202:10 206:15,16

209:5 245:12 263:5

263:10 264:17,18

270:6,18 271:15

275:16 276:2 283:3

292:3

processed 248:18

249:7,20 252:8,20

253:22 286:19 299:18

processes 22:11

193:20 270:3 273:17

282:21

processing 77:21 165:7

253:20 272:15 308:20

processor 266:2 280:3

processors 79:11

procurement 250:8,11

253:2 273:16,20

281:8

produce 13:9 22:15

43:8 88:17 179:7

212:20 216:3 220:13

227:6 234:2 310:18

producer 63:12 65:15

82:15,18 275:13,15

275:15,17

producers 26:6 35:15

38:14 60:5 61:12,22

62:8 63:13 64:7 71:7

75:2 79:20 80:14 81:2

81:2 84:9,20 91:6

93:14,18,21 94:9

105:15 106:9 144:2

161:18 193:1,15

306:22

produces 302:21

producing 34:7 282:3

product 165:3,21

178:10 187:18 197:4

214:13 218:1 224:10

226:11 231:20,20

249:20 250:1 252:12

252:17 253:3,14,15

253:21 254:5 258:5

261:21 262:2,14

263:13 264:9 266:5,7

266:12,17,22 267:13

267:20 271:2,8 274:2

279:7 283:2,5,12

production 53:15,21

54:5 55:6 64:15 70:21

71:1 87:22 104:14

109:14,21 110:9

114:3,14 115:21

129:4 139:21 145:18

148:11 149:11 153:10

233:20 246:16 254:3

282:5 315:12

products 8:11 14:1

175:7 182:20 183:10

237:16 248:18,18

249:8,9 252:9 253:7

profile 159:16,18 160:2

profit 34:4 35:13 102:10

102:12,15 223:15

profitability 66:13,14

67:4

profitable 58:13 88:18

program 2:7 12:21 13:8

42:11 45:15 56:20

59:2,11,18,19,22 60:4

60:4,12,17,18,20

61:16,19 64:18 67:2,6

76:11 77:7,10 78:9,17

81:9 83:8 84:3,13

85:6 86:22 90:2 91:18

91:22 92:5 94:4,4,7

97:2 99:6 100:14,14

101:1,12 102:8,13,17

103:12 106:15,16

107:4,15 114:4,13

121:14 123:7 132:4

142:15,21 147:16

162:21 172:4 223:20

227:1 228:11 234:14

235:18 248:9,19

251:20 259:11 260:4

274:8 281:19 282:8

301:13

programming 147:19

147:20 261:13

programs 13:19 14:8

42:2 47:5 56:7 57:1,2

57:3,7,9,12 58:17

59:13,14 61:10 65:12

79:2,11,17 82:14,16

82:20 83:2,4,7 85:17

85:18 86:18 116:3

126:3 127:18 133:13

134:7 135:15 165:1

270:1,21 281:17

296:14

progress 51:12

progression 116:16

project 80:22 208:16

projecting 298:15

projects 174:13 175:13

promise 247:13

promotion 224:18

promotional 181:18,21

181:22

promotions 224:16

prompt 248:14

proper 222:5

proposal 81:4,14

proposals 60:20

propose 112:2

protocol 256:22 278:16

278:16

proven 63:15,17

provide 7:21 8:13,14

12:8 45:19 56:4 59:16

61:11 71:15 72:12

74:16 75:17 78:18

79:19 82:13,15 84:18

90:15 92:9 99:7 101:2

101:16 102:1 125:5

144:22 145:7 161:3

188:11 200:6 231:9

248:13 249:2,21

255:4 256:2,4,18

278:22 279:11 283:1

286:13,21 293:3

305:3

provided 33:8 260:18

279:12 286:4,5,12,17

286:22 288:6,16

289:11

provider 191:11

providers 179:7

provides 67:4,19 68:5

78:9 102:10 127:17

providing 84:8 133:13

184:11 204:19 248:9

251:17,21 252:1

255:18,18 265:10

provision 91:4

provisions 65:21

public 173:20,22 174:1

201:6 212:22 216:19

publication 13:9 17:22

18:3 32:16 49:5

publications 15:10

publish 9:2,5 15:18

18:7,9,13 19:12,14

20:21 21:11,15 45:16

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
344

46:20,22 49:9,10,20

published 10:5,7,9 18:2

44:8,13,15,19

publishing 22:6

Puerto 296:5,6,12

298:1

pull 44:19 123:7 128:10

162:22 178:15 212:7

230:19 243:21 244:1

pulled 244:7 263:14

268:21 277:5

pulling 263:13,19

pump 75:9

pumping 75:8

PUMPLIN 1:19

punching 234:2

purchase 74:14,17 75:3

106:8 270:15 272:9

272:10

purchased 54:12,19

104:10 105:1

purchases 250:9,11

253:3

purchasing 74:21

258:6 299:8,11

Purdy 2:2 4:16,19,20

130:19 142:22

Purdy's 296:7

purpose 90:14

purview 134:1

push 219:7 240:13

pushback 269:19

pushed 39:22

put 16:15 32:21 65:4

76:22 88:16 91:4

96:16 120:4,21 121:7

121:17 123:8,16

125:4,19,21 126:18

127:7 134:15,19

135:2,10 138:21

140:8 143:2 170:3

171:4,8 173:18

185:21 186:2,3

191:13 202:1 228:14

228:18 230:4 234:18

238:2 248:2 271:9,14

273:21 285:3 301:2

317:8

puts 76:8 190:11

putting 41:1 70:21 72:2

72:6,22 188:19 189:8

238:10 239:1

puzzle 170:2

PVC 70:18

Q

Q&A 55:10 138:22

QA 140:12 247:2

QA/QC 139:12 282:4

QAP 281:18

Qcify 260:16 261:1

266:5

Qicfys 273:11

QR 156:15

qualified 100:20 280:11

283:17

qualify 102:4

quality 22:10 23:8

37:20 51:2 58:5,6

59:11 60:11,12 67:6

72:16 73:17 101:19

113:11 117:20 118:2

139:14 248:14 249:22

252:11,12 254:17

261:8 266:18 281:18

282:5,20 283:1,2,4,5

quantify 93:3

quantities 196:10

quantity 22:6 252:13

quarter 11:20 307:3

quarterly 260:7

quarters 11:1 15:17,19

16:7 18:4

question 14:15 26:16

26:18,21,22 27:5,8

28:15 29:6,12,14 30:2

30:3 39:18 40:7,14,18

41:7 42:17 45:21 49:1

50:12 56:8 79:14

81:17 86:14,15 89:20

91:16 103:9 108:5

122:4 149:15 154:4

156:19 158:1 178:20

189:14 193:4,22

194:10 204:11 205:17

215:3 232:7 233:8

253:14 277:11 285:8

287:19 300:2 303:19

question's 50:6,10

questionnaire 14:18

28:14 44:2

questionnaires 11:4

questions 23:11 36:18

36:22 77:13 83:2 86:8

108:3 124:4,16,17,19

147:4 155:14 156:1

160:11,14 176:4,6,7

195:17 199:8 207:3

220:2 229:6 245:21

257:6 284:8 287:20

292:18

quick 4:4 55:5 86:8

112:16 115:10 123:1

184:2 195:17 207:7

232:4 247:20 249:10

252:6 257:4 264:5

274:17 287:21

quicker 185:20 186:7

quickly 32:14,15,16

33:4 56:13 131:2

160:19 184:18 216:22

220:10 229:8 259:9

quite 9:9 16:22 20:5,7

35:21 58:21 87:17

163:16 249:15

quiz 157:3

quo 84:3

quorum 4:4,5

quote 117:8 238:21

239:11

R

radio 76:21 77:1

rage 29:9 187:11

rail 166:15

raised 95:3 311:11

raising 89:22

ramen 292:15

ramped 94:19

ramps 65:5

ran 97:12

rancher 61:17

ranchers 21:8 58:1

65:14 83:21 84:12

random 284:2

randomly 203:18,19

range 22:4 49:16 64:9

68:4 76:17 187:5

286:10

ranging 22:3

rank 98:2 99:19,20,22

100:7

ranked 98:3 100:4

ranking 98:19 99:22

100:4,12 101:6 275:1

rapidly-evolving

254:16

rare 12:22

rarely 11:18

rate 13:20 17:11 25:1

27:7 28:9 41:11 69:19

74:19 75:21 106:12

167:18 187:3 192:21

215:4,4 289:6,6

rate's 33:9

rates 7:10 10:4,6 11:17

12:6,16,19 13:7,15

18:2,22 19:2,5 20:21

21:14,18,21 22:4

35:12 38:21,22 39:22

43:2 46:13 69:18 70:5

70:9 95:11 105:12

raw 188:11 191:11

205:15 217:21 230:19

282:18

RAYNOR 2:6

RCP 92:1 103:13

re-divide 120:8

re-engage 114:2,3

re-engineering 206:15

reach 26:2 84:14 136:8

190:9 210:16 211:4

265:4 273:12 294:2

318:19

reached 84:15 97:12

reaching 5:14 215:17

read 44:11 288:3

ready 6:21 128:10,11

174:5 194:18 248:1

271:10

real 14:2 78:1 86:8 92:6

112:15 115:10,21

148:12 184:2,18

197:1 235:14 241:16

252:6 264:5 287:21

290:7 304:15

realistic 32:8

realize 170:12 245:2

realized 131:2

really 8:12 9:10 10:13

10:21 12:8,14 13:10

14:21 16:22 17:12,20

20:16 22:8,18 23:1,3

23:7 24:11 26:5 28:21

33:20 36:7,8,12 41:13

55:4 57:8,19,21 60:5

61:3 62:4,22 63:1,4

63:21 69:12 72:1,6,12

72:16,21 81:13 83:16

87:2 92:17 94:17,18

94:20 95:11,13,21

105:1 110:1 113:19

114:15 117:7 121:13

123:1 129:19 131:4

131:11 136:1 143:21

144:1,1,3 149:14

159:9 160:16,16

178:7 181:4 185:9

191:12 196:13 200:12

200:13 204:14 210:2

212:18,20 213:8

214:5,15,16,20,20,22

215:6,15 217:1,20

218:1,20 219:6

223:19 224:9 226:19

228:1 229:8,13

230:15,15 232:10,21

234:22 236:20 238:5

238:20 239:2,5,18

240:10,20 242:17

243:13 244:11,13,15

248:11 249:16,18

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
345

252:7 253:12 254:7

254:13 255:14,17,21

256:8 264:11 266:16

276:15 277:5 280:14

281:15 282:4 289:17

299:17,17,17 306:16

308:11 311:22

reason 42:10,11 110:16

215:2 259:21 306:8

reasonable 315:2

reasons 130:6 226:10

Rebecca 1:20 81:16

86:8 93:13 300:15,17

301:1

recap 55:6

receipt 252:13 291:10

receipts 286:21 287:4,6

289:12,18 290:17,22

receive 99:12 101:11

102:6 130:10 165:11

283:12

received 99:13

receiving 172:3 282:17

282:18

recess 4:15

recognize 74:22 75:19

112:14 318:6

recognized 122:13

recomm 122:5

recommendation 120:8

122:11 123:16 124:8

124:9,11 125:4,20

126:14,17,20,21

128:11 133:7 134:20

135:2 138:1,20

140:14 145:8 146:14

147:10 163:13 184:11

245:19 279:10 300:10

300:22 301:2 304:8

recommendations 54:1

108:18 109:19 118:15

120:22 121:9,9,11,13

121:16 122:22 125:18

127:17 132:3 135:8

135:10,14,16 137:11

138:2,18 143:6,13

149:14 177:2 184:7

186:10 188:18 208:4

235:6 244:19 245:10

293:3 311:10 317:6,7

recommending 217:3

reconvene 4:14 107:6

record 56:16 82:15

107:9 152:16

record's 41:11

record- 41:10

recorded 218:17

recording 37:4,7 78:14

records 9:1 65:22 82:12

82:19 85:16 106:17

recoup 250:21

recovering 255:19

recreational 316:8

reduce 71:4,8 105:13

227:1

reduced 74:20 279:2

reducing 85:22 92:22

reduction 65:2,4 76:6

78:14 83:6,12 93:16

redundant 137:17

refer 59:18

reference 10:17,21 11:5

11:8 15:18 16:3,15

219:3

reflect 265:1

reflects 36:4

refuge 100:19

regard 131:15,20

132:16 139:9

regarding 301:2

regardless 113:10,12

regards 129:12 153:4

Reggie 86:7 123:11

275:8 303:11 305:3

REGINALD 1:10

region 19:17,18 46:3,6

47:13 61:5 63:2 70:7

79:22 251:6,6,7

regional 25:22 60:18

61:7,18 81:8 235:19

235:21 308:3

regionally 60:21 61:4

regions 18:6,15,18

19:11,14 20:5,7,9

21:16,17,18 37:19

45:22 46:10,14 251:5

registration 221:19

regroup 146:7

regular 163:8 181:19

182:1,20

regulation 45:12 68:7

regulations 8:2 40:1

250:10

reimagine 261:5

reimburse 287:2

288:17

reimbursed 285:19

291:5

reimbursement 287:7

reinforcement 237:19

reinforces 243:6

rejection 263:1

related 50:6,11 134:18

191:2 298:7

relation 72:18

relationship 81:17

230:6 273:8

relationships 159:9

160:6,17

relative 145:7

relatively 273:5

release 10:10 68:10,15

174:5

released 95:2 173:19

relevant 9:16 133:6

254:18 264:16,21

relieve 272:19

relinquish 151:21

rely 8:13 12:10 39:20

144:20 256:13

relying 41:6 279:1

298:18

remain 254:18

remaining 124:5

remains 8:20

remarks 285:10 316:13

317:12

remember 99:18 127:9

157:1 176:19 199:18

302:20 318:22

remind 303:19 318:20

remote 251:16 254:22

255:8 256:19 279:2

279:19 283:16

remotely 77:3 263:5,16

removing 266:8

renegotiating 224:14

rental 74:19 75:21

Rentzel 1:8,10 4:6 6:11

53:7 103:6 107:1,11

111:9,18 112:5,13,17

117:11 129:1,1,10

137:2 139:6 150:14

150:20 151:5 154:5

154:12 155:5,8

189:13 194:18,20

195:13 215:12 245:18

246:1,3,7 284:18

285:1 294:12,14,18

294:22 302:13,15

303:12,14 304:6

308:7 309:18 310:1,4

310:12,22 311:8

314:16 315:6,10,19

316:7 317:11 318:2

319:10,12,16,19

repackage 205:15

repackaged 190:6

replace 266:9

replaces 266:9

replacing 212:22

replants 215:22

replicate 204:22

report 8:13 10:19 14:17

14:18 22:15 23:8 28:7

31:7,11 33:2 35:20

37:22 49:10,11 51:12

161:7 162:12 163:15

163:16 165:6,8,21

166:1 167:12,15,16

167:18 168:18 169:1

171:4,8 173:1,2,4

177:10 180:12,14,15

180:17,21 181:13

190:17 197:19 204:19

226:8 243:16 283:13

290:9

reported 12:11 39:17

226:18

reporter 56:17 168:7

182:11 184:5

reporters 33:12 161:9

161:11,16 162:3,9

168:12 173:17 178:4

185:19 196:21 197:2

197:7 198:13

reporting 11:14 28:8

39:16 40:11 110:14

149:6,10 161:14

162:20 165:14 170:6

173:14 175:20,20

181:8 189:4,5 193:20

203:4 204:6,7 211:15

225:13,18 245:6

reports 13:10,21 38:1

43:8 156:16 160:2

161:8 165:4,18

167:11 169:5 170:4

172:22 180:7,10

181:9 186:9 190:19

191:14,15 202:6

209:18,22 213:2

214:3 242:13,17

repository 200:17

202:7

represent 79:12 123:13

303:7

representation 15:14

25:20

representative 204:9

316:18

representative/ 318:4

representatives 123:12

128:8 144:12 147:13

317:20

representing 78:20

163:1 300:4

reproduced 12:7

reputations 260:3

request 172:1,12 181:1

215:16

requested 59:16

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
346

requesting 175:2

require 85:17 88:15

269:17

required 86:13 112:19

112:21 125:12,13

147:12 250:9 272:6

292:2

requirement 85:3,6,19

85:20 113:3

requirements 65:13

66:1 83:21 250:12

requires 70:11

research 118:9 143:4

researchers 14:8

170:10

resend 202:6

Resilience 92:17

resolve 150:15

resonate 142:12

resource 58:2,4,7 60:1

60:15 61:14 63:2,4,8

64:19 66:10,12,18,21

67:2 79:5 80:2,6,18

83:17 84:9 86:1 88:2

90:7 91:6 102:9

105:19 200:5

resources 38:4 42:3

56:1 57:16 61:3 206:3

206:3 210:18 217:18

respect 101:16

respond 143:12 222:22

229:11

responded 301:15

respondent 41:20 42:1

respondents 213:22

responding 40:17 46:7

222:21

response 12:16,19

21:14,17,20 22:4

25:16 31:10,13 38:21

39:9,10 41:11,12

46:13 108:7 146:15

187:3 215:3,4,6

255:10,11 284:9

292:20 319:20

responses 24:19 29:17

38:15,17 39:11,12,15

39:16,17,18 40:11,13

40:13,19 41:5,9

responsibilities 256:4

responsibility 78:2

132:12

responsible 79:1

responsiveness 38:10

rest 245:5 318:15

restructuring 146:8

148:22

results 129:7 203:21

255:6 281:22

resumed 107:9 152:17

retail 162:20 163:8

167:15,15 169:4

182:1,19 212:6,18

213:1 229:12 241:15

243:16

retailer 224:12 262:7,22

retailers 224:15,20

229:19 230:3 234:2

262:3 265:17

retails 224:6,8

retain 181:16 268:14

retained 268:13,21

290:2

rethinking 275:4

return 279:7

revenue 34:4

review 172:10 189:17

reviewing 43:3

revise 11:19

revision 11:17

revolt 33:7

rice 64:16

Rico 296:5,6,12 298:2

rid 295:9,11

right 5:8 7:1,8,10 11:10

19:10 20:18 25:3

26:11 27:13,20 28:12

29:4,11 30:7 35:18

36:13 37:13,14 38:18

44:17 46:9 47:15 48:1

48:5,6,19,20 50:2,3

53:3,19 54:2,5,12,15

55:11 56:3 68:1 69:6

69:9 70:20 78:22 85:1

89:8,10 90:1,20,21

91:2 92:20 95:19

97:17,22 103:8,10

104:7,11 105:11,12

105:14 107:17 108:4

108:10,15 112:2,9

113:17 115:15 118:18

119:5 120:1,10 122:9

123:19 124:11 127:5

127:19 128:20 129:9

131:9,12 132:18

138:5,13 139:16

141:16 147:17 151:9

151:17 152:14 154:10

154:16 155:9 156:10

156:18 157:2,16,19

158:14,17,20,21

161:5 164:12 169:3,9

171:13 174:22 176:7

176:21 179:11,14

181:21 183:8,12

186:22 189:21 190:7

194:12,16 195:10

199:6 202:17 204:21

210:9 211:6 212:6

213:4 214:9,11 218:4

218:10,22 220:8,15

221:13 222:20 223:3

223:13 224:2 225:1,5

226:2,4,7 228:17

230:22 231:16 232:18

233:14,18,21 234:6,7

234:12 236:13 238:7

238:11,22 240:6,14

241:1,21 244:2,6

247:5 248:3 259:5

261:10,15,18 262:1,6

262:6,9,14,20 263:2,3

263:7,14,17,20,20,22

265:5,18,20 272:10

275:19 276:6 277:2,6

277:21 283:14,22

284:5 285:14,16,17

290:11,21 291:20

293:17 295:21 298:17

298:20 300:1 302:6

305:10 306:3 309:9

319:9

Rio 315:8

rising 27:6,6 78:8

risk 32:21 34:21

RMA 94:5 170:9

roasted 270:14

roaster 270:17

roasting 271:15

Robert's 111:22 117:8

robotics 54:10

robust 118:16 259:18

role 56:21 135:5 182:13

262:1

roll 110:17 235:22

269:22

rolled 217:17

roller 100:6

rolling 227:17

rollout 235:18 242:18

Ron 77:14

Ronnie 57:6 107:1

rooftop 87:14

room 1:7 4:9,10 5:12

118:3 144:13 151:4

152:20 223:22 248:16

249:11 307:3 316:18

rooms 87:7,16

Rotterdam 165:15

roughly 136:22 169:9

170:5

round 99:5,10

route 153:19 179:20

routinely 180:8

row 98:3

rudderless 129:12

rule 99:4 279:6

rules 40:1 89:16 111:22

117:8 265:19

run 5:17,19 59:20 79:18

99:10 106:10 138:3

164:21 173:12 222:1

267:3 272:13

run-through 257:4

running 5:13,15

runoff 73:2,16 105:21

runs 174:2 210:4

rural 64:12 82:1 84:21

251:16 254:22

Russia 174:16

Ryan 2:3,8 245:2 246:8

246:12,13,15 247:5

247:16 257:7 276:13

284:12

S

Sacramento 277:19

308:11 309:4 311:20

312:4

safe 95:7

safety 109:9,12 110:7

113:13 114:19,22

131:22 134:18,22

137:19 139:14 140:12

153:11 248:15 266:15

299:15 305:20

Safety/Consumption

138:16

sake 266:15 313:13

sale 212:19 213:6

sales 85:2 163:17 193:5

193:5 197:3,16

198:22 199:1,2

267:15

salespeople 162:10

197:9,11 199:17

220:8

salted 270:15

sample 11:10 12:14,19

18:12 21:13,17 22:5

23:3,4 24:8,11 25:3

25:12 38:21 39:2 46:1

46:2,10,15 263:14

269:1,1

sampled 23:19

samples 263:20 268:13

268:14,21

sampling 22:12 45:21

46:13 162:19 187:13

188:1 205:7 271:6

San 220:17 251:8

Santa 314:13

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
347

SANTIAGO 1:11 295:8

295:13,16,18

saturated 209:21

save 270:8 298:3

saved 186:5

savings 104:21

saw 4:9

saying 33:9 35:4 48:13

93:13 117:14 122:11

125:18 134:8 155:21

185:22 191:2 198:3

204:16 205:13 229:11

231:7 232:1 260:1

269:13,15,20 273:18

says 30:4 196:6 246:8

282:14 317:5

scale 95:13 144:3

scales 216:22

scenario 81:19,21

sceneries 64:13 66:4

schedule 294:2 307:22

scheduled 279:5

scheduling 316:21

school 147:16 250:8,10

SCI 123:6 140:14

science 92:6 106:5

scope 36:12 38:4 40:17

129:19 136:5

SCP 2:2,3,3,8,8 3:7,8

290:1

scratch 266:21

screen 154:13

se 265:19

seafood 180:12

seal 271:9,11,14

seamless 207:20

search 174:9 183:11

210:8,9 243:1

searching 183:6

season 16:6

seasonal 15:22 94:21

seated 107:12

second 27:8 111:6

176:6 184:15 186:15

195:12 200:16 207:4

217:11 230:11 281:3

289:11 306:6 307:3

319:15

second-parties 187:14

secondary 226:21

secretary 1:11 52:21

295:8,13,16,18

section 46:6 166:14

167:3 172:15 184:19

244:4 250:10 268:1

secure 8:21 235:2

security 8:19

see 4:10 15:11,17 16:5

16:13,20 17:1,2,14,17

17:22 18:21 19:6,7,13

20:5,11,20,22 21:5

22:2,17,20 24:18,20

28:17 33:3 35:15

37:11 45:8 52:8 57:16

63:18 75:8 76:12

87:14 89:14 94:6

96:14 101:8 105:21

110:16 139:12,15

145:19 153:14,16

154:21 166:17 167:20

170:10,14 172:21

180:11 185:14 191:15

197:1,8 201:4 209:2

213:12 217:17,20

231:3 236:20 237:20

239:15,20 273:11

277:4 302:18 303:5

304:15 309:6,13

311:18 312:21 314:22

seed 70:16 263:22

seeing 5:13 17:16

155:5 275:4 299:14

seen 28:21 115:22

155:1 208:15 272:12

274:18 316:19

segment 212:11 300:13

select 169:6 266:7

selected 81:14 301:5

sell 239:1

selling 197:4 199:13

229:15,18 267:15

seminar 173:9

send 11:3 81:9 166:19

262:8 285:6 289:16

293:4 295:4

sending 203:18 279:14

283:20

sense 24:14 31:19

44:21 96:2 98:20

114:5,11 115:1 127:1

127:3 130:15 136:2

142:16 148:19 176:10

191:9 201:8 245:14

296:11

sensitive 134:11

sent 171:9 190:2

210:21 288:19,22

separate 21:9 91:20

113:1

separation 131:17

SEPC 235:19

September 104:1 310:8

310:10,11

sequestering 92:22

sequestration 78:14

91:19 92:7,14

serious 186:13 233:12

266:20

Serratos 1:20 81:16,17

82:21 83:18 85:1,7,14

298:13 299:2,6,10

300:1

serve 84:1 94:1 264:17

303:8

service 7:17 56:1 57:16

59:6,8 65:18 82:10

84:20 86:11 99:11

121:15 154:8 159:12

190:6 219:12 222:14

241:14 248:8 249:19

255:4,9,16 256:5,16

256:18 262:4 265:17

278:22 279:3,8,12

318:9

services 58:18 63:13

82:13,18 83:20 84:8

116:3 127:18 130:13

133:14 134:7 135:15

145:20 248:15 249:3

249:4,4,12,13,18

250:3,13 251:14,18

251:22 252:7 254:17

255:17 256:12 273:21

277:7 296:14 303:1

session 118:21 123:19

140:15 153:1 246:18

293:11

sessions 79:18 117:18

set 8:2 80:5,6 92:20

93:8 116:13 126:7

196:21 197:5 240:16

261:21 262:16 298:18

309:19

sets 174:10

setting 5:6 13:15 93:4

94:16 298:21 300:22

302:5

settings 66:3 67:21

69:2 95:13,14,18

seven 17:14 29:8 77:22

share 43:6 75:17 82:11

134:19 135:4 175:8

188:9 241:9 319:2

shared 43:9 209:11

sharing 59:3 217:4

Sharita 289:15,20

shed 170:22

sheer 278:8

sheet 239:11

sheets 259:20,22 260:3

260:17 268:17

shellfish 64:15

shelling 266:10

Shelly 289:20

shift 144:14 149:1

245:2 254:10

shifted 222:7

shifting 143:14 223:18

ship 149:19 262:21

268:22 271:16

shipments 166:15

167:4 168:11

shipped 161:19,21

shippers 161:18 169:15

187:12 193:4,9 194:5

194:9 235:22

shippers/growers

193:9

shipping 161:10,12

165:5,20 167:12

168:2,6 169:20

182:16 187:1,8,12

192:15 212:9 221:1

221:10 225:16 251:22

252:13 253:18 254:1

265:2

shirt 57:5

shop 92:16

short 175:21,22 224:12

273:5

shortages 191:17

shorter 62:10 215:20

215:20

shortly 253:12

show 15:21 16:11 19:3

21:16 55:22 63:16

104:12 159:3 165:4

167:18 168:10 196:21

213:14 249:10,14

312:2

showed 45:10

showing 180:8

shows 167:17 173:1

shrimp 64:16

shrink 116:21 294:4

side 85:8,8 97:1,3

102:12,15 254:3

258:15 259:4,8 272:2

298:20

sideline 300:19

sign 57:10 190:13

196:6

silo 273:4

similar 51:13 62:19

206:13 280:9 281:18

283:19 285:6

simple 32:1 117:12

simply 48:12

Simultaneous 97:17

151:19 284:17,20

292:14 296:1 307:16

310:19 312:13 313:7

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
348

313:21 314:12,15

316:9

single 16:2,2 19:17

79:13 144:21 221:5

221:18,20 223:21

224:4 228:12 261:21

300:11 316:17

sir 86:14 103:4 181:14

235:15

sister 65:19 82:8,9

sit 133:22 142:17 203:7

297:13

site 59:2 126:12 270:22

272:22 281:21

sits 149:6

sitting 218:7,8 306:12

situation 90:13 96:9,18

situations 88:9 96:19

six 17:10 19:22 29:8

116:5 169:7 172:10

199:10 298:9

six-week 240:5

size 12:14,20 18:8,12

23:3 136:22 177:13

188:1 198:14,21

205:7 263:14 297:15

sizes 11:10 21:13,17

22:5 38:22 39:2 46:16

198:15

skew 52:12

skiing 307:12

skilled 43:20 70:11

skip 55:11

sky 297:11

slanted 46:7

sled 312:14

sleepless 276:1

slide 17:6 19:22 20:4

22:1 77:11 126:2,14

159:3 167:9,13

184:13 248:2,5,5,22

250:2,22 252:5

254:12 255:20 256:6

306:4

slides 257:5

slight 60:9 62:20 96:13

slower 220:12

slowly 220:12

small 20:19 52:17 61:5

64:10 81:19 95:13,14

97:9 98:6 103:1

105:12 117:16 135:20

144:2 198:21 218:6

236:22 255:2 275:15

275:17 304:2 308:21

309:19

smaller 205:7 254:22

smart 83:13,17

SME 293:19 294:1

smooth 20:8

snapshot 19:11 176:2

SOC 9:17 20:21 21:9

44:12,18 45:9,16

social 78:2 219:7

242:12

socially 84:10 88:20

91:5 103:2

soil 58:5,8 60:8 72:17

95:6 101:20 104:21

105:21

sold 175:7 190:1,5

216:15 237:16 284:11

solely 87:21

solicit 80:1

solid 267:13

solutions 92:9,10

solve 119:20 133:1

300:7

solving 300:3

somebody 25:6,8 27:19

47:19 52:16 75:15

185:8 196:4 202:2

218:19 267:11 272:22

314:17

somebody's 87:15

somewhat 67:22 74:6

315:1

soon 6:2

SOP 263:12 283:18

sorry 4:18 40:8 48:10

48:11 50:8 56:14

151:17 154:16,16

157:22 165:19 174:8

175:12,14 186:19,19

189:4,16 205:11

268:12 282:10,14

288:20 299:2 301:9

306:22

sort 37:8 38:7 55:5 56:8

60:19 61:7 69:15

75:21 79:8 80:3,10,11

89:8,17 93:1 95:10

101:7,8 105:14

106:20 107:21 108:17

122:20 123:19 135:22

183:14 286:6

sorter 266:5,10

sorters 20:22 261:12

266:14

sorting 266:8

sorts 57:11 67:16 70:14

73:6,14,22 88:5

105:21 308:2

sounds 98:18 105:6

272:10 314:2

source 90:11 188:6,7

212:15 259:1

sources 61:2 81:11

209:8

south 18:11 164:18

166:4 174:17,18

251:8 307:11 308:20

308:22

Southeast 18:10 19:2

19:19

southern 307:18

space 78:21

spam 219:9

speak 4:17 94:19 154:3

159:7 161:17 169:13

169:14,16,19 197:3,3

216:8 223:9 235:12

258:15 259:13 317:16

SPEAKERS 2:5

speaking 50:15 56:15

97:18 107:18 151:19

152:22 175:18 188:15

250:4 252:11,16

272:7 282:13 284:17

284:20 292:14 296:1

307:16 310:19 312:13

313:7,21 314:12,15

316:9

spec 262:8,9,16 265:18

283:5

special 6:14

specialist 208:19

specialists 160:12

174:22 175:1

Specialties 232:14

261:4 283:9

specialty 4:21 23:17

97:9 98:6 103:2

155:11 210:16 211:5

229:14 246:13 247:17

248:6,9,10,12,21

251:3 252:9 301:17

302:11 304:10,13

specific 44:3 50:2 63:2

71:20 80:5 109:12

115:20 134:7 135:15

136:9 219:17 257:17

301:22 318:10

specifically 26:15

50:15 51:18 54:11

57:1 65:5 80:5 92:11

93:18 94:12 103:21

259:17 260:15,18

specification 258:10

281:8

specifications 253:2,4

259:7 260:9 261:21

264:12 265:9 273:17

281:10

specifics 195:22

196:12

speed 272:17 277:3

spend 103:19 244:11

292:9

spent 98:8,8 104:2

141:7 238:5 292:4

spin 281:6

spitting 177:12

split 149:20

spoke 213:11 301:10

316:18

spoken 176:12

sponsors 4:8

sports 156:3

spot 234:19 257:19

311:7

spread 46:2

spreadsheet 230:21

231:19

spreadsheets 231:18

square 95:20

stable 13:2

staff 2:1 59:9 160:12

180:22 193:6 197:4

197:16 199:2 205:4

265:12 312:21 318:15

staffing 164:13,14

stage 244:7

stages 169:2 208:18

stagnant 191:19

stakeholders 58:1

79:19 159:10 160:6

stand 5:8 157:3 311:14

311:14

standalone 110:15

standard 9:18 28:14

67:19,19 68:5,16

75:11 180:17 231:4

252:19 262:16 264:22

266:8 267:22

Standardization 264:6

standardized 212:14

230:12

standards 76:13 96:11

96:20 249:7 252:18

252:21,21 264:7,11

264:15

standing 5:11 125:17

standpoint 114:1

135:14 146:14 275:13

297:3

stands 171:15

start 18:5 47:19 95:17

96:4 112:15 124:13

129:18 136:1,12

142:17 143:4 152:21

153:1 172:3 182:18

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
349

201:7 207:16 233:21

264:11 269:15 283:15

started 4:14 9:19 69:4

97:11 118:19 131:1

159:1 165:11 173:4

starting 12:4 17:9 87:14

281:6

state 14:3,7 18:22

23:14 25:21,21 34:11

59:7 61:2,6,6 63:3,18

63:19 68:12 80:8,9,11

80:13,16 81:12 86:10

86:11 90:6 91:18 96:4

96:5 101:17 164:6,9

164:17,17,18 277:13

278:6,14 296:16

302:1,1,4,9

state- 9:2

statement 99:21 100:10

123:17 125:21 126:15

134:20 147:11 148:2

149:5

statements 143:13

states 1:1 18:7,9,15,16

19:11,14 20:3,7,8

46:10 57:10 61:7

68:14 109:5 161:15

164:21 179:11 220:3

237:17 296:22 297:5

298:18 307:18

station 77:1 82:2

statistic 27:18

statistical 7:19,20 8:6

42:7 43:9

statistician 25:21

statisticians 12:2

statistics 7:17,21 8:15

9:5,17 18:12 31:2

45:15 51:11 127:4,5

status 84:3 135:11

stay 23:10 25:5 97:20

139:18 149:17 184:14

234:16 287:10 291:16

303:15 314:5 318:18

stayed 287:1

steel 70:18

step 33:19 114:21

151:14 276:6 289:15

310:15

steps 22:12 108:20

Sterman 211:21

stewardship 60:4 78:11

78:17

stick 282:14

sticky 28:19

stockpile 273:3

Stockton 251:8

stop 99:3 192:6 220:9

268:19

stopped 226:10

stops 37:8 234:9

storage 165:6

store 237:10

stores 163:1,2 243:9,21

straight 31:1,4,15

strange 37:22 52:4

strata 24:8

strategies 72:4 73:15

101:21 105:17 120:13

strategy 105:7,18 106:3

132:14

stratify 24:4

strawberry 209:18

stream 70:22 90:11

streamline 270:7

streamlined 109:18

streams 59:20

strip 70:21

strips 73:20

strive 254:19

strong 193:18

strongly 294:15

structural 70:17 74:1

75:11

structure 89:5 108:16

109:3 123:2 130:17

structures 87:21

struggle 234:16

struggled 231:3

studied 92:11

studies 92:19 93:2

95:22

study 68:17 91:18

96:14

studying 106:16

stuff 93:15 177:15

190:19 235:19 237:12

240:8 242:8 246:21

247:2 269:5 277:17

287:18 292:19 317:2

stumble 14:6

sub- 251:13

sub-items 12:7

sub-levels 262:17

subcommittee 6:6

108:17 109:9,10

110:5,6,10,15 115:22

116:8,11 118:7 119:3

123:15 124:2,15

125:11,12,17 126:4

126:10,17 127:8

128:8 136:3,13,14

138:17 139:1 144:13

147:8 149:7,12 153:5

154:18 176:17 186:20

188:18 189:5 195:20

200:7 201:3 211:22

212:1 229:3 242:11

245:6 256:9 293:6,16

299:16 301:1 316:22

subcommittees 55:8

109:4 111:3 113:1,20

113:21,21 114:12

115:13,19 116:4,14

116:19,22 117:2,15

118:20 119:11,22

121:21 123:2 129:20

131:6 140:5 153:8

163:7 195:21 200:3

246:17 293:9

subject 109:8 113:17

115:6 122:1 123:13

125:9 204:11

subjective 50:14,16

51:9 52:10

subjectives 50:18

submit 60:20 222:3

261:15 287:7 289:12

289:12,18,19 290:16

290:17,19 291:10

294:19 297:6,8 317:6

submitting 263:15

286:18

successful 103:4

succession 34:15

sudden 207:20 208:9

suffered 233:10

suggest 123:17 151:9

294:19 314:17

suggested 180:1

186:13 314:21

suggestion 116:15

135:20 136:19 163:9

200:2 202:22 209:10

216:17 304:22

suggestions 113:11

144:10 166:10 177:18

179:20 180:5 200:14

200:21 207:19 209:14

210:15 242:14

suite 83:15

summaries 225:19

summarize 215:11

summary 55:8

Summers 209:9

super 81:19 276:16

supervisors 9:14 10:1

21:9 43:17 181:1

235:11

supplement 35:7

supplements 14:4

supplied 270:17

supplies 225:11

supply 78:6 166:13

167:3 172:15 225:7,8

225:9,12 226:4

support 12:9,13 69:1

71:21 80:9,19 82:13

82:17 83:6 108:20

118:17 119:10 133:4

133:6 248:11 251:14

supported 64:13

217:18

supporting 87:21 90:15

317:15

supposed 81:1

sure 5:8 8:20 20:16

23:4 24:8,13 25:6,10

26:7 42:15 43:4 46:1

47:4 51:10 55:14,17

57:12 77:13 84:14

95:6,12 112:9 119:7

140:13 141:11,21

142:19 143:9 152:10

152:13 182:5,22

186:22 194:15 196:15

196:18 204:16 207:4

208:20 218:12 223:16

233:5,15 236:20

240:9 241:11 245:4

245:11 257:3 264:16

264:20 265:4 266:4

266:14 274:1,6 278:3

281:9 288:13 297:6,7

297:8 301:3 309:7

312:9 315:10 317:7

319:4

surgical 63:7 81:6

surprises 14:11

surprisingly 19:16

267:19

surrounding 213:9

survey 6:18 7:6,9,11,12

7:13,13,14 8:9 9:7,13

9:20,21 10:16 12:7,17

13:5,22 14:10 16:17

16:21 17:4 20:9,15

22:14,15 26:19 29:21

30:3 32:14 36:7 42:13

43:2 46:18 128:13

216:9,10 224:3

228:19

survey's 9:10

surveys 8:8,12 12:11

12:18 18:13 29:2 39:7

42:13 51:3 129:6

176:9

survive 159:15

Susan 1:20 143:15,16

290:14

suspect 28:4

sustain 149:11

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
350

sustainability 55:7

66:13 78:1 109:15,22

110:9 113:13 114:7

139:22 141:1 153:10

246:17 257:8

sustainable 58:13

60:16 278:12

Sutphin 1:20 143:16,16

144:1,18 157:7,11,15

288:8,10,18,21 289:2

290:15 291:1,4,9,15

291:20,22 292:4,8

308:10,16 309:1,9

311:13,19 312:5,14

313:1,4

SW 1:7

Swartz 1:8,10

sway 80:11

sweet 209:19 311:7

switch 148:8 207:12,21

switched 299:7

system 32:3 33:5 71:22

74:2,3,3 88:14 89:4

90:10,12 167:7

171:15,18,19,19

172:18 173:11,12,13

173:14,16,18 175:4

185:21 186:3 207:9,9

207:10,12 208:20

211:18 236:4,17

263:5 264:1 281:10

283:16 284:5 287:14

systems 9:18 67:9 86:2

208:8 259:18 308:3

T

table 17:7,20 45:10

128:10 145:21 193:13

266:13 303:6 304:7

305:1

tables 231:15

tacking 255:7

tackle 184:20 201:12

202:19

tag 77:14

tags 298:8

Tahoe 307:12

take 4:20 8:19 25:8

31:14 32:17,20 33:18

33:19 34:20 36:11

46:12 63:14 70:20

78:11 91:10 96:6

100:1 104:12 107:6

125:7,8 134:3 154:21

159:3,21 178:2,21

180:21 183:17,20

186:12 188:8,12

192:1 195:11 202:21

205:14 207:2 217:20

228:12 229:4 236:6

240:17 257:3 259:6,9

265:11 271:11 273:18

276:21 285:9 297:14

297:19 299:12 307:6

314:6,18 316:2,5

takeaway 147:5

takes 13:12 171:21

172:9 275:22

talk 7:6 17:21 26:11

45:18 50:13 52:20

67:12 85:10 96:5

108:17 122:18 123:1

123:15 142:2,3

147:16 160:10 163:5

184:18 191:21 193:4

193:5,5 194:6 197:8

197:11 202:1 208:22

212:4,5 213:11,19

217:21 221:8 238:15

238:17,18 242:7

250:17 253:12,16

254:13 260:14,19,22

265:4 282:16 293:19

303:16 309:20

talked 29:12 69:16 73:4

95:9 96:11 102:7

138:15 153:8 195:18

196:10 204:1,11

208:12 210:22 242:13

246:18 259:16 287:11

293:10 298:12,19

299:16

talking 6:9 37:2 43:18

52:21,22 73:5 74:11

93:16 118:18 119:4

123:11 129:18 144:2

162:10 164:2,6

167:16 188:19 199:9

199:12,20 200:8

205:10 213:1 221:9

221:16 222:4 224:2

235:5 238:14 240:21

244:10,14 265:12

305:7,10

talks 165:8 276:17

tally 286:11

target 50:2 80:6

targeted 61:4

targeting 63:3 80:12

task 204:18 205:19

206:4

tasked 133:12 135:8

149:9

tasks 204:13

tat 258:18

tax 130:12

taxed 241:20

teach 69:7

team 35:19 56:21 77:15

92:16,17 100:2,5,8

145:9 257:9,12

273:19 288:16 318:16

teams 117:19 151:8

283:14

Teamwork 145:9

tease 259:12

teaser 155:17

technical 22:9 23:7

71:15 80:8,16 82:13

97:1 174:13 233:3

technically 295:11

techniques 69:1

technologies 56:11

63:15 64:1 76:12

256:11,12 275:6

technology 56:12 63:17

74:13 91:15 105:22

106:5,7 173:8,10

174:1 184:21,22

191:7 192:1 195:3

210:10,11 211:17

256:2,16 260:5,11

274:19,20,22 305:11

technology-based

277:4

telephone 11:12 37:6

tell 29:20 96:1 99:22

104:16,19 105:9

156:4 161:7 170:17

180:14 191:16 199:3

telling 193:19 202:5

238:15 310:7

tells 243:1

temperature 253:5

template 126:11

temporary 15:14

temptation 274:20

ten 30:16 35:1 49:18

116:5 120:3

tend 188:6 212:13

Tennessee 86:7,10

275:9,10 276:11

315:17

term 47:14 54:21 72:14

128:15 175:21 240:14

240:15 241:3

terminal 161:22 196:4,5

200:9 254:4 261:17

terminals 195:19

terminated 221:21

termination 128:15

terms 5:5 81:21 82:22

83:18 85:1 143:6,14

214:5,21 215:5

219:17 230:5,11

298:21 307:1

territories 58:22

test 68:14 273:10 274:8

tested 268:3 271:3

testing 195:16 269:3

271:6 274:12

Texas 18:8 179:2

296:17 307:11 315:4

315:6,7,14

thank 6:2,10,11,13

23:10 43:11 50:4 53:7

81:14 85:14 91:11

93:9 97:7 102:19

103:4 106:21 107:2

140:19 157:21 159:6

179:14 188:14 194:13

206:21 244:20,21

247:14 275:7 276:10

280:1 284:12,13,15

285:1 296:2 317:9

318:12,14,17

thanks 26:8 248:4

themself 224:18

thing 7:14 13:2,13 24:6

31:5 32:13 76:1 83:11

89:8,11,17 92:11 93:1

105:14 109:2,14

119:8 126:5 131:9

135:3 137:10 139:13

144:15 145:2 227:12

231:14 237:13 243:8

244:15 250:14 266:6

269:12 270:19 278:21

293:4 305:15 312:15

316:14

things 13:2 25:19 31:15

32:19 33:15,17 34:17

36:14 37:16 39:3 40:6

41:9 51:2,7,14 52:11

52:18 53:1 57:11

59:15 67:17 69:16

70:14 73:6,14,22 74:4

79:1,9,16 80:22 81:7

88:6 95:10 105:2,21

108:15 109:7 121:17

122:12 123:12 133:3

133:18,21 134:3,16

137:15 140:11 144:19

145:3 159:4 176:14

177:14 183:22 184:6

185:18 191:6,16,20

203:20 211:6 212:12

225:21 228:21 229:5

233:1 235:6,8 236:8

240:22 242:4,10,15

243:3,4,5,10,22 245:1

245:4 246:18 252:10

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
351

252:22 253:8 259:16

264:5 266:21 269:18

270:5,20 273:10

282:6 302:16 304:21

305:11,21 316:21

317:1 318:7,19

think 4:8,22 16:16 21:5

22:1 27:14,14,16 30:3

33:1 35:16 37:1 38:9

38:16 40:10,20 44:3

50:19 55:10 57:20

60:7 64:15,20 68:7

69:20 74:1,8 76:1,7

76:16 91:3 92:11

95:15 100:10 105:5

107:6 110:13,20

111:9,13,18 115:1

117:14,15,17,19

118:1,12,16 119:2,8,9

120:13 121:20 123:1

123:18 124:17 125:6

125:14 126:1 131:6,9

131:13 132:20 133:2

136:1,15,18 137:5,15

137:21 139:18 140:9

140:10 141:9,13,14

141:16,17 144:13

146:10,12 147:7

148:7 149:16 150:9,9

150:10,18 152:6,19

153:3,7,19 154:9

159:17 162:1,1 163:6

163:11 164:7 165:15

166:2,3,9 168:16

169:6 170:19 172:11

174:5 175:14 176:20

181:9 182:8 183:2

187:17 188:6,20

189:8 193:4 200:4,22

201:18 202:13 206:8

207:7,16 208:14

210:15 213:11 214:19

217:15 218:11 219:3

219:6 220:21 222:20

223:19 224:21 225:11

228:10,11 229:13,22

230:13 232:10 235:9

235:13 236:14,17

238:12,17 239:17

240:2 241:8 245:8

246:3 261:9,22,22

265:6,14 266:3 267:4

269:8 271:5 272:4

274:20 277:8 281:4

282:16 283:15,21

284:3,6 285:20 286:7

286:8 287:8,14,16

288:3,6 293:7,8,13

294:2,4,7 295:14

296:9,10,12,13,16

297:1 299:14 300:9

300:18 302:16,20

304:14 306:21 307:21

308:7,17 312:7,10

313:5,16 318:21

thinking 108:21 109:16

116:20 122:21 123:3

124:15 146:4 149:6

153:4 176:20 243:6

310:15

thinner 46:19

thinnings 67:15

third 187:14 204:12,17

267:13,17 268:9

278:15 304:10

third-part 273:8

third-party 205:18

249:18 256:4 261:6

277:14

third-party-kind 261:7

Thomson 127:6

thought 40:6 114:10

145:13 214:16 242:9

278:4 282:8,15 289:4

303:4 304:7,21

317:12

thoughts 235:17 319:5

thousand 201:10

thousands 76:17

three 19:22 34:9 45:6

62:3 63:4 65:7 73:7

96:17 113:21 115:16

116:21 117:4 168:11

174:6 197:11 218:9

220:3 228:2 236:9

251:5 276:17 279:6

282:2 304:13 308:14

three-hour 294:3,6

three-week 168:8

threshold 172:7

threw 292:22

throw 160:15 184:8

225:21 226:5 241:7

287:21 297:4 315:4,6

throwing 110:19 205:20

thrown 55:15 285:6

Thumbs 153:18 245:15

Thursday 1:5 247:12

286:3 291:11

tie 87:10 127:22 270:11

tie-breaker 261:7

tier 66:9

tiered 282:22

ties 171:22

till 74:21 75:1

tillage 74:20

time 32:17,20 38:4

41:18 42:20 56:12

57:21 68:17 73:13

77:13 91:6,8 96:2,16

98:5 101:4 103:18

107:3 110:4 112:7

118:5,6,8 122:4 128:5

130:18 141:7 143:3,6

153:2 159:4,22 167:2

170:16 172:12 175:11

177:13 185:10,18

197:1 200:19 205:5

206:18 207:5,15

215:20 217:20 219:20

223:8 226:8 236:18

242:4 244:11,17

255:10,11 258:11

259:20 260:7 262:10

262:15 264:12 277:3

280:12 284:14 294:6

294:22 297:20 303:21

303:22 304:12 307:6

317:14

timelines 207:15

210:14

timely 161:3 256:18

times 10:22,22 14:6,11

15:5 51:5 62:9 63:13

71:1 82:9 90:16 99:10

105:12 116:20 170:11

170:18 176:18 182:5

205:3,6 227:21 228:3

228:3 238:16,18

255:8 258:20

timesheets 206:17

timing 128:13 278:8

TIPA 166:7 204:1

235:20 315:21

tit 258:18

title 7:10

tobacco 55:20

today 6:16,17 59:10

122:6,6,10 123:14

137:6 140:15 141:15

175:22 197:17 233:3

247:20 255:22 265:2

299:13 304:7 317:3

Today's 152:6

told 4:18 98:18 99:18

100:15 271:2

tomato 277:8

tomatoes 261:17 277:2

ton 78:7,7 83:1

tonight 247:13

Tony 2:5 6:19 53:8

tool 192:2 208:12,13

210:3,19 231:9

tools 174:9 191:13

209:3,13 217:4

218:21 231:12,22

top 53:17 98:17 182:15

topic 53:12,13,14 116:7

116:10 124:4 145:4

303:15

topics 79:5 109:11,11

123:11,20,21,22

125:10 140:11 305:8

total 30:10,11,12

103:16 164:14

touch 56:6 63:10 74:10

76:2 77:12 100:21

128:21 133:21 134:8

134:13 139:20 144:19

145:1 234:13 285:17

287:18 318:18

touched 207:7

tour 309:7

tower 89:3

towers 77:1 88:15

toxin 269:1

traceability 249:5

271:21 280:13

track 14:10 16:9 27:21

266:18 283:22

tracks 16:22 17:4

tract 86:10

tractor 32:10 44:1

75:18,20

trade 241:13,14

traders 51:5

trading 52:6 168:9,16

181:12 239:20 241:13

traditional 84:21

traffic 217:16

train 40:6 178:3

training 8:19 175:1,3

218:15 219:5

transactions 258:8

transition 34:6 54:4

207:20 208:7 210:14

245:17

transitioning 211:18

transparency 98:10

transparent 21:16

248:10

transportation 167:4

227:8

travel 107:22 108:2

255:7 285:17,18,22

287:14,16,20 288:16

292:19 297:20 306:14

306:19

traveling 288:7,11

tree 67:14 73:21

trees 51:1

tremendous 240:4

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
352

tremendously 283:21

trend 37:19,20 38:10

40:18

trending 39:14 46:14

trends 33:12,13 37:18

38:9 167:12 168:6

trials 63:16

tribes 84:11

tricky 75:14 281:11

tried 177:6 178:14

187:20 188:4 204:13

204:17 227:7

tries 205:22

trip 314:6

triple 276:21

troops 26:1

trouble 243:9

truck 45:5 166:15

167:18 276:17

truckability 191:17

truckloads 197:20

199:4

trucks 167:19 227:17

true 57:21 72:7 224:7

230:8,9 239:19

307:17

truly 238:20 318:4

trust 188:6 258:7

263:20

trusted 248:13 258:22

truth 20:14

try 11:13 25:6,17 36:8

36:14 40:3 57:13

58:11 62:9 63:5 64:2

71:8 73:2 75:14 80:19

97:5 119:20 134:6

149:20 164:8,9

168:14,15 170:1,2

178:3 183:16 185:5,6

186:14 187:14 191:20

198:22 207:13 210:7

210:12 229:22 235:9

235:13 236:17 237:22

238:1,3 239:15 260:4

267:20 274:21 278:11

trying 32:15 57:18 61:4

68:1,14 69:2 72:16

73:9 77:9 78:22 84:18

85:22 105:8 134:6

159:8 160:4,5 163:18

163:19 165:12,16

166:5,20 177:13

184:20 192:6 193:13

193:18 204:4,17,22

207:12 209:15 211:2

218:2,10 227:15

231:7 235:2 239:1

243:7 254:15 261:4

275:3,13

Tuesday 167:2

tug 140:3

Tulare 311:22

tuned 295:3

tunnel 93:22 94:21

turn 32:15 53:15 107:13

235:12

turned 109:7

turnover 283:17

turns 143:5 318:8

tutorial 243:1

tutorials 242:21

tweak 60:9 96:10,13

tweaks 60:13

twice 284:10

Twitter 242:16

two 10:22,22 11:1,4

18:4 21:5 30:18 36:18

39:11 50:22 52:4

64:21 79:6 86:5 96:17

98:2,3 112:22 113:21

114:12 117:3 118:20

120:16 122:7 131:5

133:10 142:21 151:9

153:8,13 158:15

168:9,17 173:14

176:10 177:1 187:19

197:11 200:19 207:7

214:4 226:10 246:9

254:7 257:21 260:10

266:11 273:5 275:5

279:6 281:12 286:2

289:10,18,19 293:9

300:17 302:16 304:22

two-and-a-half 270:14

two-hour 255:10

two-part 91:16

two-three 227:21

two-way 178:4,15

type 15:16 24:3 43:6

44:4 48:8 61:8 67:10

80:6 83:13 88:16 99:3

100:17 191:22 211:4

218:18 228:19 231:19

234:5 244:15 245:9

256:15 277:12,20

305:15 307:6

types 21:3 24:9,9 62:3

67:21 70:10,14

166:15 181:8 186:8,9

191:8,19,20 205:8

254:8 304:20

typically 52:9 70:6

218:6 239:3 272:12

276:4 297:12

U

U.S 18:1 175:9 213:15

225:17 226:9 240:18

252:18,19 264:8,9

Uber 287:6

Ugg 307:8

Ukraine 174:16

ultimately 120:21

126:16 134:14

Um-hum 131:19 139:11

147:17 148:5 190:15

193:16 196:1 201:13

unable 227:18

unanswered 124:16

unbiased 161:4

undergone 9:12

underlying 232:16

underserved 83:20

84:9 88:21 93:13

understand 37:5 55:21

91:17 93:7 98:5,20

99:5 131:16 132:10

135:3,13 137:18

161:8 193:21 196:18

200:8 204:16 271:1

272:16 278:10 279:1

315:13 316:20

understanding 69:10

69:12 92:5 134:10

200:13 214:21 216:13

233:22 258:5

understood 40:17

80:18 132:20

undertake 204:18

205:18

undertaking 182:11

unfortunately 46:17

172:9 208:16 258:17

uniformity 180:18

unit 110:8 114:13

United 1:1 179:11

universities 14:8 26:4

63:14 164:6 170:10

University 156:2,5,21

unload 267:6

unrelated 298:7

unskilled 44:16

unsure 106:13

unusual 33:15

upcoming 168:17

update 221:5

updated 68:8 289:7

updates 173:9

updating 89:13

upload 135:10

upper 181:5

upset 279:16

upstairs 235:7

uptick 104:19

urban 64:12 84:16,19

86:15,20 87:2,13

94:13,14,17 95:3

276:8,9

urgency 127:3

usable 41:12 46:22

usage 104:15 217:16

217:21

USDA 2:1 13:19 109:8

113:5,8 116:2 121:14

121:17 123:13 127:18

128:18 129:5 133:9

133:13,21 134:7,9,14

135:15 146:1 217:3

233:12 234:6 248:8

257:18 258:22 259:6

259:20,21 268:2,16

269:8,15 270:2,15,21

271:4 272:2,22 273:6

280:4,6,10 293:19

294:1 296:14 300:7

303:8 317:17 318:4

318:16

use 12:2 13:19 27:11

31:11 33:4 38:17 45:9

47:5 63:21 72:4 74:18

75:2,15 80:7 91:15

95:16 105:9,10

107:21 109:21 112:7

125:8 141:3 150:4

151:2 161:5 168:20

170:9 175:12 177:5

192:2 210:19 219:9

231:2,10,14 236:4

237:1 240:13 241:2

243:2 256:1,11

261:12 280:6 290:9

305:15

useful 58:15 189:19

209:12 213:9 214:17

215:15 216:13 243:10

243:13,22

user 234:14 254:20

user- 255:15

user-fee-funded 250:16

250:20

users 35:3 170:8 190:4

190:4 192:1 260:2,6

262:3 265:15 274:2

uses 10:12 13:4,6,18,22

14:10 16:11 64:10

266:7

usually 9:2 15:2 25:4

81:19 201:21 225:4

269:3

utilize 95:7 256:14

utilized 218:13 259:12

utilizing 260:15

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
353

V

vacation 295:18 299:13

304:2

vacuum 266:7

valid 201:11

Valley 251:9 315:8

valleys 16:7

value 14:2 317:17,19,19

valued 254:18

van 1:21 45:5 93:11,11

158:5 307:20 312:10

316:2,5

variables 39:21

variance 96:13

variation 20:6 22:17

23:2

variations 20:8

varies 74:6 115:17

varietals 215:20

varieties 240:22 269:13

various 60:2 70:5 72:18

107:21 200:10 314:20

vary 19:5 22:22 69:19

199:17

vast 29:8

Vazquez 1:21 151:7,7

158:8 179:1,1,4

181:15,15,22 183:2,9

183:13 232:5,13,13

232:22 233:6,9,16

234:8 261:3,3 265:14

283:8,8 319:13

veg 92:7,12 93:9

Vegas 298:4

vegetable 1:3 5:16

26:15 35:15 89:20

131:21 248:19 249:7

249:8 264:8

vegetables 90:1 100:17

197:13 199:14,22

252:9

vegetative 67:10 70:16

73:19

vehicle 69:8

vendors 185:5

verbally 37:13

verification 248:15

273:9 280:7

verify 38:2 169:21

202:4 267:9

verify/validate 281:21

version 174:6

versus 15:15 23:17

29:14 32:10 34:12,13

34:14 42:13 43:20

47:13 63:11 68:3,3

70:13 73:5 129:18

280:11 297:17

veteran 84:11

vetted 206:8

viability 62:15

vice 1:10 86:6 88:10,14

89:10,19 90:17,22

91:11 275:8,21 305:6

307:13 314:21

video 233:4 242:21

277:13,20,20 278:7

video-type 242:19

view 7:16

Vineland 237:11,12

Virginia 164:19

virtual 125:15 256:15

256:22 305:21 306:16

vision 57:17,21 137:7

visit 196:19 304:10,12

306:22 308:8

visualization 191:8

192:2 208:11 209:3

209:12,15 210:13

230:12

visualize 218:2

vital 8:17

voice 50:9

voices 80:17

voicing 279:17

void 121:19

volume 172:7 179:13

179:21 198:16 220:18

226:14

volumes 161:20 162:13

198:6 224:21 225:14

225:22

voluntarily 8:9,12

voluntary 37:7 41:16

59:13 61:10 249:3

250:4,7 254:17

volunteer 152:1 309:16

311:9

volunteers 130:11

vote 126:19

voted 223:21

votes 316:8

vu 293:21

W

wage 7:10 10:4,6 11:17

12:6 13:7,20 17:11

18:2,22 19:2,5 20:21

28:9 29:7,9,10 32:9

33:9 35:4,12 39:22

47:18,20,22

wages 10:8,19 11:9

13:15 14:5 16:10,14

17:1,7,12 28:7,18,19

30:10,11,13 31:8,9

34:22

wait 101:10 127:13,13

184:18 195:3,13

232:6,6,6 287:11

319:3

waiting 185:21

waiver 91:4

wake 155:17,20

walk 196:20 197:7

walks 196:4

walnut 272:8,9,10

walnuts 273:16

want 4:19 22:8 23:7

25:16 34:16,20 54:1,8

55:10 58:14 59:5 69:6

75:3 76:1 77:14 85:8

89:18 95:5,7 99:17

103:3 105:10 107:20

108:15 109:2 111:14

114:1,3 116:6 119:7

119:19 122:9 123:14

123:20 124:7 127:13

127:21,22 130:9,10

130:11 138:11 140:13

141:20 145:15 149:17

150:16 151:22 155:16

159:3,4,6,21 160:17

174:10 176:3 178:21

180:9,15 184:12

190:12 191:1,20,22

192:3,11 194:20

195:2,14 196:19

204:15 206:2,9,13

207:1,4,13 208:6

210:6,12 215:12

217:5 222:15 223:10

223:11 224:10 229:7

231:3,11 232:8

234:18 235:8,12

236:21 239:19 241:7

241:10 244:15 245:4

245:13 247:3 253:15

257:2 260:19 267:11

267:12 269:15 271:11

271:13 273:11 277:7

278:11 281:16 285:11

286:6 287:21 295:5

295:12,14 297:2

298:14 300:7 303:16

307:14 309:6,16,19

310:6,14 312:2,11

313:15,22 315:1

319:2,3

wanted 74:10 77:12,12

100:9 122:15 145:12

154:21 160:15 165:4

184:8,17 188:16

195:21 207:11 215:10

230:7 234:22 245:1

271:17 303:3 312:8

wanting 81:5 87:5

114:15

wants 4:17 121:18

150:13

war 140:3

warehouses 87:7

Washington 1:7 34:10

wasn't 91:7 100:16

109:6 131:8 226:19

227:12 290:7

waste 74:2

wasted 262:11

watch 271:12

watching 28:22

water 54:3,7 58:5,8

60:11 67:12 69:5 71:9

72:16 73:16 78:2,12

86:3,4,18 88:6,7 90:2

90:10,12 101:19

104:15,20 105:20

106:18

watermelon 97:9

100:17 209:19

waterways 67:9 73:21

way 17:2 24:12 33:3

36:5 44:10,13 51:5

55:15 56:7 57:13 87:8

94:9 109:14,17 126:7

140:9 153:20 163:21

176:1 178:1 179:12

184:7 185:13,18

186:2 187:17 192:3

192:11 200:11 211:3

216:18 222:16 223:1

226:15 227:11,13

231:3 239:9,22

263:11,12 273:9

275:3 279:13 283:19

284:3 299:12

ways 33:14,22 70:3

80:13 93:22 96:22

191:8 211:15,16

219:10 252:15

we'll 4:13 6:15 14:7

17:14,17,21 18:3

25:11 66:9 67:11,13

69:15 89:14 91:9

107:6 108:3 112:13

123:5 134:18 150:11

150:16 151:2,3 154:1

173:8 178:2 183:15

183:16,17,21 186:13

191:15 195:7 203:7

229:4 246:4 247:21

248:1 253:4 265:4

274:5 278:4 282:20

290:4 291:3,18 292:3

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
354

293:10 294:4 299:17

we're 5:9 7:18,19 8:4

9:3 13:8 14:13 17:16

21:18 22:3 23:4 26:1

27:2 28:22 29:3,16

30:2 32:2,15 35:15,22

36:4,17 42:4 45:11,12

46:18 55:1 57:17,19

58:10 59:17 60:10,10

64:4,20 65:15 70:21

72:16 73:1,5,8,20

74:21 75:16 77:8 78:4

78:21,22 80:4 82:4,7

84:14,17,18 85:22

86:1 87:2,13,17 88:4

88:20 89:12 92:8 93:1

95:11,14,21 96:11,21

99:11 100:10 101:7

103:6 105:8,8 106:13

107:5 113:12,16

115:6,7 118:2,12

122:8,20 124:22

125:4 129:22 130:14

131:21 133:21 138:3

141:14 143:22 145:9

147:4 148:21 154:9

159:8,22 160:4,5,5

163:18,19 164:8

165:12,16 166:11,20

167:2 168:22 169:9

169:22 170:6 172:13

172:19 173:7,11

174:5,17 175:10,11

177:18 178:17 181:11

182:4 183:18 185:2

185:15 186:12 188:2

188:5 190:21,21,22

191:4 200:8 203:14

204:4 205:2,9 208:18

208:20 209:5,15,20

209:21 210:10 216:19

219:21 225:17,18

227:21 228:15 229:2

231:7,7 232:11

233:16 234:6 235:4,5

236:17 238:7,8,10,22

239:1,11 241:21

243:7 244:16 248:7

249:18 250:17 252:11

252:17,21 253:1,9,9

253:11,21 254:13

255:7,15,18,18,21

256:1 264:19 265:2

266:1,14 268:8 269:6

271:10,22 275:13

276:10 277:8,21

278:7 280:4 281:9,11

282:18 283:21 284:6

285:7 294:7 295:10

299:14 300:4 302:22

303:14 304:19 306:6

306:10 307:5,22

315:2,19 318:14

we've 9:11 12:22 22:5

23:19,20 26:18,19,20

38:21 41:9,14 57:20

62:7,11 64:13 67:10

71:5,18 76:9 84:15

88:22 94:13 95:2

112:9,11 115:16

117:18 127:9 129:17

135:1 140:7 141:6

150:4 159:11 160:1

164:2 167:21 169:1

174:16 176:16 180:11

185:10,12 187:13

191:10 203:11 204:1

204:1 205:4 223:5

244:5 251:4 255:2

256:8 259:16 266:10

278:5 298:9,10,11

299:16

weak 148:6

weather 213:19

webinar 166:20 167:3

171:14 172:16 175:20

175:22,22 230:14

webinars 98:12 99:21

175:18 211:3,6

218:16 242:19

website 13:10 22:10

58:16

websites 183:3

Wednesday 286:2

weeders 74:12

weeding 76:14 284:4

week 16:2 30:3,5,8,15

32:5 163:15 168:10

168:17 171:15 172:14

238:16,18 240:16

243:11 265:13 311:6

weekly 167:17 168:7,18

169:17 173:1,3

weeks 11:5,8 15:18

168:9,11

weighing 51:2

weights 253:6

wells 90:14

went 39:11 41:22 107:9

126:3 152:16 156:2

156:22 165:18,19

216:5,6 222:18

292:10 298:1

weren't 119:8 226:15

227:4 270:15

west 68:3 297:17

298:20 313:10

Western 204:2 235:20

251:6

wetland 65:20

whatnot 201:1

whichever 231:20

White 127:8

Whitt 2:7 55:16 56:18

56:19 77:17 79:14

82:4 83:5 84:6 85:5

85:11,15 87:1 88:12

89:1,11 90:5,21 91:2

91:13,21 92:15 93:10

94:12 96:8 97:19 99:7

100:21 103:5,11,16

103:20 104:1,5 105:5

106:22

Whitten 1:7

wholesale 161:1,22

162:15,16,19 165:5

165:14,17 169:15

182:16,18 187:2,4,7

195:19 212:9 225:15

225:20,22 226:6,12

226:19

wholesaler 177:11

wholesalers 162:18

198:15,16

wholesales 198:20

wiggle 151:4

Wild 298:20

wildlife 58:5 59:21

67:15 73:21 79:21

100:19 102:14

Wilke 172:14

willing 166:11 187:16

191:4 208:5 239:14

264:19 265:3 314:17

Wilson 2:3,8 246:12,13

247:9,12,17 248:3

264:4 265:21 273:14

274:9,14 275:7,20

276:12 278:10 279:20

280:1 281:4 284:13

284:21

win 292:12

window 304:2

windows 231:20

304:20

wine 309:14

Winfield 157:9

winning 292:16

winter 165:22 251:9

wire 69:21,21

Wisconsin 164:7

wish 211:3 244:11

318:8,8

witness 177:10

wonder 140:4 201:14

wood 70:17

wooden 70:1

Woolf 77:19 257:8

258:12

Woolworth 156:22

157:1,4

word 141:3 207:16

210:20 211:2 289:8

289:10

words 12:2 45:2 48:4

78:11 110:12

work 15:15 21:3 24:3

30:6 42:6 44:4 45:1

48:8 57:11,22 58:11

61:11,16 63:12 69:11

73:9 79:18 80:15,15

80:16 81:13 82:3 89:9

93:8 95:8 97:3 105:17

112:22 118:13,21

123:6 129:19 132:6

143:20 145:10 153:3

156:22 159:19 160:2

164:16 174:12,12,16

181:6 182:7,9,22

185:5,6 186:14 200:4

208:5 209:4 214:5

235:2 239:15 258:11

259:14,15 260:20

264:2,20 267:2 277:1

277:1 281:7 284:21

285:18 318:14

worked 11:9,16 12:6

35:21 55:22 62:8 71:6

126:10 177:17 199:18

204:14 237:9 276:14

302:8 317:3

worker 15:6 48:9

workers 9:14,14,22

10:1,2,4,19 11:16

12:5 14:15,19,21 15:2

15:10,21 16:18 17:22

20:21 24:1,4,7,10,13

27:15 28:5 29:5,9

30:4 31:8 32:19 43:15

43:16,16,18 47:14,16

48:4,14,15 305:15

workforce 283:17

workgroup 113:17

126:18 149:9

workgroups 108:17

110:6 120:21 134:22

135:1 153:5

working 6:3,12 8:22

26:2 30:17,18 35:19

35:20 55:21 56:7 58:3

61:1 71:4 72:22 73:14

77:9,17,20 82:5,7,16

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc.

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com
355

C E R T I F I C A T E 

This is to certify that the foregoing transcript 

In the matter of: Fruit and Vegetable Industry

Advisory Committee Meeting

Before: USDA

Date: 04-20-23

Place: Washington, DC

was duly recorded and accurately transcribed under 

my direction; further, that said transcript is a 

true and accurate DPNQMFUFrecord of the 

proceedings. 

-----------------------

Court Reporter 

NEAL R. GROSS

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

7+671:67(

(202) 234-4433 :$6+,1*721'& www.nealrgross.com