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 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

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 FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

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 MEETING

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 THURSDAY

 MAY 9, 2019

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 The Advisory Committee met in the

Fairfax Room of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City

Hotel, 2799 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA, at

8:30 a.m., Darrell Hughes, Designated Federal

Official, and Chalmers R. Carr, III, Chair,

presiding. 

PRESENT 

CHALMERS R. CARR, III, Chair

KILEY HARPER-LARSEN, Vice Chair

DAVID K. BELL 

RICHARD E. BOWMAN 

JOHN CHANDLER 

TINA ELLOR 

K.C. ELY 

BRET ERICKSON 

MOLLY GLEASON 

JULIE L. GORDON 

JEFF HUCKABY 

MICHAEL JANIS 

TOM LIPETZKY 

PAUL PALMBY 

KELLY POWELL-MCIVER 

READE SIEVERT 

STEVE SMITH 

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BRUCE TALBOTT 

GREG TISON 

DERRIN WHEELER 

TOMMY WILKINS 

CHARLES A. WINGARD 

DONN ZEA 

STAFF PRESENT 

DARRELL HUGHES, Designated Federal Official

GREG ASTILL, ERS, USDA

PATTY BENNETT, AMS, USDA

RICHARD BOYD, AMS, USDA

JEFF DAVIS, AMS, USDA

TRAVIS HUBBS, PACA, USDA

SONIA JIMENEZ, Deputy Administrator, AMS

KEN PETERSEN, AMS, USDA

HEATHER PICHELMAN, AMS, USDA

JUDY RUDMAN, AMS, USDA

LEANNE SKELTON, AMS, USDA

CHARLES STEPHENS, AMS, USDA

BRUCE SUMMERS, Administrator, AMS, USDA 

ALSO PRESENT 

GERALD BROMLEY, FDA

JIM GORNY, FDA

ROBERT GUENTHER, United Fresh Produce

 Association 

RICH HUDGINS, California Canning Peach

 Association 

JOY JOHANSON, FDA

LAURA PHELPS, Watkinson Miller

MAGGIE GENTILE, Apple Processors Association 

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 CONTENTS 

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

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Introductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 

AMS Specialty Crops Program . . . . . . . . . 34 

Committee Leadership Overview . . . . . . . . 57 

Establish Work Groups for FVIAC 2018-2020 . . 93 

Public Comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 

Food Safety Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 

Audit Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 

PACA Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 

Economic Research Service . . . . . . . . . 228 

Adjourn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243 

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

 8:24 a.m. 

 MR. HUGHES: All right, good morning, 

everyone. My name is Darrell Hughes. I am the 

designated federal officer for the Fruit and 

Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. 

 This is the first time the committee 

is meeting since a reauthorization in October 

2018. So welcome and we're excited for you all 

to get started. Like I said you're crafting 

statements, recommendations and giving you USDA 

guidance. 

 Of the 24 members I believe 2 were on 

prior committees. And so because of that we're 

going to be holding -- actually there was no 

chair or vice chair that transitioned from the 

prior meeting so we're going to hold elections 

later today. 

 I'll be partially chairing the meeting 

today when we hold elections in the morning. The 

chair will take over with guidance because that 

person will not have known what we have on the 

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agenda so I'll walk through the agenda with that 

person. I'll let Sonia, deputy administrator of 

our specialty crops program. 

 An important note about my role as 

DFO, designated federal officer, I am here to 

support your objectives. This may be a bit 

cheeky, but it's really an honor to serve in this 

capacity and I'm excited to help do whatever I 

can to help the committee succeed. 

 That's really it. Oh yes, the 

briefing books. We created briefing books for 

each of you. The briefing book contains the 

presentations that you will hear later in the 

afternoon. And it has bios, a section about bios 

of each of the members. 

 When we hold elections if you want to 

read up really quick on your fellow 

representatives you can go to that section. 

 There's also an overview section, AMS 

overview section where our deputy administrator 

is going to be having -- going over presentation 

by agency. 

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 Most importantly there's your standard 

code, the Standard Code of Parliamentary 

Procedure. I'm new to that. Sonia is not. So 

we'll all be using Robert's Rules of Order. 

 If anyone has not done that before, 

used Robert's Rules of Order, it's okay, I 

haven't either. And we'll just all work our way 

through it. 

 Right now it is 8:26 on May 9 and I'd 

like to call the Fruit and Vegetable Industry 

Advisory Committee to order. 

 Before we do roll call and 

introductions I think we're going to hear some 

quick remarks from our Agricultural Marketing 

Service Administrator Bruce Summers. 

 MR. SUMMERS: So, do we need to use 

the podium today? So good morning, everybody, 

and welcome to Washington, DC. 

 We are really excited to get this 

committee going again. We are really excited 

about the theme that's been put together making 

up this advisory committee. 

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 We owe you a thanks as does everybody 

in the industry. Thank you for taking time away 

from your jobs, your companies, your families to 

travel. It probably won't just be these 

meetings. There will probably be some 

subcommittees set up so you'll probably have some 

work to do in between meetings. So we appreciate 

in advance the willingness to participate and the 

effort that you're going to put forward over the 

next couple of years on this. 

 The advisory committees in general and 

this one in particular are really important. 

Right now I'm the administrator of the 

Agricultural Marketing Service. 

 I started out in the PACA branch. 

It's a division now, it was a branch back then. 

I had the opportunity to be the branch chief for 

awhile. 

 And during my tenure as the branch 

chief with the PACA folks we worked with then the 

Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee 

as it was then to work on some really important 

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things. 

 So we at that point were restructuring 

the division, setting up -- closing offices and 

looking at ways to save costs in anticipation of 

a really big fee increase that was coming. 

 Congress had changed the law in 1995. 

Retailers were no longer paying the license fees. 

There was a big gap that was going to have to be 

made up. 

 So first we wanted to make sure we'd 

done everything we could to reduce our costs and 

get ready for that. How were we going to set 

that program on a solid financial foundation 

going forward. 

 And we worked extensively with the 

advisory committee at that time to evaluate 

options and make recommendations to the 

Secretary. 

 And as a result we went from five 

offices to three based on a recommendation from 

the advisory committee. We also put a fee 

proposal out that went for comments again at the 

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recommendation of the advisory committee. Went 

through six comments, only one opposed. 

 And that foundation, that financial 

foundation for that PACA program is still in 

place and the program is really solid 

financially. 

 You'll hear from Judy Rudman who's now 

the director of that division. But I just use 

that as my example of working with that committee 

back in the day. A really big deal and it has 

carried forward for what now has been 10 years as 

time goes by. 

 So what you do and what you recommend 

and your input as we have initiatives and things 

like that, it's really important we listen to it 

and we act on it. And so again thank you. 

 I thought it might be kind of 

interesting sometimes -- the Agricultural 

Marketing Service is kind of a big diverse agency 

and so I thought it might give you some context 

about what AMS does beyond the fruit and 

vegetable area. 

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 The biggest part of AMS is gradings. 

So every product in the United States that 

carries any kind of USDA grade shield or label is 

graded by an AMS employee. That wasn't the case 

two years ago, but Secretary Perdue came in and 

he added the Federal Grain Inspection Service to 

AMS and when he did that every single grader at 

USDA is an AMS employee. 

 Almost all of the grading is 

voluntary. It's user fee funded and with the 

exception of a few areas it's voluntary. 

 We have 4,500 employees in AMS, 2,900 

of them are graders. We also use several 

thousand state employees to do federal 

inspections. So the grading activities in AMS if 

you want to think about prime choice select 

meats, grade A eggs and butter, cheese, U.S. 

number one potatoes, all the grain that's 

exported out of the United States has to be 

inspected. That's all done by AMS. It's a 

really huge endeavor for us. 

 The other part, USDA Market News. 

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You're probably familiar with the Fruit and 

Vegetable Market News, but of course USDA Market 

News encompassing all the commodities including 

things like cotton. 

 We issue over 700 reports a day in 

Market News. And you tally that up over the 

course of 52 weeks, that's almost 200,000 Market 

News reports that AMS issues in the course of a 

year. 

 All of that is basically information 

collected in the morning and reported in the 

afternoon. A huge endeavor for us. 

 It makes the AMS website where we 

release market news data is the most often 

clicked website in USDA because that market news 

information is being accessed so often. 

 We also have the checkoff program. So 

if you think about the Incredible Edible Eggs, 

Got Milk, Beef it's What's for Dinner, we oversee 

all those checkoff programs. So there are 22 

checkoff programs. The biggest happen to be 

dairy and beef and pork and things like that. 

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But most of the checkoff programs are for fruits 

and vegetables. So out of the 22 the majority 

are fruits and vegetables. 

 If you had to guess the assessments 

that we collect every year to run those checkoff 

programs, almost $1 billion a year. So we're 

overseeing $1 billion in research and promotion 

activities. Again those are run by boards 

similar to advisory committee, but they're run by 

boards. 

 But we -- AMS's role is to make sure 

those checkoff programs stay within the 

boundaries of the law. So that's about $1 

billion in activity that we're overseeing there. 

 Probably two years ago you might have 

been surprised to know that AMS also buys a lot 

of food, although the trade mitigation stuff 

that's happened over the last several months has 

kind of highlighted that. 

 AMS buys a lot of food. We work with 

the Food Nutrition Service to purchase food for 

school lunch and other federal community 

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nutrition programs. About 20 percent of the food 

that is eaten in the school program is purchased 

by AMS. The other 80 percent is purchased 

locally. 

 That's a $2 billion a year endeavor. 

This year we have an extra $1.2 billion that 

we're purchasing in food for the -- to mitigate 

the impacts of the trade tariff situation. We 

thought that might get resolved this month and 

now it's not looking so good. 

 So we're buying an extra $1.2 billion. 

All of that food is going to food banks and kind 

of maybe importantly to this group we are buying 

a lot of fresh product for the first time. So 

we're buying grapes, fresh grapes, we're buying 

plums, we're buying apples. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Pears. 

 MR. SUMMERS: Yes. So a lot of 

products. We also continue to buy frozen 

product. We just went out with a buy on frozen 

apricots out in California and dried -- that's 

right, and some plums or prunes. 

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 So we buy a lot of food and distribute 

that all over the country. We also purchase food 

for the Agency for International Development so 

we're buying a lot of grain and things like that 

that are going overseas. So that's another big 

endeavor for AMS that not a lot of people know 

about. 

 The other thing we do is grants. We 

issue a lot of grants. We have a series of grant 

programs. 

 The biggest is the Specialty Crop 

Block Grant Program. That's a program where we 

work with states like my friend from Colorado to 

-- those grants are basically to help enhance the 

marketing of fruits and vegetables. So that's 

$80 million roughly a year. 

 We have well over $100 million in 

grants that we issue every year for a wide 

variety of marketing programs. 

 So that's kind of what we do every 

day. Recently we've been tapped on a couple of 

other special projects that have been kind of 

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interesting to work on. 

 Last year we finalized the 

bioengineered food disclosure. Some people might 

call it the GMO labeling. That landed in AMS. 

We were excited to see that. It wasn't 

controversial at all. 

 We got that out and done at the end of 

the year, and then Congress passed the Farm Bill 

and they included in there a program for the 

production of hemp. That landed in AMS. That's 

what Sonia and I work on most of the time right 

now. 

 We are putting together the 

regulations for production of hemp in the United 

States. Again, not a real controversial. 

 So anyway, AMS has a wide, wide scope. 

I just wanted to kind of give you an example of 

kind of where the fruit and vegetable side of the 

house fits in there. 

 You might want to know that the 

biggest program in AMS, we have 10 different 

program areas. Sonia runs the Specialty Crop 

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Program area. That's the biggest program in AMS. 

So bigger than what we're doing for livestock and 

poultry, bigger than what we're doing for cotton. 

The Specialty Crop Program is the biggest in AMS. 

So just a little context for you. 

 Advisory committees. So we work with 

four advisory committees at AMS. The biggest and 

most exciting is not necessarily where you want 

to be. 

 The biggest and most exciting is the 

National Organic Standards Board. If this was 

the National Organic Standards Board there would 

be 300 people sitting in the audience watching 

you all as you work. There might be protests 

outside going on while you were in here working 

as the advisory committee. This is a nice 

atmosphere. 

 The advisory committee for the 

National Organic Standards Board is robust. The 

industry is very involved and passionate about 

some issues and so that's one of the ones we work 

with. 

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 We also have an advisory committee for 

grain inspection and then we have one for -- the 

Plant Variety Protection Board. The Plant 

Variety Protection Board is similar to if you 

think about patenting an invention. 

 So plant breeders create a new 

variety, develop a new variety. They come into 

the Plant Variety Protection Board and we 

basically give them the equivalent of a patent 

for their new variety for 20 years so that they 

can market it and protect it. 

 And then the fourth one of course is 

the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory 

Committee. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: The best. 

 MR. SUMMERS: Sonia says the best. 

And it may very well be. Hopefully we won't have 

protesters outside at the next meeting. 

 A couple of things to watch for. And 

I know Judy Rudman who runs the PACA who will be 

here shortly, but we're going to roll out and 

make announcement today. And I'm not going to 

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steal her thunder, but a couple of things I'm 

just going to highlight. 

 We're going to roll out a new 

enhancement to our electronic system. It's going 

to make it easier for the produce industry to do 

business with PACA. She will roll that out. 

 Right around the corner we're going to 

roll out early next month a new, we call it a 

data visualization project. 

 So we have a lot of data in our 

transportation and marketing program about 

freight. So truck, rail, barge. Tons and tons 

of data over the years. It's been hard to 

access. 

 And so we have developed a new program 

where it's going to make it much easier for 

people to go out, sort these tremendous amounts 

of data and put it in a format that they can use 

as they're doing their research and making 

marketing decisions. So we'll roll that out 

shortly. 

 And then later this fall, and this is 

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another one of Sonia's projects along with hemp, 

later this fall we are going to roll out a new 

portal for you all on the Fruit and Vegetable 

Market News. 

 So three pretty big IT initiatives 

coming your way here just in the next six months, 

seven months. 

 The market news piece is already done 

for dairy. It's done for cotton. We're working 

on livestock and the fruit and vegetable piece 

will be last but not least. So lots going on. 

 We want to hear from you all. As we 

come to you all as you meet we'll put some 

initiatives in front of you that we've identified 

and ask for your opinions and recommendations. 

 But we'd also love to hear from you 

all what are the priorities, what are the things 

going on in the industry that maybe the folks 

back here in Washington, DC haven't heard about, 

or haven't prioritized enough. And that's what 

we really need to hear from you about. 

 We are excited that you're here. We 

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have been working on this for months and it's 

nice that the day is here. I think it's a great 

group that's been put together. 

 Again, I want to congratulate you. 

It's not easy to get appointed to these boards. 

I will tell you that Sonny Perdue scrutinizes and 

I won't say agonizes, but he might agonize Sonia. 

But really, it is -- I don't want to undersell 

how big a deal it is that the Secretary has 

appointed you to this board. 

 He takes these very seriously. He 

wants to hear from you. The recommendations you 

make will go to him. And we will respond to them 

and act on them. 

 So again, thank you very much. I'm 

going to give Sonia back her time. 

 I can't stick around because I've got 

to go to a meeting with the Secretary's office on 

hemp at 9:45. So I appreciate you guys adjusting 

the schedule and letting me talk for a few 

minutes. I really wanted to just say hello and 

say thank you. And I'm looking forward to seeing 

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what you all come up with. 

 I think we have a little bit of time. 

Are there any questions, any comments before I 

cut out, anything I can answer for you all, 

wondering what's going on DC? Nothing going on. 

 All right, well thank you very much. 

 Really appreciate it. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Thank you, Bruce. Well, 

I wanted to welcome you also. I think I 

introduced myself to some of you, not all of you, 

so I'll take a break to introduce myself one on 

one at the break. 

 But I really appreciate -- thank you, 

Bruce, for coming over and take care of my hemp 

meeting. 

 MR. SUMMERS: I will. I'll try not to 

embarrass you. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: You never do. So 

welcome. 

 I want to stress again that it is a 

big deal that you are sitting here. We received 

over -- I can't remember, but it was way over 100 

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nominations and the Secretary went through them 

and picked you. So it's a big deal. 

 I'm also very excited because we had 

to postpone this meeting once and I was so 

disappointed that we were almost there and had to 

postpone it. But finally the day is here so I'm 

very excited about that. 

 What I would like to do right now is 

I'm sure some of you had the opportunity to 

introduce yourselves to the rest of the members. 

Maybe not everybody knows everybody. So I would 

like to go around the table and give you the 

opportunity to say your name, your company, your 

state, any other brief remarks that you want to 

say today. 

 And then afterwards we're going to go 

around the room and introduce all the guests that 

we have here. Will that work? Perfect. Let's 

start over there. So we can just go around the 

table. 

 MR. BELL: Good morning. David Bell 

with Cherryfield Foods, Maine Wild Blueberry 

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Company from Maine, down east Maine. 

 We are a grower and processor of wild 

blueberries, primarily IQF frozen, but we do some 

other value-added products. 

 For decades we've been exporting 

around the world, starting off in Japan and 

Europe and expanding from there. 

 MR. BOWMAN: Richard Bowman. I'm the 

VP of farming and growing development for J&J 

Family of Farms. We're located in Loxahatchee, 

Florida which is southeast. I'm also a grower 

for them. 

 We have grower relationships from 

Mexico to Canada and mainly serve the east coast. 

We have a little bit of distribution out west. 

 MR. CARR: Good morning, Chalmers 

Carr. I'm the owner of Titan Farms in Ridge 

Spring, South Carolina. 

 We're a grower of fresh peaches, 

broccoli and bell pepper, and then we also got in 

the processing form about three years ago. 

 MR. CHANDLER: I'm John Chandler from 

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Chandler Farms out of Selma, California, just 

outside of Fresno. 

 We grow a variety of crops, peaches, 

plums, citrus. We do some almonds, raisins, 

wine. So all the good California crops. 

 MS. ELLOR: Tina Ellor, Phillips 

Mushroom Farms. We grow a variety of mushrooms, 

white button, crimini, portabella, maitake, 

shiitake, all the specialties. 

 I served on the Organic Standards 

Board and it's a tough gig. This one is way more 

pleasant and also I did serve on this one before 

and it's a wonderful opportunity to work within 

the programs at AMS and figure out how they can 

work better for us. And also just to get our 

issues directly to the Secretary. 

 So I'm really proud to be here and 

glad to see you all. 

 MR. ELY: K.C. Ely with FreshPoint. 

We're a fresh fruit and vegetable 

distributorship. Thank you for letting me be 

here. 

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 MR. ERICKSON: Bret Erickson, senior 

vice president for business affairs for J&D 

Produce. We are a grower, packer, shipper based 

in McAllen, Edinburg, Texas area, down in the Rio 

Grande Valley. 

 We deal in fresh greens, melons and 

sweet onions. We farm about 6,000 acres in 

Texas. We also have growing and packing 

operations in New Mexico, Georgia, New Jersey, 

Peru and Mexico. 

 MS. GLEASON: Molly Gleason. I'm with 

Illinois Stewardship Alliance. We are a 

statewide non-profit organization. We work 

mostly on policy organizing and advocacy for 

fruit and vegetable growers and some larger grain 

growers in Illinois as well. 

 So we did pass industrial hemp last 

year in Illinois right before the federal Farm 

Bill came through so really happy about that. 

 I grew up on a corn and soybean farm, 

but I work mostly with fruit and vegetable 

growers right now. 

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 MS. GORDON: Hi, I'm Julie Gordon and 

I'm with the Cherry Marketing Institute. We do 

research and promotion for tart cherry growers, 

U.S. tart cherry growers. And I handle the 

finance and export program for them. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Good morning, my 

name is Kiley Harper-Larsen. I'm the owner and 

operator of NK Lago Farms and the Ag Safety Lady. 

 We have a boutique plantain and banana 

operation. It also is in the nursery business. 

And my farm is one of the premier produce 

consulting farms that specializes in food, 

environmental, workplace and crisis management 

for all of you. 

 MR. HUCKABY: Good morning. My name's 

Jeff Huckaby. I'm the president and CEO of 

Grimmway Farms. We're located in California, but 

we farm in seven different states. It's a family 

farm, but pretty large. We do about 85,000 acres 

of row crops and 40,000 of it is organic that we 

do ourselves. We do about 65 different items and 

happy to be here. 

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 MR. JANIS: Good morning, I'm Michael 

Janis. I'm the general manager of the San 

Francisco Wholesale Produce Market. 

 We provide critical food 

infrastructure for our 28 wholesalers that have 

been operating in San Francisco from well beyond 

1963. And along with Bruce and Tina we're 

fortunate to be back again. So really honored to 

be back around this table. Thank you. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Great. I think you know 

who I am. I'm Sonia Jimenez. I'm the deputy 

administrator for Specialty Crops. 

 I've been in that position for a 

couple of years. But I tell everybody when I 

came back to Specialty Crops that that was home 

because that's where I started and where I have 

spent most of my career. 

 So I told Bruce when he asked me to 

move to Specialty Crops, I said absolutely. I 

love that industry. I'm coming back. I'm glad 

to be here. 

 MR. HUGHES: I don't know who I am --

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no, I'm kidding. Darrell Hughes. 

 I've been with the USDA since July of 

2015. I joined the AMS Specialty Crops Program 

at the top of this year. And it has been very 

exciting working for Sonia and Charles Stephens 

who's over there in the corner in the gray suit. 

 I'm originally from Detroit, Michigan. 

So go green, go white. I've been in DC about 15 

years or something like that. Started off as a 

business writer and went into communications, did 

some nuclear crisis work and a whole bunch of 

other stuff. So that's my quick background. 

 MR. LIPETZKY: Good morning, I'm Tom 

Lipetzky with the Colorado Department of 

Agriculture. I head up our Markets Division 

which covers everything from size and grade 

inspection to working with our statewide 

marketing program Colorado Proud. 

 One of the things that we also do is 

we're really a partner with AMS in delivery of a 

lot of the programs that Bruce talked about. 

Some of the size and grade inspections, specialty 

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crops, working with some of the market order type 

programs. It's really an honor to be here to 

work with the committee today. 

 MR. ZEA: Good morning, Donn Zea. I'm 

executive director of the California Dried Plum 

Board. We're a state marketing order in 

California. 

 Represent about 800 growers, 28 

packers of California prunes. Premium market 

around the world. 

 We export about half of what we grow 

every year and the rest stays here in the U.S. 

Also ingredients, concentrated juice and a number 

of other things. 

 And we're involved in marketing, 

promotion, nutrition research, crop science, 

sustainability, issues management. 

 MR. WINGARD: Good morning, I'm 

Charles Wingard from South Carolina. I'm part of 

a family fresh vegetable operation, primarily 

leafy greens, about 12 or 15 products total. 

 We're a grower, packer, shipper, 

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processor and on the farm processing plant. I 

have operations in four states and grower 

relations in a few more. 

 Glad to be here and look forward to 

working with everybody for our industry. 

 MR. WILKINS: My name's Tommy Wilkins. 

I'm the director of business development for Grow 

Farms Texas in McAllen, Texas. 

 Forty-fourth year in this business. 

I followed my father into this business. Roughly 

half of my time has been at retail and the other 

half has been on the growing side. 

 Really feel like I've got a chance to 

maybe revitalize Texas and the growing industry 

and identify its place on the Tex-Mex Corridor as 

we see significant, more and more product coming 

out of Mexico through our borders down there. 

 I have such a passion for this 

business and I just feel humbled to be able to 

maybe give something back for all it's given to 

me. Proud to be here. 

 MR. WHEELER: My name's Derrin 

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Wheeler. I work for Michigan Blueberry Growers 

which is a blueberry marketing cooperative out of 

Grand Junction, Michigan. 

 We market blueberries and blackberries 

in 13 states including British Columbia. We 

represent about 300 growers. We market under the 

Naturipe Farms label. 

 We're also about 75 percent fresh and 

about 25 percent IQF. 

 MR. TISON: I'm Greg Tison. I'm 

general manager of the Jacksonville Farmer's 

Market. We're located in north Florida. Some of 

us call it south Georgia. 

 It's a wholesale retail operation that 

we run. 

 MR. TALBOTT: I'm Bruce Talbott. Like 

we mentioned I have had the opportunity to come 

back for another round. It was a lot of fun 

before and I look forward to it now. 

 We grow -- we're out of Colorado. 

We're a grower, shipper, packer of peaches and 

wine grapes and a few other things. And then we 

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process sweet cider and more recently hard cider 

and we got into wine as well. 

 MR. SMITH: Good morning. I'm Steve 

Smith, senior direct of agriculture for Red Gold. 

We're a tomato processor in Indiana. 

 If you haven't seen our branded 

product buy any canned tomato it's very likely 

that we had something to do with it, particularly 

ketchup. We do 95 percent of all the ketchup 

that's not Heinz or Hunt's. So if you're buying 

anything we probably had something to do with 

that. 

 Glad to be here. I think it was my 

fourth attempt to get on the committee so I'm 

glad to finally make it. 

 MR. SIEVERT: Hi, I'm Reade Sievert. 

I'm vice president of produce for Associated 

Wholesale Grocers. We're the largest memberowned coop in the U.S. We service about 3,800 

stores in 38 states. Full on distributor, take 

care of everything a member would need from site 

development to all the product that goes in and 

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out of the stores. 

 Basically from dirt to key we turn it 

over, have the marketing behind everything. 

 MS. POWELL-MCIVER: Good morning, 

Kelly Powell-McIver representing the North 

Carolina Sweet Potato Commission. 

 We have approximately 400 growers, 

packers, shippers. We have a lot of industry 

that we represent, everything from policy, 

research for any type of practice management, 

variety management as well as marketing, both 

domestically and internationally. 

 MR. PALMBY: Good morning. My name's 

Paul Palmby. I'm executive vice president, chief 

operating officer at Seneca Foods Corporation. 

We're the largest vegetable processor in the 

country. If you eat canned vegetables, Libby's, 

Green Giant or private label we probably had a 

hand in it. We produce over 50 percent of the 

vegetables sold in the country. 

 I'm also delighted to be here. I've 

been here twice before in '02 and '04 and was 

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part of the PACA discussions which I think Bruce 

characterized very well. It was an interactive 

feel and I really look forward to seeing what we 

accomplish this time. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Thank you. We're going 

to start -- oh, that's Heather. 

 MS. PICHELMAN: Hi, good morning. My 

name is Heather Pichelman and I'm the director of 

the Promotion and Economics Division within the 

Specialty Crops Program. 

 My division oversees 13 of the 22 

research and promotion programs. In addition, my 

economists also help with the economic analysis 

for procurement purchases including Section 32 

purchases. 

 MR. BROMLEY: Hi, I'm Gerald Bromley 

with the Food and Drug Administration Office of 

Regulatory Affairs. I'm the director of the 

Division of Domestic Human and Animal Food 

Operation. 

 My umbrella covers the ORA Produce 

Safety Network that works out in the field. And 

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I also cover all the other domestic stuff except 

for dairy and shellfish. 

 MR. HUDGINS: Good morning, I'm Rich 

Hudgins, president and CEO of the California 

Canning Peach Association. 

 We're a grower-owned marketing 

cooperative representing approximately 80 percent 

of the peaches grown in California for processing 

use. 

 You'll hear more from me later during 

the public comment section of the meeting. 

 MS. PHELPS: I'm Laura Phelps. I work 

at Watkinson Miller and represent the American 

Mushroom Institute. And I'm here today to have 

Tina Ellor's back. 

 MR. BOYD: Good morning, everyone. 

I'm Richard Boyd, acting director of our 

Specialty Crops Inspection Division, part of the 

Specialty Crops Program. 

 We provide grading services, 

inspection services and audit services. And 

you'll hear later this afternoon from Ken 

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Petersen, our chief of Audit Services Branch on 

an update on our audit programs. 

 MR. DAVIS: My name is Jeffrey Davis. 

I run the business development office here with 

the Specialty Crops Program. 

 Many of you -- I see smiling faces 

from the time I was with PACA as well as working 

in concert with the National Association of 

Produce Market Managers. 

 Basically my primary roles are webinar 

and outreach activities. If you see any of our 

webinar emails -- first, I apologize if you don't 

like them. But also our industry newsletter that 

goes out basically every other month. 

 By the way, for those of you that have 

coffee that doesn't taste good I promise you it's 

my fault. I never know how to make coffee. 

 MR. PURVIS: Carl Purvis with the AMS 

Public Affairs Office and I support the Specialty 

Crop Program. 

 MS. SKELTON: Good morning, I'm Leanne 

Skelton. I work on Sonia's staff at Specialty 

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Crop Program area. 

 I'm the liaison from the USDA 

Specialty Crop Program area for the Food and Drug 

Administration mostly regarding produce safety 

rule kind of things. And you'll hear me yammer 

later this afternoon. 

 I had nothing to do with the coffee 

per se. The cream, for those of you who wanted 

milk or cream, needs to go that way. 

 (Laughter.) 

 MR. STEPHENS: Good morning. I'm 

Charles Stephens. I'm the associate deputy 

administrator in the Specialty Crops Program. So 

I assist Sonia on anything that we need to do 

with the program. 

 I just want to welcome you all here. 

I'm very glad to see everyone. And I echo 

everyone else in saying congratulations on your 

appointment. I look forward to getting to know 

all of you over the next two days. Thank you. 

 MS. BENNETT: My name is Patty 

Bennett. I'm the director for the Marketing 

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Order and Agreement Division so I kind of mirror 

Heather's group. 

 My staff takes care of 27 commodities 

throughout the United States. And in addition to 

that we are also supporting Charles and Sonia 

with the initiative -- the regulations together 

and we'll get the program started. 

 MR. LONG: Good morning, I'm Terry 

Long. I'm the director of Specialty Crop Market 

News, the eyes and ears of American agriculture. 

 You heard Mr. Summers talk about some 

of the new things we're doing relative to putting 

data in your hands in the way that you have asked 

us, the portals that allow you to go through 

large blocks of data maybe from the time we 

started recording markets in 1950. 

 So we're going to put data in your 

hands. Mr. Summers did a nice job of summarizing 

that. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: I think that's it. All 

right, great. Welcome, everybody. I see some 

familiar faces. Greg, welcome. 

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 And I'm going to go over -- well, 

first of all, did everybody get their coffee? I 

apologize we didn't have the coffee outside, but 

I promise for the break there will be coffee 

outside. 

 The other thing I wanted to also note 

is if you do not receive our newsletter, and 

thank you, Jeff, for mentioning that please sign 

up for it because we put out a newsletter with 

the latest and greatest things that we're doing 

or things that are happening in the industry. 

 So if you're interested in getting 

that please let us know if you're not getting it. 

Give Jeff your email address and believe me, you 

will get it. He makes sure that everybody that 

wants it and some that don't get it. So please 

give us that information. 

 I'm going to go really quick through 

a presentation. I can tell you that Bruce stole 

some of my thunder because some of the things 

that he mentioned I have in my presentation. But 

I'll probably just go through it a little bit 

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quicker and then I'll ask for more questions and 

answers. 

 This is in your binders, that 

presentation, under the AMS Overview tab, what 

I'm going to talk about. 

 But you also have some organizational 

charts that I'm going to mention. Most of this, 

the organizational charts and so forth are 

probably not new to you, but I wanted to make 

sure that everybody is familiar where we sit 

within the department because I think it's 

important once you start making recommendations 

and thinking about things that we can do for you 

that you keep in mind what's the scope of USDA 

work and where things may fall within USDA. So I 

thought it would be good to do a little quick 

overview of that. 

 And I apologize up front that today's 

meeting is very administrative in nature because 

it's our first meeting. So I want to get into 

real business real quick. And I know you too. 

But we have to go through certain administrative 

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matters first so I apologize for that, but it's 

part of being in a committee that hasn't met for 

two years. So I'll try to go through it as 

quickly as I can. 

 First of all, I'm going to refer you 

to the USDA organizational chart. And the reason 

I'm doing that is because I want you to see where 

we fall within USDA. 

 If you go to the last side of that org 

chart, the bottom line, the second from the left 

is the under secretary for marketing and 

regulatory programs. 

 And under that there are two agencies. 

There's APHIS, you're probably familiar with 

APHIS, and us. 

 So APHIS and AMS are the two agencies 

that make up the marketing and regulatory 

programs. And that's where Mr. Ibach is. You 

probably met him last night when he came to the 

reception. 

 Excuse me, I also apologize I have a 

cold and I'm trying to get rid of this cough. 

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 Within AMS, the second org chart, and 

you have this for later if you want to study it a 

little bit more. 

 Within AMS you see the Office of the 

Administrator which is Bruce Summers. He just 

introduced himself and spoke to you. 

 And we have 12 program areas. AMS 

unlike some other programs in -- agencies in 

USDA, we are divided by commodity. We think 

that's the best way to do it, to have everybody 

that deals with cotton in one place, everybody 

that deals with fruits and vegetables in one 

place and so forth. 

 So I don't know if you're aware that 

last year we combined with what used to be GIPSA 

and now we have -- GIPSA is no longer. They're 

part of AMS. So we took over some of the --

well, all of their programs and they're all into 

AMS. 

 So AMS got a little bigger and I think 

more efficient. It made a lot of sense to have 

those programs in AMS because we served pretty 

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much the same customers and so it made a lot of 

sense. 

 Within Specialty Crops we would see 

that then -- this is my world here. We have four 

divisions and I think Bruce talked a little bit 

about each one of them. 

 We have the market news. We have the 

marketing orders. We have the research and 

promotion and economic division and the 

inspection of course and auditing division. 

 So we also have Leanne, she introduced 

herself, that is our liaison with FDA for food 

safety matters. 

 So that just gives you a little bit of 

where we are within the organization. You have 

copies of those for your nighttime reading when 

you can't sleep. 

 So anyway, I'm going to go through 

this like I said really quickly because Bruce 

talked a lot about it. 

 We have within AMS like we said a lot 

of programs. And we work together a lot. 

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 For example, the commodity procurement 

which a lot of you are familiar because your 

industries participate in those programs. 

 We are in constant communication with 

them because Heather's group does the economic 

analysis for the purchase of commodities. And 

also anything that they buy they consult with us 

because we have the pulse on the industry or we 

should, as much as we can, on what makes sense. 

 Sometimes we work with the boards and 

ask what makes sense in terms of a buy. So we 

work very closely with the commodity procurement, 

especially during this mitigation phase that we 

just finished I guess part 2. We're going into 

the third quarter. 

 We've been working with them very, 

very, very closely in trying to make sure that we 

meet the requirements of the program but we also 

most important meet the requirements of the 

industry and can be as helpful as possible with 

the industry. We sometimes apply for a little 

bit of money from the other programs. Just to 

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make sure that fruits and vegetables get their 

fair share of the monies available. 

 We also have the cotton program. 

Cotton has a very similar program to ours as 

dairy and the livestock programs. We would call 

it the Four Amigos instead of three because the 

four programs have very similar work within our 

program, the market news, the marketing orders, 

the R&P programs, marketing orders and so forth. 

So we're very similar. The inspection is very 

similar. 

 Then we have the federal grain 

inspection. I'm going to say that's one that 

came from GIPSA, that's one of the programs that 

came from GIPSA. But they also have a lot of the 

inspection which is very similar in that regard 

to the inspection work that we do. 

 Science and technology is our 

scientists. They have labs. They test. They 

put out all kinds of good information out there. 

 But we work closely together with them 

as well. In some of the requirements for 

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marketing orders when there's testing that needs 

to happen sometimes it goes to their labs or labs 

that they approve for those inspections. 

 We're closely working with them right 

now with the hemp program. I don't know how much 

you know about the hemp program, but we have to 

set aside probably more than you want to. 

 We have to set some standards in terms 

of sampling and testing for the product. And 

we're working very closely with our science and 

technology program because they're the 

scientists. 

 I'm like I don't know anything about 

sampling or testing, but I know where to go. So 

that is a service that is available to us when 

any of our programs need help in that area. 

 And the transportation and marketing. 

That's where the grants programs are. So we also 

work very closely with them when they get 

requirements -- I mean, grant applications. 

Sometimes they run things by us, does this make 

sense and things like that. And we want to make 

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sure they understand what the needs are from the 

industry standpoint. 

 We also have what Bruce mentioned, the 

PACA. PACA is under the fair trade practices. 

And that's a very important thing. It hurts me 

deeply that PACA used to be part of fruits and 

vegetables, or I should say Specialty Crops 

Program. I'm from the old group that we used to 

be fruits and vegetable program but we're 

Specialty Crops now. 

 PACA used to be part of us and with 

the reorganization when we took over the GIPSA 

programs it was decided that they fit better in 

fair trade practices program. So they're there. 

 But I just -- it hurts me that we lost 

PACA from the Specialty Crops. But we work 

really closely with Judy and her team. And 

you'll hear from her later today. Because it 

makes sense. I mean, they're servicing you, our 

fruit and vegetable industry. So she's only down 

the hall like three or four doors down from me so 

we usually see each other in the hallway or just 

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run into each other's offices and talk about 

things. 

 So I'm glad to say that even though 

they went to fair trade practices we still have 

the same relationship. They're also helping us 

right now with some of the requirements on the 

what -- hemp program for licensing because of 

course they do licensing. Who better to guide us 

on licensing than PACA. 

 So I have to say the work that AMS 

does, we're not separate programs. We always 

work together. And that's a great thing. 

 I did work for some time in FAS. It 

was a great agency. But my heart was always in 

AMS because it's just a great program and of 

course the specialty crop industry. 

 You do have a little handout. I'm not 

going to go through it, that explains a little 

bit about each one of those programs, the organic 

program. Oh, I forgot to talk about the National 

Organic Program. 

 It has a little blurb about each one 

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of those programs. And it also talks a little 

bit about our market news because it's kind of 

important to us. 

 But in Specialty Crops like I said we 

have four divisions. You're probably very 

familiar with the inspection and auditing. I 

call that's our bread and butter. It's a user 

fee program for the most part except for the 

standardization. It's probably what you see the 

most out there in addition to the market news 

folks. 

 Those are our people that are in the 

field working with you, working with the industry 

to make sure that when a tomato says it's a 

tomato is a tomato is a tomato and it is what 

it's supposed to be. I say tomatoes because 

we're working with Commerce right now on the back 

and forth on the agreement with Mexico. So 

that's in my mind. 

 But anyway, our inspection services. 

That is a user fee program as you know. Most of 

AMS is actually -- about 70-75 percent of AMS is 

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user fee. So that's -- people just get a little 

surprised. You have an agency that 70-75 percent 

of the money comes from services that we provide, 

is not appropriated. So that gave us a great 

advantage -- I'm going to talk a little bit about 

that -- during the shutdown because most of AMS 

was working. We pride ourselves that our 

customers for the most part did not see a stop in 

services. We were still providing market news 

information. We were still inspecting. We were 

doing most of the things that we do. In 

Specialty Crops we actually were at 90 percent. 

So most of Specialty Crops Program is user fee. 

 A segue to that, one thing that 

Charles did not tell you is that he used to be 

the AMS budget officer. So I'm very proud to 

have the budget guy with us. That's what I call 

him, the budget guy. 

 And we look at numbers very closely 

all the time because we want to make sure that we 

provide a good valuable service to you at the 

lowest cost possible while still recovering our 

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cost because we don't get any extra money for it. 

 Specialty Crops also has the market 

news like I said. You probably know them as 

well, especially at the markets where they on a 

daily basis put out a lot of information. 

 I'm very proud to say that we also 

can't wait to have the specialty crops part of 

the market news system out. 

 Bruce mentioned that cotton and dairy 

are out already, and that parts of livestock is 

being put out as we speak. 

 Unfortunately specialty crops is last, 

but we are the biggest so I think that's going to 

make the most impact. 

 I know that there's a lot of work 

being done right now behind the scenes. My staff 

is working on getting that system up and running. 

So I'm very excited. Sometime next year we're 

going to start rolling out some of the new My 

Market News. 

 I know that you're familiar with the 

portal right now, or some of you are that 

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includes the market news information, but this 

new system should provide a lot more 

possibilities for you as a customer. So I'm 

excited that specialty crops is coming up. 

 The market notice and agreements of 

course and the R&P programs. I kind of put them 

all together. They're similar but they're 

different kind of thing. 

 You're probably familiar with some of 

those programs. We have some sitting on the 

board. So we're very proud of those programs as 

well. They fit some of the needs of the 

industry. 

 The marketing orders mainly on some of 

the volume controls and quality controls and the 

R&P's mostly on the promotional part of it. And 

we have some that have a little mix of both. And 

also our economic analysis like I mentioned 

before. 

 Our audit are under the inspection 

part. And you probably have heard -- if you do 

receive our newsletter you have heard about it 

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because we've been announcing a lot about our new 

GFSI certification last year which we're very 

proud. Petersen is going to be here, Ken is 

going to be here this afternoon. 

 He works really hard to get the 

certification. And some of you were instrumental 

in that as well so I appreciate that. I think 

it's a good service that we're going to be able 

to provide -- we're already providing to the 

industry. 

 And he's going to give you some ideas 

on some things that we're doing with that to try 

to alleviate the cost of those audits. But he'll 

talk about that this afternoon. I don't want to 

steal his thunder like Bruce did to me. 

 Anyway, you also have the last page 

there has contacts for every single one of our 

divisions. I want you to keep this page because 

if you ever have any problems of course you can 

call me. I'm there every day. I'm available 

anytime. I try to return emails the same day or 

phone calls. And of course Charles is there as 

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well and we have Darrell now is your designated 

federal officer. 

 But if you have any other issues I 

want you to have our director's name, number, 

email because we are here -- we pride ourselves 

in AMS of being a customer service organization. 

And as a user fee we have to be too. We're here 

-- most of our workers are voluntary so we want 

to make sure that we run this more like a 

business than anything else. So please don't 

hesitate to contact us. 

 I also included here Leanne Skelton as 

our FDA liaison because I know a lot of you 

sometimes have questions on that -- in that area. 

And she's always available as well to try to 

help. So keep that page handy anywhere you need 

to have it. But I want to make sure that you 

have all our contact information. 

 With that I want to open it for some 

questions and comments. 

 MR. HUGHES: So real quick. This is 

Darrell Hughes speaking. For Q&A remember to 

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always state your first and last name so that the 

audio picks up exactly who's speaking. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. 

 MR. ZEA: Donn Zea. Can you explain 

a little more the difference between the 

commodity procurement and international 

procurement, how the budget is allocated between 

the two? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: The international 

procurement. You got me on that one. 

 MR. ZEA: I'd never heard it before, 

so. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. That is a little 

part that came from FSA I believe it was. It was 

in FSA. And they buy mostly for military and 

there's one other one. You know a little bit 

about that. 

 MR. STEPHENS: Yes. The international 

 MR. HUGHES: That's Charles Stephens. 

 MR. STEPHENS: Charles Stephens. The 

international side comes from crop service 

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agencies, the Commodity Credit Corporation 

budget, CCC. And it's used for military. And 

it's also some feeding programs that we have on 

the international side. 

 They primarily buy for that purpose. 

Where the Section 32 trade mitigation is 100 

percent domestic purchases. 

 MR. ZEA: Okay. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: So the budgets are 

separate. 

 MR. ZEA: They are. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: It's good to have my 

budget officer. 

 MR. ZEA: Okay. So for those 

customers they can cite from both international 

sources of U.S. product and from domestic 

sources? 

 MR. STEPHENS: Correct. 

 (Simultaneous speaking) 

 MR. STEPHENS: Yes, because when 

you're dealing with DoD especially you're in all 

the parts of the globe where a lot of times 

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domestic is just not possible to get there. So 

they have the ability to tap into other markets. 

 MR. ZEA: Okay, good. Thank you. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: I think I have the 

priority of USDA product, but sometimes it's not 

feasible or possible to do that. They're 

separate budgets. The Section 32 is much larger 

than the international. 

 Any other questions? Comments? 

 MR. HUGHES: All right. Darrell 

Hughes back speaking. It looks like we're 

trending a good hour and maybe 10 minutes ahead. 

So the next two agenda items is going to be me 

going over the committee leadership overview with 

you and then a break. 

 But I think that based on time we may 

go from committee overview and then get into 

leadership voting and potentially the results or 

postpone the results until after we have a 15-

minute break. So just to let everyone know we 

may adjust the agenda flow based on us trending 

ahead of time. 

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 So, we're moving on to providing a 

committee overview of leadership. 

 Actually, the first thing we should do 

before I get into talking about the chair, vice 

chair, secretary and how the committees should 

function we should adopt the policies and 

procedures manual that was shared ahead of time. 

 And so if everyone has already 

reviewed the manual is there a member that would 

like to move that we adopt the policies and 

procedures manual? 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: This is Kiley 

Harper-Larsen. I make a motion we move to 

approve the policies and procedures manual as 

provided to us prior to the meeting in email and 

also in printed version in our notebook. 

 MR. HUGHES: Is there a second? 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins, second. 

 MR. HUGHES: It has been moved and 

seconded. Using general percentage is there any 

objection? If no objection the motion is 

carried. Policies and procedures manual is 

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adopted as of May 9, 2019. 

 So, overview of leadership positions 

and duties. So the chair is essentially 

responsible for assuring the integrity of the 

committee process which includes making sure your 

meetings are effective, making sure the committee 

adheres to their own rules. 

 The chair may delegate tasks to other 

committee members which includes the vice chair 

and secretary. The vice chair will act in the 

absence of the chair and the secretary will work 

with the chair, the vice chair and yours truly, 

the designated federal officer unless I'm 

replaced by someone unknown. 

 And that secretary will work with all 

of us to assist in maintaining the integrity of 

all the committee documents. So if there's 

research reports that are requested we make sure 

that it's shifted right, or if we have to 

maintain minutes we all keep the correct version 

and so on and so forth. 

 Page 7 of the policy manual outlines 

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specific tasks that's associated with the chair. 

So keep in mind that the chair can divide those 

tasks among the vice chair, secretary, any other 

members that is part of the committee. 

 And so that structure allows you all 

to decide how you want to operate which is great. 

 So with that -- well, actually, no 

we're not going to move to recess. We're just 

going to skip. We're just going to go directly 

into voting. Yes, nominations. 

 And so I'm going to now turn it back 

over to Sonia so that we can talk about the 

voting process. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: So, I don't know if you 

had the chance to also read what was submitted to 

you in terms of the duties and responsibilities 

of the three positions we're going to be needing 

today, but they're in your book if you need to 

take a look at them real quick. 

 We're going to be filling three seats, 

the chair, vice chair and secretary. Those like 

Darrell said would work with Darrell to work with 

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the rest of the committee and subcommittees as 

well. 

 So, we're going to vote for each seat 

at once. So we'll get the chair first, we'll get 

a vote, and then we'll go to the vice chair and 

vote, and then we're going to go to the secretary 

and vote. 

 After all the votes are counted we 

would announce who the new chair, vice chair, 

secretary are. And then the chair and the vice 

chair and secretary would take over the meeting. 

Yay. It's all yours. 

 So, we can have as many names as you 

want to submit forward for each position. It 

could be one, it could be five, it could be 

seven. But of course the more numbers, the more 

difficult it is to pick one because then the 

votes would be distributed among more people. 

But it is up to you. 

 To help we printed your bios in the 

binders. And we're going to start with the 

chair, right? Is there anyone who would like to 

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serve as chair or anyone that wants to nominate a 

person for chair? 

 MR. PALMBY: Paul Palmby. I'd like to 

nominate Chalmers Carr of Titan Farms for chair. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Okay. Is there any 

other -- oh, I have to say we will have a ballot 

and then we'll collect all the ballots and count. 

 Anyone else that would like to be 

nominated or wants to nominate someone as chair? 

 MR. JANIS: I move Tina for chair. 

 MR. HUGHES: Your name for the record? 

 MR. JANIS: Michael Janis, I 

apologize. 

 MR. HUGHES: Can you state who you 

nominate? 

 MR. JANIS: Tina. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: You raised your hand? 

Oh okay, all right. Anyone else --

 MR. HUGHES: One point of 

clarification. Darrell Hughes. Were you 

nominating Michael Janis or raising your hand for 

yourself? 

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 MS. ELLOR: For myself. 

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Do we have any other 

nomination? 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: I would like to 

throw my name in the hat. Kiley Harper-Larsen 

for chair. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: All right. Any other 

nominees? 

 MS. GORDON: Julie Gordon. I would 

like to nominate Derrin Wheeler, please. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Any other nominee? 

 MR. HUGHES: All right. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. 

 MR. WINGARD: This is Charles Wingard. 

I've got a question about the process. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Okay. 

 MR. WINGARD: If we have four names 

it's entirely possible we don't get a majority on 

the first vote for one person. How will that be 

handled? Or does it matter, just the top vote 

here gets it? 

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 MR. HUGHES: We do it again, right? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. Yes. I think 

under the book that you all got a copy of we have 

to have a majority. So not one person has the 

majority we would probably -- we would take the 

bottom person and then have a revote. 

 PARTICIPANT: I think the policies are 

silent on a majority. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Oh, they are? 

 (Simultaneous speaking) 

 MR. HUGHES: The policy may be silent 

on it. 

 (Simultaneous speaking) 

 MS. JIMENEZ: I apologize. Page 8 

says that the larger number of votes will be 

elected. I apologize. That's my fault. Thank 

you. Thank you. 

 So the person receiving the largest 

number of votes will be elected. I apologize. 

 So we have the four names being 

written on the board there. 

 MR. HUGHES: I passed the ballots out. 

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Darrell Hughes speaking. I passed the ballots 

out to everyone. So just grab the first card 

that says committee chair and go ahead. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes, I think we're -- go 

ahead. We're running with plenty of time so I 

think it would be fair to give each one of the 

candidates an opportunity to say why they want to 

run. Or first of all, if they accept the 

nomination. I didn't hear anybody say no, but I 

just go through that. 

 And also to be able to speak to the 

committee on why they want to serve, why they're 

the best candidate for chair. Yes. 

 MR. ZEA: Donn Zea. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Don, you get all the 

procedures. 

 MR. ZEA: I'm typically not into this. 

I don't know why. But I think my original 

statement was correct. If you look at the last 

two bullets on page 8 the candidate receiving the 

largest number of votes will be elected so it's 

not a majority. In the event of a tie then -- so 

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it's a little confusing actually. In the event 

of a tie there will be a revote until a nominee 

obtains a majority. 

 So it is only the largest number of 

votes unless there's a tie. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. 

 MR. ZEA: Okay. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Thank you. 

 MR. ZEA: You're welcome. 

 MR. WHEELER: I'll start. So although 

I do appreciate Julie's nomination I would like 

to decline and not be nominated just because I'm 

new to this organization and new to the policy, I 

mean new to the procedures and I just think it 

would be unfair to this committee right now for 

me to serve. But Julie, I do appreciate you 

nominating me and I do decline. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Well, so I'm glad I 

asked. Well, thank you. 

 MR. HUGHES: Just for clarification 

that was Derrin Wheeler speaking. 

 MR. WHEELER: I'm sorry. 

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 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr. I 

appreciate the nomination. I do accept the 

nomination. 

 Through my tenure I've worked in many 

different organizations. I've been president of 

the National Peach Council, currently president 

of USA Farmers, a national organization of H-2A 

employers. 

 But more importantly I also serve on 

the USDA NAREEE Board and in that role I served 

as chairman of the Specialty Crops Committee. 

 My life as a first generation is 

produce and agriculture so representing this 

industry is very important to me. It's why we 

dedicate our service. So I'd be honored to serve 

if elected. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Thank you. Next? 

 MS. ELLOR: Tina Ellor. I just 

thought it would -- since I just cycled off the 

board two years ago I thought it would make an 

easy transition to this newest set of members 

just to sort of keep things flowing through. 

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 I've served on this board I think for 

three years or four years. I served on the 

National Organic Standards Board. I've worked 

with a lot of people in the USDA in the past and 

I just thought it would ease us into this new 

iteration of the board. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Thank you. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Good morning, 

again. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to 

all of you. 

 If I was chosen as your particular 

chair I believe I would bring a well-rounded 

approach, but also an open-minded approach with 

diversity not just for particular commodities but 

across the nation. 

 I bring a knowledge base not just in 

compliance but also from the soil. I'm a second 

generation proud American grower and I'm hoping 

to harness the experience that I have coming into 

this committee and also the experience that are 

around this table to help formulate and expand 

and improve the policies that will keep American 

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agriculture particularly fruits and vegetables on 

the forefront. 

 MR. HUGHES: And for the record that 

was Kiley Harper-Larsen speaking. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Okay. So I think we 

have three great candidates. I would like to go 

for the vote. 

 And the way it's going to be, you will 

write the name. 

 MR. HUGHES: And I'll walk around and 

collect and count quickly and then we'll repeat 

this process twice more for vice chair. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Now that we know the 

procedure. 

 MR. HUGHES: Yes. Any ballots ready? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Counting 24 votes is not 

that difficult so I'm sure it won't take that 

long. 

 MR. PALMBY: While we're waiting how 

many states are -- so I'm on the board of the 

Wisconsin department of ag so I'm a little 

familiar with the hemp thing. I think there was 

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1,500 applicants. The emergency rules have been 

put in place for hemp. 

 So are there many states like that 

that you are overseeing, or what is the purview 

of your department on hemp? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: The Farm Bill tasked us 

with approving state plans. And also to develop 

a plan for those states and tribal nations that 

don't have one. So we have a dual. 

 MR. PALMBY: How many states have 

plans? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: We don't know yet. 

 MR. PALMBY: I know Wisconsin does. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. I think -- we 

don't know yet. We have around 9 plans already, 

12 by now. It changes every day. Twelve plans 

between states and tribal nations that have 

submitted to us. We're not looking at them yet 

because we don't have the regs out. 

 But I think we're going to have 

probably the majority of states submitting a plan 

to us. And then we're going to have a plan that 

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we're going to have for everybody else that wants 

to have one. 

 MR. PALMBY: Surprising demand for 

sure. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. We were caught by 

surprise. We did not know that there was going 

to be so much interest in this commodity. But 

yes, we're working as quickly as we can to get 

regulations by the fall. 

 And some of you that know about 

regulations know that that is a huge task. 

 MR. WINGARD: This is Charles Wingard. 

What's your idea if you have two state plans that 

are somewhat conflicting? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Can we just talk about 

that after -- I want to talk about that, yes. 

But let's just -- do you have. 

 Okay, so we have a winner. It's 

Chalmers Carr is your new chair. 

 (Applause) 

 MS. JIMENEZ: So we want to get 

nominees for vice chair and then I'll answer 

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while he comes around. How about that? 

 MR. WINGARD: Perfect. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Good. Do we have 

nominations for vice chair? 

 MR. BOWMAN: Richard Bowman. I'd like 

to nominate Kiley Larsen for vice chair. 

 MR. CARR: I second that. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Any other nominees? 

Going once, going twice. Any other nominees for 

vice chair? Do we need to have a vote? 

 (Simultaneous speaking) 

 MS. JIMENEZ: That was easy. So 

congratulations, Kiley. 

 (Applause) 

 MS. JIMENEZ: I guess I'll have to 

answer your question after the secretary. Any 

nominees for secretary? 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins and I'd 

like to throw my hat into the ring for secretary. 

 MR. CARR: I'd like to second that. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Any other -- Tommy. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins. 

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 MS. JIMENEZ: Any other nominees for 

secretary position? You guys are very easy. Any 

other nominees for secretary position? We don't 

have to vote. Tommy, congratulations. 

 (Applause) 

 MS. JIMENEZ: I'm going to answer your 

question even though that's not on the agenda. 

But we are still ahead of time, right? 

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, we're like still an 

hour ahead of time. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: The question was if 

there are two different states that have 

different plans. 

 MR. WINGARD: This is Charles again. 

The idea was if you have two adjoining states 

that have conflicting plans, or if you've got a 

state that's in conflict with the federal 

government's ideas. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Right. Well, that's why 

we need to put the regulations out. We're going 

to give you guidance on certain areas that the 

Farm Bill requires to. So if there is as much 

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similarity in those areas between states. 

 Now, the states can still be more 

stringent on their requirements than what we put 

out. So I'm sure there will be some differences 

between states. There are differences right now. 

 But at least the basic things should 

be pretty equal. And they have to abide by the 

regulations that we put out. 

 So things on sampling, testing and 

some other areas, we're going to put some 

guidance out there on what the state plans should 

have. And at least in those areas there should 

be -- they should at least meet the minimum 

requirements within the regulations. Does that 

answer your question? 

 MR. WINGARD: It does very well. 

Thank you. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Okay, good. Any other 

questions, comments? Yes. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: We were discussing 

hemp, continuing the conversation and looking at 

the fact that the impact, the amount of acreage 

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grown with fruits and vegetables, how is AMS 

already looking at that? 

 And also looking at the regulation, 

looking at minimum requirements, the conversation 

about how that's going to work into edibles. How 

hemp production is going to work into the 

edibles. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Good question. I'm 

going to start with the last part of the question 

because it's the easiest. 

 Food and medicine is FDA still. We 

are not going to get into that part. USDA 

understands the Farm Bill, it's very clear in the 

Farm Bill for us that we are dealing with the 

production part of hemp. 

 But anything that goes into food or 

medicine or any products, good luck, FDA. It's 

going to be FDA. 

 We are in talks with them and we are 

working together with them as well as with EPA, 

DEA, many other agencies just to coordinate 

efforts. 

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 But we are trying not to step on each 

other's toes and make sure that we know where the 

lines are and who's doing what. 

 We're also working a lot within USDA 

with the other agencies like FSA and RMA for 

loans and insurance and things of that nature. 

So just to make sure that we kind of move 

together. 

 They are eager to see our regulations 

because it's going to impact how they change 

their insurance policies and their loan policies 

and things like that. So we're working together 

with them as well to make sure that everything is 

in place where it needs to be. 

 I think for loans and insurance 

they're going to have to be a little bit after 

our regulations because they have to -- it's more 

complicated than our part just to bring the 

regulations out. 

 But yes, there's a lot of coordination 

but we're trying to make sure that everybody 

knows where the lines are. 

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 The first part of it is yes, we do 

know that a lot of acreage is being taken out of 

specialty fruits and vegetables to grow hemp. 

 I did tour a tomato greenhouse in 

California like a month ago or so and it's a very 

big operation. And they were like this is the 

last one. We're taking this out and we're 

putting hemp here. 

 So we do know that there's going to be 

a lot of that. But as always it's the purview of 

the grower on what they do. 

 We're trying to make sure that as much 

as we can people understand that this is a highly 

risky business right now. There's a lot of 

unknowns in the industry. 

 We know that there are issues with you 

might have the best of intentions and do 

everything right and put down the right seeds. 

And because of soil or other conditions you might 

end up with something that tests higher than the 

0.3 percent required by law. And that's a risk, 

especially until some varieties are tested, 

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further tested. There's a lot of research that 

is needed in this industry. 

 So, every time we talk to somebody we 

say great, but you know that there's a lot of 

risk involved in this. A lot of people are still 

saying we're going for it. So hopefully it will 

work for everybody. Yes. 

 MR. CARR: Sonia, Chalmers Carr. 

Question for clarification. So the Farm Bill 

deals with hemp, but it's industrial hemp, 

correct? It is not marijuana or anything of that 

nature. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: No, it's not marijuana. 

No. And the way it's defined is -- I've been 

touring some of the plantings and I can tell you 

the smell is very strong. 

 And it looks just like marijuana. The 

plant is just marijuana. That's one of the 

things that DEA is having a little trouble with 

because just by looking at it you won't know. 

And a dog that is trained to smell is going to 

smell like marijuana. 

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 But the details is in the testing of 

it. If it tests more than 0.3 percent THC level 

then it's considered marijuana. So it has to 

test 0.3 percent or lower in order to be 

considered hemp. And that's why we're putting 

some regulations out, just to make sure that 

there's consistency in the testing methodologies. 

 There's a lot of different tests out 

there and what we are learning, we've been 

learning a lot in the last two or three months 

about hemp, is that not all the tests are the 

same and will give you the same type of results. 

 So we're trying to come up with some 

guidance on what would be the best methodology 

that would actually be recognizable between 

states and between different people buying. 

 Because that's one of the things we 

learned is if I'm buying I want to make sure that 

I'm getting the right thing. So how do we assure 

or at least help in that area. We're trying to 

address that in the regulations. 

 MR. CARR: Follow-up question to that. 

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Chalmers Carr. So states that are -- like our 

state, South Carolina, has put in a pilot program 

and they're controlling how many producers are 

able to -- and actually controlling acreage. 

 But with it being in the Farm Bill and 

accessible to all farmers are states going to be 

able to govern that or are farmers going to be 

able to --

 MS. JIMENEZ: Each state can put 

restrictions on their plan, yes. 

 MR. PALMBY: Paul Palmby. Chalmers, 

yes, there was a deadline in Wisconsin about when 

you had to actually apply to be able to do it. 

They're working through the plan how many we're 

going to allow and all of that. 

 As Sonia mentioned the opportunity for 

mischief in something that looks exactly the same 

and smells the same for a little patch of 

something that's not supposed to be out in the 

middle of a 40 acre field it's of concern. 

 So the testing is really the biggest 

thing of how you get to that level. 

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 It is many multiples of interest 

beyond what we had expected. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: We were asked to provide 

technical assistance when they were writing some 

of the language for the Farm Bill. And we 

provided technical assistance. But we had no 

idea how big this was going to be until we 

actually got the Farm Bill. 

 We couldn't work on it until after the 

shutdown because we didn't have funding for it. 

And when we started receiving -- I mean, I think 

we have talked to more than 200 organizations or 

individuals. I don't know how many meetings we 

have taken. 

 The other day we were trying to look 

at how much time we have spent and I'm spending 

about 70-75 percent of my time on hemp. 

 So it is because of the deadline right 

now. The Secretary promising we would have the 

regulations by the fall. So it would be on time 

for the planting for the 2020 season. And we're 

trying to meet that. And writing those 

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regulations is not easy. And all the clearance 

process that has to go through. 

 So we're on schedule. We have a 

schedule, a very tight schedule. Everybody knows 

what their part is and when it needs to happen. 

So far we're on schedule. And I hope to remain 

on schedule and get it done. 

 But yes, we're still amazed of how 

much interest there is. 

 MR. WINGARD: This is Charles Wingard. 

Is hemp going to be considered a specialty crop? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. That's Bruce's 

fault. 

 (Laughter) 

 MS. JIMENEZ: He made that call. AMS 

got the program and then Bruce decided it would 

go to the Specialty Crops Program. He called me 

and said hemp is yours. I'm like oh, thank you 

very much. So yes, it's considered a specialty 

crop. 

 Let me tell you, we have -- and those 

of you that are familiar with some of our R&P 

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programs we have paper, lumber, Christmas trees, 

honey, popcorn, things that are definitely not a 

fruit or a vegetable. I tell everybody whatever 

doesn't fit in livestock, cotton, or dairy it's 

ours. 

 MR. ERICKSON: Bret Erickson. So with 

hemp being considered a specialty crop will that 

compete for the same research dollars for -- that 

we typically set aside for fruits and vegetables? 

That's added to the mix now? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Like I said most of our 

services are user fee. So for those absolutely 

not because it's just whatever service we provide 

we charge for. 

 So if they want an inspection they 

come up with an inspection program. I can't 

think of that. But if they do we would charge 

for those services. There's no resources to be 

divided. 

 MR. ERICKSON: Well, I'm talking about 

for research dollars, especially crop research 

grants. 

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 MS. JIMENEZ: Absolutely. 

 MR. ERICKSON: That pool of money. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Absolutely. 

 MR. ERICKSON: Hemp is going to be 

added to the mix so it could potentially dilute 

the dollars that are currently going to fruit and 

vegetables? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. 

 MR. WINGARD: This is Charles. You're 

talking about through the Specialty Crop --

 MR. ERICKSON: Yes, sir. 

 MR. WINGARD: SCRI. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. They're added. 

Yes. 

 MR. LIPETZKY: Tom Lipetzky. Just a 

couple of questions for you. 

 I know there are a number of states 

that have kind of been out in front of the 

industrial hemp. Were there some best practices 

you were able to glean from states in developing 

your rules and regs? 

 And then the second part, you kind of 

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piqued my interest here with calling industrial 

hemp a specialty crop. So going forward will 

that qualify under the Specialty Crop Block Grant 

Program? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. And they still 

have to -- well, the block grant program has very 

specific regulations. I'm not sure that right 

now it's one of the commodities under that 

specific program. But it could be very easily be 

that is added. So watch for that. And the other 

part? 

 MR. LIPETZKY: What's best practices 

from some of the states? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. We have been 

talking to everyone that wants to talk to us. 

And believe me, there are a lot of people that 

want to talk to us from states to private 

companies to labs. I mean, we've been talking to 

a lot of people and trying to learn what's being 

done, what has worked, what hasn't worked. 

 We've been -- between Patty, Charles 

and I we've been traveling to meet with different 

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states and different organizations to try to 

learn as much as we can. 

 So we also have one of our economists 

and some of the science and technology program 

people go to a couple of conferences just to try 

to learn and talk to scientists and talk to as 

many people as we can to learn. 

 Because this was a crop that USDA was 

not very knowledgeable about. Because it was a 

controlled substance so we didn't touch it 

because of that. 

 There's also not a lot of good 

information because we weren't collecting 

information on it because it was a controlled 

substance. So we're trying to make up for all 

that in a very, very short period of time. 

 I did not think you guys were going to 

ask about hemp. 

 MR. ERICKSON: Of course we were. 

Bret Erickson. I'm digesting what information 

I'm receiving right now, but I would just like to 

toss it out there that I personally find it 

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concerning that we -- we'll be taking away 

research dollars that were allocated specifically 

for fresh fruits and vegetables, and now that's 

going to be lumped in with hemp and that's going 

to dilute those dollars which we have fought 

really hard for as an industry. 

 There's a number of people in this 

room, Charles, we've done a lot of work over the 

years working on getting those dollars for fruits 

and vegetables. Through the United Fresh Produce 

Association, through our state association. 

 So I'm just tossing it out there. I'm 

still digesting this information, but I find that 

concerning. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Well, I think that might 

be something that once we seat the new officers 

that might be something that this organization 

might want to discuss and address. And maybe 

have a little committee look into it and get more 

information. We'll be glad to assist you in that 

and then maybe you can make a recommendation. 

 This is the perfect venue to look at 

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those issues. 

 MR. WINGARD: This is Charles. I want 

to build on what Bret just mentioned a little bit 

because I think that the specialty crops title in 

the Farm Bill has been very successful with the 

way it was designed, the way it was written, the 

way it's been implemented. The SCRI, the 

Specialty Crop Research Initiative, the state 

block grants have worked very well. 

 And there's numerous examples of 

successes across this industry, across this 

country. And we need to protect that. 

 I don't have a thing against hemp. 

I'm glad we've got something new coming in 

agriculture. That's great. But if the country 

wants to do it the country needs to provide the 

funding to get the hemp program going somewhere 

other than that title or be ready to supplement 

money to that title. 

 So that is a great comment there 

because we worked long and hard to get where 

we're at. 

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 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr. Just to 

follow up on that. So serving on the NAREEE 

Board, we actually reviewed the process on the 

grant funding and how that went. And just 

knowing that process and knowing the popularity 

of the hemp subject going on. Our land grants 

are going to be bombarded by requests. And these 

young researchers are going to go to where the 

money is. I can see this being diluted very 

quickly. 

 And it's not enough money already. So 

I don't know that we really want to share a whole 

lot. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: This is Kiley 

Harper-Larsen. Having completed quite a few of 

those Specialty Crop Block Grant Programs through 

Florida and Georgia the states have their own 

programs where they establish priorities which 

are filtered down from the USDA for each year for 

that program. 

 And I think as we take over our 

officer positions it might be helpful if staff 

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could present previous priorities of that 

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program over the last 

10 years to us and what is proposed for the next 

year so that we can give Secretary Perdue a 

recommendation related to those priorities. 

 I know that food safety and the 

buildup of grower-owned cooperatives going into 

value add has been extremely successful across 

the southern part of the United States. And many 

of us have benefitted from that in the room. 

 And I know we want to see continuous 

improvement with that. And also the research 

dollars going into fighting pests and disease and 

developing the new commodities. 

 But I think it would be great for the 

whole committee to understand those priorities 

and what they have been. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Tomorrow you are going 

to have a full session --

 MR. HUGHES: Maybe today. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: -- or maybe today, a 

full session where you're going to have 

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committees and you're going to work on your 

objectives and what you want to work on for the 

next few months or year. 

 And I think that would be a good 

opportunity for the chair, vice chair, secretary 

and the chair of those committees to include this 

as a discussion point and one of your objectives 

to look into. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins. I just 

want to add a little bit more to it. You know, 

the consumption of what I think everyone in here 

represents, the more we can increase consumption 

of fruits and vegetables and the impact on health 

and wellness in this country is huge. 

 And if we hiccup for a moment we're 

opening the door for more global intrusion into 

competition of our markets. 

 I'm pro-trade and obviously am heavily 

influenced through the Tex-Mex corridor. But any 

competition that would slow down the progress 

that we're making in domestic grown fruit and 

vegetables is very concerning and just opens the 

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door for more global competition coming into this 

country. 

 So I guess I'm preaching to the choir, 

but it's very important. I think that could be 

one of the surprises so far this morning just how 

important that is. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: It seems like you 

already have issues that you want to start 

working on which is great. I love this committee 

already. 

 MR. HUGHES: And so with that in mind, 

this is Darrell Hughes speaking. What I want to 

do now is do a quick -- what do you call that 

game? Musical chairs. 

 We want the chair to get over here, 

Mr. Carr. Because he's going to take over the 

meeting with some guidance. 

 All right, Darrell Hughes speaking. 

So in anticipation for this very moment I 

developed a script for the chair. And so there's 

portions that you will essentially ready. There 

may be like little notes there where I'll jump 

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in. 

 We're about 30 minutes out from the 

next break and so what we'll shift to is 

discussing work groups. And so I'll hand it over 

to Chair Carr to read that little section there. 

 MR. CARR: Let's see. So we'll be 

starting some working groups and appointing by 

the chair to lead these working groups. 

 We've received suggestions from the 

working groups in advance of today's meeting. I 

don't know how we're going to do that. And we 

will follow the representation of Brian 

Kirschenmann, a suggested working group to us via 

email. 

 A total of four working groups are for 

consideration. We will discuss each suggested 

working group here at the table and at the end of 

the discussion we will use general consent in 

voting to establish the working group. 

 After each working group is 

established we will record who wants to serve on 

the working group. After that each working group 

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will huddle and have more room next door to come 

back with recommendations from the working group. 

 MR. HUGHES: So, just to -- this is 

Darrell Hughes speaking. Quick bullets on what 

he was speaking of. 

 Before today's meeting I shared three 

suggested working groups via email with the 

committee. And your fellow representative Brian 

Kirschenmann proposed a trade working group. And 

so those are the four that we have that are 

suggested for you guys to consider. 

 In the back of the briefing packet, in 

that very back pocket, the first page should be a 

printout of the proposed working groups. 

 And the fourth one, that trade group, 

is essentially Brian's email I cut and pasted and 

retooled so it was easy for everyone to digest. 

 Some quick insights as you're thinking 

about creating the work groups. Each member 

should serve on a work group. That means it will 

be difficult or one person to be in multiple 

places at a time. 

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 So it's important that you keep the 

number of work groups in mind. We suggest a max 

of 3 or 4 just based on the numbers and dividing 

25 by 4, or 6 members, so on and so forth. 

 Also keep in mind the type of work 

group you create and the scope of the Department 

of Agriculture. 

 If you want to create a work group on 

let's just say agricultural labor or rural 

broadband those are topics that get outside of 

USDA's center of influence. 

 So as you go about creating the work 

groups you want to think about our center of 

influence. 

 The proposed work groups that were 

sent or suggested work groups that were sent, it 

was based on me just tapping -- not really -- I 

didn't call you all, but I got the sense by 

topics raised or questions asked that these were 

hot topics for you all. And so in making these 

suggested work groups is just fine or if you want 

to add to it or not. That's totally up to you. 

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 Be sure to check out page 10 of the 

policies and procedures manual. That discusses 

the duties of the work group chairs. 

 So each work group chair I believe 

that would be responsible for making sure the 

work group provides some recommendations or 

statements that are submitted to the full 

committee. 

 And once those recommendations or 

statements are submitted to the full committee 

the full committee will discuss and decide 

whether or not to adopt or reject or ask for more 

to be done. And so that's how it will work. 

 One sort of administrative comment. 

I need to be included as DFO on all 

communications with each of the work groups. I'm 

sort of thinking about which maybe I'll get with 

the chair once the work groups are established we 

can huddle later on. 

 But I'm thinking that maybe what I'll 

do is create an email thread for each work group. 

And then the work groups when they have questions 

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can comment only on that email thread. That way 

each work group is organized based on a single 

central thread. 

 And the reason that I propose that is 

because everything that we do should be 

accessible by the public. And just thinking 

about how we provide information and post 

information I'm thinking of how we are organized, 

how we can stay organized which is what I've done 

this entire meeting. 

 So, with that I'll give it back to the 

chair. 

 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr. I'll take 

it from there. 

 First of all, just reviewing this 

list. And I'm going to actually call on some 

members that have served on this committee 

before. 

 Is there something missing here? Is 

there committees that have been here before that 

are not represented? 

 MR. ERICKSON: Well, I mean -- Bret 

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Erickson. Darrell mentioned it and I know it's 

kind of outside the purview of USDA, but ag labor 

is such a critical issue for us. I hate to miss 

an opportunity to have a direct line to the 

Secretary to continue to beat that drum. 

 I'm preaching to the choir with you, 

Chalmers and a lot of the folks in this room, but 

I would like to find a way for us to have that as 

part of our discussions. 

 MS. ELLOR: Tina Ellor. I 

wholeheartedly agree and I spent some time last 

night looking through past recommendations from a 

labor subcommittee. 

 And from hearing some of the members 

of the committee speak yesterday I feel like 

there's things we can do in small enough chunks 

tinkering around the edges to make the programs 

that we rely on work, work a little better. 

 And it looks to me like the first two, 

safety and audit work group and the inspection 

standardization work group, that might be 

combined. They look very similar to me. Does 

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anyone else have that impression? Making room 

for possibly an ag labor subcommittee. 

 MR. ERICKSON: Without labor none of 

this matters. 

 MR. CARR: I agree. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins. Is this 

where we would bring up the conversation we just 

had about the research dollars? Would this be a 

potentially fourth or fifth group that we would 

have working on that? 

 As a concern I'd really like to add 

that to the pile. 

 MR. BELL: David Bell. I was thinking 

along the same lines as Tommy. I guess one 

suggestion I have for a working group might be 

fruit and vegetable sector development working 

group. 

 It could take on block grants and 

SCRI. This may be a stretch and you don't want 

to have too big of a scope, but if we don't want 

too many working groups and we thought it was 

reasonable ag labor could be part of that to the 

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point that was just made earlier. We can't 

develop the sector, nothing works unless we have 

the labor. 

 I do think in light of the hemp 

discussion we should have some mechanism such as 

a sector development where we can make sure some 

of these key programs for our future are enhanced 

and protected. 

 MR. CARR: So let me ask the group 

then. Concerning the first suggestion to 

combining the first two on here, the inspection, 

the food safety, does everybody have the 

consensus on that, of combining those two to make 

that one committee? 

 By consensus everybody agrees with 

that? 

 MR. WINGARD: This is Charles Wingard. 

I was making some quick notes here and very 

quickly -- I'm sure I didn't get this exactly 

right, but if you pull all our issues down into 

three topics what I've got is food safety, trade 

and then domestic production. And maybe we could 

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think about that as we develop these work groups 

or name them or whatever and then domestic 

production could go to the hemp funding or the 

hemp. That discussion we had on that research. 

And labor and other things could go into that, 

into that pot maybe. That seems like an awfully 

big pot, but if we want to just keep it to three 

then I was thinking about that. 

 MR. PALMBY: Chair, Paul Palmby. I 

actually was going to nominate Tommy to be chair 

of the trade work group because of his comments 

on domestic production. 

 So I sort of had domestic production 

fitting in under that trade thing which then 

would open up -- because labor would be a pretty 

big topic to kind of lump that in with. Just 

throwing it out there as another. 

 MR. CARR: Any other views on that? 

 MR. WILKINS: You know, when you talk 

about trade this one's very dear to my heart. I 

grew up in west Texas, come from the dirt and I'm 

seeing maybe us being out hustled by other 

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countries. 

 And I think this is maybe why I'm so 

gratified that I'm here, that we can maybe help 

communicate what's going on and how we might can 

help. 

 I maybe agree that maybe that would be 

-- you've got to fine-tune it because we don't 

want to throw too big of an umbrella over it, but 

I think those would fall under each subcommittee 

as some important things to do. 

 I agree with everything. I like the 

direction that we may be going to maybe give a 

broader situation. 

 I think trade and ag labor quite 

honestly trumps the three. I think food safety 

has got momentum and direction, and I think that 

we constantly are watching what's going on. 

 But today trade and ag labor are the 

top two things that I believe we should focus on. 

 MR. CARR: One question, let me ask 

Darrell. The issue committees are not permanent 

and they can change as topics and situations 

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change, correct? 

 So you could have a committee now and 

then eventually that committee can do its work 

and then you could form another committee. Is 

that correct? 

 MR. HUGHES: Yes. 

 MR. BOWMAN: Mr. Chairman, Richard 

Bowman for the record. I think trade and labor 

are two of our most important issues and they 

shouldn't be lumped together. They should stand 

on their own. 

 MR. WILKINS: I think it's very 

important. I would have to agree with you on 

that one. Because I think it's really two major 

issues that are going to be vital. 

 MR. CARR: So going back to Charles' 

suggestion of having just basically three groups 

with broad topics, food safety, trade as its own 

and the domestic production which could cover 

labor, research funding and stuff like that. Is 

that a consensus of the way we want to go? Is 

there opposition to that? 

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 PARTICIPANT: I like that personally. 

 MR. PALMBY: Paul Palmby. I'm fine 

with that. But when I think domestic production 

I also think buy American, American produced. 

And maybe there's a little overlap with trade. 

 I too have spent a lot of time on 

tariffs and trade matters. Yesterday I had 

meetings on the subject with Japan and China and 

others. 

 I think that trade is a big enough 

piece. But I kind of lump that together, keep it 

separate from the labor piece. 

 MR. CARR: I agree with that. 

Chalmers Carr. We don't have to just do three. 

We can do four. 

 So domestic production worries me from 

the standpoint it's a very broad topic and then 

that group may get weighted on one subject like 

labor and never touch on anything else. 

 So if we can agree on food safety and 

trade standing alone how can we subcategorize 

domestic production maybe under two groups. 

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 MR. WILKINS: We just kind of relooked at his. I agree with the direction we're 

headed, but I'd propose we do trade, labor, 

production and food safety as the four. Trade, 

labor, production and food safety. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

One comment for insights. As far as the 

structure it is possible to have a subcommittee 

and then work groups within a subcommittee. 

 And so if you go the route of having 

this big bucket and then have work groups within 

it that is possible. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins again. 

And I think it's going to fracture into 

subcommittees. 

 I think the key we owe this committee 

is that we find the four hot pockets. And I 

think trade, labor, domestic production and food 

safety are the four things that I came into this 

meeting hoping we would have some impact on. 

 MR. BELL: So food safety, trade, ag 

labor I think are pretty well defined in most of 

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our minds. 

 MR. HUGHES: Name. 

 MR. BELL: Oh, sorry. David Bell 

again. On the domestic production idea for a 

working group what are the key areas or topics 

people are thinking about that that group would 

tackle? 

 MR. CARR: Just listening to comments 

earlier I would definitely think research funding 

would be under that group right there. 

 MR. BELL: Block grants. 

 MR. CARR: So do you want to put that 

in the form of a motion or do we need a motion on 

this? 

 MR. WILKINS: I would format that as 

that we do our proposed working groups for this 

committee to be trade, labor, production and food 

safety. Tommy Wilkins. 

 MR. TISON: Greg Tison. I second 

that. 

 MR. CARR: We have a motion and a 

second. Is there any discussion further on this? 

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All those in favor say aye. 

 (Chorus of ayes) 

 MR. CARR: All those opposed. Hearing 

no opposed the motion passes. 

 It's the next role to appoint work 

group leads. And so it says that it should be 

appointed by the chairman if I read the policy 

right. Not knowing everybody's background and 

everybody on this committee getting started I'm 

going to ask for volunteers of people that are 

interested in a particular --

 MR. HUGHES: Sorry, Darrell Hughes. 

The first thing to do is decide who would like to 

be on the subcommittee. And so it may be better 

to figure out who wants to serve on one of the 

subcommittees and then because everyone is new 

and getting to know each other get in a quick 

huddle and figure out amongst themselves if they 

want to come back and recommend a lead to you if 

you want to go that way. 

 MR. CARR: So can we get somebody to 

help us with the chart up there at the front of 

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the room. 

 (Simultaneous speaking) 

 MR. CARR: But if we could list the 

four committees and then we could just ask for 

volunteers that want to work on each committee. 

 Again, you can only serve on one 

committee, is that correct, or that's the 

recommendation? 

 MR. HUGHES: That's the 

recommendation. 

 MR. CARR: I know it's a logistical 

nightmare, but could we move that to the center 

of the room? 

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, that's that I'm 

doing right now. 

 MR. CARR: If you just go across the 

top and put food safety, trade, labor. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Darrell, if I 

could suggest -- this is Kiley. If you'll 

separate those into quadrants then you'll put 

your names underneath pretty easily. 

 MR. HUGHES: Trade. 

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 MR. CARR: Labor. And just put 

production. So do we have any volunteers to work 

on the food safety working group? Keep your 

hands up. 

 MR. HUGHES: Is it Tom? Michael. 

 MR. JANIS: Michael Janis. 

 MR. HUGHES: And who else? 

 MR. CARR: Tom. 

 MR. HUGHES: All right. That's six 

members. 

 MR. CARR: Anybody else? Moving over 

to trade. Julie. Tommy. Greg. All right, 

labor. 

 MR. ERICKSON: Can we volunteer for 

two? 

 MR. CARR: Yes, you can. But I was 

going to -- keep your hands up. I was concerned 

this would happen because when you have everybody 

that's putting their hand up for labor you're 

going to have hardly anybody left for production. 

I'm not so sure we're not going to go back and 

combine labor and production back together. 

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 MR. HUGHES: Let's go ahead and do the 

names up first. Did I skip anyone before 

Huckaby? Kelly, right? 

 MR. CARR: Darrell, put me on that. 

 MR. HUGHES: What's your name? 

 (Laughter) 

 MR. HUGHES: All right, production. 

Charles. Did I skip anyone after Charles? Steve 

Smith. 

 Darrell Hughes, quick insights. You 

have the authority to appoint a member to a 

committee. Brian Kirschenmann is not here with 

us. He did email about trade. It's up to you if 

you want to. 

 MR. CARR: Yes, put him on trade. 

 MR. HUGHES: For trade. 

 MR. ERICKSON: As you look at this 

list I know based on discussions we've already 

had there's two areas I want to be in. I'd 

really like to see them combined back to Mr. 

Wingard's suggestion. I'd like to see if we 

could consider bucketing that as domestic and 

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consolidate that. 

 MR. CARR: So production and labor? 

Or combine which? 

 MR. ERICKSON: Well, I mean labor and 

the research dollars are two highly concerning 

pieces to me. If we could create or find a way 

to come up with the right definition of what that 

group is called, whether it's domestic. 

 MR. CARR: Well, labor is a focus of 

production. We can't produce anything without 

labor. So rolling it over under that and just 

having a broad reaching, that way the committee 

members could have an impact on conversations. I 

think if you want to put that in the form of a 

motion. 

 MR. ERICKSON: Yes. I'd like to make 

a motion that we consolidate production and labor 

into the production bucket. 

 MR. CHANDLER: This is Chandler. I 

second. 

 MS. GLEASON: I have small concerns 

about that. 

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 MR. HUGHES: Speaking? 

 MS. GLEASON: Sorry. Molly Gleason. 

Most of the growers I work with are very small 

local markets, direct to consumer. And labor --

so production and the research dollars is really 

important, but labor doesn't really matter as 

much to those producers. 

 And I would like to be in the 

production conversation, but I'm not sure I could 

contribute very much to the labor conversation. 

So I mean, this is just from my own personal 

standpoint. 

 MR. BOWMAN: Richard Bowman for 

discussion purposes. We said you could only be 

on one meeting at the beginning because at this 

meeting today we're going to fracture out into 

different groups. 

 But can we organize it as we go in the 

future where the meeting times don't conflict 

with each other so people that want to be on more 

than one committee can and we don't have to bring 

two groups together? It seems to me this is an 

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organizational issue. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes, provide 

some insights. The plan is at some point to 

organize a teleconference, so calls where they're 

not grouped at the same time. So in the future 

you will be able to if you want to be a part of 

different working groups and subcommittees you 

will be able to participate. But when you come 

together as a group it's being able to 

collaborate together that makes it difficult. 

 MR. CHANDLER: Chandler. One thing 

you made a mention. If you do combine them you 

could have subcommittees where you would then 

have that sub focused more on the issues specific 

while still maintaining the combination. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes. Just a 

clarification. We called these working groups 

working groups and subcommittees for the purposes 

of FACA. They're essentially the same. 

 But if we're going to create a tier 

then subcommittee would be top and then working 

group on the bottom. So it would be the domestic 

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production and labor subcommittee and then labor 

working group and production working group. 

 MR. CARR: So is everybody clear on 

that that we could combine it? The motion to 

combine the two together and then under that 

point would be that we make subcommittees. 

 But Darrell, to your point you're 

saying now it would be the subcommittee and then 

there would be these working groups underneath 

that subcommittee. 

 MR. HUGHES: Right. Darrell is 

speaking. That would only be for the purposes of 

combining labor and production. We would call 

food safety a subcommittee and trade a 

subcommittee, but it just wouldn't have any work 

groups which is totally fine. 

 MR. ERICKSON: And production would --

this is Bret Erickson. Production would be a 

subcommittee and then there would be working 

groups of labor, research. 

 MR. HUGHES: Yes. 

 MR. BELL: David Bell again. This is 

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getting down into the weeds on organization. I 

originally suggested the production and maybe 

having labor into it, but kind of listening to 

the discussion here I have no problem with the 

working groups within a larger subcommittee. But 

I think we should just keep the four. 

 And if people want to serve on two 

that's fine. 

 MR. CARR: I think the challenge for 

the committee members if I heard it right is when 

we're having in-person meetings you won't be able 

to participate in both meetings because they'll 

be happening simultaneously. 

 So when we're working outside of this 

at our home and working on these it's easy to do. 

Am I -- that's pretty much the consensus there? 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes for some 

quick insights. One of the things that you can 

also do is when we are together in person and you 

pick your favorite work group is provide a fellow 

representative with more than enough written 

information and go about it that way. That's one 

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option, one path. 

 MR. CARR: If I can I'd like to call 

on some of the former committee -- Tina, could 

you maybe talk us through some of your 

experiences with the working groups? What have 

been the successes and what have been failures, 

and are we walking down a road we don't want to 

walk down? 

 MS. ELLOR: Actually, we have served 

on more than one subcommittee working group 

before, and it's possible to go between them. As 

the different groups are deliberating you can go 

between them and make contributions. It seems to 

have worked fine in the past that way. 

 MR. HUGHES: Dip in and help. 

 MS. ELLOR: Yes. 

 MR. PALMBY: This is Paul Palmby. I'd 

agree with that. You're only meeting a couple of 

times a year together. My recollection, it's 

been awhile, but two or three conference calls in 

each working group was not unforeseen in the 

course of a year. We go back and forth. 

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 And as Darrell said you can always 

provide your insights to somebody who's actually 

sitting in the face to face meeting while we're 

all here together. 

 And everything comes back to the 

overall board anyway. So you get your 

opportunity for comment then as well. 

 MR. CARR: Bruce? 

 MR. TALBOTT: I would concur with 

what's been said. 

 MR. CARR: So with those last comments 

a little bit counter to the motion at hand, do 

you still want to keep the motion? 

 MR. ERICKSON: Whatever is the flavor 

of the committee. 

 MR. CARR: Well, then we'll just a 

vote on it. We have a motion, we have a second. 

The motion was to combine labor and production 

into one group. I don't know that we have a 

clear consensus. I'll ask by a show of hands who 

supports that motion. The opposite would be to 

keep these two groups separate as two working 

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groups. So all those in favor of the motion to 

combine them raise your hand. 

 (Simultaneous speaking) 

 MR. CARR: I think at the end of the 

day you're going to find that everybody is very 

passionate about it. They're going to find the 

time to get their comments in on both of these 

subjects. 

 So with that being said these will be 

our four working groups. And we will ask them to 

-- can we go ahead and meet? They huddle and may 

come back with a recommendation of a working 

group lead? 

 MR. HUGHES: Actually, that's the 

perfect time. Darrell Hughes speaking. We're 

four minutes away from our break so I think we 

could go ahead and kick off the break a little 

early and then you guys can chit chat while 

you're on break and then we'll come back if more 

time is needed. Continue. 

 MR. ZEA: Mr. Chair. Donn Zea. Just 

an observations really. First of all you see 

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what's driving agriculture and everybody in this 

room is concerned about things that were not on 

this original list for the most part. Food 

safety being an exception. 

 And I'm glad, really glad to see that 

because I know some of us were concerned on the 

email thread about trade not being on there for 

instance. 

 These are areas except for specific 

things that tuck inside some of these categories 

these are areas that AMS may or may not deal with 

directly. Is that a challenge for you, for us to 

advise on these things? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: A good question. We see 

our role here more broadly, USDA. USDA, what we 

can actually -- because we can bring in other 

agencies within USDA to work or to advise you on 

issues. 

 Remember that these recommendations 

are to the Secretary. So of course he has the 

ability to do things all over USDA. 

 Outside of USDA that's a different 

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story. But anything that deals with USDA 

programs, yes, absolutely. Doesn't have to be 

specific to AMS only. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking 

for insights. There are recommendations and then 

there are statements. So any statement that is 

crafted could be provided to the Secretary and 

those statements or position statements could be 

on topics that are not necessarily within the 

USDA center of influence, but can be provided to 

the Secretary. 

 And the only reason why I make that 

distinction is so that if you provide a 

recommendation and me as your DFO I submit it and 

then try to follow on to see how that moves 

along. If it's outside of USDA's scope there may 

not be anything that I can do to report back on 

the progress of that recommendation if it's 

beyond our department. 

 MR. CARR: Did you have a question? 

 MR. WHEELER: I did. I just simply 

would determine that if we can work with two 

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committees I'd like to be added to the labor 

committee as well. Derrin Wheeler, yes, sorry. 

 MS. POWELL-MCIVER: Kelly McIver here. 

Mr. Chairman, I would also like to be added to 

trade. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: And on that note 

I would like to be added to trade. That's Kiley. 

 MR. CHANDLER: Mr. Chairman, I'd like 

to be added to production. 

 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr. I'd like to 

be added to production as well. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins would like 

to be added to production as well. 

 MR. CARR: Anybody else want to put 

their names on there? 

 MS. GORDON: Actually, Julie Gordon 

for production as well. 

 MR. CARR: Going once, going twice. 

So, we can break up into different rooms now? 

 MR. HUGHES: Fifteen-minute break now. 

 MR. CARR: Okay. And do you want --

so we're going to take a break and then we're 

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going to go into our separate groups to come out 

with a working group lead, is that correct? 

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, that's correct. 

 MR. DAVIS: Real quick. Carl Purvis 

is with our AMS Public Affairs Office. We want 

to get some photographs. We'll take some of your 

elected leadership, but we'd also like everyone 

to come together for a group photo on an outside 

patio just one level down over there. I want to 

do it now so we don't get caught up in the rain 

possibly later today. 

 So what we'll do is as you finish your 

break Carl will kind of herd all of us out there 

for that picture and Carl Purvis will get this 

knocked out as quickly as possible. And then 

when you return directly into your rooms. 

 MR. CARR: So I would ask everybody to 

stay on schedule. Be back in 15 minutes and 

we'll go from there. 

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 10:31 a.m. and resumed at 

10:49 a.m.) 

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reconvene our meeting here. I'm going to call on 

Darrell to kind of go a little bit more into the 

working groups, what are the -- kind of going 

back to the statements versus recommendations and 

kind of the year-long plan. Basically what is 

the scope of work that is the goals of these 

working groups and how should that product be 

delivered back to this committee. 

 MR. HUGHES: Okay, Darrell Hughes 

speaking. On page 10 of the policies and 

procedures manual it talks about procedures for 

completing work group recommendations. 

 And so each work group or in this case 

we'll say subcommittees -- there's one -- they're 

all work groups. Never mind. 

 Each work group will meet at least 

twice via conference call. The work group chair 

who's selected will work with myself, vice chair, 

secretary or chair on timing. It depends on how 

you guys want to figure that out. 

 But you'll work with me to schedule at 

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least two conference calls for you guys to 

discuss as a working group any of the research 

items or any items that you want to put forth to 

the full committee. 

 And so you come together, the work 

group, develop recommendations or position 

statements. When the full committee reconvenes 

our current plan is for the committee to 

potentially reconvene in person around August. 

We have to vote or decide on two potential time 

slots, dates. 

 You come together then and discuss and 

decide whether the recommendations or if a 

working group puts forth only one recommendation, 

or one statement, or two recommendations, or two 

statements, reconvene at that time to accept, 

adopt, reject, or ask for additional work to be 

done. 

 And then after that there would maybe 

be one additional conference call, full committee 

conference call which is at the beginning of 

2020, maybe around that time, to not finalize the 

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recommendations, but finalize the package that 

would be put forth to the Secretary for the '18-

2020 committee group. 

 Recommendations or statements that are 

put forth, it may take longer than 2019 or 2020 

to get completed and that's totally fine. 

 You don't need to feel the pressure of 

putting or having a recommendation that provides 

research and steps and a clear and concise action 

for the Secretary. You don't need to worry about 

that if it turns out that whatever recommendation 

or statement that you're putting forth will take 

a longer period of time. Just craft your 

language to explain that. 

 Did that cover? 

 MR. CARR: What is the difference 

between a statement and a recommendation if you 

can? 

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. So, this -- a 

recommendation is going to be something that is 

with the committee requesting action be taken by 

USDA that we can actually perform. And that we 

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can track. 

 And the concept of a statement is that 

you are requesting the Agricultural Secretary to 

look into something or you want to provide 

feedback on a topic that is important to 

agriculture but beyond the scope of USDA. 

 Now, how we determine what's 

recommendation worthy and what's statement 

worthy, the chair, vice chair and the rest of the 

group. 

 It may be that the working group puts 

something forward and -- as a recommendation and 

you ask for insights from USDA is this something 

that's within your center of influence and we 

confirm whether we can actually do whatever may 

come about from that work group. Does that make 

sense? On the right track? 

 MR. CARR: Anybody have any questions? 

Again, a working group can come forward with more 

than one recommendation because these groups are 

pretty broad and their scope of what they're 

covering. So that is correct? 

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 MR. HUGHES: Yes. Yes. There's no 

limit. 

 MR. LIPETZKY: Tom Lipetzky with a 

question. Darrell, obviously there have been 

past advisory committees. Are there any 

statements or positions from previous groups and 

how would those play into our working groups or 

do they not? 

 MR. HUGHES: In the back of your 

briefing packet right -- there should be a table, 

packet of recommendations from the 2015-2017 

group. 

 That was a completely different 

administration. This was already on the website. 

I included it just in case -- at the bottom. 

 But I mean from my standpoint because 

I'm new to this committee and many members are we 

are looking at that as information only. We're 

starting fresh. 

 MR. LIPETZKY: But when you say we're 

starting fresh would any of those recommendations 

made in that last group, did any of those need 

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any follow-up with us or reporting back to us on 

what has been done from those recommendations? 

 MR. HUGHES: Because it's a different 

administration --

 MS. JIMENEZ: Let me answer that 

question. You can look at that list and decide, 

hey, we still want to do this or want to work on 

this area. Or we want to see what the status of 

this is. 

 So it would be up to you to decide of 

those recommendations that were made back then 

which ones you want us to follow up or look into. 

 MR. CARR: Any other questions on the 

working group structure and what the expectations 

are over the next year? 

 So with that being said we would like 

to see if we can convene in four different spots. 

So maybe, Darrell, you could direct us which 

groups could go where. 

 We're looking for a working group lead 

that will work within the group to foster out any 

suggestions, recommendations from that group and 

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bring that forward through that working group 

over the course of the year and then be able to 

come back and present that to this whole 

committee for either adoption or ratification. 

Is that correct? 

 MR. HUGHES: Yes. 

 MR. WHEELER: Mr. Chairman, Derrin 

Wheeler. If you are on two committees at this 

point are we going to float around? 

 MR. CARR: If you so desire to be the 

lead I would go to the one you want to be the 

lead at. I don't think we have time to have 

different meetings. So, again, if you do have a 

particular interest in being a lead on the 

committee then I would definitely ask you to 

attend that group now. 

 MR. HUGHES: And quick insights. 

Darrell Hughes speaking. We're 20 minutes out 

from public comments and we want to stay on track 

for public comments. 

 And so if it turns out that there's 

more discussion needed on work group leads the 

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chair can allow that to happen after public 

comments. 

 MR. CARR: So what you're saying is we 

need to be back in this room in 20 minutes, 

correct? 

 MR. HUGHES: Less than 20 minutes. 

Seventeen minutes. 

 I'm going to propose that food safety 

this side, labor this side and the other two work 

groups go into the room right around the corner 

because you're the biggest ones. 

 MR. CARR: If we can do that and you 

all can work together to come up with a lead and 

come back and report to us. 

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 10:57 a.m. and resumed at 

11:09 a.m.) 

 MR. CARR: So as we reconvene for the 

record Charles Wingard has asked to also be put 

on labor. And is there anybody else that wants 

to be put on another committee? I think we did 

this, but just checking again. 

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 MR. HUGHES: Wingard on labor and --

 MR. LIPETZKY: Tom on trade. 

 MR. HUGHES: -- Tom on trade. 

 MR. CARR: All right. So the food 

safety working group. Did you all come up with a 

working group lead? 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: I'm the food 

safety lead and I'll be assisted by Molly. And 

this is Kiley Harper-Larsen for the record. 

 MR. HUGHES: And the food safety 

assistant is? 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Molly. 

 MR. CARR: Trade? 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins. 

 (Simultaneous speaking) 

 MR. CARR: And labor was Bret. 

 MR. ERICKSON: Assisted by Tina. 

 MR. CARR: Production? 

 MR. WINGARD: This is Charles Wingard. 

I am honored to announce that Steve Smith --

 (Laughter) 

 MR. WINGARD: He needs no assistance. 

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 MR. CARR: So we're going to have 

working group meetings tomorrow, is that correct? 

 MR. HUGHES: Well, probably today. 

 MR. CARR: Probably today as we're 

moving along. So at this point in time are we 

going to go do the photo now? Or no, we have 

public comment. 

 MR. HUGHES: Public comment starts at 

11:15 and we're four minutes ahead so we can just 

go ahead and get started with public comments. 

 MR. CARR: So Darrell, is there 

anything the committee should know about when we 

have public comment periods and everything? 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

We did not receive any written comments in 

advance of the meeting. If there were written 

comments I would typically provide them to the 

committee in advance. We didn't receive any for 

this meeting. 

 We request the public to register if 

they're going to attend to speak. We give them 

two minutes to speak. Because there are only 

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three, possibly four people registered to speak 

we can extend that a few minutes based on your 

judgment, whatever you would like. 

 Darrell Hughes speaking. The first 

speaker will not be Paul, but it will be a 

representative from his association. So you just 

call out that association. 

 Actually you know what, we should 

probably read the rules for public oral speaking, 

for those people who are going to be speaking. 

It's right down in this section. 

 MR. CARR: Okay, so public comments. 

Members of the public wishing to speak at the 

meeting or who wish to arrange special 

accommodations to contact the DFO Darrell. 

Comments and registration to speak must be 

submitted by April 17 and I see that's announced. 

Does that go to the Federal Register when it's 

done? 

 MR. HUGHES: We publish the meeting 

notice in the Federal Register and that's how 

they receive my name, email and number to speak. 

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 MR. CARR: There are two opportunities 

to provide oral comments to the committee. One 

of the two is face to face meetings. Walk-in 

comment slots may be available on a first come, 

first served basis at the meeting if the schedule 

allows. 

 Each person has signed up for only one 

speaking slot. Comments will be allotted two 

minutes or longer depending on the people who are 

here. And each commenter must say his name, 

organization or affiliation for the record, begin 

their comments. 

 So, I'm going to first call on the 

Apple Processors Association who have asked to 

speak before this group. 

 MS. GENTILE: Good morning. Mr. 

Chairman, my name is Maggie Gentile and I'm 

pleased to represent the Apple Processors 

Association. 

 APA is an industry trade association 

representing companies and farmer-owned 

cooperatives that manufacture quality apple 

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products from whole apples. 

 These APA members produce a majority 

of the nation's freshly processed apple products. 

 Our association was founded in 1987 to 

represent and enhance the unique responsibilities 

of companies that process and market food 

products from whole apples working closely with 

the food industry and government regulators. 

 Each of our members grow a portion of 

their apples in local orchards. Our suppliers 

coordinate with their fellow association members 

to ensure convenient and safe packaging and 

storage capabilities for these food products. 

 We are pleased to provide the federal 

government with the highest quality and 

nutritious apple juice, applesauce and special 

apple products for their feeding programs 

including WIC, school lunches, staff and related 

initiatives. 

 Our members carefully pasteurize their 

juice products, hot fill their food containers, 

and perform continuous research and food safety 

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checks to ensure safety and nutritional value. 

 Because our food products are 

processed fresh in packaged shelf stable 

containers they're ideal for remaining safe and 

nutritious for very long periods of time. 

 As our government improves and 

enhances its nutritional guidelines it's 

important to support and recommend processed food 

products especially for families without adequate 

refrigerated storage. 

 We ask that the advisory committee 

consider and support shelf stable food products 

for food and feeding programs of the federal 

government. Thank you. 

 MR. CARR: Thank you for your 

comments. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes. Just a 

point of insight. We do have a hard copy of that 

statement. I can scan it in and send it to the 

full committee for you guys to review. 

 MR. CARR: Are we allowed to ask 

questions of the commenter if there is questions? 

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As a group. If someone speaks and you want to do 

it do we need to wait till they all speak and 

call them back up here? If that's okay with 

everybody. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

Rich Hudgins from the California Canning Peach 

Association. Rich, did I pronounce your last 

name right? 

 MR. HUDGINS: Close. Rich Hudgins, 

president and CEO of the California Canning Peach 

Association. 

 The issue I'd like to bring to the 

committee's attention this morning is the buy 

American provision for school food purchases. 

 This legislation was first passed by 

Congress back in 1988. And to be clear all of 

the food products that AMS purchases are 100 

percent domestically sourced. 

 AMS purchases represent about 20 

percent of the food products served in school 

feeding programs. 

 The other 80 percent of the food items 

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are purchased by school districts. They go out 

to bid and receive bids from distributors and 

make their own purchase decisions using taxpayer 

funds. 

 And it is in this area where we have 

seen inroads being made by foreign sourced food 

products into the school feeding programs. 

 Specifically I'm talking about Chinese 

canned fruit, apple juice sourced from Chinese 

apple juice concentrate. FNS's own data would 

indicate that 80 percent of the apple juice being 

served in schools today is of Chinese origin. 

 Egyptian frozen strawberries, another 

example finding their way into the school feeding 

program. 

 And even fish sticks, fish that is 

caught on Russian trawlers, processed in China 

before being shipped into the U.S. for 

distribution into the school feeding programs. 

 Let me be clear. The buy American 

provision reflected the original congressional 

intent. 

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 The regulatory language that was 

developed by USDA over 10 years ago to implement 

this legislation does contain two exclusions. 

 The first exclusion being for products 

that are not domestically produced. So think 

bananas. 

 The second exclusion is more 

problematic. The second exclusion calls for an 

exception for products with a significant cost 

differential. And as everyone around this table 

knows the competitive landscape has changed 

dramatically since this legislation was first 

passed in 1988. 

 There have been a coalition of 

organizations led nationally by the National 

Council of Farmer Cooperatives and the American 

Farm Bureau, but also including many individuals 

that are seated around the table today that were 

successful in securing language as part of the 

2018 Farm Bill directing the Secretary to fully 

enforce compliance with the buy American 

provision and to report back to Congress within 

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six months on actions taken by USDA in accordance 

with congressional direction. 

 While there's been a lot more 

attention paid to this issue in recent years we 

continue to believe that meaningful change in 

school purchasing decisions will require more 

than just a few more webinars, or a few new 

pictographs going to schools prepared by USDA. 

 We can point at this point to decades 

of memos and guidance information and letters to 

distributors pointing out the language that was 

contained in the original buy American provision. 

 I would say that the National School 

Lunch Act was first passed in 1946. In 1946 

President Truman highlighted two coequal goals, 

feeding nutritious meals to students and 

supporting U.S. farmers and ranchers. 

 I would suggest that we need to 

continue to adhere to the original congressional 

intent of the National School Lunch Act 

supporting U.S. farmers and ranchers with school 

feeding programs where taxpayer dollars are 

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involved. 

 And at a minimum if we leave the 

significant cost differential language intact at 

a minimum let's require schools to publicly 

disclose if they are taking advantage of the 

exclusion to spend taxpayer money on foreign 

sourced food products going into the school 

feeding program. 

 So Mr. Chairman, it's my hope that 

this committee as you move forward in your 

working groups can spend some more time 

addressing this issue knowing that the department 

has two more months before they have to report 

back to Congress on the direction given in the 

2018 Farm Bill. Thank you very much. 

 MR. CARR: We'll hold the questions 

till last and let everybody speak if that's okay. 

Because I want to make sure we have time to get 

everybody in that has a comment before we go to 

that. So Darrell, who do we have next? 

 MR. HUGHES: All right. Darrell 

Hughes. Is there a representative from ERS here? 

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Economic Research Center? No. 

 ERS provided some research links and 

reports that I sent to the committee in advance 

of the meeting. And I just wanted to present the 

opportunity for them to comment on that if they 

were here. It doesn't look like they're here. 

 And the other potential speaking 

opportunity is a representative from United Fresh 

that's here. And I don't think there is anyone 

in the room. And so that would conclude the 

public comments portion. 

 MR. CARR: We'll go back now and 

anyone who has a question, if you'd address it to 

who you want to address that question to. 

 MS. GLEASON: Yes, this is Molly 

Gleason speaking. I had a question for you, 

sorry. What was your name? 

 MR. HUDGINS: Rich Hudgins. 

 MS. GLEASON: Rich Hudgins. My 

question is, and I'm ignorant about the process 

that schools use to bid on products, but how are 

foreign companies allowed to place a bid to 

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schools? 

 MR. HUDGINS: Rich Hudgins. The 

school in many cases has specs that they put out 

to a distributor. Some of the specs actually 

specify domestically sourced product. 

 In some cases the distributor 

discloses the fact that they are providing a bid 

on a foreign sourced food product and they 

document a cost differential and that falls 

within the exclusion that's provided in the USDA 

regs today. 

 In some cases the school food service 

director simply assumes that I'm buying a 

domestic product. 

 There was an example in California two 

years ago, the Ontario school district awarded a 

bid to a distributor for canned peaches under the 

label California grown, California being the 

source of virtually all of the shelf stable 

canned peaches in the country made the assumption 

that that was a California product. It was not. 

It was Chinese. 

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 MS. GLEASON: So there's a lack of 

transparency on the distributor end. 

 MR. HUDGINS: In some cases. There is 

also -- let's also recognize that schools are 

under severe budget pressures as well. Schools 

have been given mandates to serve more fruits and 

vegetables, but haven't necessarily been given 

funds to fulfill the mandate. And so there is a 

budget constraint on the school. There is a 

profit motive on the part of the distributor. 

They have a better margin obviously if they're 

providing a lower cost foreign sourced food 

product to that district. So it is challenging. 

 MR. BELL: Yes, this is David Bell 

also for Rich. Please clarify the buy American 

provision for me. Does that say a school 

district is supposed to buy American, or is it 

just when a school district is using USDA dollars 

to purchase food and if they are purchasing food 

from the revenue that comes from the children to 

buy American does it or does it not apply? 

 MR. HUDGINS: The buy American 

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provision applies for all meals served in 

schools. So whether it is a direct AMS purchase 

or whether it is taxpayer money that the school 

spends on that bid. 

 The exact language in the buy American 

provision says that schools shall to the maximum 

extent practicable source domestic food products 

for the school feeding program. 

 But, two exclusions. That does not 

apply in the case of a school documenting a 

significant cost differential. And that's the 

avenue by which this is occurring today. 

 MR. BELL: So it's the total meal. 

 MR. HUDGINS: Correct. 

 MR. BELL: I believe you keep saying 

tax dollars, and there are sometimes local tax 

dollars, but I know where I come from in a lot of 

the rural districts there's not a lot of local 

tax dollars that go to the meals. A lot of money 

then comes from the students. 

 MR. HUDGINS: Rich Hudgins again. 

Federal reimbursement to the school district. 

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They are receiving federal funds. 

 MR. BELL: Right, I understand that. 

Yes. There's three sources of revenue. It's 

supposed to be all buy American even if a part of 

it is coming from the students themselves. 

 MR. HUDGINS: That's correct. 

 MR. SMITH: Steve Smith. Rich, do you 

have any suggestions about what a significant 

difference would be defined as? 

 MR. HUDGINS: Rich Hudgins again. A 

significant cost differential is undefined today. 

 I can say that significant cost 

differential in the case of canned fruit would 

have to be 40 to 50 percent to close the gap 

relative to Chinese pricing that's available in 

the marketplace today. 

 In the case of fish sticks it is a 

similar magnitude. 

 MR. SMITH: I've got one more. How 

are foreign operators -- Steve Smith. How are 

foreign operators held to auditing standards from 

food safety? 

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 MR. HUDGINS: Rich Hudgins again. At 

this point there is no federal oversight on 

product that's being provided by a distributor. 

 Obviously the distributor has 

liability in the case of a food-borne illness. 

The Egyptian frozen strawberries that I 

referenced two years ago were recalled for 

concern over potential hepatitis A contamination. 

And that recall burden was borne by the 

distributor. 

 But the procurement decision on direct 

school purchases stands in stark contrast to the 

requirements for a vendor selling products to 

AMS. 

 So in the case of a vendor selling 

products to AMS there's actually a pre-award 

inspection. You as a vendor aren't even eligible 

to bid until you have had your facility inspected 

and pass muster with regard to food safety 

concerns by AMS prior to participation in a bid 

process. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins. As 

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president of the school board in Texas for a year 

and I feel your pain. And I was told directly 

that we had no input on this. Zero. 

 So, and I'm chairman of the trade 

committee so this hits right in what I think we 

need to talk about. 

 But in order for us to be effective we 

need some help on the solution. Aramark is a 

third party distributor that probably oversees 90 

percent of Texas which is where I know. 

 And they had no interest to even hear 

this complaint. 

 MR. PALMBY: I'm sorry, what was that 

again? 

 MR. WILKINS: They had no interest to 

even hear my concern about this as president of a 

school board that was contracting them. 

 So, you know, we need to help you with 

a solution. And so any input you have on that 

would help us. 

 One of the questions that I asked that 

I got no answer was who enforces what the 1988 

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document put out. 

 MR. HUDGINS: Rich Hudgins. The 

monitoring of school feeding programs is done at 

the state level. Actually, again, two years ago 

the state of California did an audit of six 

school districts within the state. Picked at 

random. Large and smaller ones as well. 

 And none of the six were found to be 

fully compliant with the provisions of the buy 

American program. 

 But again to be clear, had they 

documented a significant cost differential on 

their purchase decision many of those would have 

been found to be in adherence to the 

documentation required to take advantage of the 

significant cost differential exclusion. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins following 

up on that. So is that part of a solution that 

may come to us that if we just started with the 

documentation that would help the states put some 

pressure on them to at least explain the 

decisions being made for the children? 

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 MR. HUDGINS: Rich Hudgins. The 

comment I made in my remarks about at a minimum 

requiring public disclosure in the case where a 

school district was taking advantage of the 

exclusion for significant cost differential. 

 At the end of the day I believe 

sunlight is the best disinfectant. When you have 

to answer to the parents in that district. 

 And again, go back to the example of 

the Egyptian frozen strawberries. I don't think 

the parents of children in that school district 

really care how much money the school saved 

buying those Egyptian frozen strawberries. 

 So I think disclosure at a minimum 

should be required. 

 The other broader question though 

would be did the -- in hindsight did the 

regulatory language adopted by the department 

undermine the original congressional intent. The 

original congressional intent was very clear, 

support U.S. farmers and ranchers. 

 In 2019 significant cost differentials 

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abound throughout specialty crops in particular. 

Any product that's got a large component of labor 

in the production cost is either dealing with 

this issue today or soon will be. 

 MR. CARR: This is Chalmers Carr. To 

follow up on that, when you're looking at a 

solution if I'm clear there was the legislative 

language, but then there was regulations adopted 

many years later by this agency. 

 So why particularly when you look at 

regulations can change by administrations. And 

the fact that this current administration 

supports this very language, why aren't we 

seeking to just reverse the regulations that USDA 

adopted 10 years ago to take that one exclusion 

out? 

 MR. HUDGINS: Rich Hudgins. That 

request has been made. I believe that it will 

need more voices. 

 MR. CARR: Well, hopefully our trade 

working group can discuss that as something that 

needs to go forward. It seems the easiest 

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solution in today's world is to work on changing 

the regulations within an agency, and an agency 

that is pro American farmer. 

 MR. ZEA: Donn Zea. Rich, is it 

possible with respect to food going to schools 

from offshore to be able to require some kind of 

inspection that would then be similar to the 

facilities that have to go through inspection 

with USDA purchases? 

 MR. HUDGINS: Rich Hudgins. I 

certainly think at a minimum that a foreign food 

facility should be held to the same standard of 

review as a domestic food facility for a vendor 

selling to AMS. 

 MR. ZEA: Is that possible? 

 MR. CARR: I think we have an answer 

to that right here. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: We also have a 

representative from the FDA in the room. Kiley 

Harper-Larsen for the record. 

 The foreign supplied verification 

program under the Food Safety Modernization Act 

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has a provision for requiring almost any 

distributor of any food product into the United 

States to participate in the foreign supplied 

verification program. 

 However, currently this isn't really 

under the purview of the USDA but rather the FDA. 

It's a bit unactionable. It's highly 

documentation in a database and very few 

inspections are occurring. 

 So if we're looking for an immediate 

solution outside of just increasing the amount of 

documentation that a school system may or may not 

have the ability to do under our purview for a 

statement or recommendations in the trade 

subcommittee should it be the requirement that if 

food is going to be sourced for a lunch program 

or a grant program where funds will come from 

USDA or taxpayer dollars that that all the way 

going back to a farm just like in the United 

States their supply chain must be inspected or 

audited under the provisions that are dictated by 

the foreign supplied verification program which 

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all of you guys will be familiar with because 

those loop in the produce safety rule and the 

preventive controls rule as well as the third 

party accredited auditing agencies, ISO 

accredited laboratory organizations, and also the 

prevention for adulteration that's intentional. 

 MR. SMITH: One more question. Steve 

Smith. Does that extend to residue tolerances on 

food, what's coming in? Not just the plant 

inspection, but is there any program for testing 

for chemical pesticide residues that might not be 

legal in the U.S. but is legal in the country of 

origin. 

 MR. HUDGINS: Rich Hudgins. I'm not 

aware of the answer to that question. 

 MR. CARR: I think for clarification 

there we might need USDA or FDA. Who has -- if 

it's already a consumer -- it's not fresh, it's 

further processed. It's now food so I don't know 

if USDA has any jurisdiction over that. 

 And when you're looking at pesticide 

residues on I guess a further processed product 

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that is ready for human consumption. Is that 

correct? Would that be under FDA? 

 PARTICIPANT: I'm sorry, I did not. 

 MR. CARR: So, talking about a 

prepared food. Fruit cups as an example that's 

coming into this country. USDA doesn't regulate 

that in terms of pesticide residue or anything 

because now it's food. So that -- is it correct 

that FDA would have I guess any kind of oversight 

on that? 

 MR. BROMLEY: As far at the imports 

coming in regarding pesticide residue we would 

and that would be handled by our import 

operations. 

 MR. CARR: Did you get an answer? 

 MR. SMITH: Steve Smith. I just 

didn't know whether that was ever even tested. 

 MR. BROMLEY: And I don't know enough 

to comment on everything that our import 

operations is testing. 

 MR. HUGHES: Can you state your name 

for the record? 

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 MR. BROMLEY: Gerald Bromley. 

 MR. PALMBY: This is Paul Palmby. We 

participate in a lot of these programs given our 

business. But I think it needs to be understood 

that there's -- distributors are like any other 

business, they're buying products from where they 

can buy them affordably. 

 There's foreign supply verification on 

their supply chain. The school districts are not 

going to be subject to what -- so there's 

hundreds of thousands of cases of canned peaches 

and applesauce and other things come into New 

York ports that are brought in by traders that 

are able to substantiate foreign supply 

verification requirements and get all the things 

they need from the supplier to be able to do 

that. 

 And where it loses it is then school 

districts are just -- a lot of small school 

districts in particular are buying just from a 

distributor. It might be a local distributor. 

They have no idea that they're getting product 

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that might be from a foreign country. 

 And so unless they stipulate in a bid 

which some of them aren't even big enough to have 

their own bid process for a product. They're 

just sort of buying it as they need it. 

 And if their supplier happens to be 

sourcing -- maybe the U.S. market was short a 

product and then sourced from a foreign supplier 

for a period of time. And it just comes in and 

it's just transparent. It's not even noticeable 

to the school districts. 

 I think the challenge becomes it needs 

to be the school district's responsibility that 

if they're receiving USDA funds to buy domestic 

product. And I don't think that's been clear 

enough or enforced enough on them. 

 There's an enormous amount of foreign 

product coming in in these channels as Rich has 

said. 

 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr speaking. 

This seems to be a discussion of what a working 

group would probably take on and everything. So 

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if there's more topics or more discussion on this 

I would recommend that the trade group actually 

have Rich on one of the calls to further discuss 

this and start working on this issue along with 

others I'm sure you have. 

 I don't want to cut off conversation, 

but it seems like we're going down a road 

actually going into working on that. 

 But was there any other questions of 

the other speaker? Okay, at that point --

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: This is Kiley 

Harper-Larsen. I would just like to note from 

the Apple Processors Association perspective if 

you're echoing the same thing that we are hearing 

from the California Canning Peach Association. 

 MS. GENTILE: Yes. Maggie Gentile. 

People brought up the issue around Chinese 

concentrate, apple juice from Chinese 

concentrate. We are seeing that certainly impact 

domestic sales and product going into the school 

meals program. So it is also a challenge for our 

association. 

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 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Question for you. 

Kiley Harper-Larsen for the record. Does your 

organization have the ability if asked with its 

representation to provide the volume that the 

USDA would require to feed its population in the 

United States for school children? Because that 

will be a question that will be asked by the 

White House. 

 MS. GENTILE: Sure. Maggie Gentile. 

I will go back and get an official answer on 

that. My understanding is we would be able to. 

But I'll double-check that with my membership 

before getting you a formalized answer. 

 MR. PALMBY: Paul Palmby. I can 

address that as well. USDA procurement of apple 

products is almost 100 percent subject to small 

business set asides which means they can 

adequately source all that they need without 

larger businesses participating. 

 So if they needed more there's other 

suppliers that would be able to step in. For the 

last year or so it's been almost 100 percent 

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small business set aside on applesauce, apple 

slices, that sort of thing. 

 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr. Paul, for 

clarification, so when you have 100 percent set 

aside you're saying there is enough small 

producers or under the definition of small that 

can cover that whole need. So therefore they 

don't have to put it out to all the broader, 

bigger companies. 

 MR. PALMBY: Paul Palmby. That's 

correct. Which has a fairly negative impact on 

the larger suppliers believe it or not. 

 (Laughter) 

 MR. CARR: Understood. Anything else 

for public comment? 

 MR. HUGHES: So now we can recess for 

lunch. And then onto the picture. 

 MR. CARR: All right. So we're going 

-- where are we at with our schedule? 

 MR. HUGHES: At 1:15. 

 MR. CARR: So we will go to lunch. 

We'll first of all go down to have a picture on 

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the second floor on the patio. 

 MR. HUGHES: I believe there's a bank 

of elevators right over here. We go to the 

second floor and go out on what is it, like a 

terrace. A patio. We'll go out on the patio for 

a group photo. 

 MR. CARR: And then where do we go for 

lunch? 

 MR. HUGHES: Lunch is on the second 

floor as well. So we'll come back in and just 

walk around to the restaurant. And there are 

yellow tickets in the back of your packet for 

your order number to give to the server. 

 If you didn't put in an order it's 

fine. You can order there. They will serve you. 

 If you sent me an email with an order, 

I think it was only you, Charles. And so that's 

that. 

 MR. CARR: Well, before we adjourn. 

This is your committee and everything. We are 

way ahead of schedule. So if you all would like 

to come back at a later time like 1:30 instead so 

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you have some more time to catch up on email and 

everything it's whatever your all's pleasure is. 

 Stay on this current 1:15 or move to 

1:30? 

 MR. BELL: I would suggest that we 

just adjourn early if we get through the agenda. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

I don't think we can adjourn early because we 

have three guest speakers. So the guest speaker 

starts at 2:35. We have two of them. 

 MR. CARR: So we'll stay on the 1:15 

time frame of coming back. And if everybody can 

adjourn and meet out on the terrace we'll have a 

picture. 

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 11:43 a.m. and resumed at 

1:18 p.m.) 

 MR. CARR: So this is Chalmers Carr, 

chairman, calling the meeting back to order at 

this time. 

 MR. HUGHES: 1:20. 

 MR. CARR: Can you introduce our first 

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speaker for the record? 

 MR. HUGHES: All right. This is 

Darrell Hughes speaking. The first guest speaker 

is Leanne Skelton. She's going to be providing a 

food safety update. 

 A quick read of Leanne's bio. Leanne 

Skelton in her capacity as food safety liaison, 

serves currently as the AMS -- serves currently 

on the AMS Specialty Crops staff and the FDA's 

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 

staff via the Division of Food Safety. 

 Ms. Skelton, a biological sciences 

specialist and senior policy advisor for the 

fruits, vegetables and specialty crops is 

responsible for maintaining a collaborative 

working relationship between USDA and FDA 

relative to produce safety and preventive 

controls. 

 In addition to advising leadership on 

issues relevant to the industry she engages in a 

variety of FDA Food Safety Modernization Act 

related activities including the Produce Safety 

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Alliance and develop strategies on (a) compliance 

and implementation, (b) outreach and 

communications, and three, research and technical 

assistance. 

 A fuller bio is included -- was 

provided to the committee in advance and we have 

a few hard copies for those who would like to 

read over it. Without further ado I give the 

floor to Leanne Skelton. 

 MS. SKELTON: Thanks, Darrell. 

Appreciate that. So my biological scientist 

title is made up just so you know. The one that 

probably makes more sense is that I'm a liaison 

from USDA over to FDA. That's made up too but at 

least that's legitimate. I am a liaison over to 

FDA. 

 I've been at USDA for over 30 years. 

All of my career has been somewhere revolving 

around fresh produce. I was an inspector, I was 

an auditor, I was a trainer. I came up through a 

farm community in upstate New York. So a Buffalo 

Bills fan. I'll take sympathy now for them. 

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 My dad was a farmer. I had a brother, 

still have a brother that's a farmer. And my 

sister still farms in upstate New York. 

 I joke a little bit about how when we 

talk about produce safety and regulations at 

Thanksgiving I get hollered at a lot at that 

family event. But realistically everybody knows 

what it is we're trying to accomplish. And even 

my sister is GAP audited with USDA's GAP program. 

 So that's a little bit of my 

background. I started on a detail assignment 

with the Food and Drug Administration in 2009. 

It was a three-month assignment. It has not 

ended. And we keep redoing it year after year 

which we feel is a good thing for the community 

that we're all trying to serve. 

 Before I talk a little bit about an 

update I want to introduce a couple of my 

colleagues that are here. You all met Gerald 

earlier today with the Office of Food -- I'm 

going to screw it up. Human Enamel Food and Feed 

and something other. 

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 MR. BROMLEY: Human and Animal Food 

Operations Office of Regulatory. 

 MS. SKELTON: Got it. So that's 

Gerald. Also joining us today we've got Joy 

Johanson. Joy is the chief of the Division of 

Produce Safety's Processed Produce Branch in the 

office in CFSAN. 

 And so if it's processed produce 

related Joy is the person we want to hook up with 

and she's got a great staff that works with her. 

Fresh cut and other things. 

 And we've got Dr. Jim Gorny in the 

room. Jim is senior science advisor to CFSAN's 

center director Dr. Susan Mayne on all things 

produce. Works a lot of different arenas. 

Mostly physical related, but a lot of different 

arenas as well. So the three of them are here 

with me today. 

 Tomorrow you are likely to see Dr. 

Sameer Assar. Sameer is the director of the 

Division of Produce Safety at FDA. So you'll 

likely see him tomorrow. Today he had some other 

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obligations. 

 So that's sort of the generalization. 

You probably already know this so it's a bit 

repetitive, some bit of an update. But I wanted 

to talk a little bit. 

 Now you have this packet of notes in 

your binder. Don't hold me to the order. I 

might skip over a couple of things here and 

there. 

 But really just wanted to give you 

sort of the lay of the land where things are. 

 There are seven general broad areas 

that FDA wrote regulations on back in the mid 

teens starting in 2011, '12, '13, '14, '15-ish. 

They're basically foundational rules that support 

FSMA, Food Safety Modernization Act. 

 You've got preventive controls for 

human food, preventive controls for animal food, 

produce safety rule which is where I spend most 

of my time, foreign supply verification program. 

We heard Patty mention that a little bit earlier 

today. Accredited third party certification 

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program which dovetails into foreign supply 

verification program. Sanitary transportation 

and intentional adulteration. Those are the 

seven foundational regulations that came out of 

the law. 

 And then there's a bunch of other sort 

of rulemaking activities and support information 

that go along with each of those. 

 There's lab accreditation, food 

registry, compliance date extensions. There's 

some work being done on agricultural water which 

is probably the produce safety rule but it is 

continuing to be worked on, biological soil 

amendments of animal origin, also part of the 

produce safety rule, continuing to be worked on. 

That section of the rule sort of held in 

abeyance, most of it's held in abeyance for right 

now. 

 There is -- each of the different 

rules have different compliance dates. And most 

of the compliance dates are -- we're calling it 

staggered implementation based on the size of the 

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operation. 

 So in practice the largest operations 

have to comply first in terms of having 

compliance and enforcement inspection type of 

activity. The smaller the operation the longer 

they've got to comply. 

 While that compliance time frame may 

or may not have hit yet what we're trying to make 

sure is done is providing education, outreach and 

awareness activities so that whoever the 

operation is and whatever rule you might be 

subject to you've got resources available to 

figure things out. 

 In addition to just pure sort of 

education, outreach and awareness type of 

activities FDA has also got a couple of programs 

that Gerald mentioned -- I mentioned on Gerald's 

behalf the Produce Safety Network. I'll talk a 

little bit about that in a minute. 

 And there's a technical assistance 

network. There's different training programs. 

Both the Produce Safety Alliance in the produce 

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world and the Food Safety and Preventive Controls 

Alliance on the preventive controls rules, and 

then back to produce for a split second, the 

Sprout Safety Alliance because sprouts fall under 

the produce safety rule. So you've got those 

three training alliances and then a bunch of 

other activities going on as well. I'll touch 

upon those. 

 Initially there are activities like 

guidance development. So guidance documents --

actually some of them are out now for comment 

which have actually moved to go final based on 

the comments that they've received. 

 There's different fact sheets. The 

technical assistance network. Just today a 

constituent update hit the airwaves having to do 

with frozen berries. There's those kind of 

things. 

 And then there's the implementation 

side of this law. So you've got the standards 

setting piece and then you've got the 

implementation side which includes for the 

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community that's regulated you all are 

implementing, trying to meet these regulations. 

 How do you demonstrate that? One way 

would be should an FDA or state employee show up 

on your farm or facility to do a regulatory 

inspection. And that's where those 

implementation or compliance requirements kind of 

kick in. 

 The largest farms are just now 

starting to come into compliance requirements for 

produce. They've already been in place for 

manufactured foods and for sprouts. So a lot of 

different things going on. 

 Let me talk a little bit about the 

relationship that FDA and USDA have and we share, 

we've shared it for quite some time. 

 We are two distinct federal 

departments. So you've got USDA and particularly 

in AMS our mission is to help facilitate the 

competitive marketing of in our case fruits and 

vegetables. 

 Most of our programs as Sonia said 

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earlier and Bruce mentioned are user fee funded. 

About 75-80 percent of our programs are user fee 

funded with the other 20 percent somehow tax base 

funded. 

 But even though we're user fee funded 

in a lot of ways what that -- some folks have 

commented well that means you do whatever it is 

whoever's paying you wants to have done. 

 And others would say and yes I'm still 

a federal employee. I'm held to ethics standards 

like all other federal employees and so we have 

the public trust even though our funding source 

is from companies, farmers, whatever the case may 

be. We are still part of the public trust. 

 The fact that I've got USDA on my 

business card means something. And it means an 

awful lot. So we still are beholden to that. 

 FDA's mission, different than USDA's 

mission, I'm going to shorthand this, is to 

protect the public health by ensuring the safety 

of the nation's food supply, primarily fruits and 

vegetables. We know USDA's FSIS covers meat and 

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poultry and egg products. 

 But you've got facilitate marketing 

and you've got protecting the public health. And 

I'm going to wear both of those hats at any given 

time depending on what's going on. 

 So we also have a memorandum of 

understanding, an official formal document 

between the two departments that dates back to 

prior to 1975. That's as far as we can find back 

the records that talks about information sharing. 

 So we have historically shared 

information. When one organization calls the 

other we talk to each other, listen to each other 

and provide information as best we can. 

 We've got from 2009 the reason that 

I'm standing here today as a liaison is the 

President's Food Safety Working Group was created 

in I don't know when, I'm going to guess 2009. 

And they decided at that point they wanted 

somebody from USDA to hop on over to FDA. So 

that's the liaison position that was created back 

then on a three-month assignment. 

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 We have an interagency agreement that 

again covers some of the things that I do. 

 Then you've got the Food Safety 

Modernization Act signed into law in 2011. Most 

of that responsibility is with FDA, but there is 

some responsibility that comes through USDA, 

primarily through our National Institute for Food 

and Agriculture, NIFA in terms of cooperative 

agreements and grants for things like the 

regional centers that provide education and 

outreach. More so on the Produce Rule than 

anything else, but there's a little bit of 

crossover to the Preventive Controls Rule. 

 And then more recently a year ago 

January Secretary Perdue and former FDA 

Commissioner Gottlieb signed a cooperation and 

coordination agreement. And that established a 

big report group that had three focus areas. 

Biotech was one of those areas. Dual 

jurisdiction. So if you've got a facility that 

is covered both by say Food Safety Inspection 

Service at USDA and FDA those -- how do you marry 

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those two things together. And then the part 

that's near and dear to me is they had a FSMA 

component to that. 

 Actually Jim Gorny chairs the FDA side 

of the house there and I handle the USDA side of 

the house from the technical work of that 

particular work group. 

 We have senior officials at each 

agency that actually do the muckety muck kind of 

stuff. 

 On that work group though on FSMA we 

have three focus areas. One was the alignment of 

USDA's harmonized GAP program to the produce 

safety rule. That was one area that we tackled. 

 Second area is outreach to extension 

services, educators and others. 

 And then the third area is 

international outreach. We've done the most work 

on the harmonization activity or the alignment 

activity, but we are touching on the others. 

 And then sort of the last way that 

USDA and FDA play well together is there's a 

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government wide review process for regulation and 

regulatory type of action. The regulations, 

guidance documents, things of that nature. It's 

managed by Office of Management and Budget, OMB, 

where when one agency is writing a significant 

rule they've got to get the other agency to at 

least have reviewed it before it goes out public. 

So if there's any significant issues, concerns, 

comments, that kind of thing. So that's just 

sort of a normal thing that we've done forever 

and ever. 

 Let me jump over to produce safety 

rule. And really what I want to point out, in 

your packets there's a couple of different pages 

that are snapshots of FDA's FSMA webpage for that 

particular topic. 

 So there's a produce safety page in 

there. There's a preventive controls for human 

foods page in there and there is a foreign supply 

verification program page in there. 

 And if I remember correctly Darrell 

told me you might have a stray page at the end of 

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that section as a flow chart. And that is the 

flow chart that describes for the produce safety 

rule if you're subject to the rule or not. You 

can kind of run through that flow chart and kind 

of figure it out based on what you're doing. 

 One of the things that we've done to 

be responsive to our USDA concerns is as FSMA was 

being understood, better understood and as the 

produce safety regulation was being drafted and 

then put out as a proposal and then a final after 

that is USDA and Jeff did -- where did Jeff go --

wherever he managed to disappear to. Jeff led 

and organized various webinars. And our FDA 

colleagues were the guest speakers at the various 

webinars to help our USDA stakeholders across the 

country get a better understanding of what at 

that time -- what the proposed rule for produce 

might look like. 

 We also did one to cover the 

preventive controls for human foods rule. And 

Jenny Scott who's not here from our FDA crowd 

today, but Jenny Scott at FDA led the technical 

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discussion on that particular rule. So we've got 

some folks across the FDA spectrum that can be 

helpful to you as time goes on. 

 So yes, so you've got that flow chart 

and decision tree in there. And all of this 

information is available on FDA's website. So 

you don't have to search for it very far. 

 If you're looking for something, you 

want to try to find something and you can't give 

me a holler and I can point you in the right 

direction or send you the links and all that kind 

of thing. So you don't have to go out there and 

get too frustrated. 

 I will note -- my FDA colleagues might 

shoot me but I hope not. FDA globally just 

updated their website. Now I can't find 

anything. Probably my deficiency, not theirs. 

So a lot of the links I had are broken and things 

of that nature. But we'll figure it out. We'll 

get you to where you need to be, that kind of 

thing. 

 The next page in your book is just 

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again FDA's webpage on the preventive controls 

for human food rule. That's your manufacturing, 

your processing, that kind of thing. Supply 

chain verification program which could be the 

farm community verifying to their processor 

they've got a program in place. That all falls 

under there. So here in that we can be helpful 

and guide you toward what you might need to do to 

be compliant if that's what your organization 

does. 

 Foreign supply verification program, 

Patty mentioned it earlier today. Essentially 

this is the rule or the regulation that tells an 

importer what they've got to do to meet the same 

requirements that a domestic farmer might have to 

meet. 

 It's U.S. importers have to verify 

different activities on the foreign grown product 

so that we're on a level playing field. So 

that's the foreign supply verification rule that 

comes into play there. 

 And FDA's putting in soon that they 

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fully understand we need to have a level playing 

field for the industry so we're heading in that 

direction. 

 Let me jump ahead a little bit to 

compliance dates. I think you've got a slide in 

there that talks about that. 

 There is -- there's a table on FDA's 

website that has every single one of their rules 

outlined in a column and then different activity 

that have happened or that will happen depending 

on timing. 

 It is a challenging document to look 

at unless you print it out on almost legal or 

larger paper. But if you are able to do that 

it's kind of a good visual to show you what's 

going on where, where you can find different 

things and that nature. So that might be 

something you want to look at. I can get you the 

link to that document. 

 But in terms of compliance dates 

probably the biggest thing for produce right now 

is that the -- we've been waiting and finally 

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about two months ago I guess maybe got the notice 

that the agricultural water provisions were going 

to be delayed a little bit longer. They actually 

put some time frames in there which is what 

everybody was waiting on. 

 The rest of the rule -- essentially 

you've got to comply with it if you're a large 

farm. Would have been this spring which started 

-- here it started -- my allergies started about 

a month and a half ago so that was spring here. 

 Other parts of the country spring 

might have been a little bit earlier or later 

depending on if you're upstate New York when 

they're still digging out muddy fields. If you 

fall into that large category then at least you 

know that the clock starts ticking. 

 The good news is you've got a lot of 

resources that can be helpful to you. Your state 

departments of agriculture in large part are 

going to be great resources for you to better 

understand compliance. 

 The training that's available through 

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the Produce Safety Alliance and other venues, 

it's a wonderful place to get some basic 

information and education. 

 Your cooperative extension, your ag 

consultants, those kind of operations have been 

working towards pretty much staying up to speed 

on what's going on. So you've got some really 

good resources out there. 

 FDA's Produce Safety Network is 

designed to be boots on the ground folks. So 

what I would say about that particular resource 

is if you don't know -- for anybody around the 

country, if you haven't plundered through FDA's 

website yet to identify the name of the person 

that might be a good resource for you I can help 

you do that over the next day and a half. 

 Folks are eager to be helpful. And 

they want to learn about your operation. I think 

you might want to learn about how they intend to 

do their jobs as well. So that's a really good 

resource for you. 

 We've got two parts of the Produce 

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Safety Network. One is the Office of Regulatory 

Affairs group and one is the Center for Food 

Safety and Applied Nutrition group. But 

essentially they're going to do the same type of 

thing. 

 They want to be a good resource for 

you no matter where you might be in the country. 

FDA's website has got a listing of names and what 

regions they cover. Primarily it's mostly a 

group of states although there are some regions 

that are a single state just based on the size. 

Some are split I think. We can get you those 

names as well. 

 I know Ken's going to talk a little 

bit about audits. And the only thing I really 

want to say about that at this point, I'll end on 

this note, is one of the things that we've done 

in our most recent USDA FDA Cooperation and 

Collaboration Work Group is work on ensuring that 

the harmonized GAP audit, USDA's harmonized GAP 

audit is aligned with the minimum technical 

requirements of the produce safety rule. 

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 It doesn't take the place of an FDA 

inspection. It does not. Let me be very clear 

it does not. 

 But it gives you a really good idea if 

you're successful in that harmonized GAP audit 

gives you a really good idea that you shouldn't 

have any real problem demonstrating that you're 

in compliance with the rule if an FDA inspector 

should show up at your farm. 

 The FDA inspector might be a federal 

employee or might be a state employee depending 

on how that particular state has worked its way 

into FDA's state cooperative agreement program. 

 I'm going to guess 46 states and 

American Samoa I think are the states that are 

currently getting some FDA cap funding to either 

have an outreach and education program, or that 

plus a compliance and enforcement program. 

 Colorado, you've got both activities. 

And so in Colorado I'd be probably a little 

shocked if a federal FDA inspector showed up on 

the farm. That would be somebody from Tom's 

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group. And that's likely to be the same kind of 

thing across the country depending on where you 

might be. A few states haven't decided to play 

in the enforcement world and that's okay. 

That'll be our FDA -- will PSN do that? Will PSN 

do any of the inspections? 

 MR. BROMLEY: For? 

 MS. SKELTON: For on farm. 

 MR. BROMLEY: The produce inspections? 

 MS. SKELTON: Right. 

 MR. BROMLEY: Yes, we do that --

 MS. SKELTON: Yes. 

 MR. BROMLEY: Plus you're doing that 

in those states that are not cap. 

 MS. SKELTON: That are not cap B. A 

and B. That's a very few. It's not very many 

states at all. Primarily you're going to see 

state employees do that. 

 The last thing I'll leave you with is 

the last page that says recent updates. That 

FSMA webpage in FDA is a great resource for you. 

 Now, our USDA website is a good 

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resource as well. I don't want to shirk our 

responsibilities there. It is a great resource 

for you as well. 

 We do have links to FDA's sites, FDA's 

pages so you can get some questions answered one 

way or the other. 

 And as has been the case for a number 

of years now I can be the resource for you. I 

can put you in touch with the right FDA body or 

bodies depending on what the issue might be and 

we can go from there. 

 So I appreciate your attention. I'll 

turn it back over to the chair. 

 MR. CARR: Would you mind answering 

questions if there are any questions? 

 MS. SKELTON: I do not mind at all. 

 MR. CARR: Does anybody have questions 

for Leanne? 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: I do have one. 

 MS. SKELTON: Sure. Go ahead. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Thank you very 

much for addressing the group. This is Kiley 

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Harper-Larsen. 

 There's been more conversation about 

the produce safety rule and then farmer-owned 

facilities that have their own product that 

sometimes will have more than 51 percent of the 

product coming from another source. 

 And there has been very little 

official dialogue to date on that. And so the 

extension services are trying to do their best to 

provide resource information from the statute and 

the guidance documents on that. 

 But many of us in the room fall into 

that category with facilities that are farmer or 

cooperative-owned but when their product is not 

going through they are serving as a shipping or a 

brokerage entity. 

 MS. SKELTON: So, really what you're 

asking about is what is the definition of a farm. 

That's really the bottom line what you're asking. 

 The -- our colleagues that are working 

the facilities rule primarily is preventive 

controls for human foods rule, and then that ties 

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-- that farm definition cuts across every one of 

the rules. So we want to get figured out and the 

folks are working on that. 

 They are taking into account scenarios 

like you just described and there's dozens of 

others or hundreds of other scenarios out there 

as well that to you and me look like a farm but 

legally fall under a facility definition or a 

non-farm definition. 

 FDA realizes the challenge that has 

resulted from the way that is originally defined 

in the rules and is looking at that to try to 

clean it up a little bit. 

 So there is some -- on FDA's website 

there is some consideration for whether you're a 

facility and covered by the PC human foods rule, 

or whether you're a farm and covered by the 

produce safety rule. They're looking at what 

that might end up looking like. 

 What I can tell you now is stay in 

your seats, stay in your chairs. Don't get too 

riled up about it. 

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 Consider yourself whatever it is you 

actually think you are. And I feel pretty 

comfortable that when this is clarified in the 

revised definition you'll be able to see exactly 

where you fit. 

 At this point there's enforcement 

discretion I believe that is -- essentially 

enforcement discretion means we know we're 

supposed to enforce this, but because of these 

conditions we're going to cut you some slack. 

That's kind of what that means. 

 So that's why you can stay in your 

chairs and stay calm about this for now. FDA 

knows it's an issue and they're trying to get 

that addressed. 

 I'm going to take a stab and I don't 

expect my FDA colleagues to give me a wink, but 

I'm going to take a stab that it's probably going 

through final clearances through the legal staff 

to make sure it buttons up the way people expect 

it to. And we might ought to see something on 

that in the next couple of months is my guess. 

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 I could be wrong, it could be longer, 

but enforcement discretion is your friend. So 

utilize that for as long as you can. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Thank you. 

 MR. CARR: Any other questions? Thank 

you, Leanne. 

 MS. SKELTON: All right. Thanks for 

having me, folks. 

 (Applause) 

 MR. HUGHES: All right. Darrell 

Hughes speaking. The next guest speaker is Ken 

Petersen. Kenneth Petersen is the chief of the 

Audit Services Branch of our agency, of the 

Agricultural Marketing Services Specialty Crops 

Program Inspection Division. That's within our 

region. 

 Mr. Petersen spelled with an E, not an 

O, has more than 30 years experience in the area 

of fruits and vegetable production including good 

agricultural practices, GAPs, on farm and food 

safety laws. 

 He represents USDA on an issue that's 

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related to GAPs including produce GAP 

harmonization initiative and the global food 

safety initiatives primary production task force 

and has given numerous presentations across the 

country on the USDA's GAP program. 

 So without further ado Ken Petersen. 

And obviously the same with Leanne. His bio was 

shared in advance and you have a print copy if 

there is anyone else who would like to look at it 

right now. Ken, the floor is yours. 

 MR. PETERSEN: Thank you and good 

afternoon, everybody, and thank you for the 

opportunity to speak with you this afternoon. 

 A little bit about myself. Born and 

raised in New Jersey on a farm. After I 

graduated college I worked with Rutgers 

University in the extension service for about 

five or six years working directly with 

producers. 

 I spent about five years back at my 

alma mater where I ran the horticulture 

production facility at the college that was used 

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as a living learning farm. Also did some adjunct 

teaching before I came over to USDA. 

 In 2004 I came down to DC where 

shortly thereafter I inherited what was about 

that much of a GAP program. And it was me, 

myself and I for a very long time. As we go 

through here, we'll talk a little bit, our GAP 

program is now about this big and we've got a lot 

of other services that we offer that I'm going to 

talk about here as well. 

 So as Leanne talked about a little bit 

FDA has regulatory authority over fruits and 

vegetables. So where does AMS fit in and where 

does the GAP program fit in. 

 And still to this day I have a hard 

time understanding the differences. They think 

it's the federal government and USDA is out there 

to regulate their produce and that's not the 

case. 

 For the GAP program specifically it's 

all about market access. It's about you've got a 

buyer that's requiring you to get some sort of a 

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food safety certification in order to become a 

supplier for that company and that's really the 

main purpose of our program is to facilitate 

access in the marketplace whether it's here 

domestically or internationally. 

 And we've got a number of different 

audit programs that we offer. Food safety 

verification is obviously our largest program. 

Our GAP program falls in that program. We also 

offer programs with good manufacturing practices 

and some other things where we do food safety 

certification. 

 One area for us right now is export 

certification. We've been working with several 

of the nut commodities out in California on 

meeting EU requirements to be able to export 

products over to the EU. 

 Actually working with Joy and her team 

right now on probably in the next six weeks or so 

on launching a seeds for sprout export 

certification program for seed distributors here 

in the United States that are right now shut out 

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of the EU marketplace because of EU regulations. 

So that's a program where again a lot of 

collaboration working between the agencies with 

FDA and AMS. 

 We offer a domestic origin 

verification program that's used primarily within 

the AMS commodity purchase programs to ensure 

that the products that AMS is purchasing is of 

domestic origin. 

 And then we do a fair amount of work 

as well with other government agencies. The 

Defense Logistics Agency, the U.S. Agency for 

International Development, our own commodity 

procurement group. Where we're doing supplier 

verification audits going out with DLA on 

suppliers that they've contracted with to provide 

fruits and vegetables and other commodities. 

Working with USDA or USAID on some of the 

international food relief programs and things 

like that. Working with Richard Boyd and his 

team in his normal day job on that program as 

well. 

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I'm going to spend most of my time talking about 

is our GAPs program. Again our GAPs program 

founded in the early two thousands was a 

relatively small program for the first number of 

years and then through a series of food-borne 

illness outbreaks associated with produce we've 

really started seeing our program growing again 

as more buyers were requiring their growers to 

get food safety certification. 

 This past year we did over 4,200 GAP 

audits nationwide in all 50 states. So it's a 

pretty large program. 

 We partner with state departments of 

agriculture primarily where we train and license 

state department of agriculture employees to go 

out and do audits on our behalf in those states. 

 We also have a staff on the federal 

side that goes out and covers states that either 

don't have state auditors or in some cases where 

states get over-burdened with audit requests 

we'll help fill in with our federal auditors 

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there as well. 

 And as I mentioned GAP program started 

back in the early two thousands. At that time it 

was one GAP program. It was the USDA Cultural 

Practices Program. 

 But over the years we've expanded our 

suite of services again for market access 

purposes. We have worked with the mushroom 

industry on developing the mushroom GAPs program. 

We were part of an industry effort with the 

tomato industry on the tomato audit program. 

Have partnered with both California and Arizona 

to provide some technical oversight on their 

state marketing agreement programs for leafy 

greens, LGMA programs, the California Cantaloupe 

Program. Ultimately over the last six years or 

so partnered again with industry, United Fresh 

taking the lead working with industry on the GAPs 

harmonization initiative and really adopting the 

harmonized GAPs standard within our audit 

program. 

 So, again we've really expanded the 

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services that we provide to the industry. 

 As Leanne kind of primed up here 2018 

was really a significant year for us with the 

GAPs program for a number of reasons. 

 (A) we had worked with FDA back in 

2006 on -- or 2016, sorry, on aligning our 

harmonized GAPs program with the technical 

requirements of the produce safety rule and last 

June Secretary Perdue was over at FDA with 

Commissioner Gottlieb where they presented a 

formal letter to the department recognizing the 

alignment of our program with the FDA produce 

safety rule. So certainly a significant piece of 

work that we did there again to help industry 

know where they're at. 

 As Leanne said it's not a replacement 

for FDA inspection, but it's going to help 

growers understand where they need to be. And 

ultimately buyers asking are you FSMA compliant 

which obviously is a very technical term from the 

FDA perspective but from a buyer perspective 

again it gives them some level of assurance that 

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they're buying from producers that are meeting 

the expectations of the FDA produce safety rule. 

 The other big accomplishment that we 

had last year was we were the first government 

agency worldwide that went through the formal 

technical equivalency through the Global Food 

Safety Initiative. 

 It's a new program that GFSI launched 

in 2016 to partner with governments around the 

world on aligning their certification programs 

for those countries that have certification 

programs like AMS to the technical requirements 

of GFSI's food safety requirements. 

 That was a long time coming. We 

started back in 2011 where Bruce Summers and I 

met with the GFSI board on how could AMS go 

through this project. It took us seven years to 

get there. I tend to blame my hair loss on a lot 

of things but that was probably the number one 

thing that drove that. 

 But certainly with the GFSI technical 

equivalency. So again our suite of services. 

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We've got the harmonized GAP audit. We've got 

another one that's called harmonized GAP+. And 

as the name implies it's the harmonized audit 

plus the GFSI requirements, GFSI technical 

equivalency. So we all kind of sat around the 

room and flipped a coin on the name and my 

suggestion was the only one that stuck. So 

that's what it is. 

 Again, that's a great program for 

producers that are selling to buyers that require 

a GFSI level certification. 

 Now, I will point out that technical 

equivalency is not the same as full GFSI 

benchmarking for those of you that are the food 

safety geeks in the organization. 

 GFSI does make a clear delineation 

between the two and buyers are free to accept 

technical equivalency or not within their 

programs. But the work that we've done reaching 

out to a lot of buyers, particularly here in the 

U.S. we've had pretty good acceptance and 

penetration where buyers say yes, they'll take 

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our harmonized GAP+ audit for their suppliers. 

 We've had a couple of exceptions 

there. We're continuing to work with those 

retailers to get full acceptance of our audit. 

 But again it's providing that 

marketing tool, that market access tool to the 

industry so that they can facilitate marketing 

and gain access to things like that. 

 Another program that we launched in 

2016 is our USDA group GAP program. And that's a 

group certification program where historically 

our program had been one farm, one audit. And we 

were approached by a number of representatives 

that worked exclusively with small regional food 

systems, food hubs, things like that that were 

looking for a more cost-effective method of 

certification. 

 If you're a small two or three acre 

grower getting GAP certification can be a costly 

endeavor. So they wanted to try to look at some 

other methods of certification. 

 And we ran a pilot program looking at 

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a couple of different options ultimately leading 

to us developing our group GAP program. 

 We've started out initially in 2016 

with five groups. This year we're either 12 or 

13. We've got one group that's still on the 

fence. But those 13 groups represent over 600 

growers. So again it's another tool that the 

agency is offering to help growers of all sizes 

achieve the certification they need to access 

markets. 

 So I figured there was going to be 

lots of questions so I left plenty of time to 

answer any questions that you may have on our 

programs and services. I'd be happy to go into 

more detail on anything that I talked about. 

 MR. CARR: Questions for Ken. This is 

Chalmers Carr. I want to make a statement to you 

because I don't think the produce industry has 

yet realized the impact of this GAP+. But I can 

give you a firsthand experience and share with 

the group. 

 So we were under SQS certification in 

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South Carolina. We have a farming operation in 

Florida as well. 

 Due to a scheduling conflict we could 

not get SQS to date in a timely manner and our 

food safety certification was going to be up in 

the retail space. 

 Lo and behold we didn't know they were 

going to back GAP us. We called the Florida 

Department of Agriculture program. Inspector 

comes out with a less than two-week notice, does 

the inspection, of course passes and everything 

else. 

 But this was the kicker. Had an 80 

percent reduction in cost. So I think the 

produce industry is really going to appreciate 

what you all have done in this and just continue 

to work. Everybody now is not accepting it. 

 MR. PETERSEN: There's one major 

retailer that is giving us fits at the moment, 

but we continue to be engaged with them to work 

with them on full acceptance. 

 I will say if you've got either 

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yourself or growers that you may work with where 

there's a retailer that's giving them problems on 

acceptance of our program please let me know. 

 We have real good success when we 

reach out to buyers and educate them on our 

program and go through exactly what the technical 

equivalence is as well as our auditor training 

and credentialing program and things like that. 

 So we do -- although we're not 

accredited and don't have to go through that side 

of the GFSI benchmarking our program is set up 

almost identically to what those certification or 

accredited certification bodies would go through. 

So very rigorous training credentialing program, 

review process, things like that. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins here. 

Just to clarify, you got global GAP+. 

 MR. CARR: Well, it's GAP+. 

 MR. WILKINS: GAP+. 

 MR. CARR: Which is the -- has the 

technical equivalency of GFSI. So every major 

retailer that you deal with in the United States 

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requires GFSI especially in my commodity. 

 So unfortunately we were running 

against a deadline because the Florida season is 

out of synch with the South Carolina season and 

we were going to lose that certification. 

 And the number one retailer we deal 

with was telling us they weren't going to be able 

to buy. We got into a real panic situation and 

lo and behold reached out to the department of ag 

there in Florida and we learned about this 

program and what it said. 

 We have to schedule our audits out 

sometimes a year in advance, or at least six 

months in advance. This one we got done in less 

than two weeks at a much reduced cost. 

 MR. WILKINS: So domestically they 

accept the plus except for --

 MR. CARR: Every major retailer on the 

east coast has accepted it except for one. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: This is Kiley 

Harper-Larsen. I have a success story to share 

with you guys in relation to his team. 

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 During the government shutdown there 

were a lot of people who were worried about 

getting what they needed out of Ken's auditors. 

And there were a couple of people who were coming 

online in the controlled environment CEA programs 

at your indoor greenhouses in the leaf industry. 

 Retailers are accepting this audit, 

okay, for this technical equivalency. But his 

auditors did it in less than a two-week time span 

at the same reduced cost. 

 And personnel have been able to take 

those budget items and apply it directly back 

into their programs to improve PTI compliance and 

things like that. 

 So I think that this is a great stride 

that USDA made for the endeavor. 

 I wanted to ask a question. We have 

a memorandum of understanding between Canada and 

the U.S. related to FSMA, right, where they're 

accepting of our food safety programs. Is that 

correct? Similar to New Zealand. 

 MR. PETERSEN: I defer to FDA on that. 

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 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Systems 

recognition. Within that will CFIA do an MOU 

recognition of the USDA GAP+ which would then 

help their retail base to accept your audit. 

 MR. PETERSEN: It's not anything that 

we've looked at at this point. So right now the 

service that we provide is also with our state 

partners here in the United States. And we've 

not really delved into the international arena 

with this yet. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: I'm just 

wondering, I deal with quite a few of our 

clientele who have held back because they want to 

have the audit that is the once and done. Like 

Chalmers was talking about. And they've got that 

one entity in Canada that's holding that back. 

We're essentially holding back the profitability 

of our American grower banks. I think it would 

be a worthy pursuit. 

 MR. PETERSEN: Duly noted. 

 MR. CARR: Any other questions for 

Ken? I'm sure a couple of years ago there was a 

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lot of questions. 

 MR. PETERSEN: This is an easy crowd. 

Normally I get 25 minutes worth of questions 

after a 5-minute talk. 

 MR. CARR: Food safety has become a 

part of everybody's daily lives in the fruit and 

vegetable industry so I think it's more now 

improvements that you could make to it. 

 The industry has had a longtime 

problem with different retailers accepting 

different certifications. The closer you can get 

to making this harmonized and we can go to this 

it kind of takes the profit incentive out of the 

companies and puts it back where it needs to be. 

 If you're going to be the one 

regulating the inspections anyway it should be 

the auditors approving our plans. 

 MR. PETERSEN: Thank you. 

 (Applause) 

 MR. HUGHES: All right. So next up --

actually before we get started with the next 

guest speaker a reminder for those who are new to 

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the room. If you provide insights or an assisted 

comment make sure you give your first and last 

name for the court reporter in the room. 

 I know we have a couple of new people. 

We have provided the court reporter with your 

names. So Judy, Travis and Robert, if you speak 

remember to give your first and last name for the 

court reporter. 

 Next and final guest speaker, Judith 

Redman from the Fair Trade Practices Program in 

AMS. 

 Judith Rudman is the director of the 

Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, PACA 

division, and AMS's Fair Trade Practices Program. 

 PACA is committed to ensuring fair 

trade in the produce industry and offers many 

services to the produce industry. 

 PACA protects businesses dealing in 

fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables by 

establishing and enforcing a code fair business 

practices and by helping companies resolve 

business disputes. 

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 Working in partnership with the fruit 

and vegetable industry PACA facilitates fair 

trade practices through education, mediation, 

arbitration, licensing and enforcement. 

 There's more about Judy's background 

but I'm sure that she will probably get into that 

in her remarks. Without further ado, Judy 

Rudman. 

 MS. RUDMAN: Thank you. Thanks, 

Darrell. Happy to be here. Thank you. I'm Judy 

Rudman and I'll tell you a little bit about 

myself. 

 I came to USDA in December of 2015. 

Before that -- there's some familiar faces in the 

room. I know Bret Erickson. If you were still 

in your old job and I was still in mine we'd be 

having some really long nights because I was the 

director for bilateral agreements at the Commerce 

Department and I did the Mexican Tomato 

Suspension Agreement. So we're certainly --

that's where I would be. 

 But glad to be here. A couple of 

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other familiar faces. I did the California ag 

leadership program in 2017 and I stayed in John 

Chandler's parent's house. So that was a great 

program. 

 When I came to USDA I'd been at 

Commerce for 24 years. I really like the produce 

industry. In addition to the tomato case I did 

some lemon juice cases, other ag products, did 

cattle. Really enjoyed it and the opportunity to 

come over to PACA was a real win-win for me. And 

I feel like I won the lottery. 

 I like the industry. I really like 

these opportunities to meet with members of the 

industry and to figure out how PACA can better 

serve your needs. 

 I know that many of you are affiliated 

with companies that are licensed under PACA and 

as you may know the Perishable Agricultural 

Commodities Act was enacted in 1930 at the 

request of the fruit and vegetable industry. 

 We work to ensure that farmers get 

paid. We deal with whatever point in that 

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transaction, the contract transaction to make 

sure that produce is paid for in a prompt and 

timely -- in a timely manner and in accordance 

with the terms of the contract. 

 PACA is unique in that it's 100 

percent user fee funded. So you were talking 

about the furlough before. We worked all the way 

through it. We were here. 

 It is the industry that funds us 

through your license fees and complaint fees. 

And I think it might be from when we were created 

in 1930, the industry was lobbying Congress and 

Congress said yes, we'll protect you. But it's 

1930, we're minding our checkbook. We'll do it 

but it's got to be self-funded by the industry. 

 So that puts us in a unique position. 

I can tell you we are responsible stewards of 

your money. We went out, we had a meeting. 

Everybody in PACA self-parked. We don't valet 

park. That's kind of who we are. We represent 

the industry and we are careful stewards of the 

funds that we receive. 

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 And it's also that -- we need to have 

the money that we get from license and complaint 

fees to protect the businesses dealing in fresh 

and frozen fruits and vegetables. 

 As Darrell said, we establish and 

enforce a code of fair business practices by 

helping companies to resolve business disputes. 

 We work in partnership with the 

industry. We facilitate fair trade practices 

through education, mediation, licensing, 

enforcement and arbitration. 

 We respond to hundreds of calls each 

week from the industry seeking assistance on 

problems that are unique to this produce 

industry. 

 Interpretation of USDA inspection 

certificates. Pricing at certain price points. 

We use the market news information. We use our 

inspection certificates all the time. 

 Advice on contract disputes and 

bankruptcies. 

 PACA resolves over 90 percent of the 

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disputes that are brought to us through informal 

mediation process. That's where we work with the 

seller and the buyer to seek a resolution that 

works for both sides. 

 And this is really important in this 

industry. When a lot of businesses conduct it on 

a handshake. When you might have the same buyer 

and seller working together for years. They 

happen to get in one bad season or one bad 

transaction. You need that neutral third party 

that both of you can be angry at so that it all 

works out. 

 So that's what we're there for. We're 

there to resolve those disputes. 

 We also are there to protect the 

industry by sanctioning entities that have 

committed unfair trade practices. And those 

might include failure to pay promptly for the 

agreed price on the contract. Failure to account 

truly and correctly for produce shipped on 

consignment, or failure to deliver the contracted 

produce in a timely manner at the price and 

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quality established in the contract. 

 Sanctions for violations of PACA are 

serious. They can include monetary penalties, 

license suspension, or in the most serious cases 

we revoke licenses. 

 I say that we're often the good 

housekeeping seal of approval. If you know that 

you're dealing with an entity that's licensed 

under PACA they are in compliance with the law 

and they went through what it takes to get there. 

 It's been a very busy time for PACA 

recently. We were moved to the Fair Trade 

Practices Program in December of 2017. And this 

was a new program in USDA's Agricultural 

Marketing Service that's committed to promoting 

fair trade practices to USDA stakeholders. 

 The FTPP program as we're called is 

made up of four divisions, the packers and 

stockyards division, the warehouse commodities 

division, the food disclosure and labeling 

division, and PACA. 

 We work in partnership with our USDA 

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stakeholders to advance fair trade across the 

board to our respective industries. 

 But as you can see by me being here 

today we still are a tightly knit group with our 

specialty crops colleagues. 

 Another big event for PACA recently 

has been our -- since our move to Fair Trade 

Practices Program deals with information 

technology. 

 And I know Bruce Summers was here this 

morning and mentioned that there were some big 

changes coming on the technology front. 

 I'm pleased to announce the deployment 

of a new ePACA system that is going live today. 

Early this morning at about 3 a.m. emails went 

out to current PACA licensees whose licenses are 

due for renewal 45 days from today. 

 Those emails invited the recipients to 

renew their PACA licenses online through the new 

external ePACA portal. 

 As of today PACA licensees will 

receive renewal notices via email for everybody 

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where we have an email address on file. 

 We'll continue to send paper renewals 

for those firms we don't have email addresses. 

And all of those renewals at least in the month 

of May we're going to continue to send paper 

renewals. 

 And we're getting used to the new 

system. I have Travis Hubbs with me here today. 

And Travis is a PACA veteran for 13 years. So 

Travis was key in helping us to build the new 

cloud-based platform that includes an external 

portal. 

 Before that we were using a behind the 

scenes Oracle database. Now we're state of the 

art and it's a really big day for us to have gone 

online with this today. 

 So as of today members of the industry 

can apply for and renew their PACA licenses. 

They can file reparation complaints and they can 

make credit card payments through the online 

secure ePACA portal. 

 PACA also will be transmitting license 

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certificates after we finish the renewals through 

email, getting them out to our stakeholders more 

quickly and more efficiently. 

 A press release will be going out 

shortly announcing the formal rollout of ePACA 

and it will include information on the system and 

links to our website. 

 The development of the ePACA system 

has been a top priority for AMS and for PACA. 

It's in line with Secretary Perdue's goal of 

improving information technology efficiencies and 

customer service. 

 PACA licensees now have the option of 

using that online portal. For those who prefer 

to fax or mail their renewals or complaints those 

are -- those mechanisms are not going away. It's 

just to provide you the industry with more 

options. 

 ePACA also includes an improved PACA 

search function. And for any of you who may have 

used our search function before to see if an 

entity is licensed before you choose to do 

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business with them as of this afternoon there's a 

new capability on our website that will take you 

to realtime license information. 

 It's a new more comprehensive search 

function that should allow you to make better 

informed business decisions. 

 In addition to providing information 

on whether or not a company is licensed under 

PACA we're also including information on an 

entity's complaint history. 

 This is really new and big for us. In 

the past you would have to call PACA and find 

out. This gives you realtime information on what 

we can provide. The information that is out 

there is what we are allowed to provide publicly. 

 With realtime license and complaint 

information that can be accessed anytime from 

anywhere we're assisting the industry in making 

better informed business decisions. 

 We also sometime this summer expect to 

roll out an ePACA app and then you would be able 

to access that same information from the app. 

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 A little bit of an update about where 

PACA is. We're always ready to serve the 

industry in our joint goal of promoting fair 

trade, but as a quick snapshot we maintain 

approximately 13,600 licenses. Our revenue is 

between $10 and $11 million annually. 

 We licensed almost 400 new entities in 

the last six months alone. And that was through 

the furlough. We were still licensing. We kept 

it going. We couldn't get mail in and out. That 

caused a little bit of a problem. But we figured 

out some backwards ways to make it happen. 

 Since January of 2019 PACA assisted 

the produce industry with over 750 phone calls 

regarding good delivery guidelines, contract 

issues and the PACA trust involving over $25 

million. 

 In this era where so much is done by 

and through technology the fact that since 

January we have had 750 phone calls where the 

industry is coming to us with the specifics of 

their transaction and we're giving the guidance 

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as to what liabilities amounts due might be. We 

remain relevant every day. 

 In the last six months we issued press 

releases notifying the fruit and vegetable 

industry that sanctions had been imposed and that 

the PACA licenses of 33 produce firms were 

suspended for failing to pay for over $1.8 

million in fruits and vegetables. 

 PACA also imposed employment 

restrictions on principals of those firms. 

 PACA has been around for 89 years. 

For those of you who don't know Bruce's history 

he used to have my job. So it's a little 

intimidating when the administrator used to sit 

in my chair. 

 And we are always looking for ways to 

better serve the industry. We adapt to remain 

relevant and that's our hope with this data 

modernization. 

 It's been the last 18 months that 

we've actively been building this database and 

before that it was 2 or 3 years to figure out 

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exactly what we needed. 

 The prior system was built in the 

early nineties as I said on an Oracle platform. 

 PACA is there to protect you and your 

business transactions. We have our experts in 

Washington, DC and we still have our three 

regional offices, Tucson, Arizona, Fort Worth, 

Texas and Fredericksburg, Virginia. 

 We're ready to address your needs and 

concerns. It's those people in our field offices 

who are answering those 750 phone calls. 

 If you have had dealings where you've 

involved PACA you probably know the people in the 

regional office that cover your area. 

 And we're industry funded. We're 

industry focused. We are there to provide the 

assistance to ensure that produce is bought and 

sold fairly. 

 And if we can ever be of any 

assistance please let us know. And if there's 

any questions today I have Travis here as well to 

help. Travis is the chief of our investigative 

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enforcement branch. He handles the disciplinary 

complaints primarily, but before that he spent 11 

years in our Fredericksburg office as a marketing 

specialist handling complaints that affected 

entities in the eastern region. 

 MR. CARR: Thank you, Judy. Questions 

for Judy. 

 MR. WINGARD: Yes, I've got one. This 

is Charles Wingard. This morning we talked at 

length about hemp being classified as a specialty 

crop. Will hemp come under PACA? 

 MS. RUDMAN: That's an interesting 

question. And when we get -- we get those 

questions on different products all the time and 

do an analysis and determine. 

 At this point, I don't know Sonia if 

you want to -- I don't want to overstep anything. 

 If it's dried herbs -- there's all 

sorts of things that go into making those calls 

officially. Travis, any insights on your side 

that you want to provide? 

 MR. HUBBS: This is Travis. I would 

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just say just like Judy said each commodity is 

evaluated as it comes up either through a case or 

through inquiries such as yourself. 

 So we evaluate it. Herbs typically 

are covered -- 

 MS. RUDMAN: Fresh herbs are covered. 

 MR. HUBBS: Fresh herbs are covered. 

So as they come up we evaluate it. 

 MS. RUDMAN: So if it's dried and the 

perishability, all that factors in. But we know 

it's a significant topic at the moment. Sonia, 

did you want to? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: No, I agree with you. 

I think it's premature to say yes or no. It 

would have to go through the process of 

evaluating whether it falls within the PACA 

block. 

 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr. Judy, last 

year, maybe two years ago there was a major 

retailer in the country that tried to impose new 

payment standards. 

 My question is if a produce supplier 

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to that company would have gone along with that 

would they have forfeited their rights under PACA 

because their terms were longer? 

 MS. RUDMAN: I mean, it would have 

depended on the particular circumstances of that 

individual thing. 

 You know we jumped right on that. If 

you Google Judith Rudman and Kroger you'll find 

all of that. We got that out. Then we had a 

similar issue with Campbell's. 

 I don't want to give a sort of 

advisory opinion. It would depend on the 

circumstances, but you know under PACA you can --

a buyer and a seller can choose to enter into a 

contract that does not -- you can choose to enter 

into payment days that exceed what PACA allows 

for. 

 So you could enter into 45-day payment 

terms if the buyer and the seller agree. In that 

instance you sort of have the David and Goliath 

situation. 

 So what we're mindful of is when 

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things are being imposed and that's where we 

found that that was contrary to the PACA. 

 MR. BOWMAN: For the record I'm 

Richard Bowman. So if you have a contract --

since we got on this subject -- that states at 

the beginning of the contract that it's under 

PACA rules, but down in the terms section it says 

it's 45 days are you covered? 

 MR. HUBBS: If you put anything that 

exceeds 30 days in writing you would negate your 

PACA --

 MR. BOWMAN: Even if it says at the 

beginning that it's under PACA rules and in the 

term section later in the contract it states 45 

days, for example. 

 MR. HUBBS: Correct. It would 

typically be seen as negating your trust rights. 

Doesn't mean you couldn't file a reparation 

complaint through the PACA division if you're 

familiar with that. You file that hundred dollar 

claim. You could still handle that. 

 But as far as trust rights being 

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covered if your customer filed bankruptcy or 

financially delinquent you most likely would not 

be able to proceed. But that is typically up to 

the judge in that civil case proceeding. 

 But our statutes are pretty clear if 

you exceed those 30 days in writing then you're 

pretty much giving up that component of the 

trust. 

 MS. RUDMAN: Yes, and I think a lot of 

that when those go to court it depends on the 

interpretation of the judge. You can be hanging 

yourself on that technical language. 

 MR. BOWMAN: Thank you. That came up 

a lot after the Kroger deal. 

 MR. CARR: Any other questions for 

Judy? Well, thank you very much. 

 MS. RUDMAN: Thanks for having me. 

 (Applause) 

 MR. HUGHES: All right. So it's 2:30 

now. On the agenda we have a 15-minute break 

scheduled. I'm going to say you go ahead and do 

the break and then after the break since a 

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representative of ERS is here we can have them 

speak a little -- for a few minutes after the 

break since we have coffee and snacks outside. 

 MR. CARR: And I think United is here 

if they want to speak. Okay. So everybody, 

we'll take a 15-minute break. We'll come back 

and we'll have somebody from ERS speak to us and 

then we will break up into our working groups. 

 Right now we're running almost two 

hours ahead. And looking ahead at the schedule 

we slotted three hours for the working groups. 

So if it's all right with this group maybe we do 

an hour and a half today and an hour and a half 

tomorrow. It would still get us through by 4:30 

today and then would allow people to make plans 

to leave a little bit early tomorrow. Is that 

all right? 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes. One 

quick insight. The directors from our divisions 

will probably not be here tomorrow. 

 The last page of Sonia's presentation 

has contact information for those directors. 

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Should you have a topic that you want insights on 

you can email those POCs for information or 

obviously you can contact me and I'll help you 

figure it out. But I just wanted to let you know 

that they may not be here tomorrow. Or they will 

not be here tomorrow. 

 MR. CARR: All right. Well, it's 2:30 

now so we'll be back at 2:45. 

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 2:28 p.m. and resumed at 

2:49 p.m.) 

 MR. CARR: As I said before we went on 

our break we have somebody here that is from ERS 

to speak with us. They asked to be a part of the 

public comment. Since we have time we're going 

to recognize them and let them come and speak. 

 MR. ASTILL: Thank you very much. I 

won't take much time. My name is Greg Astill. 

I'm an economist at the Economic Research Service 

in USDA. 

 Myself and my colleagues have come to 

some of these meetings before and shared some of 

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the work we're doing. Today I brought you 

beautiful printed reports. A lot of times people 

just access online now but we're happy to hand 

these out whenever we can. 

 We have Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook, 

Vegetables and Pulses Outlook, a report on the 

availability of fresh market tomatoes. 

 These two reports have been long in 

the making, five years, and the produce growers 

that participated in the survey really made this 

possible. 

 So this is our survey on produce food 

safety practices used on the farm that came out 

last August. 

 And then this is a case study talking 

with retailers and looking at how retailer 

demands have driven food safety adoption. 

 So thank you very much for letting me 

come up here and plug these reports. All of our 

work is made for the public. Everything we put 

out is publicly accessible and downloadable from 

our website. 

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 So we hope that these reports are 

useful to you and the information in them really 

helps you all. So thank you. I don't know if 

anyone has any questions. 

 MR. WHEELER: Are these reports in our 

packet? 

 MR. ASTILL: I put them out on the 

table and you're welcome to take whatever you 

like. Darrell said he also sent you a set of 

links. All of these are available at 

usda.ers.gov. 

 MR. HUGHES: One clarification. I 

don't know if the links are of the same reports, 

but nonetheless I'll make sure that whatever I 

sent synchronizes with that once we're back in 

the office and are able to reassess all the 

material that I've shared. 

 But there are definitely hard copies 

outside on the table. 

 MR. CARR: Any questions? 

 MR. JANIS: Just curious if someone in 

industry is interested in perhaps pursuing some 

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sort of study to be done can you maybe just share 

with us how you go about that? 

 MR. HUGHES: That's Michael Janis 

speaking. 

 MR. JANIS: I apologize. Thank you. 

 MR. ASTILL: Yes. So you're very 

welcome to send emails to me and Suzanne 

Thornsbury is my supervisor and kind of the team 

lead for the small and dedicated team of 

specialty crops researchers in Economic Research 

Service. 

 But yes, if you have ideas of what's 

important research that USDA should be looking at 

we're very open. 

 MR. JANIS: Thank you. 

 MR. ASTILL: Thank you. 

 MR. ERICKSON: Bret Erickson. You do 

all types of different research studies in the 

fresh produce industry? 

 MR. ASTILL: Yes. 

 MR. ERICKSON: What is your take on 

for U.S. fruit and vegetable producers for the 

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next 5 to 10 years, what do you think is the 

biggest threat to our existence? 

 MR. ASTILL: That is a very good 

question. We do produce predictions for market 

outlook and those are in our ERS reports. 

 So Congress mandates for budgetary 

reasons that we produce these outlook reports 

predicting prices, supply and demand. So that's 

all publicly available. 

 In our outlook reports like the 

Vegetable and Pulses and Fruit and Tree Nuts 

Outlook we address a lot of those issues that are 

challenges for specialty crop producers. 

 MR. ERICKSON: So you're not going to 

take a stab at that. 

 MR. ASTILL: I won't take a stab at 

that today. But I will plug one of my special 

articles in the Veg Outlook which is romaine 

lettuce outbreaks. So I think food safety is a 

challenge for produce. I think everybody 

understands that. 

 So there's a special article 

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addressing that that I think you would like. 

 MR. ERICKSON: And any thoughts on the 

relocation of ERS to other areas of the U.S.? 

 MR. ASTILL: No, I don't have any 

thoughts. 

 (Laughter) 

 MR. CARR: Other questions? 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: This is Kiley 

Harper-Larsen for the record. Can you give the 

highlights of your romaine lettuce research? 

 MR. ASTILL: So using our good friends 

at AMS's data we looked at the shipments of 

romaine lettuce. So you can see there's that 

seasonality in shipments that moves from Yuma to 

the central coast of California. 

 And then if you look at the historical 

trend in outbreaks they typically happen in 

romaine in the spring and in the fall, in those 

transition times. 

 Now of course we don't have any idea 

of why that seasonality is happening, but we do 

observe that in the data. And we point other 

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researchers to that interesting piece of 

information, that there's a seasonality in 

shipments and the seasonality in the production 

and outbreaks. 

 You stop growing lettuce in California 

because it gets too hot. Bacteria like it when 

it's hot. So animals are moving around at 

different times of the year. There's lots of 

different things that possibly could be 

contributing to these issues. 

 I think it's an interesting piece that 

we found in the data. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: This is Kiley 

again. Was that just trend analysis or is it 

statistical significance? 

 MR. ASTILL: That's just trend 

analysis. We are looking at -- that was a 

preliminary piece. We're going to do some more 

in-depth statistical analysis with journal 

articles. 

 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr. When you 

talk about looking out 5-10 years on industries 

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and stuff like that, when you get a potential 

market disruptor like hemp that could be -- how 

often do you redo these plans? Is it something 

revisited every year, or when you have something 

that comes in very quickly and that can have a 

significant impact on an industry or something 

like that, how do you deal with that? 

 MR. ASTILL: I think that's a big 

challenge for industry. That's a challenge for 

us as a small team of researchers in the 

Department of Agriculture. 

 We try to be as forward looking as 

possible. I really have to hand it to my 

colleagues who started this food safety survey 

before I even came into the department. 

 They were looking ahead five years and 

saying okay, this new food safety law is going to 

be implemented. Right now we have to start doing 

the survey. 

 It took two or three years to get that 

survey implemented, another couple of years to 

carry it out, another couple of years to process 

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the data and get this report out. 

 So we are trying to be forward 

thinking and anticipate some of these challenges. 

But it is hard and we're doing our best. And if 

you have any things that are on your radar that 

you think we should be aware of you're welcome to 

hear about it. 

 MR. CARR: For the committee Darrell 

is going to supply the contact information for 

Greg and everything. So he will send that to all 

of us and you will have that. Any other 

questions? Thank you. 

 MR. ASTILL: Thank you very much. 

 (Applause) 

 MR. CARR: I believe at this next 

stage we're going to break out this afternoon and 

spend the rest of the afternoon in the working 

groups. And then by doing that we actually will 

officially recess this meeting. 

 Tomorrow morning we have to actually 

come back here and meet to reopen the meeting, 

and then we'll go back to the working groups. 

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Did I get that part right? 

 MR. HUGHES: Yes. 

 MR. CARR: Okay. So, our objective 

for the next two days while we're working in the 

working groups if I understand it basically is to 

come up -- if you go back to this page where we 

started with the original topics. 

 Basically it's an objective statement 

that the committee needs to come up with, that 

the working group needs to come up with of what 

you're planning on covering. Kind of like a 

mission statement if you will. Might refer back 

to this. The first time I'm reading this myself. 

 But the other thing is to also set an 

agenda for the year of how you -- what topics 

you're going to discuss under that group, so try 

to identify the topics. There may be a subtopic 

under trade or labor or production obviously and 

you want to touch on those. 

 Probably prioritize those so that you 

know going through the year which ones are most 

important you need to work on. And kind of set a 

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schedule. 

 That was the guidance I was given for 

the groups. You want to update that or change 

that? 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

Just one additional insight I forgot to share. 

 Keep in mind that we are starting sort 

of late in the game and that this committee will 

be going through a re-charter and reorganization 

by like March 2020. 

 That means that by the August meeting, 

potential August meeting we will need to have 

made some type of progress on the types of 

statements and recommendations that we may be 

putting forth. 

 Like I said they don't have to be 

final, but some draft things in the works because 

of our short time frame. It's not like we have a 

whole two years to come together and work on 

things. This August. 

 MR. CARR: So I understand we've got 

a truncated timetable and everything. As you go 

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through working with your working groups again 

it's to identify the objective of that working 

group, try to identify your topics that you want 

to address that you feel are -- and then make 

sure your schedule can accomplish those to where 

we can have recommendations back to the full 

committee after the summer in our next face to 

face meeting. 

 It's up to the committee to establish 

all your phone calls and everything else like 

that. And again, do we want to make all the 

members aware of when they're having those 

meetings or if -- your email chains would only be 

to the ones that have asked to be on those 

particular committees? 

 MR. HUGHES: What I can do is once I 

connect with the chair leads I can send out the 

planned conference calls to everyone so that 

everyone will have the dates. 

 And I'll try to include the conference 

call information. I'll send it to everyone so 

that anyone can call in. That way, because there 

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are multiple people on these and I don't want to 

get to the point where I'm limiting the 

conference call information to just certain 

people. So I will just send it out to the entire 

committee if that's okay with you. 

 MR. CARR: Is that all right with 

everyone? 

 So lastly because a lot of us are new 

and I think we -- working with group leads that 

have not been on this committee. These are some 

of the recommendations in the past. They're in 

the back of your books. It may be something you 

want to look at as they look at the overview and 

then they come up with their recommendations or 

their statement. 

 Darrell has also put this form in our 

packets. It doesn't have to be used -- it's not. 

 MR. HUGHES: No, it's that printout. 

 MR. CARR: Well, then we'll go ahead 

and give one to each working group. 

 MR. HUGHES: Each working group. 

 MR. WILKINS: It was in the email. 

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 MR. CARR: Yes, it was in the email 

you sent. 

 MR. HUGHES: Okay, great. 

 MR. CARR: But basically -- of course 

you're not going to fill out all this in this 

page, but this would be a way to standardize that 

every product coming back from the working groups 

would be the same. 

 So as best you can you would give a 

summary of this. This is a summary. Of course 

you can have the full recommendations and 

everything behind it. But this way we could 

always quickly reference as a group and we're 

always looking at it presented in the same 

format. 

 So if nobody has any major objections 

to that we'll use this as kind of our way of 

reporting back in top level before we get down in 

the weeds and use this form right here. 

 So again tomorrow we're not coming 

back with any statements or recommendations, but 

hopefully we will identify all the topics within 

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each working group and have those prioritized so 

that that gives us clarity to what we're going to 

work on while we're doing meetings and 

everything. 

 So if everybody is in agreement where 

do we have to meet? 

 MR. HUGHES: Right next door. That's 

the work group space, all the tables. And 

obviously because we're going to be ending early 

here if there's a work group that wants to sit on 

one side of the table, the other, you can use 

this space as well. 

 You know what? I would actually say 

that everyone should use the space over there. 

The reason being, keep your name tags where they 

are. Since it's a little snug in here my plan is 

to have that wall removed and we're going to add 

a section so that we can spread out a little bit 

and tomorrow when you all come back to the main 

table you have elbow room. 

 So the room right next door is the 

room we'll convene the working group sessions. 

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 Sonia right now is passing out little 

strips with dates on it. Those are the proposed 

dates for the August meeting. Not a decision 

that needs to happen now, but by close of 

business tomorrow or before the meeting adjourns 

tomorrow we'll pick a couple of options off that 

sheet of paper for me to take back to whichever 

hotel to figure out where we could host our 

August meeting. 

 MR. CARR: So at this time this 

committee will be in recess till tomorrow 

morning. We'll work until 4:30 today within the 

working groups. If you decide to go longer 

that's entirely up to you all, whatever the group 

wants to. 

 But we won't come back in here 

whenever you're dismissed from there. And we'll 

reconvene tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. 

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 3:03 p.m.) 

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above-entitled 122:20 

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acceptance 199:21 

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accepted 204:19 

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accommodations

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239:5 

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17:1,13 127:5 136:11 

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afternoon 5:14 11:12 

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99:22 102:14,18 

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agonize 20:7 

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agree 98:11 99:5 102:6 

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agricultural 6:14 7:14 

9:18 95:9 126:3 

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agriculture 1:1 28:15 

32:4 38:10 67:13 69:1 

88:15 95:7 119:1 

126:6 174:8 181:19 

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ahead 57:12,22 58:7 

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161:21 180:4 186:20 

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airwaves 170:16 

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197:12 

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alliances 170:6 

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allow 38:14 80:15 130:1 

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allowed 136:21 142:22 

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allows 60:5 134:6 

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alma 191:21 

almonds 24:4 

amazed 82:8 

amendments 168:14 

American 35:13 38:10 

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amount 74:22 153:11 

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amounts 18:17 220:1 

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2:10,11 3:6 5:19 9:21 

10:1,4,7,8,12,15,20 

11:8,13 12:16,20 13:3 

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analysis 34:13 44:6 

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angry 213:11 

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APA 134:20 135:2 

APHIS 41:14,15,16 

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64:14,16,19 231:5 

app 218:21,22 

Applause 71:20 72:14 

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apple 2:16 134:14,18 

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135:10 

applesauce 135:16 

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Applied 163:10 183:3 

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appoint 107:5 110:11 

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audience 16:13 

audio 55:2 

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auditor 164:20 203:7 

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available 45:2 46:15 

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146:15 169:12 178:6 

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avenue 145:12 

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awareness 169:10,15 

awful 172:17 

awfully 101:6 

awhile 7:18 116:20 

aye 107:1 

ayes 107:2 

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bad 213:9,9 

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bioengineered 15:3 

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165:4,10,17 167:3,4,5 

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148:1,17 198:16 

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breeders 17:6 

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British 31:5 

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broadly 119:15 

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broken 178:18 

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Bromley 2:12 34:16,16 

155:11,18 156:1,1 

166:1 185:7,9,11,13 

brother 165:1,2 

brought 156:13 158:17 

213:1 229:1 

Bruce 2:1,11 6:15 21:8 

21:14 27:7,18 28:21 

31:16 34:1 39:19 42:5 

43:5,19 47:3 51:9 

53:15 82:16 117:8 

172:1 198:15 215:10 

Bruce's 82:12 220:12 

bucket 105:11 111:18 

bucketing 110:22 

budget 50:16,17,18 

55:7 56:2,13 144:5,9 

176:4 205:12 

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Buffalo 164:21 

build 88:3 216:10 

building 220:21 

buildup 90:7 

built 221:2 

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bunch 28:11 168:6 

170:6 

burden 147:9 

Bureau 139:17 

business 18:6 25:2 

26:10 28:10 30:7,9,10 

30:19 36:4 40:21 

54:10 77:14 156:4,6 

159:17 160:1 172:16 

208:20,22 212:6,7 

218:1,6,19 221:5 

243:5 

businesses 159:19 

208:18 212:3 213:6 

busy 214:11 

butter 10:17 49:7 

button 24:8 

buttons 189:20 

buy 13:19,20 14:1 32:7 

44:7,11 55:15 56:5 

104:4 137:13 138:20 

139:21 140:12 144:15 

144:17,21,22 145:5 

146:4 149:9 156:7 

157:14 204:8 

buyer 192:22 197:21 

213:3,7 224:14,19 

buyers 195:9 197:19 

199:10,17,20,22 

203:5 

buying 13:11,13,15,15 

13:16 14:4 32:10 

79:16,18 143:13 

150:13 156:6,20 

157:5 198:1 

buys 12:16,20 

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114:13 116:2 123:2 

123:18 124:20,21 

133:7 134:13 137:3 

218:12 239:21,22 

240:3 

called 82:17 111:8 

113:17 199:2 202:8 

214:17 

calling 85:1 162:19 

168:21 

calls 53:22 113:4 

116:20 124:1 139:8 

158:3 173:12 212:12 

219:14,20 221:11 

222:19 239:10,18 

calm 189:13 

Campbell's 224:10 

Canada 23:14 205:18 

206:16 

candidate 65:13,20 

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138:9 143:17,20 

146:13 156:11 

Canning 2:14 35:5 

137:6,10 158:15 

Cantaloupe 196:15 

cap 184:16 185:14,15 

capabilities 135:13 

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capacity 5:8 163:7 

card 65:2 172:16 

216:20 

care 21:14 32:21 38:3 

150:12 

career 27:17 164:18 

careful 211:21 

carefully 135:20 

Carl 36:18 122:4,13,14 

Carolina 23:18 29:19 

33:6 80:2 202:1 204:4 

carried 9:11 58:22 

carries 10:3 

carry 235:22 

case 10:4 123:14 

127:15 145:10 146:13 

146:17 147:5,15 

150:3 171:20 172:13 

186:7 192:19 210:7 

223:2 226:4 229:15 

cases 143:3,6,12 144:3 

156:11 195:20 210:8 

214:4 

catch 162:1 

categories 119:10 

category 181:15 187:13 

cattle 210:9 

caught 71:5 122:10 

138:17 

caused 219:11 

CCC 56:2 

CEA 205:5 

center 95:11,13 108:12 

120:10 126:14 142:1 

163:10 166:14 183:2 

centerpiece 195:1 

centers 174:10 

central 97:3 233:15 

CEO 26:16 35:4 137:10 

certain 40:22 73:21 

212:17 240:3 

certainly 152:11 158:19 

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certificates 212:17,19 

217:1 

certification 53:2,6 

167:22 193:1,12,14 

193:21 195:10 198:10 

198:11 199:11 200:11 

200:17,19,21 201:9 

201:22 202:5 203:12 

203:13 204:5 

certifications 207:11 

CFIA 206:2 

CFSAN 166:7 

CFSAN's 166:13 

chain 153:20 156:9 

179:4 

chains 239:13 

chair 1:11,14,14 4:16 

4:16,21 58:4,5 59:3,8 

59:9,10,11,12,12 60:1 

60:2,3,21,21 61:4,5,9 

61:9,10,11,22 62:1,2 

62:4,9,10 63:7 65:3 

65:13 68:12 69:12 

71:19,22 72:4,6,10 

91:5,5,6 92:15,20 

93:5,8 96:4,18 97:12 

101:9,10 118:21 

123:18,19,20 126:9,9 

130:1 186:13 220:15 

239:17 

chairing 4:19 

chairman 67:11 103:7 

107:7 121:4,8 129:7 

134:17 141:9 148:4 

162:19 

chairs 92:14 96:3 175:4 

188:21 189:13 

challenge 115:9 119:12 

157:12 158:21 188:10 

232:20 235:9,9 

challenges 232:13 

236:3 

challenging 144:13 

180:12 

Chalmers 1:11,14 

23:16 62:4 67:1 71:19 

78:8 80:1,11 89:1 

97:13 98:7 104:14 

121:10 123:1 151:5 

157:20 160:3 162:18 

201:17 206:15 223:18 

234:21 

chance 30:13 60:15 

Chandler 1:16 23:22,22 

24:1 111:19,19 

113:11,11 121:8 

Chandler's 210:3 

change 76:10 102:22 

103:1 140:5 151:11 

238:3 

changed 8:6 139:11 

changes 70:16 215:12 

changing 152:1 

channels 157:18 

characterized 34:2 

charge 83:14,17 

Charles 2:3,10 28:5 

29:19 37:12 38:5 

50:15 53:22 55:20,21 

63:15 71:12 73:14 

82:10 84:9 85:21 87:8 

88:2 100:17 110:8,8 

130:19 131:19 161:17 

222:9 

Charles' 103:16 

chart 41:6,10 42:1 

107:22 177:1,2,4 

178:4 

charts 40:7,8 

chat 118:18 

check 96:1 

checkbook 211:14 

checking 130:22 

checkoff 11:17,20,21 

12:1,5,12 

checks 136:1 

cheeky 5:7 

cheese 10:17 

chemical 154:11 

cherry 26:2,3,4 

Cherryfield 22:22 

chief 7:17,20 33:14 

36:1 166:5 190:12 

221:22 

children 144:20 149:22 

150:11 159:6 

China 104:8 138:17 

Chinese 138:8,9,12 

143:22 146:15 158:17 

158:18 

chit 118:18 

choice 10:16 

choir 92:3 98:6 

choose 217:22 224:14 

224:15 

Chorus 107:2 

chosen 68:11 

Christmas 83:1 

chunks 98:16 

cider 32:1,1 

circumstances 224:5 

224:13 

cite 56:15 

citrus 24:4 

City 1:10 

civil 226:4 

claim 225:21 

clarification 62:20 

66:20 78:9 113:17 

154:16 160:4 230:12 

clarified 189:3 

clarify 144:15 203:17 

clarity 242:2 

classified 222:10 

clean 188:13 

clear 75:13 114:3 

117:20 125:9 137:16 

138:20 149:11 150:20 

151:7 157:15 184:2 

199:16 226:5 

clearance 82:1 

clearances 189:19 

clicked 11:15 

clientele 206:13 

clock 181:16 

close 137:9 146:14 

243:4 

closely 44:12,17 45:21 

46:4,10,19 47:17 

50:19 135:7 

closer 207:11 

closing 8:3 

cloud-based 216:11 

coalition 139:14 

coast 23:14 204:19 

233:15 

code 6:2,2 208:20 

212:6 

coequal 140:15 

coffee 36:16,17 37:7 

39:2,3,4 227:3 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
248 

coin 199:6 

cold 41:22 

collaborate 113:10 

collaboration 183:19 

194:3 

collaborative 163:15 

colleagues 165:19 

177:14 178:14 187:20 

189:17 215:5 228:21 

235:14 

collect 12:5 62:7 69:11 

collected 11:11 

collecting 86:13 

college 191:16,22 

Colorado 14:13 28:14 

28:18 31:20 184:19 

184:20 

Columbia 31:5 

column 180:9 

combination 113:15 

combine 109:22 111:3 

113:12 114:4,5 

117:18 118:2 

combined 42:15 98:22 

110:20 

combining 100:11,13 

114:13 

come 17:7 19:13 21:1 

31:17 79:13 83:16 

94:1 101:21 107:19 

111:7 113:8 118:12 

118:19 122:1,8 124:5 

124:12 126:16,19 

129:3 130:13,14 

131:5 134:4 145:17 

149:19 153:17 156:12 

161:10,22 171:10 

210:10 222:11 223:8 

227:6 228:16,21 

229:19 236:21 237:6 

237:9,10 238:19 

240:14 242:19 243:16 

comes 50:3 55:22 72:1 

117:5 144:20 145:20 

157:9 174:6 179:21 

202:10 223:2 235:5 

comfortable 189:3 

coming 8:5 19:6 21:14 

27:20 30:16 52:4 

68:19 88:14 92:1 

146:5 154:9 155:6,12 

157:18 162:12 187:6 

198:14 205:4 215:12 

219:21 241:7,20 

comment 3:12 35:11 

88:20 96:14 97:1 

105:7 117:7 132:7,8 

132:13 134:4 141:19 

142:5 150:2 155:19 

160:15 170:11 208:2 

228:15 

commented 172:7 

commenter 134:10 

136:22 

comments 8:22 9:2 

21:3 54:20 57:9 74:19 

101:11 106:8 117:11 

118:7 129:19,20 

130:2 132:10,15,17 

133:12,16 134:2,8,12 

136:16 142:11 170:13 

176:9 

Commerce 49:17 

209:18 210:6 

Commission 33:6 

Commissioner 174:16 

197:10 

committed 208:15 

213:17 214:15 

committee 1:3,9 3:8 4:6 

4:7 5:9 6:11,20,22 

7:21 8:16,21 9:1,9 

12:9 16:16,18 17:1,14 

29:3 32:14 41:2 57:14 

57:17 58:2 59:5,6,9 

59:17 60:4 61:1 65:3 

65:12 66:15 67:11 

68:20 87:19 90:16 

92:9 94:8 96:8,10,11 

97:17 98:15 100:14 

103:2,3,4 105:16 

106:17 107:9 108:5,7 

110:12 111:12 112:21 

115:10 116:3 117:15 

121:2 123:9 124:4,7,8 

124:20 125:3,21 

127:17 129:4,15 

130:21 132:12,18 

134:2 136:11,20 

141:10 142:3 148:5 

161:20 164:6 236:8 

237:9 238:8 239:7,9 

240:5,10 243:11 

committee's 137:13 

committees 4:14 7:11 

16:6,7 58:5 91:1,6 

97:20 102:21 108:4 

121:1 127:5 129:8 

239:15 

commodities 11:3 38:3 

44:6 68:14 85:8 90:14 

193:15 194:17 208:13 

210:19 214:19 

commodity 42:9 44:1 

44:12 55:6 56:1 71:7 

194:7,13 204:1 223:1 

communicate 102:4 

communication 44:4 

communications 28:10 

96:16 164:3 

community 12:22 

164:21 165:15 171:1 

179:5 

companies 7:3 85:18 

134:21 135:6 142:22 

160:9 172:13 207:14 

208:21 210:17 212:7 

company 22:13 23:1 

193:2 218:8 224:1 

compete 83:8 

competition 91:17,20 

92:1 

competitive 139:11 

171:20 

complaint 148:12 

211:10 212:2 218:10 

218:16 225:19 

complaints 216:19 

217:15 222:2,4 

completed 89:15 125:6 

completely 127:13 

completing 123:13 

compliance 68:17 

139:21 164:1 168:10 

168:20,21 169:4,7 

171:7,10 180:5,20 

181:21 184:8,18 

205:13 214:9 

compliant 149:9 179:9 

197:19 

complicated 76:18 

comply 169:3,6 181:7 

component 151:2 

175:3 226:7 

comprehensive 218:4 

concentrate 138:10 

158:18,19 

concentrated 29:13 

concept 126:2 

concern 80:20 99:11 

147:8 148:16 

concerned 109:17 

119:2,6 

concerning 87:1,14 

91:22 100:10 111:5 

concerns 111:21 

147:20 176:8 177:7 

221:10 

concert 36:8 

concise 125:9 

conclude 142:10 

concur 117:9 

conditions 77:19 

189:10 

conduct 213:6 

conference 116:20 

123:18 124:1,20,21 

239:18,20 240:3 

conferences 86:5 

confirm 126:15 

conflict 73:17 112:19 

202:3 

conflicting 71:14 73:16 

confusing 66:1 

congratulate 20:4 

congratulations 37:18 

72:13 73:4 

Congress 8:6 15:8 

137:16 139:22 141:14 

211:12,13 232:6 

congressional 138:21 

140:2,19 150:19,20 

connect 239:17 

consensus 100:13,15 

103:21 115:16 117:20 

consent 93:18 

consider 94:11 110:22 

136:12 189:1 

consideration 93:16 

188:15 

considered 79:3,5 

82:11,19 83:7 

consignment 213:21 

consistency 79:7 

consolidate 111:1,17 

constant 44:4 

constantly 102:17 

constituent 170:16 

constraint 144:9 

consult 44:7 

consultants 182:5 

consulting 26:12 

consumer 112:4 154:18 

consumption 91:11,12 

155:1 

contact 54:11,18 

133:15 227:22 228:3 

236:9 

contacts 53:17 

contain 139:3 

contained 140:12 

containers 135:21 

136:4 

contains 5:12 

contamination 147:8 

CONTENTS 3:1 

context 9:20 16:5 

continue 13:19 98:5 

118:20 140:5,19 

202:16,20 216:2,5 

continuing 74:21 

168:13,15 200:3 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
249 

continuous 90:11 

135:22 

contract 211:1,4 212:20 

213:19 214:1 219:15 

224:15 225:4,6,14 

contracted 194:16 

213:21 

contracting 148:17 

contrary 225:2 

contrast 147:12 

contribute 112:10 

contributing 234:10 

contributions 116:13 

controlled 86:10,14 

205:5 

controlling 80:3,4 

controls 52:15,15 154:3 

163:18 167:17,18 

170:1,2 174:13 

176:18 177:20 179:1 

187:22 

controversial 15:6,15 

convene 128:17 242:22 

convenient 135:12 

conversation 74:21 

75:4 99:7 112:9,10 

158:6 187:2 

conversations 111:13 

coop 32:19 

cooperation 174:16 

183:18 

cooperative 31:2 35:7 

174:8 182:4 184:13 

cooperative-owned

187:14 

cooperatives 90:7 

134:22 139:16 

coordinate 75:21 

135:11 

coordination 76:20 

174:17 

copies 43:16 164:7 

230:18 

copy 64:3 136:18 191:8 

corn 25:20 

corner 18:7 28:6 130:10 

Corporation 33:15 56:1 

correct 56:18 59:20 

65:19 78:11 103:1,5 

108:7 122:2,3 126:22 

129:5 130:5 132:2 

145:14 146:6 155:2,8 

160:11 205:21 225:16 

correctly 176:21 213:20 

corridor 30:15 91:19 

cost 50:22 51:1 53:13 

139:9 141:3 143:9 

144:12 145:11 146:11 

146:12 149:12,16 

150:5,22 151:3 

202:14 204:15 205:10 

cost-effective 200:16 

costly 200:19 

costs 8:4,11 

cotton 11:4 16:3 19:9 

42:11 45:3,4 51:9 

83:4 

cough 41:22 

Council 67:6 139:16 

count 62:7 69:11 

counted 61:8 

counter 117:12 

Counting 69:16 

countries 102:1 198:11 

country 14:2 33:17,20 

88:12,15,16 91:14 

92:2 143:20 154:12 

155:6 157:1 177:16 

181:11 182:13 183:7 

185:2 191:5 223:20 

couple 7:10 14:21 

17:19 18:1 27:14 

84:16 86:5 116:18 

165:18 167:8 169:16 

176:14 189:22 200:2 

201:1 205:4 206:22 

208:4 209:22 235:21 

235:22 243:6 

course 11:2,7,8 17:12 

43:10 48:8,16 52:6 

53:19,22 61:16 86:19 

116:22 119:20 129:2 

202:11 233:20 241:4 

241:10 

court 208:3,5,8 226:10 

cover 35:1 103:19 

125:15 160:7 177:19 

183:9 221:14 

covered 174:21 188:16 

188:17 223:5,6,7 

225:8 226:1 

covering 126:22 237:11 

covers 28:16 34:21 

172:22 174:2 195:19 

craft 125:13 

crafted 120:7 

crafting 4:10 

cream 37:8,9 

create 17:6 95:6,8 

96:21 111:6 113:20 

created 5:11 173:17,21 

211:11 

creating 94:19 95:12 

credentialing 203:8,14 

credit 56:1 216:20 

crimini 24:8 

crisis 26:13 28:11 

critical 27:4 98:3 

crop 14:11 15:22 16:4 

29:16 36:20 37:1,3 

38:9 48:16 55:22 

82:11,20 83:7,21 

84:10 85:2,3 86:8 

88:8 89:16 90:2 

222:11 232:13 

crops 3:6 5:3 24:3,5 

26:20 27:12,15,19 

28:3 29:1 34:10 35:18 

35:19 36:5 37:13 43:3 

47:7,10,16 49:4 50:12 

50:13 51:2,7,12 52:4 

67:11 82:17 88:4 

151:1 163:9,14 

190:14 215:5 231:10 

crossover 174:13 

crowd 177:21 207:2 

Crystal 1:10 

Cultural 196:4 

cups 155:5 

curious 230:21 

current 124:8 151:12 

162:3 215:16 

currently 67:6 84:6 

153:5 163:8,8 184:16 

customer 52:3 54:6 

217:12 226:1 

customers 43:1 50:8 

56:15 

cut 21:4 94:16 158:6 

166:11 189:10 

cuts 188:1 

cycled 67:19 

D

dad 165:1 

daily 51:5 207:6 

dairy 11:22 19:9 35:2 

45:5 51:9 83:4 

Darrell 1:11 2:5 4:4 

28:1 54:1,22 57:10 

60:22,22 62:20 65:1 

92:12,18 94:4 98:1 

102:21 105:6 107:12 

108:18 110:4,10 

113:2,16 114:7,11 

115:17 117:1 118:15 

120:4 123:3,10 127:4 

128:18 129:18 132:11 

132:14 133:4,15 

136:17 137:5 141:20 

141:21 162:7 163:3 

164:10 176:21 190:10 

209:10 212:5 227:18 

230:9 236:8 238:5 

240:16 

data 11:14 18:9,10,13 

18:18 38:13,15,17 

138:10 220:18 233:12 

233:22 234:12 236:1 

database 153:8 216:14 

220:21 

date 168:10 187:8 

202:4 

dates 124:11 168:20,21 

173:8 180:5,20 

239:19 243:2,3 

David 1:15 22:21 99:13 

106:3 114:22 144:14 

224:20 

Davis 2:7 36:3,3 122:4 

day 9:10 11:5 14:21 

20:2 22:6 53:20,21 

70:16 81:15 118:5 

150:6 182:16 192:15 

194:21 216:15 220:2 

days 37:20 215:17 

224:16 225:8,10,15 

226:6 237:4 

DC 6:18 19:19 21:5 28:8 

192:3 221:6 

DEA 75:21 78:19 

deadline 80:12 81:18 

204:3 

deal 9:10 20:9 21:21 

22:2 25:6 119:11 

203:22 204:6 206:12 

210:22 226:14 235:7 

dealing 56:21 75:14 

151:3 208:18 212:3 

214:8 

dealings 221:12 

deals 42:11,12 78:10 

120:1 215:8 

dear 101:20 175:2 

decades 23:5 140:9 

December 209:13 

214:13 

decide 60:6 96:11 

107:13 124:10,13 

128:6,10 243:13 

decided 47:13 82:16 

173:19 185:3 

decision 147:11 149:13 

178:5 243:3 

decisions 18:20 138:3 

140:6 149:22 218:6 

218:19 

decline 66:12,17 

dedicate 67:15 

dedicated 231:9 

deeply 47:6 

Defense 194:12 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
250 

defer 205:22 

deficiency 178:17 

defined 78:14 105:22 

146:9 188:11 

definitely 83:2 106:9 

129:15 230:18 

definition 111:7 160:6 

187:18 188:1,8,9 

189:4 

delayed 181:3 

delegate 59:8 

deliberating 116:12 

delighted 33:21 

delineation 199:16 

delinquent 226:2 

deliver 213:21 

delivered 123:9 

delivery 28:20 219:15 

delved 206:9 

demand 71:3 232:8 

demands 229:17 

demonstrate 171:3 

demonstrating 184:7 

department 1:1 28:14 

40:11 69:21 70:5 95:6 

120:19 141:12 150:18 

195:16 197:11 202:9 

204:9 209:19 235:11 

235:15 

departments 171:18 

173:8 181:19 195:14 

depend 224:12 

depended 224:5 

depending 134:9 173:5 

180:10 181:13 184:11 

185:2 186:10 

depends 123:20 226:10 

deployment 215:13 

deputy 2:8 5:2,20 27:11 

37:12 

Derrin 2:2 30:22 63:11 

66:21 121:2 129:7 

described 188:5 

describes 177:2 

designated 1:11 2:5 4:5 

5:5 54:1 59:13 

designed 88:6 182:10 

desire 129:10 

detail 165:11 201:15 

details 79:1 

determine 120:22 126:7 

222:15 

Detroit 28:7 

develop 17:7 70:7 

100:2 101:1 124:6 

164:1 

developed 18:15 92:20 

139:2 

developing 84:20 90:14 

196:9 201:2 

development 14:3 23:9 

30:7 32:22 36:4 99:16 

100:6 170:10 194:13 

217:8 

DFO 5:5 96:15 120:14 

133:15 

dialogue 187:8 

dictated 153:21 

difference 55:5 125:16 

146:9 

differences 74:4,5 

192:16 

different 15:21 26:18 

26:21 52:8 67:5 73:12 

73:13 79:8,16 85:22 

86:1 112:17 113:7 

116:12 119:22 121:19 

127:13 128:3,17 

129:13 166:15,16 

168:19,20 169:21 

170:14 171:13 172:18 

176:14 179:18 180:9 

180:16 193:6 201:1 

207:10,11 222:14 

231:18 234:8,9 

differential 139:10 

141:3 143:9 145:11 

146:11,13 149:12,16 

150:5 

differentials 150:22 

difficult 61:17 69:17 

94:21 113:10 

digest 94:17 

digesting 86:20 87:13 

digging 181:14 

dilute 84:5 87:5 

diluted 89:9 

Dinner 11:19 

Dip 116:15 

direct 32:4 98:4 112:4 

128:18 145:2 147:11 

directing 139:20 

direction 102:12,16 

105:2 140:2 141:14 

178:11 180:3 

directly 24:16 60:9 

119:12 122:16 148:2 

191:18 205:12 

director 9:8 29:5 30:7 

34:8,18 35:17 37:22 

38:9 143:13 166:14 

166:20 208:12 209:18 

director's 54:4 

directors 227:19,22 

dirt 33:2 101:21 

disappear 177:12 

disappointed 22:5 

disciplinary 222:1 

disclose 141:5 

discloses 143:7 

disclosure 15:3 150:3 

150:14 214:20 

discretion 189:7,8 

190:2 

discuss 87:18 93:16 

96:11 124:2,12 

151:21 158:3 237:16 

discusses 96:2 

discussing 74:20 93:4 

discussion 91:7 93:18 

100:5 101:4 106:22 

112:14 115:4 129:22 

157:21 158:1 178:1 

discussions 34:1 98:9 

110:18 

disease 90:13 

disinfectant 150:7 

dismissed 243:17 

disputes 208:22 212:7 

212:20 213:1,14 

disruptor 235:2 

distinct 171:17 

distinction 120:13 

distribute 14:1 

distributed 61:18 

distribution 23:15 

138:19 

distributor 32:20 143:4 

143:6,17 144:2,10 

147:3,4,10 148:9 

153:2 156:21,21 

distributors 138:2 

140:11 156:5 193:21 

distributorship 24:21 

district 143:16 144:13 

144:17,18 145:22 

150:4,8,11 

district's 157:13 

districts 138:1 145:18 

149:6 156:9,19,20 

157:11 

diverse 9:19 

diversity 68:14 

divide 60:2 

divided 42:9 83:19 

dividing 95:3 

division 7:16 8:3 9:8 

28:15 34:9,11,19 

35:18 38:1 43:9,10 

163:11 166:5,21 

190:15 208:14 214:19 

214:20,21 225:19 

divisions 43:5 49:5 

53:18 214:18 227:19 

DLA 194:15 

document 143:9 149:1 

173:7 180:12,19 

documentation 149:15 

149:20 153:8,12 

documented 149:12 

documenting 145:10 

documents 59:17 

170:10 176:3 187:11 

DoD 56:21 

dog 78:21 

doing 16:2,3 18:19 

38:12 39:10 41:7 

50:11 53:12 76:3 

108:15 177:5 185:13 

194:14 229:1 235:18 

236:4,18 242:3 

dollar 225:20 

dollars 83:8,21 84:6 

87:2,5,9 90:13 99:8 

111:5 112:5 140:22 

144:18 145:16,17,19 

153:18 

domestic 34:19 35:1 

56:7,16 57:1 91:21 

100:22 101:2,12,13 

103:19 104:3,16,22 

105:18 106:4 110:22 

111:8 113:22 143:14 

145:7 152:13 157:14 

158:20 179:15 194:5 

194:9 

domestically 33:12 

137:18 139:5 143:5 

193:5 204:16 

Don 65:15 

Donn 2:3 29:4 55:4 

65:14 118:21 152:4 

door 91:16 92:1 94:1 

242:7,21 

doors 47:21 

double-check 159:12 

dovetails 168:1 

downloadable 229:21 

dozens 188:5 

Dr 166:12,14,19 

draft 238:17 

drafted 177:9 

dramatically 139:12 

dried 13:21 29:5 222:18 

223:9 

driven 229:17 

driving 119:1 

drove 198:20 

Drug 34:17 37:3 165:12 

drum 98:5 

dual 70:9 174:19 

due 202:3 215:17 220:1 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
251 

Duly 206:20 

duties 59:3 60:16 96:3 

E

E 1:15 190:17 

eager 76:9 182:17 

earlier 100:1 106:9 

165:20 167:21 172:1 

179:12 181:12 

early 18:8 118:18 162:6 

162:8 195:4 196:3 

215:15 221:3 227:16 

242:9 

ears 38:10 

ease 68:5 

easier 18:5,16 

easiest 75:10 151:22 

easily 85:9 108:21 

east 23:1,14 204:19 

eastern 222:5 

easy 20:5 67:21 72:12 

73:2 82:1 94:17 

115:15 207:2 

eat 33:17 

eaten 13:2 

echo 37:17 

echoing 158:14 

economic 3:20 34:13 

43:9 44:5 52:18 142:1 

228:19 231:10 

Economics 34:9 

economist 228:19 

economists 34:13 86:3 

edges 98:17 

Edible 11:18 

edibles 75:5,7 

Edinburg 25:4 

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education 169:9,15 

174:10 182:3 184:17 

209:3 212:10 

educators 175:16 

effective 59:6 148:7 

efficiencies 217:11 

efficient 42:21 

efficiently 217:3 

effort 7:9 196:10 

efforts 75:22 

egg 173:1 

eggs 10:17 11:18 

Egyptian 138:13 147:6 

150:10,13 

either 6:7 129:4 151:3 

184:16 195:19 201:4 

202:22 223:2 

elbow 242:20 

elected 64:16,19 65:21 

67:16 122:7 

elections 4:17,20 5:16 

electronic 18:4 

elevators 161:3 

eligible 147:17 

Ellor 1:16 24:6,6 63:1 

67:18,18 98:10,10 

116:9,16 

Ellor's 35:15 

Ely 1:17 24:19,19 

email 39:14 54:5 58:15 

93:14 94:7,16 96:21 

97:1 110:13 119:7 

133:22 161:16 162:1 

215:22 216:1,3 217:2 

228:2 239:13 240:22 

241:1 

emails 36:12 53:21 

215:15,18 231:7 

embarrass 21:17 

emergency 70:1 

employee 10:4,8 171:4 

172:10 184:11,11 

employees 10:12,14 

172:11 185:18 195:16 

employers 67:8 

employment 220:9 

enacted 210:19 

Enamel 165:21 

encompassing 11:3 

endeavor 10:21 11:12 

13:5 14:6 200:20 

205:16 

ended 165:14 

enforce 139:21 189:9 

212:6 

enforced 157:16 

enforcement 169:4 

184:18 185:4 189:6,8 

190:2 209:4 212:11 

222:1 

enforces 148:22 

enforcing 208:20 

engaged 202:20 

engages 163:20 

enhance 14:14 135:5 

enhanced 100:7 

enhancement 18:4 

enhances 136:7 

enjoyed 210:9 

enormous 157:17 

ensure 135:12 136:1 

194:7 210:21 221:17 

ensuring 172:20 183:19 

208:15 

enter 224:14,15,18 

entire 97:10 240:4 

entirely 63:19 243:14 

entities 213:16 219:7 

222:5 

entity 187:16 206:16 

214:8 217:22 

entity's 218:10 

environment 205:5 

environmental 26:13 

EPA 75:20 

ePACA 215:14,20 

216:21 217:5,8,19 

218:21 

equal 74:7 

equivalence 203:7 

equivalency 198:6,22 

199:5,13,18 203:21 

205:8 

equivalent 17:9 

era 219:18 

Erickson 1:17 25:1,1 

83:6,6,20 84:2,4,11 

86:19,20 97:22 98:1 

99:3 109:14 110:17 

111:4,16 114:17,18 

117:14 131:17 209:15 

231:17,17,21 232:14 

233:2 

ERS 2:5 141:22 142:2 

227:1,7 228:13 232:5 

233:3 

especially 44:13 51:4 

56:21 77:22 83:21 

136:9 204:1 

essentially 59:3 92:21 

94:16 113:19 179:12 

181:6 183:4 189:7 

206:17 

establish 3:10 89:18 

93:19 212:5 239:9 

established 93:21 

96:18 174:17 214:1 

establishing 208:20 

ethics 172:10 

EU 193:16,17 194:1,1 

Europe 23:7 

evaluate 8:16 223:4,8 

evaluated 223:2 

evaluating 223:16 

event 65:22 66:1 165:7 

215:6 

eventually 103:3 

everybody 6:17 7:1 

22:11,11 27:14 30:5 

38:21 39:2,15 40:10 

42:10,11 71:1 76:21 

78:7 82:4 83:3 100:12 

100:15 107:9 109:18 

114:3 118:5 119:1 

122:17 137:4 141:17 

141:19 162:12 165:7 

181:5 191:12 202:17 

211:19 215:22 227:5 

232:20 242:5 

everybody's 107:8 

207:6 

exact 145:5 

exactly 55:2 80:17 

100:19 189:4 203:6 

221:1 

example 9:9 15:17 44:1 

138:14 143:15 150:9 

155:5 225:15 

examples 88:10 

exceed 224:16 226:6 

exceeds 225:10 

exception 10:11 119:4 

139:9 

exceptions 200:2 

excited 4:9 5:8 6:19,20 

15:5 19:22 22:3,7 

51:18 52:4 

exciting 16:8,10 28:5 

exclusion 139:4,7,8 

141:6 143:10 149:16 

150:5 151:15 

exclusions 139:3 145:9 

exclusively 200:14 

Excuse 41:21 

executive 29:5 33:14 

existence 232:2 

expand 68:21 

expanded 196:6,22 

expanding 23:7 

expect 189:17,20 

218:20 

expectations 128:14 

198:2 

expected 81:2 

experience 68:19,20 

190:18 201:20 

experiences 116:5 

experts 221:5 

explain 55:4 125:14 

149:21 

explains 48:18 

export 26:5 29:11 

193:13,16,20 

exported 10:19 

exporting 23:5 

extend 133:2 154:8 

extension 175:15 182:4 

187:9 191:17 

extensions 168:10 

extensively 8:15 

extent 145:7 

external 215:20 216:11 

extra 13:6,11 51:1 

extremely 90:8 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
252 

eyes 38:10 

F

FACA 113:19 

face 117:3,3 134:3,3 

239:7,8 

faces 36:6 38:22 209:14 

210:1 

facilitate 171:19 173:2 

193:3 200:7 212:9 

facilitates 209:2 

facilities 152:8 187:4 

187:13,21 

facility 147:18 152:12 

152:13 171:5 174:20 

188:8,16 191:22 

fact 74:22 143:7 151:12 

170:14 172:15 219:19 

factors 223:10 

failing 220:7 

failure 213:18,19,21 

failures 116:6 

fair 45:2 47:4,14 48:4 

65:6 194:10 208:10 

208:14,15,20 209:2 

212:6,9 214:12,16 

215:1,7 219:3 

Fairfax 1:10 

fairly 160:11 221:18 

fall 18:22 19:2 40:15 

41:8 71:9 81:20 102:9 

170:4 181:15 187:12 

188:8 233:18 

falls 143:9 179:6 193:9 

223:16 

familiar 11:1 38:22 

40:10 41:14 44:2 49:6 

51:21 52:9 69:22 

82:22 154:1 209:14 

210:1 225:20 

families 7:3 136:9 

family 23:10 26:18 

29:20 165:7 

fan 164:22 

far 82:6 92:5 105:7 

155:11 173:9 178:7 

225:22 

farm 15:8 25:7,18,20 

26:11,18,19 30:1 70:6 

73:22 75:13,14 78:9 

80:5 81:5,8 88:5 

139:17,20 141:15 

153:19 164:21 171:5 

179:5 181:8 184:9,22 

185:8 187:18 188:1,7 

188:17 190:20 191:15 

192:1 200:12 229:13 

farmer 139:16 152:3 

165:1,2 179:15 

187:13 

Farmer's 31:11 

farmer-owned 134:21 

187:3 

farmers 67:7 80:6,7 

140:17,21 150:21 

172:13 210:21 

farming 23:9 202:1 

farms 23:10,17 24:1,7 

26:8,12,17 30:8 31:7 

62:4 165:3 171:9 

FAS 48:13 

father 30:10 

fault 36:17 64:16 82:13 

favor 107:1 118:1 

favorite 115:20 

fax 217:15 

FDA 2:12,13,15 43:12 

54:13 75:11,17,18 

152:19 153:6 154:17 

155:2,9 163:16,21 

164:14,16 166:21 

167:13 169:16 171:4 

171:15 173:20 174:5 

174:15,22 175:4,22 

177:13,21,22 178:2 

178:14,15 183:18 

184:1,8,10,16,21 

185:5,21 186:9 

188:10 189:13,17 

192:12 194:4 197:5,9 

197:12,17,21 198:2 

205:22 

FDA's 163:9 172:18 

176:15 178:6 179:1 

179:22 180:7 182:9 

182:13 183:8 184:13 

186:4,4 188:14 

feasible 57:6 

federal 1:11 2:5 4:5 5:5 

10:6,14 12:22 25:18 

45:12 54:2 59:13 

73:17 133:18,21 

135:14 136:13 145:22 

146:1 147:2 171:17 

172:10,11 184:10,21 

192:17 195:18,22 

fee 8:5,21 10:10 49:8,21 

50:1,13 54:7 83:12 

172:1,2,5 211:6 

feed 159:5 165:21 

feedback 126:5 

feeding 56:3 135:17 

136:13 137:21 138:7 

138:14,19 140:16,22 

141:8 145:8 149:3 

feel 30:13,19 34:3 98:15 

125:7 148:2 165:15 

189:2 210:11 239:4 

fees 8:7 211:10,10 

212:3 

fellow 5:17 94:8 115:20 

135:11 

fence 201:6 

field 34:22 49:13 80:20 

179:19 180:2 221:10 

fields 181:14 

Fifteen-minute 121:20 

fifth 99:9 

fighting 90:13 

figure 24:14 107:15,18 

123:21 169:13 177:5 

178:19 210:14 220:22 

228:4 243:8 

figured 188:2 201:11 

219:11 

file 216:1,19 225:18,20 

filed 226:1 

fill 135:21 195:22 241:5 

filling 60:20 

filtered 89:19 

final 170:12 177:10 

189:19 208:9 238:17 

finalize 124:22 125:1 

finalized 15:2 

finally 22:6 32:15 

180:22 

finance 26:5 

financial 8:13 9:3 

financially 9:6 226:2 

find 86:22 87:13 98:8 

105:17 111:6 118:5,6 

173:9 178:9,16 

180:16 218:12 224:8 

finding 138:14 

fine 95:21 104:2 114:16 

115:8 116:14 125:6 

161:15 

fine-tune 102:7 

finish 122:12 217:1 

finished 44:14 

firms 216:3 220:6,10 

first 4:7 8:10 13:14 

36:12 39:2 40:20 41:1 

41:5 55:1 58:3 61:4 

63:20 65:2,8 67:12 

77:1 94:13 97:15 

98:19 100:10,11 

107:13 110:2 118:22 

133:4 134:4,5,13 

137:15 139:4,12 

140:14 160:22 162:22 

163:3 169:3 195:5 

198:4 208:2,7 237:13 

firsthand 201:20 

fish 138:16,16 146:17 

fit 47:13 52:12 83:4 

189:5 192:13,14 

fits 15:19 202:19 

fitting 101:14 

five 8:19 61:15 191:18 

191:20 201:4 229:9 

235:16 

flavor 117:14 

flipped 199:6 

float 129:9 

floor 161:1,4,10 164:9 

191:10 

Florida 23:11 31:12 

89:17 202:2,8 204:3 

204:10 

flow 57:21 177:1,2,4 

178:4 

flowing 67:22 

FNS's 138:10 

focus 102:19 111:9 

174:18 175:12 

focused 113:14 221:16 

folks 7:20 19:18 49:11 

98:7 172:6 178:2 

182:10,17 188:3 

190:8 

follow 89:2 93:12 

120:15 128:12 151:6 

follow-up 79:22 128:1 

followed 30:10 

following 149:17 

food-borne 147:5 195:6 

foods 22:22 33:15 

171:12 176:19 177:20 

187:22 188:16 

force 191:3 

forefront 69:2 

foreign 138:6 141:6 

142:22 143:8 144:12 

146:20,21 152:11,21 

153:3,22 156:8,14 

157:1,8,17 167:20 

168:1 176:19 179:11 

179:18,20 

forever 176:10 

forfeited 224:2 

forgot 48:20 238:6 

form 23:21 103:4 

106:13 111:14 240:16 

241:19 

formal 173:7 197:11 

198:5 217:5 

formalized 159:13 

format 18:18 106:15 

241:15 

former 116:3 174:15 

formulate 68:21 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
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Fort 221:7 

forth 40:8 42:13 45:9 

49:18 59:21 95:4 

116:22 124:3,14 

125:2,5,12 238:15 

fortunate 27:8 

Forty-fourth 30:9 

forward 7:9 8:14 9:11 

20:22 30:4 31:19 34:3 

37:19 61:14 85:2 

126:12,19 129:1 

141:10 151:22 235:12 

236:2 

foster 128:21 

fought 87:5 

found 149:8,14 225:2 

234:12 

foundation 8:13 9:3,4 

foundational 167:15 

168:4 

founded 135:4 195:4 

four 16:7 30:2 43:4 45:6 

45:7 47:21 49:5 63:18 

64:20 68:2 93:15 

94:10 104:15 105:4 

105:17,19 108:4 

115:6 118:10,16 

128:17 132:9 133:1 

214:18 

fourth 17:12 32:14 

94:15 99:9 

fracture 105:14 112:16 

frame 162:12 169:7 

238:18 

frames 181:4 

Francisco 27:3,6 

Fredericksburg 221:8 

222:3 

free 199:17 

freight 18:12 

fresh 2:13 13:14,15 

23:19 24:20 25:6 

29:20 31:8 87:3,10 

127:19,21 136:3 

142:8 154:18 164:19 

166:11 196:17 208:19 

212:3 223:6,7 229:7 

231:19 

freshly 135:3 

FreshPoint 24:19 

Fresno 24:2 

friend 14:13 190:2 

friends 233:11 

front 19:14 40:18 84:18 

107:22 215:12 

frozen 13:19,20 23:3 

138:13 147:6 150:10 

150:13 170:17 208:19 

212:4 

fruit 1:3 4:5 6:10 7:21 

9:21 11:1 15:18 17:13 

19:3,10 24:20 25:15 

25:21 47:20 83:3 84:6 

91:21 99:16 138:9 

146:13 155:5 207:6 

209:1 210:20 220:4 

229:5 231:22 232:11 

fruits 12:1,3 14:15 

42:12 45:1 47:6,9 

69:1 75:1 77:3 83:9 

87:3,9 91:13 144:6 

163:14 171:20 172:21 

190:19 192:12 194:17 

208:19 212:4 220:8 

frustrated 178:13 

FSA 55:14,15 76:5 

FSIS 172:22 

FSMA 167:16 175:2,11 

176:15 177:7 185:21 

197:19 205:19 

FTPP 214:17 

fulfill 144:8 

full 32:20 90:19,22 96:7 

96:10,11 124:4,7,20 

136:20 199:13 200:4 

202:21 239:6 241:11 

fuller 164:5 

fully 139:20 149:9 

180:1 

fun 31:18 

function 58:6 217:20,21 

218:5 

funded 10:10 172:1,3,4 

172:5 211:6 221:15 

funding 81:10 88:17 

89:4 101:3 103:20 

106:9 172:12 184:16 

funds 138:4 144:8 

146:1 153:17 157:14 

211:9,22 

furlough 211:7 219:9 

further 78:1 106:22 

154:19,22 158:3 

164:8 191:6 209:7 

future 100:7 112:19 

113:5 

FVIAC 3:10 

G

gain 200:8 

game 92:14 238:8 

gap 8:8 146:14 165:9,9 

175:13 183:20,20 

184:5 191:1,5 192:5,7 

192:14,20 193:9 

195:11 196:2,4 199:1 

199:2 200:1,10,19 

201:2,19 202:8 

203:17,18,19 206:3 

GAPs 190:20 191:1 

195:3,3 196:9,18,20 

197:4,7 

geeks 199:15 

general 7:11 27:2 31:11 

58:20 93:18 167:12 

generalization 167:2 

generation 67:12 68:18 

Gentile 2:16 134:16,17 

158:16,16 159:9,9 

Georgia 25:9 31:13 

89:17 

Gerald 2:12 34:16 

156:1 165:19 166:4 

169:17 

Gerald's 169:17 

getting 37:19 39:12,13 

51:17 79:19 87:9 

107:9,17 115:1 

156:22 159:13 184:16 

200:19 205:3 216:7 

217:2 

GFSI 53:2 198:8,16,21 

199:4,4,11,13,16 

203:11,21 204:1 

GFSI's 198:13 

Giant 33:18 

gig 24:11 

GIPSA 42:15,16 45:14 

45:15 47:12 

give 9:20 15:17 17:9 

20:16 22:12 30:20 

39:14,17 53:11 65:6 

73:21 79:12 90:4 

97:11 102:12 132:21 

161:13 164:8 167:10 

178:9 189:17 201:20 

208:2,7 224:11 233:9 

240:20 241:9 

given 30:20 141:14 

144:6,7 156:3 173:4 

191:4 238:2 

gives 43:14 184:4,6 

197:22 218:13 242:2 

giving 4:11 202:19 

203:2 219:22 226:7 

glad 24:18 27:20 30:4 

32:13,15 37:17 48:3 

66:18 87:20 88:14 

119:5,5 209:22 

glean 84:20 

Gleason 1:18 25:11,11 

111:21 112:2,2 

142:15,16,19 144:1 

global 91:16 92:1 191:2 

198:6 203:17 

globally 178:15 

globe 56:22 

GMO 15:4 

goal 217:10 219:3 

goals 123:7 140:15 

Gold 32:4 

Goliath 224:20 

Google 224:8 

Gordon 1:18 26:1,1 

63:10,10 121:16,16 

Gorny 2:13 166:12 

175:4 

Gottlieb 174:16 197:10 

govern 80:7 

government 135:8,15 

136:6,14 176:1 

192:17 194:11 198:4 

205:1 

government's 73:18 

governments 198:9 

grab 65:2 

grade 10:3,17 28:16,22 

graded 10:4 

grader 10:7 

graders 10:13 

grading 10:9,15 35:20 

gradings 10:1 

graduated 191:16 

grain 10:6,18 14:4 17:2 

25:15 45:12 

Grand 31:3 

Grande 25:5 

grant 14:9,12 46:20 

85:3,6 89:4,16 90:2 

153:17 

grants 14:8,9,14,18 

46:18 83:22 88:9 89:6 

99:18 106:11 174:9 

grapes 13:15,15 31:22 

gratified 102:3 

gray 28:6 

greatest 39:10 

green 28:8 33:18 

greenhouse 77:4 

greenhouses 205:6 

greens 25:6 29:21 

196:15 

Greg 2:1,5 31:10 38:22 

106:19 109:12 228:18 

236:10 

grew 25:20 101:21 

Grimmway 26:17 

Grocers 32:18 

ground 182:10 

grouped 113:5 

groups 3:10 93:4,7,8,10 

93:15 94:7,14,19 95:2 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
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95:13,15,16,21 96:16 

96:18,22 99:21 101:1 

103:17 104:22 105:9 

105:11 106:16 112:17 

112:22 113:7,17,18 

114:9,16,20 115:5 

116:5,12 117:22 

118:1,10 122:1 123:4 

123:8,16 126:20 

127:6,7 128:19 

130:10 141:11 201:4 

201:6 227:8,11 

236:18,22 237:5 

238:3 239:1 241:7 

243:13 

grow 24:3,7 29:11 30:7 

31:20 77:3 135:9 

grower 23:2,11,13,19 

25:3 29:22 30:2 31:21 

68:18 77:11 200:19 

206:18 

grower-owned 35:6 

90:7 

growers 25:15,16,22 

26:3,4 29:8 31:1,6 

33:7 112:3 195:9 

197:18 201:7,8 203:1 

229:9 

growing 23:9 25:8 

30:12,14 195:8 234:5 

grown 35:8 75:1 91:21 

143:18 179:18 

GUENTHER 2:13 

guess 12:4 44:14 72:15 

92:3 99:14 154:22 

155:9 173:18 181:1 

184:14 189:22 

guest 162:9,9 163:3 

177:14 190:11 207:22 

208:9 

guests 22:17 

guidance 4:12,21 73:21 

74:11 79:14 92:17 

140:10 170:10,10 

176:3 187:11 219:22 

238:2 

guide 48:8 179:8 

guidelines 136:7 

219:15 

H

H-2A 67:7 

hair 198:18 

half 29:11 30:11,12 

181:10 182:16 227:13 

227:13 

hall 47:21 

hallway 47:22 

hand 33:19 62:17,21 

93:4 109:19 117:12 

118:2 229:3 235:13 

handle 26:4 175:5 

225:21 

handled 63:21 155:13 

handles 222:1 

handling 222:4 

handout 48:17 

hands 38:13,18 109:4 

109:17 117:20 

handshake 213:7 

handy 54:16 

hanging 226:11 

happen 11:21 46:2 82:5 

109:18 130:1 180:10 

213:9 219:12 233:17 

243:4 

happened 12:18 180:10 

happening 39:11 

115:13 233:21 

happens 157:6 

happy 25:19 26:22 

201:14 209:10 229:3 

hard 18:13 32:1 53:5 

87:6 88:21 136:18 

164:7 192:15 230:18 

236:4 

harmonization 175:19 

191:2 196:19 

harmonized 175:13 

183:20,20 184:5 

196:20 197:7 199:1,2 

199:3 200:1 207:12 

harness 68:19 

Harper-Larsen 1:14 

26:6,7 58:12,13 63:5 

63:6 68:8 69:4 74:20 

89:14,15 108:18 

121:6 131:7,9,12 

152:18,20 158:11,12 

159:1,2 186:19,21 

187:1 190:4 204:20 

204:21 206:1,11 

233:8,9 234:13 

hat 63:6 72:19 

hate 98:3 

hats 173:4 

he'll 53:13 

head 28:15 

headed 105:3 

heading 180:2 

health 91:13 172:20 

173:3 

hear 5:13 6:13 9:7 

19:12,16,21 20:12 

35:10,22 37:5 47:18 

65:9 148:11,16 236:7 

heard 19:19 38:11 

52:21,22 55:11 

115:10 167:21 

hearing 98:14 107:3 

158:14 

heart 48:14 101:20 

Heather 2:9 34:6,8 

Heather's 38:2 44:5 

heavily 91:18 

Heinz 32:10 

held 146:21 152:12 

168:16,17 172:10 

206:13 

hello 20:21 

help 5:8,9 14:14 34:13 

46:16 54:16 61:20 

68:21 79:20 102:3,5 

107:22 116:15 148:8 

148:18,20 149:20 

171:19 177:15 182:15 

195:22 197:14,17 

201:8 206:4 221:22 

228:3 

helpful 44:20 89:22 

178:3 179:7 181:18 

182:17 

helping 48:5 208:21 

212:7 216:10 

helps 230:3 

hemp 15:10,14 19:1 

20:19 21:14 25:17 

46:5,6 48:7 69:22 

70:2,5 74:21 75:6,15 

77:3,8 78:10,10 79:5 

79:11 81:17 82:11,18 

83:7 84:4,19 85:2 

86:18 87:4 88:13,17 

89:6 100:4 101:3,4 

222:10,11 235:2 

hepatitis 147:8 

herbs 222:18 223:4,6,7 

herd 122:13 

hesitate 54:11 

hey 128:7 

Hi 26:1 32:16 34:7,16 

hiccup 91:15 

higher 77:20 

highest 135:15 

highlight 18:2 

highlighted 12:19 

140:15 

highlights 233:10 

highly 77:13 111:5 

153:7 

Highway 1:10 

hindsight 150:17 

historical 233:16 

historically 173:11 

200:11 

history 218:10 220:12 

hit 169:8 170:16 

hits 148:5 

hold 4:17,20 5:16 

141:16 167:7 

holding 4:15 206:16,17 

holler 178:10 

hollered 165:6 

home 27:15 115:15 

honestly 102:15 

honey 83:2 

honor 5:7 29:2 

honored 27:8 67:15 

131:20 

hook 166:9 

hop 173:20 

hope 82:6 141:9 178:15 

220:18 230:1 

hopefully 17:17 78:6 

151:20 241:22 

hoping 68:18 105:20 

horticulture 191:21 

host 243:8 

hot 95:20 105:17 

135:21 234:6,7 

hotel 1:10 243:8 

hour 57:12 73:10 

227:13,13 

hours 227:10,11 

house 15:19 159:8 

175:5,6 210:3 

housekeeping 214:7 

Hubbs 2:7 216:8 222:22 

223:7 225:9,16 

hubs 200:15 

Huckaby 1:19 26:15,16 

110:3 

huddle 94:1 96:19 

107:18 118:11 

Hudgins 2:14 35:3,4 

137:6,9,9 142:18,18 

142:19 143:2,2 144:3 

144:22 145:14,21,21 

146:6,10,10 147:1,1 

149:2,2 150:1,1 

151:17,17 152:10,10 

154:14,14 

huge 10:21 11:12 71:11 

91:14 

human 34:19 155:1 

165:21 166:1 167:18 

176:18 177:20 179:2 

187:22 188:16 

humbled 30:19 

hundred 225:20 

hundreds 156:11 188:6 

212:12 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
255 

Hunt's 32:10 

hurts 47:5,15 

hustled 101:22 

Hyatt 1:10 

I

Ibach 41:18 

idea 71:13 73:15 81:7 

106:4 156:22 184:4,6 

233:20 

ideal 136:4 

ideas 53:11 73:18 

231:12 

identically 203:12 

identified 19:14 

identify 30:15 182:14 

237:17 239:2,3 

241:22 

ignorant 142:20 

III 1:11,14 

Illinois 25:12,16,18 

illness 147:5 195:7 

immediate 153:10 

impact 51:14 74:22 

76:10 91:13 105:20 

111:13 158:19 160:11 

201:19 235:6 

impacts 13:8 

implement 139:2 

implementation 164:2 

168:22 170:19,22 

171:7 

implemented 88:7 

235:18,21 

implementing 171:2 

implies 199:3 

import 155:13,19 

important 5:4 7:12,22 

9:15 40:12 44:19 47:5 

49:3 67:14 92:4,6 

95:1 102:10 103:9,13 

112:6 126:5 136:8 

213:5 231:13 237:22 

importantly 6:1 13:13 

67:9 

importer 179:14 

importers 179:17 

imports 155:11 

impose 223:20 

imposed 220:5,9 225:1 

impression 99:1 

improve 68:22 205:13 

improved 217:19 

improvement 90:12 

improvements 207:8 

improves 136:6 

improving 217:11 

in-depth 234:19 

in-person 115:11 

incentive 207:13 

include 91:6 213:18 

214:3 217:6 239:20 

included 15:9 54:12 

96:15 127:15 164:5 

includes 52:1 59:5,9 

170:22 216:11 217:19 

including 11:3 31:5 

34:14 135:18 139:17 

163:22 190:19 191:1 

218:9 

increase 8:5 91:12 

increasing 153:11 

Incredible 11:18 

Indiana 32:5 

indicate 138:11 

individual 224:6 

individuals 81:13 

139:17 

indoor 205:6 

industrial 25:17 78:10 

84:19 85:1 

industries 44:3 215:2 

234:22 

industry 1:3 4:6 6:10 

7:2,21 16:20 17:13 

18:5 19:18 27:20 30:5 

30:14 33:8 36:13 

39:11 44:8,20,21 47:2 

47:20 48:16 49:13 

52:13 53:10 67:14 

77:15 78:2 87:6 88:11 

134:20 135:8 163:20 

180:2 196:9,10,11,17 

196:18 197:1,14 

200:7 201:18 202:15 

205:6 207:7,9 208:16 

208:17 209:2 210:7 

210:12,14,20 211:9 

211:12,15,21 212:9 

212:13,15 213:6,16 

216:17 217:17 218:18 

219:3,14,21 220:5,17 

221:15,16 230:22 

231:19 235:6,9 

influence 95:11,14 

120:10 126:14 

influenced 91:19 

informal 213:1 

information 11:10,16 

39:17 45:20 50:10 

51:5 52:1 54:18 86:13 

86:14,20 87:13,20 

97:7,8 115:22 127:18 

140:10 168:7 173:10 

173:12,14 178:6 

182:3 187:10 212:18 

215:8 217:6,11 218:3 

218:7,9,13,14,17,22 

227:22 228:2 230:2 

234:2 236:9 239:21 

240:3 

informed 218:6,19 

infrastructure 27:5 

ingredients 29:13 

inherited 192:4 

initially 170:9 201:3 

initiative 38:6 88:8 

191:2 196:19 198:7 

initiatives 9:14 19:5,14 

135:19 191:3 

input 9:14 148:3,19 

inquiries 223:3 

inroads 138:6 

inside 119:10 

insight 136:18 227:19 

238:6 

insights 94:18 105:7 

110:10 113:3 115:18 

117:2 120:5 126:13 

129:17 208:1 222:20 

228:1 

inspected 10:20 147:18 

153:20 

inspecting 50:10 

inspection 10:6 17:2 

28:17 35:18,21 43:10 

45:10,13,16,17 49:6 

49:20 52:20 83:15,16 

98:20 100:11 147:17 

152:7,8 154:10 169:4 

171:6 174:21 184:2 

190:15 197:17 202:11 

212:16,19 

inspections 10:15 

28:22 46:3 153:9 

185:6,9 207:16 

inspector 164:19 184:8 

184:10,21 202:9 

instance 119:8 224:20 

Institute 26:2 35:14 

174:7 

instrumental 53:6 

insurance 76:6,11,15 

intact 141:3 

integrity 59:4,16 

intend 182:19 

intent 138:22 140:20 

150:19,20 

intentional 154:6 168:3 

intentions 77:17 

interactive 34:2 

interagency 174:1 

interest 71:7 81:1 82:9 

85:1 129:14 148:11 

148:15 

interested 39:12 107:11 

230:22 

interesting 9:18 15:1 

222:12 234:1,11 

international 14:3 55:6 

55:9,18,22 56:4,15 

57:8 175:18 194:13 

194:19 206:9 

internationally 33:12 

193:5 

interpretation 212:16 

226:11 

intimidating 220:14 

introduce 21:11 22:10 

22:17 162:22 165:18 

introduced 21:10 42:6 

43:11 

introductions 3:4 6:13 

intrusion 91:16 

invention 17:5 

investigative 221:22 

invited 215:18 

involved 16:20 29:15 

78:5 141:1 221:13 

involving 219:16 

IQF 23:3 31:9 

ISO 154:4 

issue 11:5 14:9,18 98:3 

102:21 113:1 137:12 

140:4 141:12 151:4 

158:4,17 186:10 

189:14 190:22 224:10 

issued 220:3 

issues 11:8 16:21 24:16 

29:17 54:3 77:16 88:1 

92:8 100:20 103:9,15 

113:14 119:18 163:20 

176:8 219:16 232:12 

234:10 

items 26:21 57:13 

124:3,3 137:22 

205:12 

iteration 68:6 

J

J&D 25:2 

J&J 23:9 

Jacksonville 31:11 

Janis 1:19 27:1,2 62:10 

62:12,12,16,21 109:6 

109:6 230:21 231:3,5 

231:15 

January 174:15 219:13 

219:20 

Japan 23:6 104:8 

Jeff 1:19 2:7 26:16 39:8 

39:14 177:11,11,12 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
256 

Jeffrey 36:3 

Jenny 177:21,22 

Jersey 25:9 191:15 

Jim 2:13 166:12,13 

175:4 

Jimenez 2:8 13:17 

17:15 21:8,18 27:10 

27:11 34:5 38:20 55:3 

55:9,13 56:9,12 57:4 

60:14 62:5,17 63:3,8 

63:12,14,17 64:2,9,14 

65:4,15 66:6,8,18 

67:17 68:7 69:5,13,16 

70:6,12,14 71:5,15,21 

72:3,8,12,15,21 73:1 

73:6,11,19 74:18 75:8 

78:13 80:9 81:3 82:12 

82:15 83:11 84:1,3,8 

84:13 85:5,14 87:15 

90:18,21 92:7 119:14 

128:5 223:13 

job 38:18 194:21 

209:16 220:13 

jobs 7:3 182:20 

Johanson 2:15 166:5 

John 1:16 23:22 210:2 

joined 28:3 

joining 166:4 

joint 219:3 

joke 165:4 

journal 234:19 

Joy 2:15 166:4,5,9 

193:18 

judge 226:4,11 

judgment 133:3 

Judith 208:9,12 224:8 

Judy 2:9 9:7 17:20 

47:17 208:6 209:7,10 

222:6,7 223:1,18 

226:16 

Judy's 209:5 

juice 29:13 135:16,21 

138:9,10,11 158:18 

210:8 

Julie 1:18 26:1 63:10 

66:16 109:12 121:16 

Julie's 66:11 

July 28:2 

jump 92:22 176:12 

180:4 

jumped 224:7 

Junction 31:3 

June 197:9 

jurisdiction 154:20 

174:20 

K

K 1:15 

K.C 1:17 24:19 

keep 40:14 53:18 54:16 

59:20 60:2 67:22 

68:22 95:1,5 101:7 

104:11 109:3,17 

115:6 117:13,22 

145:15 165:14 238:7 

242:15 

Kelly 1:21 33:5 110:3 

121:3 

Ken 2:8 35:22 53:3 

190:11 191:6,10 

201:16 206:22 

Ken's 183:14 205:3 

Kenneth 190:12 

kept 219:9 

ketchup 32:9,9 

key 33:2 100:7 105:16 

106:5 216:10 

kick 118:17 171:8 

kicker 202:13 

kidding 28:1 

Kiley 1:14 26:7 58:12 

63:6 69:4 72:6,13 

89:14 108:19 121:7 

131:9 152:19 158:11 

159:2 186:22 204:20 

233:8 234:13 

kinds 45:20 

Kirschenmann 93:13 

94:9 110:12 

knit 215:4 

knocked 122:15 

knowing 89:5,5 107:8 

141:12 

knowledge 68:16 

knowledgeable 86:9 

known 4:22 

knows 22:11 76:22 82:4 

139:11 165:7 189:14 

Kroger 224:8 226:14 

L

L 1:18 

lab 168:9 

label 10:3 31:7 33:18 

143:18 

labeling 15:4 214:20 

labor 95:9 98:2,13 99:2 

99:3,22 100:3 101:5 

101:15 102:14,18 

103:8,20 104:12,19 

105:3,5,18,22 106:17 

108:17 109:1,13,19 

109:22 111:2,4,9,11 

111:17 112:4,6,10 

114:1,1,13,20 115:3 

117:18 121:1 130:9 

130:20 131:1,16 

151:2 237:18 

laboratory 154:5 

labs 45:19 46:2,2 85:18 

lack 144:1 

Lady 26:8 

Lago 26:8 

land 89:6 167:11 

landed 15:4,10 

landscape 139:11 

language 81:5 125:14 

139:1,19 140:11 

141:3 145:5 150:18 

151:8,13 226:12 

large 26:19 38:15 149:7 

151:2 181:7,15,19 

195:13 

larger 25:15 57:7 64:15 

115:5 159:19 160:12 

180:14 

largest 32:18 33:16 

64:18 65:21 66:4 

169:2 171:9 193:8 

Larsen 72:6 

lastly 240:8 

late 238:8 

latest 39:10 

Laughter 37:10 82:14 

110:6 131:21 160:13 

233:6 

launched 198:8 200:9 

launching 193:20 

Laura 2:16 35:12 

law 8:6 12:13 77:21 

168:5 170:20 174:4 

214:9 235:17 

laws 190:21 

lay 167:11 

lead 93:8 107:19 118:13 

122:2 128:20 129:11 

129:12,14 130:13 

131:6,8 196:18 231:9 

leadership 3:8 57:14,18 

58:2 59:2 122:7 

163:19 210:2 

leading 201:1 

leads 107:6 129:22 

239:17 240:9 

leaf 205:6 

leafy 29:21 196:14 

Leanne 2:10 36:21 

43:11 54:12 163:4,6 

164:9 186:18 190:6 

191:7 192:11 197:2 

197:16 

Leanne's 163:6 

learn 85:19 86:2,6,7 

182:18,19 

learned 79:18 204:10 

learning 79:9,10 192:1 

leave 141:2 185:19 

227:16 

led 139:15 177:12,22 

left 41:10 109:20 

201:12 

legal 154:12,12 180:13 

189:19 

legally 188:8 

legislation 137:15 

139:3,12 

legislative 151:7 

legitimate 164:15 

lemon 210:8 

length 222:10 

let's 22:18 71:17 93:6 

95:9 110:1 141:4 

144:4 

letter 197:11 

letters 140:10 

letting 20:20 24:21 

229:18 

lettuce 232:19 233:10 

233:13 234:5 

level 79:2 80:22 122:9 

149:4 179:19 180:1 

197:22 199:11 241:18 

LGMA 196:15 

liabilities 220:1 

liability 147:5 

liaison 37:2 43:12 

54:13 163:7 164:13 

164:15 173:16,21 

Libby's 33:17 

license 8:7 195:15 

211:10 212:2 214:4 

216:22 218:3,16 

licensed 210:17 214:8 

217:22 218:8 219:7 

licensees 215:16,21 

217:13 

licenses 214:5 215:16 

215:19 216:18 219:5 

220:6 

licensing 48:7,8,9 

209:4 212:10 219:9 

life 67:12 

light 100:4 

limit 127:2 

limiting 240:2 

line 41:10 98:4 187:19 

217:10 

lines 76:3,22 99:14 

link 180:19 

links 142:2 178:11,18 

186:4 217:7 230:10 

230:13 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
257 

Lipetzky 1:20 28:13,14 

84:15,15 85:12 127:3 

127:3,20 131:2 

list 97:16 108:3 110:18 

119:3 128:6 

listen 9:15 173:13 

listening 106:8 115:3 

listing 183:8 

little 16:5 21:2 23:15 

39:22 40:16 42:3,20 

43:5,14 44:21 48:17 

48:18,22 49:1 50:1,5 

52:17 55:5,13,16 66:1 

69:21 76:16 78:19 

80:18 87:19 88:3 

91:10 92:22 93:5 

98:18 104:5 117:12 

118:17 123:3 165:4 

165:10,17 167:5,21 

169:19 171:14 174:12 

180:4 181:3,12 

183:14 184:20 187:7 

188:13 191:14 192:7 

192:11 209:11 219:1 

219:11 220:13 227:2 

227:16 242:16,18 

243:1 

live 215:14 

lives 207:6 

livestock 16:2 19:10 

45:5 51:10 83:4 

living 192:1 

lo 202:7 204:9 

loan 76:11 

loans 76:6,15 

lobbying 211:12 

local 112:4 135:10 

145:16,18 156:21 

locally 13:4 

located 23:10 26:17 

31:12 

logistical 108:11 

Logistics 194:12 

long 38:8,9 69:18 88:21 

136:5 190:3 192:6 

198:14 209:17 229:8 

longer 8:7 42:16 125:5 

125:13 134:9 169:5 

181:3 190:1 224:3 

243:13 

longtime 207:9 

look 30:4 31:19 34:3 

37:19 50:19 60:19 

65:19 81:15 87:19,22 

91:8 98:22 110:17 

126:4 128:6,12 142:6 

151:10 177:18 180:12 

180:18 188:7 191:9 

200:20 233:16 240:13 

240:13 

looked 105:2 206:6 

233:12 

looking 8:4 13:10 20:22 

70:18 74:21 75:2,3,4 

78:20 98:12 127:18 

128:20 151:6 153:10 

154:21 178:8 188:12 

188:18,19 200:16,22 

220:16 227:10 229:16 

231:13 234:17,22 

235:12,16 241:14 

looks 57:11 78:17 

80:17 98:19 

loop 154:2 

lose 204:5 

loses 156:18 

loss 198:18 

lost 47:15 

lot 12:16,20 13:14,18 

14:1,4,6,9 18:10 

28:21 31:18 33:8 

42:21 43:1,20,21,22 

44:2 45:15 51:5,15 

52:2 53:1 54:13 56:22 

68:4 76:4,20 77:2,10 

77:14 78:1,4,5 79:8 

79:10 85:16,19 86:12 

87:8 89:13 98:7 104:6 

140:3 145:17,18,19 

156:3,19 165:6 

166:15,16 171:12 

172:6,17 178:18 

181:17 192:8 194:2 

198:18 199:20 205:2 

207:1 213:6 226:9,14 

229:2 232:12 240:8 

lots 19:11 201:12 234:8 

lottery 210:11 

love 19:16 27:20 92:9 

lower 79:4 144:12 

lowest 50:22 

Loxahatchee 23:10 

luck 75:17 

lumber 83:1 

lump 101:16 104:11 

lumped 87:4 103:10 

lunch 12:22 140:14,20 

153:16 160:17,21 

161:8,9 

lunches 135:18 

M

Maggie 2:16 134:17 

158:16 159:9 

magnitude 146:18 

mail 217:15 219:10 

main 193:3 242:19 

Maine 22:22 23:1,1 

maintain 59:20 219:4 

maintaining 59:16 

113:15 163:15 

maitake 24:8 

major 103:14 202:18 

203:21 204:18 223:19 

241:16 

majority 12:2 63:19 

64:4,5,8 65:22 66:3 

70:21 135:2 

making 6:21 18:19 

40:12 59:5,6 91:21 

95:20 96:5 99:1 

100:18 207:12 218:18 

222:19 229:9 

managed 176:4 177:12 

management 26:13 

29:17 33:10,11 176:4 

manager 27:2 31:11 

Managers 36:9 

mandate 144:8 

mandates 144:6 232:6 

manner 202:4 211:3 

213:22 

manual 58:7,9,11,14,22 

59:22 96:2 123:12 

manufacture 134:22 

manufactured 171:12 

manufacturing 179:2 

193:10 

March 238:10 

margin 144:11 

marijuana 78:11,13,17 

78:18,22 79:3 

market 10:22 11:2,2,6,7 

11:14,15 17:11 19:4,8 

27:3 29:1,9 31:4,6,12 

36:9 38:9 43:7 45:8 

49:2,10 50:9 51:2,8 

51:20 52:1,5 135:6 

157:7 192:21 196:7 

200:6 212:18 229:7 

232:4 235:2 

marketing 6:14 7:14 

9:19 14:15,19 18:11 

18:20 26:2 28:18 29:6 

29:15 31:2 33:3,11 

35:6 37:22 41:11,17 

43:8 45:8,9 46:1,17 

52:14 171:20 173:2 

190:14 196:14 200:6 

200:7 214:15 222:3 

marketplace 146:16 

193:4 194:1 

markets 28:15 38:16 

51:4 57:2 91:17 112:4 

201:10 

marry 174:22 

mater 191:21 

material 230:17 

matter 63:21 112:6 

122:20 130:15 162:15 

183:7 228:9 243:19 

matters 41:1 43:13 99:4 

104:7 

max 95:2 

maximum 145:6 

Mayne 166:14 

McAllen 25:4 30:8 

McIver 121:3 

meal 145:13 

meals 140:16 145:1,19 

158:21 

mean 46:20 47:19 

66:14 81:11 85:18 

97:22 111:4 112:11 

127:16 224:4 225:18 

meaningful 140:5 

means 94:20 159:17 

172:7,16,16 189:8,11 

238:11 

meat 172:22 

meats 10:17 

mechanism 100:5 

mechanisms 217:16 

mediation 209:3 212:10 

213:2 

medicine 75:11,17 

meet 19:13 44:18,19 

74:13 81:22 85:22 

118:11 123:17 162:13 

171:2 179:14,16 

210:13 236:21 242:6 

meeting 1:5 4:8,17,19 

17:18 20:18 21:15 

22:4 35:11 40:19,20 

58:15 61:11 92:17 

93:10 94:6 97:10 

105:20 112:15,16,19 

116:18 117:3 123:2 

132:16,19 133:14,20 

134:5 142:4 162:19 

193:16 198:1 211:18 

236:19,21 238:11,12 

239:8 243:3,5,9 

meetings 7:5,7 59:6 

81:13 104:8 115:11 

115:12 129:13 132:2 

134:3 228:22 239:13 

242:3 

melons 25:6 

member 32:21 58:9 

94:19 110:11 

member- 32:18 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
258 

members 4:13 5:15 

22:10 59:9 60:4 67:21 

95:4 97:17 98:14 

109:10 111:13 115:10 

127:17 133:13 135:2 

135:9,11,20 210:13 

216:17 239:12 

membership 159:12 

memorandum 173:6 

205:18 

memos 140:10 

mention 40:7 113:12 

167:21 

mentioned 31:17 39:21 

47:3 51:9 52:18 80:16 

88:3 98:1 169:17,17 

172:1 179:12 196:2 

215:11 

mentioning 39:8 

met 1:9 41:2,19 165:19 

198:16 

method 200:16 

methodologies 79:7 

methodology 79:14 

methods 200:21 

Mexican 209:19 

Mexico 23:14 25:9,10 

30:17 49:18 

Michael 1:19 27:1 62:12 

62:21 109:5,6 231:3 

Michigan 28:7 31:1,3 

mid 167:13 

middle 80:20 

military 55:15 56:2 

milk 11:19 37:9 

Miller 2:16 35:13 

million 14:16,17 219:6 

219:17 220:8 

mind 40:14 49:19 60:2 

92:11 95:2,5 123:16 

186:14,16 238:7 

mindful 224:22 

minding 211:14 

minds 106:1 

mine 209:16 

minimum 74:13 75:4 

141:2,4 150:2,14 

152:11 183:21 

minute 57:20 169:19 

minutes 20:21 57:12 

59:20 93:2 118:16 

122:18 129:18 130:4 

130:6,7 132:9,22 

133:2 134:9 207:3 

227:2 

mirror 38:1 

mischief 80:17 

missing 97:19 

mission 171:19 172:18 

172:19 237:12 

mitigate 13:7 

mitigation 12:17 44:13 

56:6 

mix 52:17 83:10 84:5 

modernization 152:22 

163:21 167:16 174:4 

220:19 

Molly 1:18 25:11 112:2 

131:8,12 142:15 

moment 91:15 92:19 

202:19 223:11 

momentum 102:16 

monetary 214:3 

money 44:22 50:3 51:1 

84:2 88:19 89:9,11 

141:6 145:3,19 

150:12 211:18 212:2 

monies 45:2 

monitoring 149:3 

month 13:9 18:8 36:14 

77:5 181:10 216:4 

months 12:18 19:6,7 

20:1 79:10 91:3 140:1 

141:13 181:1 189:22 

204:14 219:8 220:3 

220:20 

morning 4:3,20 6:17 

11:11 22:21 23:16 

26:6,15 27:1 28:13 

29:4,18 32:3 33:4,13 

34:7 35:3,16 36:21 

37:11 38:8 68:8 92:5 

134:16 137:13 215:11 

215:15 222:9 236:20 

243:12,18 

motion 58:13,21 106:13 

106:13,21 107:4 

111:15,17 114:4 

117:12,13,17,18,21 

118:1 

motive 144:10 

MOU 206:2 

move 27:19 58:10,13 

60:8 62:10 76:7 

108:12 141:10 162:3 

215:7 

moved 58:19 170:12 

214:12 

moves 120:15 233:14 

moving 58:1 109:11 

132:5 234:7 

muck 175:9 

muckety 175:9 

muddy 181:14 

multiple 94:21 240:1 

multiples 81:1 

mushroom 24:7 35:14 

196:8,9 

mushrooms 24:7 

Musical 92:14 

muster 147:19 

N

name 4:4 22:13 26:7 

34:8 36:3 37:21 54:4 

55:1 62:11 63:6 69:9 

101:2 106:2 110:5 

133:22 134:10,17 

137:8 142:17 155:21 

182:14 199:3,6 208:3 

208:7 228:18 242:15 

name's 26:15 30:6,22 

33:13 

names 61:13 63:18 

64:20 108:21 110:2 

121:15 183:8,13 

208:6 

NAREEE 67:10 89:2 

nation 68:15 

nation's 135:3 172:21 

national 16:11,12,19 

36:8 48:20 67:6,7 

68:3 139:15 140:13 

140:20 174:7 

nationally 139:15 

nations 70:8,17 

nationwide 195:12 

nature 40:19 76:6 78:12 

176:3 178:19 180:17 

Naturipe 31:7 

near 175:2 

necessarily 16:8 120:9 

144:7 

need 6:16 19:21 32:21 

37:14 46:16 54:16 

60:18 72:10 73:20 

88:12 96:15 106:13 

125:7,10 127:22 

130:4 137:2 140:18 

148:6,8,18 151:19 

154:17 156:16 157:5 

159:18 160:7 178:20 

179:8 180:1 197:18 

201:9 212:1 213:10 

237:22 238:12 

needed 78:2 118:20 

129:22 159:20 205:3 

221:1 

needing 60:17 

needs 37:9 46:1 47:1 

52:12 76:14 82:5 

88:16 131:22 151:22 

156:4 157:12 207:14 

210:15 221:9 237:9 

237:10 243:4 

negate 225:10 

negating 225:17 

negative 160:11 

network 34:22 169:18 

169:21 170:15 182:9 

183:1 

neutral 213:10 

never 21:18 36:17 

55:11 104:19 123:16 

new 6:3 17:6,7,10 18:3 

18:8,15 19:2 25:9,9 

38:12 40:9 51:19 52:2 

53:1 61:9 66:13,13,14 

68:5 71:19 87:16 

88:14 90:14 107:16 

127:17 140:7 156:12 

164:21 165:3 181:13 

191:15 198:8 205:21 

207:22 208:4 214:14 

215:14,19 216:7,10 

218:2,4,11 219:7 

223:20 235:17 240:8 

newest 67:21 

news 10:22 11:2,3,6,8 

11:14,15 19:4,8 38:10 

43:7 45:8 49:2,10 

50:9 51:3,8,20 52:1 

181:17 212:18 

newsletter 36:13 39:7,9 

52:22 

nice 16:16 20:2 38:18 

NIFA 174:8 

night 41:19 98:12 

nightmare 108:12 

nights 209:17 

nighttime 43:16 

nineties 221:3 

NK 26:8 

nominate 62:1,4,9,15 

63:11 72:6 101:10 

nominated 62:9 66:12 

nominating 62:21 

66:17 

nomination 63:4 65:9 

66:11 67:2,3 

nominations 22:1 

60:10 72:4 

nominee 63:12 66:2 

nominees 63:9 71:22 

72:8,9,17 73:1,3 

non-farm 188:9 

non-profit 25:13 

normal 176:10 194:21 

Normally 207:3 

north 31:12 33:5 

note 5:4 39:6 121:6 

158:12 178:14 183:17 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
259 

notebook 58:16 

noted 206:20 

notes 92:22 100:18 

167:6 

notice 52:5 133:21 

181:1 202:10 

noticeable 157:10 

notices 215:22 

notifying 220:4 

nuclear 28:11 

number 10:18 29:13 

54:4 64:15,19 65:21 

66:4 84:17 87:7 95:2 

133:22 161:13 186:7 

193:6 195:5 197:4 

198:19 200:13 204:6 

numbers 50:19 61:16 

95:3 

numerous 88:10 191:4 

nursery 26:10 

nut 193:15 

nutrition 12:21 13:1 

29:16 163:10 183:3 

nutritional 136:1,7 

nutritious 135:16 136:5 

140:16 

Nuts 229:5 232:11 

O

O 190:18 

objection 58:21,21 

objections 241:16 

objective 237:3,8 239:2 

objectives 5:6 91:2,7 

obligations 167:1 

observations 118:22 

observe 233:22 

obtains 66:3 

obviously 91:18 127:4 

144:11 147:4 191:7 

193:8 197:20 228:3 

237:18 242:9 

occurring 145:12 153:9 

October 4:8 

offer 192:9 193:7,10 

194:5 

offering 201:8 

offers 208:16 

office 20:18 34:17 36:4 

36:19 42:4 122:5 

165:20 166:2,7 176:4 

183:1 221:14 222:3 

230:16 

officer 4:5 5:5 33:15 

50:16 54:2 56:13 

59:13 89:22 

officers 87:16 

offices 8:3,20 48:1 

221:7,10 

official 1:11 2:5 159:10 

173:7 187:8 

officially 222:20 236:19 

officials 175:8 

offshore 152:6 

old 47:8 209:16 

OMB 176:4 

once 22:4 40:12 61:4 

72:9 87:16 96:9,18 

121:18 206:14 230:15 

239:16 

one's 101:20 

ones 16:21 128:12 

130:11 149:7 237:21 

239:14 

onions 25:7 

online 205:5 215:19 

216:16,20 217:14 

229:3 

Ontario 143:16 

open 54:19 101:15 

231:14 

open-minded 68:13 

opening 91:16 

opens 91:22 

operate 60:6 

operating 27:6 33:15 

operation 26:10 29:20 

31:14 34:20 77:6 

169:1,5,11 182:18 

202:1 

operations 25:9 30:2 

155:14,20 166:2 

169:2 182:5 

operator 26:8 

operators 146:20,21 

opinion 224:12 

opinions 19:15 

opportunities 134:1 

210:13 

opportunity 7:17 22:9 

22:13 24:13 31:17 

65:7 68:9 80:16 91:5 

98:4 117:7 142:5,8 

191:13 210:9 

opposed 9:2 107:3,4 

opposite 117:21 

opposition 103:22 

option 116:1 217:13 

options 8:17 201:1 

217:18 243:6 

ORA 34:21 

Oracle 216:14 221:3 

oral 133:9 134:2 

orchards 135:10 

order 3:2 6:4,6,11 29:1 

29:6 38:1 79:4 148:7 

161:13,14,15,16 

162:19 167:7 193:1 

orders 43:8 45:8,9 46:1 

52:14 

org 41:9 42:1 

organic 16:11,12,19 

24:10 26:20 48:19,21 

68:3 

organization 25:13 

43:15 54:6 66:13 67:7 

87:17 115:1 134:11 

159:3 173:12 179:9 

199:15 

organizational 40:6,8 

41:6 113:1 

organizations 67:5 

81:12 86:1 139:15 

154:5 

organize 112:18 113:4 

organized 97:2,8,9 

177:13 

organizing 25:14 

origin 138:12 154:13 

168:14 194:5,9 

original 65:18 119:3 

138:21 140:12,19 

150:19,20 237:7 

originally 28:7 115:2 

188:11 

other's 48:1 76:2 

ought 189:21 

outbreaks 195:7 232:19 

233:17 234:4 

outlined 180:9 

outlines 59:22 

outlook 229:5,6 232:5,7 

232:10,12,18 

outreach 36:11 164:2 

169:9,15 174:11 

175:15,18 184:17 

outside 16:15 17:18 

24:2 39:3,5 95:10 

98:2 115:14 119:22 

120:16 122:8 153:11 

227:3 230:19 

over-burdened 195:21 

overall 117:6 

overlap 104:5 

overseas 14:5 

oversee 11:19 

overseeing 12:7,14 

70:4 

oversees 34:11 148:9 

oversight 147:2 155:9 

196:13 

overstep 222:17 

overview 3:8 5:19,20 

40:4,17 57:14,17 58:2 

59:2 240:13 

owe 7:1 105:16 

owned 32:19 

owner 23:17 26:7 

P

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

4:1 

p.m 162:17 228:10,11 

243:20 

PACA 2:7 3:18 7:15,20 

9:4 17:20 18:6 34:1 

36:7 47:4,4,6,11,16 

48:9 208:13,15,18 

209:2 210:10,14,17 

211:5,19 212:22 

214:2,9,11,21 215:6 

215:16,19,21 216:9 

216:18,22 217:9,13 

217:19 218:9,12 

219:2,13,16 220:6,9 

220:11 221:4,13 

222:11 223:16 224:2 

224:13,16 225:2,7,11 

225:13,19 

package 125:1 

packaged 136:3 

packaging 135:12 

packer 25:3 29:22 

31:21 

packers 29:9 33:8 

214:18 

packet 94:12 127:10,11 

161:12 167:6 230:6 

packets 176:14 240:17 

packing 25:8 

page 53:16,18 54:16 

59:22 64:14 65:20 

94:13 96:1 123:11 

176:17,19,20,22 

178:22 185:20 227:21 

237:6 241:6 

pages 176:14 186:5 

paid 140:4 210:22 

211:2 

pain 148:2 

Palmby 1:20 33:13,14 

62:3,3 69:19 70:10,13 

71:3 80:11,11 101:9,9 

104:2,2 116:17,17 

148:13 156:2,2 

159:14,14 160:10,10 

panic 204:8 

paper 83:1 180:14 

216:2,5 243:7 

parent's 210:3 

parents 150:8,11 

park 211:20 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
260 

Parliamentary 6:2 

part 10:1,22 29:19 34:1 

35:18 41:2 42:17 

44:14 47:6,11 49:8 

50:8 51:7 52:16,21 

55:14 60:4 75:9,12,15 

76:18 77:1 82:5 84:22 

85:11 90:9 98:9 99:22 

113:6 119:3 139:19 

144:10 146:4 149:18 

168:14 172:14 175:1 

181:19 196:10 207:6 

228:14 237:1 

partially 4:19 

PARTICIPANT 64:7 

104:1 155:3 

participate 7:8 44:3 

113:8 115:12 153:3 

156:3 

participated 229:10 

participating 159:19 

participation 147:20 

particular 7:12 68:11 

68:14 107:11 129:14 

151:1 156:20 175:7 

176:16 178:1 182:11 

184:12 224:5 239:15 

particularly 32:8 69:1 

151:10 171:18 199:20 

partner 28:20 195:14 

198:9 

partnered 196:12,17 

partners 206:8 

partnership 209:1 

212:8 214:22 

parts 51:10 56:22 

181:11 182:22 

party 148:9 154:4 

167:22 213:10 

pass 25:17 147:19 

passed 15:8 64:22 65:1 

137:15 139:13 140:14 

passes 107:4 202:11 

passing 243:1 

passion 30:18 

passionate 16:20 118:6 

pasted 94:16 

pasteurize 135:20 

patch 80:18 

patent 17:9 

patenting 17:5 

path 116:1 

patio 122:9 161:1,5,5 

Patty 2:6 37:21 85:21 

167:21 179:12 

Paul 1:20 33:14 62:3 

80:11 101:9 104:2 

116:17 133:5 156:2 

159:14 160:3,10 

pay 213:18 220:7 

paying 8:7 172:8 

payment 223:21 224:16 

224:18 

payments 216:20 

PC 188:16 

Peach 2:14 35:5 67:6 

137:6,10 158:15 

peaches 23:19 24:3 

31:21 35:8 143:17,20 

156:11 

Pears 13:17 

penalties 214:3 

penetration 199:22 

people 14:6 15:3 16:13 

18:17 49:12 50:1 

61:18 68:4 77:13 78:5 

79:16 85:16,19 86:5,7 

87:7 106:6 107:10 

112:20 115:7 133:1 

133:10 134:9 158:17 

189:20 205:2,4 208:4 

221:10,13 227:15 

229:2 240:1,4 

pepper 23:20 

percent 13:1,3 31:8,9 

32:9 33:19 35:7 49:22 

50:2,12 56:7 77:21 

79:2,4 81:17 137:18 

137:20,22 138:11 

146:14 148:10 159:16 

159:22 160:4 172:2,3 

187:5 202:14 211:6 

212:22 

percentage 58:20 

Perdue 10:5 20:6 90:4 

174:15 197:9 

Perdue's 217:10 

perfect 22:18 72:2 

87:22 118:15 

perform 125:22 135:22 

period 86:16 125:13 

157:9 

periods 132:13 136:5 

perishability 223:10 

Perishable 208:13 

210:18 

permanent 102:21 

person 4:22 5:2 62:2 

63:20 64:4,6,18 94:21 

115:19 124:9 134:7 

166:9 182:14 

personal 112:11 

personally 86:22 104:1 

personnel 205:11 

perspective 158:13 

197:21,21 

Peru 25:10 

pesticide 154:11,21 

155:7,12 

pests 90:13 

Petersen 2:8 36:1 53:3 

190:12,12,17 191:6 

191:11 202:18 205:22 

206:5,20 207:2,18 

phase 44:13 

Phelps 2:16 35:12,12 

Phillips 24:6 

phone 53:22 219:14,20 

221:11 239:10 

photo 122:8 132:6 

161:6 

photographs 122:6 

physical 166:16 

Pichelman 2:9 34:7,8 

pick 61:17 115:20 243:6 

picked 22:2 149:6 

picks 55:2 

pictographs 140:8 

picture 122:14 160:17 

160:22 162:14 

piece 19:8,10 104:11,12 

170:21 197:13 234:1 

234:11,18 

pieces 111:6 

pile 99:12 

pilot 80:2 200:22 

piqued 85:1 

place 9:5 30:15 42:11 

42:13 70:2 76:14 

142:22 171:11 179:6 

182:2 184:1 

places 94:22 

plan 70:8,21,22 80:10 

80:14 113:3 123:6 

124:8 242:16 

planned 239:18 

planning 237:11 

plans 70:7,11,15,16 

71:13 73:13,16 74:11 

207:17 227:15 235:3 

plant 17:3,3,6,8 30:1 

78:18 154:9 

plantain 26:9 

planting 81:21 

plantings 78:15 

platform 216:11 221:3 

play 127:7 175:22 

179:21 185:3 

playing 179:19 180:1 

pleasant 24:12 

please 39:8,13,16 54:10 

63:11 144:15 203:3 

221:20 

pleased 134:18 135:14 

215:13 

pleasure 162:2 

plenty 65:5 201:12 

plug 229:19 232:17 

Plum 29:5 

plums 13:16,22 24:4 

plundered 182:13 

plus 184:18 185:13 

199:4 204:17 

pocket 94:13 

pockets 105:17 

POCs 228:2 

podium 6:17 

point 8:2 62:19 91:7 

100:1 113:3 114:6,7 

129:9 132:5 136:18 

140:9,9 147:2 158:10 

173:19 176:13 178:10 

183:16 189:6 199:12 

206:6 210:22 222:16 

233:22 240:2 

pointing 140:11 

points 212:17 

policies 58:6,10,14,22 

64:7 68:22 76:11,11 

96:2 123:11 

policy 25:14 33:9 59:22 

64:11 66:13 107:7 

163:13 

pool 84:2 

popcorn 83:2 

popularity 89:5 

population 159:5 

pork 11:22 

portabella 24:8 

portal 19:3 51:22 

215:20 216:12,21 

217:14 

portals 38:14 

portion 135:9 142:11 

portions 92:21 

ports 156:13 

position 27:13 61:14 

73:2,3 120:8 124:6 

173:21 211:16 

positions 59:2 60:17 

89:22 127:6 

possibilities 52:3 

possible 44:20 50:22 

57:1,6 63:19 105:8,12 

116:11 122:15 152:5 

152:15 229:11 235:13 

possibly 99:2 122:11 

133:1 234:9 

post 97:7 

postpone 22:4,6 57:19 

pot 101:6,7 

Potato 33:6 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
261 

potatoes 10:18 

potential 124:10 142:7 

147:8 235:1 238:12 

potentially 57:18 84:5 

99:9 124:9 

poultry 16:3 173:1 

Powell-McIver 1:21 

33:4,5 121:3 

practicable 145:7 

practice 33:10 169:2 

practices 47:4,14 48:4 

84:19 85:12 190:20 

193:10 196:5 208:10 

208:14,21 209:3 

212:6,9 213:17 

214:13,16 215:8 

229:13 

pre-award 147:16 

preaching 92:3 98:6 

predicting 232:8 

predictions 232:4 

prefer 217:14 

preliminary 234:18 

premature 223:14 

premier 26:11 

Premium 29:9 

prepared 140:8 155:5 

present 1:13 2:4,12 

90:1 129:3 142:4 

presentation 5:21 

39:19,21 40:4 227:21 

presentations 5:13 

191:4 

presented 197:10 

241:14 

president 25:2 26:16 

32:17 33:14 35:4 67:5 

67:6 137:10 140:15 

148:1,16 

President's 173:17 

presiding 1:12 

press 217:4 220:3 

pressure 125:7 149:21 

pressures 144:5 

pretty 19:5 26:19 42:22 

74:7 101:15 105:22 

108:21 115:16 126:21 

182:6 189:2 195:13 

199:21 226:5,7 

prevention 154:6 

preventive 154:3 

163:17 167:17,18 

170:1,2 174:13 

176:18 177:20 179:1 

187:21 

previous 90:1 127:6 

price 212:17 213:19,22 

prices 232:8 

pricing 146:15 212:17 

pride 50:7 54:5 

primarily 23:3 29:20 

56:5 172:21 174:7 

183:9 185:17 187:21 

194:6 195:15 222:2 

primary 36:10 191:3 

prime 10:16 

primed 197:2 

principals 220:10 

print 180:13 191:8 

printed 58:16 61:20 

229:2 

printout 94:14 240:18 

prior 4:14,17 58:15 

147:20 173:9 221:2 

priorities 19:17 89:18 

90:1,5,16 

prioritize 237:20 

prioritized 19:20 242:1 

priority 57:5 217:9 

private 33:18 85:17 

pro 152:3 

pro-trade 91:18 

probably 7:4,5,6 11:1 

12:15 32:11 33:18 

39:22 40:9 41:14,19 

46:7 49:5,9 51:3 52:9 

52:21 64:5 70:21 

132:3,4 133:9 148:9 

157:22 164:13 167:3 

168:12 178:17 180:21 

184:20 189:18 193:19 

198:19 209:6 221:13 

227:20 237:20 

problem 115:4 184:7 

207:10 219:11 

problematic 139:8 

problems 53:19 203:2 

212:14 

procedure 6:3 69:14 

procedures 58:7,11,14 

58:22 65:16 66:14 

96:2 123:12,12 

proceed 226:3 

proceeding 226:4 

process 32:1 59:5 

60:13 63:16 69:12 

82:2 89:3,5 135:6 

142:20 147:21 157:4 

176:1 203:15 213:2 

223:15 235:22 

processed 135:3 136:3 

136:8 138:17 154:19 

154:22 166:6,8 

processing 23:21 30:1 

35:8 179:3 

processor 23:2 30:1 

32:5 33:16 179:5 

Processors 2:16 

134:14,18 158:13 

procurement 34:14 

44:1,12 55:6,7,10 

147:11 159:15 194:14 

produce 2:13 18:5 25:3 

26:11 27:3 32:17 

33:19 34:21 36:9 37:4 

67:13 87:10 111:10 

135:2 154:2 163:17 

163:22 164:19 165:5 

166:6,6,8,15,21 

167:19 168:12,15 

169:18,22,22 170:3,5 

171:11 174:11 175:13 

176:12,17 177:2,9,17 

180:21 182:1,9,22 

183:22 185:9 187:3 

188:18 191:1 192:18 

195:7 197:8,12 198:2 

201:18 202:15 208:16 

208:17 210:6 211:2 

212:14 213:20,22 

219:14 220:6 221:17 

223:22 229:9,12 

231:19 232:4,7,20 

produced 104:4 139:5 

producers 80:3 112:7 

160:6 191:19 198:1 

199:10 231:22 232:13 

product 10:2 13:14,20 

30:16 32:7,22 46:9 

56:16 57:5 123:8 

143:5,8,14,21 144:13 

147:3 151:2 153:2 

154:22 156:22 157:4 

157:8,15,18 158:20 

179:18 187:4,6,14 

241:7 

production 15:10,14 

75:6,15 100:22 101:3 

101:12,13 103:19 

104:3,16,22 105:4,5 

105:18 106:4,17 

109:2,20,22 110:7 

111:2,10,17,18 112:5 

112:9 114:1,2,13,17 

114:18 115:2 117:18 

121:9,11,13,17 

131:18 151:3 190:19 

191:3,22 234:3 

237:18 

products 13:19 23:4 

29:21 75:17 135:1,3,7 

135:13,17,21 136:2,9 

136:12 137:17,20 

138:7 139:4,9 141:7 

142:21 145:7 147:13 

147:16 156:6 159:16 

173:1 193:17 194:8 

210:8 222:14 

profit 144:10 207:13 

profitability 206:17 

programs 11:20,21 

12:1,6,12 13:1 14:10 

14:19 24:14 28:21 

29:2 34:12 36:2 41:12 

41:18 42:8,18,22 

43:22 44:3,22 45:5,7 

45:9,14 46:16,18 

47:13 48:11,19 49:1 

52:6,10,11 56:3 83:1 

89:16,18 98:17 100:7 

120:2 135:17 136:13 

137:21 138:7,19 

140:22 149:3 156:3 

169:16,21 171:22 

172:2 193:7,10 194:7 

194:19 196:14,15 

198:10,12 199:19 

201:14 205:5,13,20 

progress 91:20 120:18 

238:13 

project 18:9 198:17 

projects 14:22 19:1 

promise 36:16 39:4 

promising 81:19 

promoting 214:15 

219:3 

promotion 12:7 26:3 

29:16 34:9,12 43:9 

promotional 52:16 

prompt 211:2 

promptly 213:18 

pronounce 137:7 

proposal 8:22 177:10 

propose 97:4 105:3 

130:8 

proposed 90:3 94:9,14 

95:15 106:16 177:17 

243:2 

protect 17:11 88:12 

172:20 211:13 212:3 

213:15 221:4 

protected 100:8 

protecting 173:3 

Protection 17:3,4,8 

protects 208:18 

protesters 17:18 

protests 16:14 

proud 24:17 28:18 

30:21 50:16 51:6 

52:11 53:3 68:18 

provide 27:4 35:20 50:3 

50:21 52:2 53:9 81:3 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
262 

83:13 88:16 97:7 

113:2 115:20 117:2 

120:13 126:4 132:17 

134:2 135:14 159:4 

173:14 174:10 187:10 

194:16 196:13 197:1 

206:7 208:1 217:17 

218:14,15 221:16 

222:21 

provided 58:15 81:6 

120:7,10 142:2 

143:10 147:3 164:6 

208:5 

provides 96:6 125:8 

providing 50:9 53:9 

58:1 143:7 144:12 

163:4 169:9 200:5 

218:7 

provision 137:14 

138:21 139:22 140:12 

144:16 145:1,6 153:1 

provisions 149:9 

153:21 181:2 

prunes 13:22 29:9 

PSN 185:5,5 

PTI 205:13 

public 3:12 35:11 36:19 

97:6 122:5 129:19,20 

130:1 132:7,8,10,13 

132:20 133:9,12,13 

142:11 150:3 160:15 

172:12,14,20 173:3 

176:7 228:15 229:20 

publicly 141:4 218:15 

229:21 232:9 

publish 133:20 

pull 100:20 

pulse 44:8 

Pulses 229:6 232:11 

purchase 12:21 14:2 

44:6 138:3 144:19 

145:2 149:13 194:7 

purchased 13:2,3 138:1 

purchases 34:14,15 

56:7 137:14,17,19 

147:12 152:9 

purchasing 13:7 140:6 

144:19 194:8 

pure 169:14 

purpose 56:5 193:3 

purposes 112:14 

113:18 114:12 196:8 

pursuing 230:22 

pursuit 206:19 

purview 70:4 77:10 

98:2 153:6,13 

Purvis 36:18,18 122:4 

122:14 

put 6:21 7:9 8:21 18:18 

19:13 20:3 38:17 39:9 

45:20 51:5,11 52:6 

70:2 73:20 74:3,8,10 

77:18 80:2,9 106:12 

108:17,20 109:1 

110:4,15 111:14 

121:14 124:3 125:2,5 

130:19,21 143:3 

149:1,20 160:8 

161:14 177:10 181:4 

186:9 225:9 229:20 

230:7 240:16 

puts 124:14 126:11 

207:14 211:16 

putting 15:13 38:12 

77:8 79:5 109:19 

125:8,12 179:22 

238:15 

Q

Q&A 54:22 

quadrants 108:20 

qualify 85:3 

quality 52:15 134:22 

135:15 214:1 

quarter 44:15 

question 63:16 72:16 

73:7,11 74:15 75:8,9 

78:9 79:22 102:20 

119:14 120:20 127:4 

128:6 142:13,14,16 

142:20 150:16 154:7 

154:15 159:1,7 

205:17 222:13 223:22 

232:4 

questions 21:3 40:1 

54:14,20 57:9 74:19 

84:16 95:19 96:22 

126:18 128:13 136:22 

136:22 141:16 148:21 

158:9 186:5,15,15,17 

190:5 201:12,13,16 

206:21 207:1,3 

221:21 222:6,14 

226:15 230:4,20 

233:7 236:12 

quick 5:17 6:14 28:12 

39:18 40:16,21 54:21 

60:19 92:13 94:4,18 

100:18 107:17 110:10 

115:18 122:4 129:17 

163:6 219:4 227:19 

quicker 40:1 

quickly 41:4 43:19 

69:11 71:8 89:10 

100:19 122:15 217:3 

235:5 241:13 

quite 89:15 102:14 

171:16 206:12 

R

R 1:11,14 

R&P 45:9 52:6 82:22 

R&P's 52:16 

radar 236:5 

rail 18:12 

rain 122:10 

raise 118:2 

raised 62:17 95:19 

191:15 

raising 62:21 

raisins 24:4 

ran 191:21 200:22 

ranchers 140:17,21 

150:21 

random 149:7 

ratification 129:4 

re- 105:1 

re-charter 238:9 

reach 203:5 

reached 204:9 

reaching 111:12 199:19 

read 5:17 60:15 93:5 

107:7 133:9 163:6 

164:8 

Reade 1:21 32:16 

reading 43:16 237:13 

ready 8:12 69:15 88:18 

92:21 155:1 219:2 

221:9 

real 15:15 40:21,21 

54:21 60:19 122:4 

184:7 203:4 204:8 

210:10 

realistically 165:7 

realized 201:19 

realizes 188:10 

realtime 218:3,13,16 

reason 41:6 97:4 

120:12 173:15 242:15 

reasonable 99:22 

reasons 197:4 232:7 

reassess 230:16 

reauthorization 4:8 

recall 147:9 

recalled 147:7 

receive 39:7 52:22 

132:15,18 133:22 

138:2 211:22 215:22 

received 21:21 93:9 

170:13 

receiving 64:18 65:20 

81:11 86:21 146:1 

157:14 

reception 41:20 

recess 60:8 160:16 

236:19 243:11 

recipients 215:18 

recognition 206:2,3 

recognizable 79:15 

recognize 144:4 228:16 

recognizing 197:11 

recollection 116:19 

recommend 9:13 

107:19 136:8 158:2 

recommendation 8:20 

9:1 87:21 90:5 108:8 

108:10 118:12 120:14 

120:18 124:14 125:8 

125:11,17,20 126:8 

126:12,20 

recommendations 4:11 

8:17 19:15 20:12 

40:12 94:2 96:6,9 

98:12 119:19 120:5 

123:5,13 124:6,13,15 

125:1,4 127:11,21 

128:2,11,22 153:14 

238:14 239:6 240:11 

240:14 241:11,21 

reconvene 123:2 124:9 

124:16 130:18 243:18 

reconvenes 124:7 

record 62:11 69:3 93:21 

103:8 122:21 130:16 

130:19 131:9 134:11 

152:20 155:22 159:2 

162:16 163:1 225:3 

228:10 233:9 243:20 

recording 38:16 

records 173:10 

recovering 50:22 

Red 32:4 

Redman 208:10 

redo 235:3 

redoing 165:14 

reduce 8:11 

reduced 204:15 205:10 

reduction 202:14 

refer 41:5 237:12 

reference 241:13 

referenced 147:7 

reflected 138:21 

refrigerated 136:10 

regard 45:16 147:19 

regarding 37:4 155:12 

219:15 

Regency 1:10 

region 190:16 222:5 

regional 174:10 200:14 

221:7,14 

regions 183:9,10 

register 132:20 133:18 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
263 

133:21 

registered 133:1 

registration 133:16 

registry 168:10 

regs 70:19 84:21 

143:11 

regulate 155:6 192:18 

regulated 171:1 

regulating 207:16 

regulation 75:3 176:1 

177:9 179:13 

regulations 15:14 38:6 

71:9,11 73:20 74:8,14 

76:9,17,19 79:6,21 

81:20 82:1 85:7 151:8 

151:11,14 152:2 

165:5 167:13 168:4 

171:2 176:2 194:1 

regulators 135:8 

regulatory 34:18 41:12 

41:17 139:1 150:18 

166:2 171:5 176:2 

183:1 192:12 

reimbursement 145:22 

reject 96:12 124:17 

related 90:5 135:18 

163:22 166:9,16 

191:1 205:19 

relation 204:22 

relations 30:3 

relationship 48:5 

163:16 171:15 

relationships 23:13 

relative 38:12 146:15 

163:17 

relatively 195:5 

release 11:14 217:4 

releases 220:4 

relevant 163:20 220:2 

220:18 

relief 194:19 

relocation 233:3 

rely 98:18 

remain 82:6 220:2,17 

remaining 136:4 

remarks 6:14 22:14 

150:2 209:7 

remember 21:22 54:22 

119:19 176:21 208:7 

reminder 207:22 

removed 242:17 

renew 215:19 216:18 

renewal 215:17,22 

renewals 216:2,4,6 

217:1,15 

reopen 236:21 

reorganization 47:12 

238:9 

reparation 216:19 

225:18 

repeat 69:11 

repetitive 167:4 

replaced 59:14 

replacement 197:16 

report 120:17 130:14 

139:22 141:13 174:18 

229:6 236:1 

reported 11:11 

reporter 208:3,5,8 

reporting 128:1 241:18 

reports 11:5,8 59:18 

142:3 229:2,8,19 

230:1,5,13 232:5,7,10 

represent 29:8 31:6 

33:9 35:13 134:18 

135:5 137:19 201:6 

211:20 

representation 93:12 

159:4 

representative 94:8 

115:21 133:6 141:22 

142:8 152:19 227:1 

representatives 5:18 

200:13 

represented 97:21 

representing 33:5 35:7 

67:13 134:21 

represents 91:12 

190:22 

request 132:20 151:18 

210:20 

requested 59:18 

requesting 125:21 

126:3 

requests 89:7 195:21 

require 140:6 141:4 

152:6 159:5 199:10 

required 77:21 149:15 

150:15 

requirement 153:15 

requirements 44:18,19 

45:22 46:20 48:6 74:3 

74:14 75:4 147:13 

156:15 171:7,10 

179:15 183:22 193:16 

197:8 198:12,13 

199:4 

requires 73:22 204:1 

requiring 150:3 153:1 

192:22 195:9 

research 3:20 12:7 

18:19 26:3 29:16 

33:10 34:12 43:8 

59:18 78:1 83:8,21,21 

87:2 88:8 90:12 99:8 

101:4 103:20 106:9 

111:5 112:5 114:20 

124:2 125:9 135:22 

142:1,2 164:3 228:19 

231:10,13,18 233:10 

researchers 89:8 

231:10 234:1 235:10 

residue 154:8 155:7,12 

residues 154:11,22 

resolution 213:3 

resolve 208:21 212:7 

213:14 

resolved 13:9 

resolves 212:22 

resource 182:11,15,21 

183:6 185:21 186:1,2 

186:8 187:10 

resources 83:18 169:12 

181:18,20 182:8 

respect 152:5 

respective 215:2 

respond 20:13 212:12 

responsibilities 60:16 

135:5 186:2 

responsibility 157:13 

174:5,6 

responsible 59:4 96:5 

163:15 211:17 

responsive 177:7 

rest 22:10 29:12 61:1 

126:9 181:6 236:17 

restaurant 161:11 

restrictions 80:10 

220:10 

restructuring 8:2 

result 8:19 

resulted 188:11 

results 57:18,19 79:12 

resumed 122:21 130:16 

162:16 228:10 

retail 30:11 31:14 202:6 

206:4 

retailer 202:19 203:2,22 

204:6,18 223:20 

229:16 

retailers 8:7 200:4 

205:7 207:10 229:16 

retooled 94:17 

return 53:21 122:16 

revenue 144:20 146:3 

219:5 

reverse 151:14 

review 136:20 152:13 

176:1 203:15 

reviewed 58:9 89:3 

176:7 

reviewing 97:15 

revised 189:4 

revisited 235:4 

revitalize 30:14 

revoke 214:5 

revolving 164:18 

revote 64:6 66:2 

Rich 2:14 35:3 137:6,7 

137:9 142:18,19 

143:2 144:15 145:21 

146:7,10 147:1 149:2 

150:1 151:17 152:4 

152:10 154:14 157:18 

158:3 

Richard 1:15 2:6 23:8 

35:17 72:5 103:7 

112:13 194:20 225:4 

Richmond 1:10 

rid 41:22 

Ridge 23:17 

rights 224:2 225:17,22 

rigorous 203:14 

riled 188:22 

ring 72:19 

Rio 25:4 

risk 77:21 78:5 

risky 77:14 

RMA 76:5 

road 116:7 158:7 

Robert 2:13 208:6 

Robert's 6:4,6 

robust 16:19 

role 5:4 12:11 67:10 

107:5 119:15 

roles 36:10 

roll 6:12 17:21 18:3,6,8 

18:20 19:2 218:21 

rolling 51:19 111:11 

rollout 217:5 

romaine 232:18 233:10 

233:13,18 

room 1:10 22:17 87:8 

90:10 94:1 98:7 99:1 

108:1,13 119:2 130:4 

130:10 142:10 152:19 

166:13 187:12 199:6 

208:1,3 209:15 

242:20,21,22 

rooms 121:19 122:16 

roughly 14:16 30:10 

round 31:18 

route 105:10 

row 26:20 

Rudman 2:9 9:7 17:20 

208:12 209:8,9,11 

222:12 223:6,9 224:4 

224:8 226:9,17 

rule 37:5 154:2,3 

167:19 168:12,15,16 

169:11 170:5 174:11 

174:13 175:14 176:6 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
264 

176:13 177:3,3,17,20 

178:1 179:2,13,20 

181:6 183:22 184:8 

187:3,21,22 188:16 

188:18 197:8,13 

198:2 

rulemaking 168:7 

rules 6:4,6 59:7 70:1 

84:21 133:9 167:15 

168:20 170:2 180:8 

188:2,12 225:7,13 

run 12:5,8,9 31:15 36:4 

46:21 48:1 54:9 65:8 

177:4 

running 51:17 65:5 

204:2 227:9 

runs 15:22 17:20 

rural 95:9 145:18 

Russian 138:17 

Rutgers 191:16 

S

safe 135:12 136:4 

safety 3:14 26:8 34:22 

37:4 43:13 90:6 98:20 

100:12,21 102:15 

103:18 104:20 105:4 

105:5,19,21 106:18 

108:17 109:3 114:14 

119:4 130:8 131:5,8 

131:10 135:22 136:1 

146:22 147:19 152:22 

154:2 163:5,7,10,11 

163:17,21,22 165:5 

166:21 167:16,19 

168:12,15 169:18,22 

170:1,4,5 172:20 

173:17 174:3,21 

175:14 176:12,17 

177:2,9 182:1,9 183:1 

183:3,22 187:3 

188:18 190:21 191:3 

193:1,7,11 195:10 

197:8,13 198:2,7,13 

199:15 202:5 205:20 

207:5 229:13,17 

232:19 235:14,17 

Safety's 166:6 

sales 158:20 

Sameer 166:20,20 

Samoa 184:15 

sampling 46:9,14 74:9 

San 27:2,6 

sanctioning 213:16 

sanctions 214:2 220:5 

Sanitary 168:2 

sat 199:5 

save 8:4 

saved 150:12 

saying 37:18 78:6 

114:8 130:3 145:15 

160:5 235:17 

says 17:16 49:14 64:15 

65:3 107:6 145:6 

185:20 225:7,12 

scan 136:19 

scenarios 188:4,6 

scenes 51:16 216:14 

schedule 20:20 82:3,4 

82:4,6,7 122:18 

123:22 134:5 160:19 

161:21 204:12 227:10 

238:1 239:5 

scheduled 226:21 

scheduling 202:3 

school 12:22 13:2 

135:18 137:14,20 

138:1,7,14,19 140:6 

140:13,20,21 141:7 

143:3,12,16 144:9,16 

144:18 145:3,8,10,22 

147:12 148:1,17 

149:3,6 150:4,11,12 

153:12 156:9,18,19 

157:11,13 158:20 

159:6 

schools 138:12 140:8 

141:4 142:21 143:1 

144:4,5 145:2,6 152:5 

science 29:16 45:18 

46:10 86:4 166:13 

sciences 163:12 

scientist 164:11 

scientists 45:19 46:12 

86:6 

scope 15:16 40:14 95:6 

99:20 120:16 123:7 

126:6,21 

Scott 177:21,22 

screw 165:21 

SCRI 84:12 88:7 99:19 

script 92:20 

scrutinizes 20:6 

se 37:8 

seal 214:7 

search 178:7 217:20,21 

218:4 

season 81:21 204:3,4 

213:9 

seasonality 233:14,21 

234:2,3 

seat 61:3 87:16 

seated 139:18 

seats 60:20 188:21 

second 41:10 42:1 

58:17,18 68:17 72:7 

72:20 84:22 106:19 

106:22 111:20 117:17 

139:7,8 161:1,4,9 

170:3 175:15 

seconded 58:20 

secretary 8:18 10:5 

20:9 22:1 24:16 41:11 

58:5 59:10,11,15 60:3 

60:21 61:6,10,11 

72:16,17,19 73:2,3 

81:19 90:4 91:5 98:5 

119:20 120:7,11 

123:20 125:2,10 

126:3 139:20 174:15 

197:9 217:10 

Secretary's 20:18 

section 5:14,18,19,20 

34:14 35:11 56:6 57:7 

93:5 133:11 168:16 

177:1 225:7,14 

242:18 

sector 99:16 100:2,6 

secure 216:21 

securing 139:19 

seed 193:21 

seeds 77:18 193:20 

seeing 20:22 34:3 

101:22 158:19 195:8 

seek 213:3 

seeking 151:14 212:13 

seen 32:6 138:6 225:17 

segue 50:14 

select 10:16 

selected 123:19 

self-funded 211:15 

self-parked 211:19 

seller 213:3,8 224:14 

224:19 

selling 147:13,15 

152:14 199:10 

Selma 24:1 

send 136:19 178:11 

216:2,5 231:7 236:10 

239:17,21 240:4 

Seneca 33:15 

senior 25:1 32:4 163:13 

166:13 175:8 

sense 42:21 43:2 44:9 

44:11 46:22 47:19 

95:18 126:17 164:13 

sent 95:16,16 142:3 

161:16 230:9,15 

241:2 

separate 48:11 56:10 

57:7 104:12 108:20 

117:22 122:1 

series 14:9 195:6 

serious 214:3,4 

seriously 20:11 

serve 5:7 23:14 24:12 

62:1 65:12 66:16 67:9 

67:15 93:21 94:20 

107:15 108:6 115:7 

144:6 161:15 165:16 

210:15 219:2 220:17 

served 24:10 42:22 

67:10 68:1,2 97:17 

116:9 134:5 137:20 

138:12 145:1 

server 161:13 

serves 163:8,8 

service 3:20 6:15 7:14 

9:19 10:6 12:21 32:19 

46:15 50:21 53:8 54:6 

55:22 67:15 83:13 

143:12 174:22 191:17 

206:7 214:15 217:12 

228:19 231:11 

services 35:20,21,21 

36:1 49:20 50:3,9 

83:12,18 175:16 

187:9 190:13,14 

192:9 196:7 197:1 

198:22 201:14 208:17 

servicing 47:19 

serving 89:2 187:15 

session 90:19,22 

sessions 242:22 

set 7:6 8:12 46:7,8 

67:21 83:9 159:17 

160:1,4 203:11 230:9 

237:14,22 

setting 8:3 170:21 

seven 19:7 26:18 61:16 

167:12 168:4 198:17 

Seventeen 130:7 

severe 144:5 

share 45:2 89:12 

171:15 201:20 204:21 

231:1 238:6 

shared 58:7 94:6 

171:16 173:11 191:8 

228:22 230:17 

sharing 173:10 

sheet 243:7 

sheets 170:14 

shelf 136:3,12 143:19 

shellfish 35:2 

shield 10:3 

shift 93:3 

shifted 59:19 

shiitake 24:9 

shipments 233:12,14 

234:3 

shipped 138:18 213:20 

shipper 25:3 29:22 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
265 

31:21 

shippers 33:8 

shipping 187:15 

shirk 186:1 

shocked 184:21 

shoot 178:15 

short 86:16 157:7 

238:18 

shorthand 172:19 

shortly 17:21 18:21 

192:4 217:5 

show 117:20 171:4 

180:15 184:9 

showed 184:21 

shut 193:22 

shutdown 50:6 81:10 

205:1 

side 15:18 30:12 41:9 

55:22 56:4 130:9,9 

170:20,22 175:4,5 

195:19 203:10 222:20 

242:11 

sides 213:4 

Sievert 1:21 32:16,16 

sign 39:8 

signed 134:7 174:4,16 

significance 234:15 

significant 30:16 139:9 

141:3 145:11 146:8 

146:11,12 149:12,16 

150:5,22 176:5,8 

197:3,13 223:11 

235:6 

silent 64:8,11 

similar 12:9 17:4 45:4,7 

45:10,11,16 52:7 

98:22 146:18 152:7 

205:21 224:10 

similarity 74:1 

simply 120:21 143:13 

Simultaneous 56:19 

64:10,13 72:11 108:2 

118:3 131:15 

simultaneously 115:13 

single 10:7 53:17 97:2 

180:8 183:11 

sir 84:11 

sister 165:3,9 

sit 40:10 220:14 242:10 

site 32:21 

sites 186:4 

sitting 16:13 21:21 

52:10 117:3 

situation 13:8 102:13 

204:8 224:21 

situations 102:22 

six 9:2 19:6 109:9 140:1 

149:5,8 191:18 

193:19 196:16 204:13 

219:8 220:3 

size 28:16,22 168:22 

183:11 

sizes 201:8 

Skelton 2:10 36:21,22 

54:12 163:4,7,12 

164:9,10 166:3 185:8 

185:10,12,15 186:16 

186:20 187:17 190:7 

skip 60:9 110:2,8 167:8 

slack 189:10 

sleep 43:17 

slices 160:2 

slide 180:5 

slot 134:8 

slots 124:11 134:4 

slotted 227:11 

slow 91:20 

small 98:16 111:21 

112:3 156:19 159:16 

160:1,5,6 195:5 

200:14,18 231:9 

235:10 

smaller 149:7 169:5 

smell 78:16,21,22 

smells 80:18 

smiling 36:6 

Smith 1:22 32:3,4 110:9 

131:20 146:7,7,19,20 

154:7,8 155:16,16 

snacks 227:3 

snapshot 219:4 

snapshots 176:15 

snug 242:16 

soil 68:17 77:19 168:13 

sold 33:20 221:18 

solid 8:13 9:5 

solution 148:8,19 

149:18 151:7 152:1 

153:11 

somebody 78:3 107:21 

117:2 173:20 184:22 

227:7 228:13 

somewhat 71:14 

Sonia 2:8 5:2 6:3 15:11 

15:22 17:16 20:7,16 

27:11 28:5 37:14 38:5 

60:12 78:8 80:16 

171:22 222:16 223:11 

243:1 

Sonia's 19:1 36:22 

227:21 

Sonny 20:6 

soon 151:4 179:22 

sorry 66:22 106:3 

107:12 112:2 121:2 

142:17 148:13 155:3 

197:6 

sort 18:17 67:22 96:14 

96:17 101:13 157:5 

160:2 167:2,11 168:6 

168:16 169:14 175:21 

176:10 192:22 224:11 

224:20 231:1 238:7 

sorts 222:19 

source 143:19 145:7 

159:18 172:12 187:6 

sourced 137:18 138:6,9 

141:7 143:5,8 144:12 

153:16 157:8 

sources 56:16,17 146:3 

sourcing 157:7 

south 23:18 29:19 

31:13 80:2 202:1 

204:4 

southeast 23:11 

southern 90:9 

soybean 25:20 

space 202:6 242:8,12 

242:14 

span 205:9 

speak 51:11 65:11 68:9 

98:15 132:21,22 

133:1,13,16,22 

134:15 137:2 141:17 

191:13 208:6 227:2,5 

227:7 228:14,16 

speaker 133:5 158:10 

162:9 163:1,3 190:11 

207:22 208:9 

speakers 162:9 177:14 

speaking 54:22 55:2 

56:19 57:11 64:10,13 

65:1 66:21 69:4 72:11 

92:12,18 94:4,5 105:6 

108:2 112:1 114:12 

118:3,15 120:4 

123:11 129:18 131:15 

132:14 133:4,9,10 

134:8 137:5 142:7,16 

157:20 162:7 163:3 

190:11 231:4 238:5 

speaks 137:1 

special 14:22 133:14 

135:16 232:17,22 

specialist 163:13 222:4 

specializes 26:12 

specialties 24:9 

specialty 3:6 5:3 14:11 

15:22 16:4 27:12,15 

27:19 28:3,22 34:10 

35:18,19 36:5,19,22 

37:3,13 38:9 43:3 

47:7,10,16 48:16 49:4 

50:12,13 51:2,7,12 

52:4 67:11 77:3 82:11 

82:17,19 83:7 84:10 

85:2,3 88:4,8 89:16 

90:2 151:1 163:9,14 

190:14 215:5 222:10 

231:10 232:13 

specific 60:1 85:7,9 

113:14 119:9 120:3 

specifically 87:2 138:8 

192:20 

specifics 219:21 

specify 143:5 

specs 143:3,4 

spectrum 178:2 

speed 182:6 

spelled 190:17 

spend 141:6,11 167:19 

195:2 236:17 

spending 81:16 

spends 145:4 

spent 27:17 81:16 

98:11 104:6 191:20 

222:2 

split 170:3 183:12 

spoke 42:6 

spots 128:17 

spread 242:18 

spring 23:18 181:8,10 

181:11 233:18 

sprout 170:4 193:20 

sprouts 170:4 171:12 

SQS 201:22 202:4 

stab 189:16,18 232:15 

232:16 

stable 136:3,12 143:19 

staff 2:4 36:22 38:3 

51:16 89:22 135:18 

163:9,11 166:10 

189:19 195:18 

stage 236:16 

staggered 168:22 

stakeholders 177:15 

214:16 215:1 217:2 

stand 103:10 

standard 6:1,2 152:12 

196:20 

standardization 49:9 

98:21 

standardize 241:6 

standards 16:11,12,19 

24:10 46:8 68:3 

146:21 170:20 172:10 

223:21 

standing 104:21 173:16 

standpoint 47:2 104:17 

112:12 127:16 

stands 147:12 

stark 147:12 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
266 

start 22:19 34:6 40:12 

51:19 61:21 66:10 

75:9 92:8 158:4 

235:18 

started 4:10 7:15 27:16 

28:9 38:7,16 81:11 

107:9 132:10 149:19 

165:11 181:8,9,9 

195:8 196:2 198:15 

201:3 207:21 235:14 

237:7 

starting 23:6 93:7 

127:19,21 167:14 

171:10 238:7 

starts 132:8 162:10 

181:16 

state 10:14 22:14 29:6 

55:1 62:14 70:7 71:13 

73:17 74:11 80:2,9 

87:11 88:8 149:4,5,6 

155:21 171:4 181:18 

183:11 184:11,12,13 

185:18 195:14,16,20 

196:14 206:7 216:14 

statement 65:19 120:6 

124:15 125:12,17 

126:2,8 136:19 

153:14 201:17 237:8 

237:12 240:15 

statements 4:11 96:7 

96:10 120:6,8,8 123:5 

124:7,16 125:4 127:6 

238:14 241:21 

states 1:1 10:2,19 

14:13 15:15 26:18 

30:2 31:5 32:20 38:4 

69:20 70:3,8,10,17,21 

73:12,15 74:1,2,5 

79:16 80:1,6 84:17,20 

85:13,17 86:1 89:17 

90:9 149:20 153:3,20 

159:6 183:10 184:14 

184:15 185:3,14,17 

193:22 195:12,17,19 

195:21 203:22 206:8 

225:5,14 

statewide 25:13 28:17 

statistical 234:15,19 

status 128:8 

statute 187:10 

statutes 226:5 

stay 12:12 97:9 122:18 

129:19 162:3,11 

188:20,21 189:12,13 

stayed 210:2 

staying 182:6 

stays 29:12 

steal 18:1 53:15 

step 76:1 159:21 

Stephens 2:10 28:5 

37:11,12 55:18,20,21 

55:21 56:18,20 

steps 125:9 

Steve 1:22 32:3 110:8 

131:20 146:7,20 

154:7 155:16 

stewards 211:17,21 

Stewardship 25:12 

stick 20:17 

sticks 138:16 146:17 

stipulate 157:2 

stockyards 214:19 

stole 39:19 

stop 50:8 234:5 

storage 135:13 136:10 

stores 32:20 33:1 

story 120:1 204:21 

strategies 164:1 

strawberries 138:13 

147:6 150:10,13 

stray 176:22 

stress 21:20 

stretch 99:19 

stride 205:15 

stringent 74:3 

strips 243:2 

strong 78:16 

structure 60:5 105:8 

128:14 

stuck 199:7 

students 140:16 145:20 

146:5 

studies 231:18 

study 42:2 229:15 

231:1 

stuff 12:17 28:12 35:1 

103:20 175:10 235:1 

sub 113:14 

subcategorize 104:21 

subcommittee 98:13 

99:2 102:9 105:8,9 

107:14 113:21 114:1 

114:8,10,14,15,19 

115:5 116:10 153:15 

subcommittees 7:6 

61:1 105:15 107:16 

113:7,13,18 114:6 

123:15 

subject 89:6 104:8,18 

156:10 159:16 169:12 

177:3 225:5 

subjects 118:8 

submit 61:14 120:14 

submitted 60:15 70:18 

96:7,10 133:17 

submitting 70:21 

substance 86:10,15 

substantiate 156:14 

subtopic 237:17 

succeed 5:9 

success 203:4 204:21 

successes 88:11 116:6 

successful 88:5 90:8 

139:19 184:5 

suggest 95:2 108:19 

140:18 162:5 

suggested 93:13,16 

94:7,11 95:16,21 

115:2 

suggestion 99:15 

100:10 103:17 110:21 

199:7 

suggestions 93:9 

128:22 146:8 

suit 28:6 

suite 196:7 198:22 

summarizing 38:18 

summary 241:10,10 

summer 218:20 239:7 

Summers 2:11 6:15,16 

13:18 17:16 21:16 

38:11,18 42:5 198:15 

215:10 

sunlight 150:7 

supervisor 231:8 

supplement 88:18 

supplied 152:21 153:3 

153:22 

supplier 156:16 157:6,8 

193:2 194:14 223:22 

suppliers 135:10 

159:21 160:12 194:16 

200:1 

supply 153:20 156:8,9 

156:14 167:20 168:1 

172:21 176:19 179:3 

179:11,20 232:8 

236:9 

support 5:6 36:19 

136:8,12 150:21 

167:15 168:7 

supporting 38:5 140:17 

140:21 

supports 117:21 

151:13 

supposed 49:16 80:19 

144:17 146:4 189:9 

surprise 71:6 

surprised 12:16 50:2 

surprises 92:5 

Surprising 71:3 

survey 229:10,12 

235:14,19,21 

Susan 166:14 

suspended 220:7 

suspension 209:20 

214:4 

sustainability 29:17 

Suzanne 231:7 

sweet 25:7 32:1 33:6 

sympathy 164:22 

synch 204:4 

synchronizes 230:15 

system 18:4 51:8,17 

52:2 153:12 215:14 

216:8 217:6,8 221:2 

systems 200:15 206:1 

T

tab 40:4 

table 22:12,20 27:9 

68:21 93:17 127:10 

139:10,18 180:7 

230:8,19 242:11,20 

tables 242:8 

tackle 106:7 

tackled 175:14 

tags 242:15 

taken 77:2 81:14 

125:21 140:1 

takes 20:11 38:3 207:13 

214:10 

Talbott 2:1 31:16,16 

117:9 

talk 20:20 38:11 40:5 

48:1,20 50:5 53:14 

60:12 71:15,16 78:3 

85:15,17 86:6,6 

101:19 116:4 148:6 

165:5,17 167:5 

169:18 171:14 173:13 

183:14 192:7,10 

207:4 234:22 

talked 28:21 43:5,20 

81:12 192:11 201:15 

222:9 

talking 58:4 83:20 

84:10 85:15,18 138:8 

155:4 195:2 206:15 

211:6 229:15 

talks 49:1 75:19 123:12 

173:10 180:6 

tally 11:6 

tap 57:2 

tapped 14:21 

tapping 95:17 

tariff 13:8 

tariffs 104:7 

tart 26:3,4 

task 71:11 191:3 

tasked 70:6 

tasks 59:8 60:1,3 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
267 

taste 36:16 

tax 145:16,16,19 172:3 

taxpayer 138:3 140:22 

141:6 145:3 153:18 

teaching 192:2 

team 47:17 193:18 

194:21 204:22 231:8 

231:9 235:10 

technical 81:4,6 164:3 

169:20 170:15 175:6 

177:22 183:21 196:13 

197:7,20 198:6,12,21 

199:4,12,18 203:6,21 

205:8 226:12 

technology 45:18 46:11 

86:4 215:9,12 217:11 

219:19 

teens 167:14 

teleconference 113:4 

tell 20:6 27:14 39:19 

50:15 78:15 82:21 

83:3 188:20 209:11 

211:17 

telling 204:7 

tells 179:13 

tend 198:18 

tenure 7:19 67:4 

term 197:20 225:14 

terms 44:11 46:8 60:16 

155:7 169:3 174:8 

180:20 211:4 224:3 

224:19 225:7 

terrace 161:5 162:13 

Terry 38:8 

test 45:19 79:4 

tested 77:22 78:1 

155:17 

testing 46:1,9,14 74:9 

79:1,7 80:21 154:10 

155:20 

tests 77:20 79:2,8,11 

Tex-Mex 30:15 91:19 

Texas 25:4,8 30:8,8,14 

101:21 148:1,10 

221:8 

thank 7:2 9:16 20:15,22 

21:6,8,13 24:21 27:9 

34:5 37:20 39:8 57:3 

64:16,17 66:8,19 

67:17 68:7,9 74:17 

82:18 136:14,15 

141:15 186:21 190:4 

190:5 191:11,12 

207:18 209:9,10 

222:6 226:13,16 

228:17 229:18 230:3 

231:5,15,16 236:12 

236:13 

thanks 7:1 164:10 

190:7 209:9 226:17 

Thanksgiving 165:6 

THC 79:2 

theirs 178:17 

theme 6:21 

things 8:1 9:14 11:4,22 

14:4 17:19 18:1 19:17 

28:19 29:14 31:22 

37:5 38:12 39:10,11 

39:20 40:13,15 46:21 

46:22 48:2 50:11 

53:12 67:22 74:6,9 

76:6,12 78:19 79:17 

83:2 98:16 101:5 

102:10,19 105:19 

115:18 119:2,10,13 

119:21 156:12,15 

166:11,14 167:8,11 

169:13 170:18 171:13 

174:2,9 175:1 176:3 

177:6 178:18 180:17 

183:17 193:11 194:19 

198:19 200:8,15 

203:8,15 205:14 

222:19 225:1 234:9 

236:5 238:17,20 

third 44:15 148:9 154:3 

167:22 175:17 213:10 

Thornsbury 231:8 

thought 9:17,20 13:9 

40:16 67:19,20 68:5 

99:21 

thoughts 233:2,5 

thousand 10:14 

thousands 156:11 

195:4 196:3 

thread 96:21 97:1,3 

119:7 

threat 232:2 

three 8:20 19:5 23:21 

45:6 47:21 60:17,20 

68:2 69:6 79:10 94:6 

100:21 101:7 102:15 

103:17 104:14 116:20 

133:1 146:3 162:9 

164:3 166:17 170:6 

174:18 175:12 200:18 

221:6 227:11 235:20 

three-month 165:13 

173:22 

throw 63:6 72:19 102:8 

throwing 101:17 

thunder 18:1 39:20 

53:15 

THURSDAY 1:7 

tickets 161:12 

ticking 181:16 

tie 65:22 66:2,5 

tier 113:20 

ties 187:22 

tight 82:4 

tightly 215:4 

till 137:2 141:17 243:11 

timely 202:4 211:3,3 

213:22 

times 56:22 112:19 

116:19 229:2 233:19 

234:8 

timetable 238:22 

timing 123:20 180:11 

Tina 1:16 24:6 27:7 

35:15 62:10,16 67:18 

98:10 116:3 131:17 

tinkering 98:17 

Tison 2:1 31:10,10 

106:19,19 

Titan 23:17 62:4 

title 88:4,18,19 164:12 

today 4:18,20 6:17 

17:22 22:15 29:3 

35:14 47:18 60:18 

90:20,21 102:18 

112:16 122:11 132:3 

132:4 138:12 139:18 

143:11 145:12 146:11 

146:16 151:4 165:20 

166:4,18,22 167:22 

170:15 173:16 177:22 

179:12 215:4,14,17 

215:21 216:8,16,17 

221:21 227:13,15 

229:1 232:17 243:12 

today's 40:18 93:10 

94:6 152:1 

toes 76:2 

told 27:18 148:2 176:22 

tolerances 154:8 

Tom 1:20 28:13 84:15 

109:5,8 127:3 131:2,3 

Tom's 184:22 

tomato 32:5,7 49:14,15 

49:15,15 77:4 196:11 

196:11 209:19 210:7 

tomatoes 49:16 229:7 

Tommy 2:2 30:6 58:18 

72:18,21,22 73:4 91:9 

99:6,14 101:10 

105:13 106:18 109:12 

121:12 131:14 147:22 

149:17 203:16 

tomorrow 90:18 132:2 

166:19,22 227:14,16 

227:20 228:5,6 

236:20 241:20 242:19 

243:5,6,11,18 

tons 18:12,12 

tool 200:6,6 201:7 

top 28:4 63:21 102:19 

108:17 113:21 217:9 

241:18 

topic 101:16 104:17 

126:5 176:16 223:11 

228:1 

topics 95:10,19,20 

100:21 102:22 103:18 

106:5 120:9 158:1 

237:7,15,17 239:3 

241:22 

toss 86:22 

tossing 87:12 

total 29:21 93:15 

145:13 

totally 95:22 114:16 

125:6 

touch 86:10 104:19 

170:7 186:9 237:19 

touching 175:20 

tough 24:11 

tour 77:4 

touring 78:15 

track 126:1,17 129:19 

trade 12:17 13:8 47:4 

47:14 48:4 56:6 94:9 

94:15 100:21 101:11 

101:14,20 102:14,18 

103:8,18 104:5,7,10 

104:21 105:3,4,18,21 

106:17 108:17,22 

109:12 110:13,15,16 

114:14 119:7 121:5,7 

131:2,3,13 134:20 

148:4 151:20 153:14 

158:2 208:10,14,16 

209:3 212:9 213:17 

214:12,16 215:1,7 

219:4 237:18 

traders 156:13 

train 195:15 

trained 78:21 

trainer 164:20 

training 169:21 170:6 

181:22 203:7,14 

transaction 211:1,1 

213:10 219:22 

transactions 221:5 

transition 67:21 233:19 

transitioned 4:16 

transmitting 216:22 

transparency 144:2 

transparent 157:10 

transportation 18:11 

46:17 168:2 

travel 7:4 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
268 

traveling 85:22 

Travis 2:7 208:6 216:8 

216:9,10 221:21,22 

222:20,22 

trawlers 138:17 

tree 178:5 229:5 232:11 

trees 83:1 

tremendous 18:17 

trend 233:17 234:14,16 

trending 57:12,21 

tribal 70:8,17 

tried 223:20 

trouble 78:19 

truck 18:12 

truly 59:12 213:20 

Truman 140:15 

trumps 102:15 

truncated 238:22 

trust 172:12,14 219:16 

225:17,22 226:8 

try 21:16 41:3 53:12,21 

54:15 86:1,5 120:15 

178:9 188:12 200:20 

235:12 237:16 239:3 

239:20 

trying 41:22 44:17 76:1 

76:21 77:12 79:13,20 

81:15,22 85:19 86:15 

165:8,16 169:8 171:2 

187:9 189:14 236:2 

tuck 119:10 

Tucson 221:7 

turn 33:2 60:11 186:13 

turns 125:11 129:21 

Twelve 70:16 

twice 33:22 69:12 72:9 

121:18 123:18 

two 10:5 12:15 37:20 

41:3,13,16 55:8 57:13 

65:20 67:20 71:13 

73:12,15 79:10 98:19 

100:11,13 102:19 

103:9,14 104:22 

109:15 110:19 111:5 

112:22 114:5 115:7 

116:20 117:22,22 

120:22 124:1,10,15 

124:15 129:8 130:9 

132:22 134:1,3,8 

139:3 140:15 141:13 

143:15 145:9 147:7 

149:4 162:10 171:17 

173:8 175:1 181:1 

182:22 195:4 196:3 

199:17 200:18 204:15 

223:19 227:9 229:8 

235:20 237:4 238:19 

two-week 202:10 205:9 

type 29:1 33:10 79:12 

95:5 169:4,15 176:2 

183:4 238:13 

types 231:18 238:13 

typically 65:17 83:9 

132:17 223:4 225:17 

226:3 233:17 

U

U.S 10:17 26:4 29:12 

32:19 56:16 138:18 

140:17,21 150:21 

154:12 157:7 179:17 

194:12 199:21 205:19 

231:22 233:3 

ultimately 196:16 

197:19 201:1 

umbrella 34:21 102:8 

unactionable 153:7 

undefined 146:11 

undermine 150:19 

underneath 108:21 

114:9 

undersell 20:8 

understand 47:1 77:13 

90:16 146:2 180:1 

181:21 197:18 237:5 

238:21 

understanding 159:11 

173:7 177:16 192:16 

205:18 

understands 75:13 

232:21 

understood 156:4 

160:14 177:8,8 

unfair 66:15 213:17 

unforeseen 116:21 

unfortunately 51:12 

204:2 

unique 135:5 211:5,16 

212:14 

United 1:1 2:13 10:2,19 

15:14 38:4 87:10 90:9 

142:8 153:2,19 159:6 

193:22 196:17 203:22 

206:8 227:4 

University 191:17 

unknown 59:14 

unknowns 77:15 

update 3:14,16,18 36:2 

163:5 165:18 167:4 

170:16 219:1 238:3 

updated 178:16 

updates 185:20 

upstate 164:21 165:3 

181:13 

USA 67:7 

USAID 194:18 

USDA 2:5,6,6,7,7,8,9,9 

2:10,10,11 4:11 10:3 

10:8,22 11:2,15 28:2 

37:2 40:14,15 41:6,8 

42:9 57:5 67:10 68:4 

75:12 76:4 86:8 89:19 

98:2 119:15,15,17,21 

119:22 120:1,10 

125:22 126:6,13 

139:2 140:1,8 143:10 

144:18 151:14 152:9 

153:6,18 154:17,20 

155:6 157:14 159:5 

159:15 163:16 164:14 

164:17 171:15,18 

172:15 173:20 174:6 

174:22 175:5,22 

177:7,11,15 183:18 

185:22 190:22 192:2 

192:17 194:18 196:4 

200:10 205:16 206:3 

209:13 210:5 212:16 

214:16,22 228:20 

231:13 

USDA's 95:11 120:16 

165:9 172:18,22 

175:13 183:20 191:5 

214:14 

usda.ers.gov 230:11 

use 6:16 9:8 10:13 

18:18 35:9 93:18 

142:21 212:18,18 

241:17,19 242:11,14 

useful 230:2 

user 10:10 49:7,21 50:1 

50:13 54:7 83:12 

172:1,2,5 211:6 

usually 47:22 

utilize 190:3 

V

VA 1:10 

valet 211:19 

Valley 25:5 

valuable 50:21 

value 90:8 136:1 

value-added 23:4 

varieties 77:22 

variety 14:19 17:3,4,7,7 

17:8,10 24:3,7 33:11 

163:21 

various 177:13,14 

Veg 232:18 

vegetable 1:3 4:6 6:10 

7:21 9:22 11:2 15:18 

17:13 19:3,10 24:20 

25:15,21 29:20 33:16 

47:9,20 83:3 99:16 

190:19 207:7 209:2 

210:20 220:4 231:22 

232:11 

vegetables 12:2,3 

14:15 33:17,20 42:12 

45:1 47:7 69:1 75:1 

77:3 83:9 84:7 87:3 

87:10 91:13,22 144:7 

163:14 171:21 172:22 

192:13 194:17 208:19 

212:4 220:8 229:6 

vendor 147:13,15,17 

152:13 

venue 87:22 

venues 182:1 

verification 152:21 

153:4,22 156:8,15 

167:20 168:2 176:20 

179:4,11,20 193:8 

194:6,15 

verify 179:17 

verifying 179:5 

version 58:16 59:20 

versus 123:5 

veteran 216:9 

vice 1:14 4:16 25:2 

32:17 33:14 58:4 59:9 

59:10,12 60:3,21 61:5 

61:9,10 69:12 71:22 

72:4,6,10 91:5 123:19 

126:9 

views 101:18 

violations 214:2 

Virginia 221:8 

virtually 143:19 

visual 180:15 

visualization 18:9 

vital 103:15 

voices 151:19 

volume 52:15 159:4 

voluntary 10:10,11 54:8 

volunteer 109:14 

volunteers 107:10 

108:5 109:2 

vote 61:3,5,6,7 63:20 

63:21 69:7 72:10 73:4 

117:17 124:10 

votes 61:8,18 64:15,19 

65:21 66:5 69:16 

voting 57:18 60:10,13 

93:19 

VP 23:9 

W

wait 51:7 137:2 

waiting 69:19 180:22 

181:5 

walk 5:1 69:10 116:8 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
269 

161:11 

Walk-in 134:3 

walking 116:7 

wall 242:17 

wanted 8:10 15:17 

20:21 21:9 37:8 39:6 

40:9 142:4 167:4,10 

173:19 200:20 205:17 

228:4 

wants 20:12 39:16 62:1 

62:9 71:1 85:15 88:16 

93:21 107:15 130:20 

172:8 242:10 243:15 

warehouse 214:19 

Washington 6:18 19:19 

221:6 

wasn't 10:4 15:5 

watch 17:19 85:10 

watching 16:13 102:17 

water 168:11 181:2 

Watkinson 2:16 35:13 

way 6:7 19:6 21:22 

24:11 36:15 37:9 

38:13 42:10 69:8 

78:14 88:6,6,7 97:1 

98:8 103:21 107:20 

111:6,12 115:22 

116:14 138:14 153:18 

161:21 171:3 175:21 

184:12 186:6 188:11 

189:20 211:7 239:22 

241:6,12,17 

ways 8:4 172:6 219:12 

220:16 

wear 173:4 

webinar 36:10,12 

webinars 140:7 177:13 

177:15 

webpage 176:15 179:1 

185:21 

website 11:13,15 

127:14 178:6,16 

180:8 182:14 183:8 

185:22 188:14 217:7 

218:2 229:22 

weeds 115:1 241:19 

week 212:13 

weeks 11:7 193:19 

204:15 

weighted 104:18 

welcome 3:3 4:9 6:18 

21:9,19 37:16 38:21 

38:22 66:9 230:8 

231:7 236:6 

well-rounded 68:12 

wellness 91:14 

went 8:19,22 9:1 13:20 

22:1 28:10 48:4 89:4 

122:21 130:16 162:16 

198:5 211:18 214:10 

215:15 228:10,12 

243:20 

weren't 86:13 204:7 

west 23:15 101:21 

Wheeler 2:2 30:22 31:1 

63:11 66:10,21,22 

120:21 121:2 129:7,8 

230:5 

whichever 243:7 

white 24:8 28:8 159:8 

whoever's 172:8 

wholeheartedly 98:11 

wholesale 27:3 31:14 

32:18 

wholesalers 27:5 

WIC 135:18 

wide 14:18 15:16,16 

176:1 

wild 22:22 23:2 

Wilkins 2:2 30:6,6 

58:18,18 72:18,18,22 

72:22 91:9,9 99:6,6 

101:19 103:12 105:1 

105:13,13 106:15,18 

121:12,12 131:14,14 

147:22,22 148:15 

149:17,17 203:16,16 

203:19 204:16 240:22 

willingness 7:8 

win-win 210:10 

wine 24:5 31:22 32:2 

Wingard 2:3 29:18,19 

63:15,15,18 71:12,12 

72:2 73:14 74:16 

82:10,10 84:9,12 88:2 

100:17,17 130:19 

131:1,19,19,22 222:8 

222:9 

Wingard's 110:21 

wink 189:17 

winner 71:18 

Wisconsin 69:21 70:13 

80:12 

wish 133:14 

wishing 133:13 

won 210:11 

wonderful 24:13 182:2 

wondering 21:5 206:12 

worked 7:20 8:15 67:4 

68:3 85:20,20 88:9,21 

116:14 168:13,15 

184:12 191:16 196:8 

197:5 200:14 211:7 

workers 54:8 

workplace 26:13 

works 34:22 53:5 100:2 

166:10,15 213:4,12 

238:17 

world 23:6 29:10 43:4 

152:1 170:1 185:4 

198:10 

worldwide 198:5 

worried 205:2 

worries 104:16 

worry 125:10 

worth 207:3 221:7 

worthy 126:8,9 206:19 

wouldn't 114:15 

write 69:9 

writer 28:10 

writing 81:4,22 176:5 

225:10 226:6 

written 64:21 88:6 

115:21 132:15,16 

wrong 190:1 

wrote 167:13 

X

Y

yammer 37:5 

Yay 61:12 

year 11:9 12:5,6 13:5,6 

14:16,18 15:2,8 25:18 

28:4 29:12 30:9 42:15 

51:18 53:2 89:19 90:4 

91:3 116:19,22 

128:15 129:2 148:1 

159:22 165:14,14 

174:14 195:11 197:3 

198:4 201:4 204:13 

223:19 234:8 235:4 

237:15,21 

year-long 123:6 

years 7:10 9:11 10:5 

12:15 17:10 18:13 

23:21 27:14 28:9 41:3 

67:20 68:2,2 87:9 

90:3 139:2 140:4 

143:16 147:7 149:4 

151:9,15 164:17 

186:8 190:18 191:18 

191:20 195:6 196:6 

196:16 198:17 206:22 

210:6 213:8 216:9 

220:11,22 222:3 

223:19 229:9 232:1 

234:22 235:16,20,21 

235:22 238:19 

yellow 161:12 

yesterday 98:15 104:7 

York 156:13 164:21 

165:3 181:13 

young 89:8 

Yuma 233:14 

Z

Zea 2:3 29:4,4 55:4,4,11 

56:8,11,14 57:3 65:14 

65:14,17 66:7,9 

118:21,21 152:4,4,15 

Zealand 205:21 

Zero 148:3 

0

0.3 77:21 79:2,4 

02 33:22 

04 33:22 

1

1,500 70:1 

1.2 13:6,11 

1.8 220:7 

1:15 160:20 162:3,11 

1:18 162:17 

1:20 162:21 

1:30 161:22 162:4 

10 9:11 15:21 57:12 

90:3 96:1 123:11 

139:2 151:15 219:6 

232:1 

10:31 122:21 

10:49 122:22 

10:57 130:16 

100 14:17 21:22 56:6 

137:17 159:16,22 

160:4 211:5 

11 219:6 222:2 

11:09 130:17 

11:15 132:9 

11:43 162:16 

12 29:21 42:7 70:16 

167:14 201:4 

13 31:5 34:11 167:14 

201:5,6 216:9 

13,600 219:5 

132 3:12 

14 167:14 

15 28:8 29:21 122:18 

15- 57:19 

15-ish 167:14 

15-minute 226:20 227:6 

163 3:14 

17 133:17 

18 220:20 

18- 125:2 

190 3:16 

1930 210:19 211:12,14 

1946 140:14,14 

1950 38:16 

1963 27:7 

1975 173:9 

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1987 135:4 

1988 137:16 139:13 

148:22 

1995 8:6 

2

2 4:13 13:5 44:14 

220:22 

2,900 10:12 

2:28 228:10 

2:30 226:19 228:7 

2:35 162:10 

2:45 228:8 

2:49 228:11 

20 13:1 17:10 129:18 

130:4,6 137:19 172:3 

200 81:12 

200,000 11:7 

2004 192:3 

2006 197:6 

2009 165:12 173:15,18 

2011 167:14 174:4 

198:15 

2015 28:3 209:13 

2015-2017 127:11 

2016 197:6 198:9 

200:10 201:3 

2017 210:2 214:13 

2018 4:9 139:20 141:15 

197:2 

2018-2020 3:10 

2019 1:7 59:1 125:5 

150:22 219:13 

2020 81:21 124:22 

125:3,5 238:10 

208 3:18 

22 3:4 11:20 12:2 34:11 

228 3:20 

24 4:13 69:16 210:6 

243 3:22 

25 31:9 95:4 207:3 

219:16 

27 38:3 

2799 1:10 

28 27:5 29:8 

3

3 95:3 215:15 220:22 

3,800 32:19 

3:03 243:20 

30 93:2 164:17 190:18 

225:10 226:6 

300 16:13 31:6 

32 34:14 56:6 57:7 

33 220:6 

34 3:6 

38 32:20 

4

4 3:2 95:3,4 

4,200 195:11 

4,500 10:12 

4:30 227:14 243:12 

40 80:20 146:14 

40,000 26:20 

400 33:7 219:7 

45 215:17 225:8,14 

45-day 224:18 

46 184:14 

5

5 232:1 

5-10 234:22 

5-minute 207:4 

50 33:19 146:14 195:12 

51 187:5 

52 11:7 

57 3:8 

6

6 3:3 95:4 

6,000 25:7 

600 201:6 

65 26:21 

7

7 59:22 

70-75 49:22 50:2 81:17 

700 11:5 

75 31:8 

75-80 172:2 

750 219:14,20 221:11 

8

8 64:14 65:20 243:18 

8:24 4:2 

8:26 6:9 

8:30 1:11 

80 13:3 14:16 35:7 

137:22 138:11 202:13 

800 29:8 

85,000 26:19 

89 220:11 

9

9 1:7 6:9 59:1 70:15 

9:45 20:19 

90 50:12 148:9 212:22 

93 3:10 

95 32:9 

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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: 05-09-19

Place: Arlington, VA

was duly recorded and accurately transcribed under 

my direction; further, that said transcript is a 

true and accurate record of the proceedings. 

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

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. 

(202) 234-4433 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005-3701 www.nealrgross.com 
1

 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 + + + + +

 FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 + + + + +

 MEETING

 + + + + +

 FRIDAY

 MAY 10, 2019

 + + + + +

 The Advisory Committee met in the

Fairfax Room of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City

Hotel, 2799 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA, at

8:00 a.m., Chalmers R. Carr, III, Chair,

presiding. 

PRESENT 

CHALMERS R. CARR, III, Chair

KILEY HARPER-LARSEN, Vice Chair

TOMMY WILKINS, Secretary

DAVID K. BELL 

RICHARD E. BOWMAN 

JOHN CHANDLER 

TINA ELLOR 

K.C. ELY 

BRET ERICKSON 

MOLLY GLEASON 

JULIE L. GORDON 

JEFF HUCKABY 

MICHAEL JANIS 

TOM LIPETZKY 

PAUL PALMBY 

KELLY POWELL-MCIVER 

READE SIEVERT 

STEVE SMITH 

BRUCE TALBOTT 

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GREG TISON 

DERRIN WHEELER 

CHARLES A. WINGARD 

DONN ZEA 

STAFF PRESENT 

DARRELL HUGHES, Designated Federal Official

SONIA JIMENEZ, Deputy Administrator, AMS

LEANNE SKELTON, AMS, USDA

CHARLES STEPHENS, AMS, USDA 

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 CONTENTS 

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

Work Group Reports to Full Committee . . . . 11 

Adjourn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 

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

 8:02 a.m. 

 MR. CARR: Good morning, everyone. 

This morning as you know we're going to break 

back up into our working groups and some of you 

got through yesterday and maybe you've already 

accomplished your goal, but you can obviously go 

ahead and start talking on your topics and stuff 

like that. 

 The plan is to do that till about 9:30 

and then we'll reconvene. Maybe a little bit 

later, just by that time. 

 Darrell, I'll call on you for any 

housekeeping notes this morning. Anything? 

 MR. HUGHES: Did you officially call 

the meeting to order? 

 MR. CARR: Yes, I did. Is that all 

right? 

 MR. HUGHES: All right. So, Darrell 

Hughes speaking. Housekeeping items. I sent an 

email out late last night with my availability, 

the firm ones and tentative ones. 

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 The working groups, you can provide 

dates for your working group call today. 

However, you can give it the rest of the week for 

you guys to organize, check your schedules as 

need be and send an email to me using the SCP, 

that generic email address that I emailed you 

guys on, respond to that with your proposed 

dates. 

 What I'll do is I'll send a 

comprehensive email to the elected officers 

letting them know what dates each of the work 

groups are meeting just so that we're all on the 

same page. 

 So you can get it to me today or we 

can handle it within the next week or whatever. 

And I'll follow up with each of the work group 

leads on their times before the end of the week. 

 I had a whole list. 

 MR. CARR: Let me just ask you on that 

right quick. So this would only be for the first 

meeting of the group because if they want to 

schedule other calls they can do then. 

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 MR. HUGHES: Right. At that meeting, 

yes exactly. So it's only for the first meeting. 

And then at that meeting or in between you guys 

can discuss potential follow-up working group 

meetings. 

 MR. CARR: And again, for a reminder 

you've requested that all communication -- all 

calls you need to be on or invited to and emails. 

 MR. HUGHES: So the conference calls, 

I'm going to use a platform called Zoom and it 

allows everyone to dial into the call from your 

cell phone, wherever. There's no special --

well, using your phone you just dial into a 

number. 

 If you want to dial into a webinar or 

use your laptop you may have to like go on the 

application in your browser. But I can walk 

everyone through that when we get to that point. 

 But I need to be on all conference 

calls that we have. And if we attend meetings in 

person I'll be there. 

 Any email communication. Like I said 

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each work group, what I'll do is create a thread 

and that work group should communicate only on 

that thread. 

 I know that we heard from a member 

potentially about using texting, a group text. 

That probably won't work, I'll just say that. It 

won't work. It won't work because everything 

that we do is FOIA-able and we have to provide 

our information to the public should they ask. 

 And I don't know how we could easily 

create a text thread and provide it in a format 

that the public can easily digest. 

 And the last thing I'll do is just do 

a quick check on our working groups, the names, 

if I could do that real quick. 

 All right, so for food safety I've got 

Kiley as your lead, Molly as the assistant, K.C., 

member, Michael, Tom and Reade. That's correct? 

 Trade work group. Tommy is the lead, 

Paul is assistant, Brian K. who's not here was 

appointed by chair, David, Richard, Julie, Donn, 

Derrin, Greg, Tom, Kelly, Kiley, K.C. Anyone 

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missing from trade? 

 All right, so labor. We've got Bret 

as the lead, Tina as assistant, members John, 

Jeff, Bruce, Kelly, Chalmers, Derrin, Charles. 

Anyone missing? 

 All right, now production. We've got 

Steve as the lead, members Julie, Bret, Molly and 

Donn. 

 MR. CARR: There's more. And I do 

have a list here for you that Kiley had made 

yesterday. But for production I have Bret, 

Julie, Molly, Chalmers, Charles, Eric, Steve. 

 MR. HUGHES: Oh you know what, I'm 

sorry. 

 MR. CARR: Chandler and Tommy. 

 MR. HUGHES: So let me reread my 

production list. I've got Steve as the lead, 

Julie, Bret, Molly, Donn, Charles, John, Chalmers 

and Tommy. I forgot I had two pages. 

 And the name of the production work 

group is just production. Or are we adding 

domestic production? Do you want to just leave 

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it as production? 

 MR. CARR: Just leave it as 

production. 

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. All right, great. 

That is it. 

 MR. CARR: All right. So again, I 

don't like the schedule today because we're 

running an hour and a half ahead of schedule. We 

weren't supposed to start working groups till 

today. 

 So if everybody is still comfortable 

with the plan we laid out we will meet from this 

morning 9 to 9:45. We will have a break and then 

we will come back to get the reports of the 

working groups. 

 The assignment today is hopefully to 

bring back the objective statement, those topics 

that you prioritized that you want to discuss 

over time and then kind of talk about your 

schedule. Schedule your first meeting if 

possible. If not, do that the next week. 

 But then talk about how you want to 

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have your meetings over the summer and everything 

else like that. So that's really our homework 

assignment. We will reconvene back here around 

10 o'clock. 

 MR. WINGARD: This is Charles for the 

record. Darrell, to reach -- to find the first 

meeting date can we use something like Doodle 

poll? 

 MR. HUGHES: You're talking about for 

your work groups or for the full committee? 

 MR. WINGARD: For the work groups. 

 MR. HUGHES: I don't know if that 

would work because I mean that would just be 

pulling out random dates for each of the work 

groups. I don't think that would work. 

 Unless you guys gave me the dates and 

I put them into Doodle and then sent them to 

everyone. That's possible. 

 MR. WINGARD: Is that possible? 

 MR. HUGHES: Yes. 

 MS. ELLOR: Can we set the Doodle up 

ourselves and add you on it? 

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 MR. HUGHES: Yes. You can do that as 

well. 

 MR. CARR: All right, we're going to 

break up and have our meetings. 

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 8:09 a.m. and resumed at 

10:03 a.m.) 

 MR. CARR: I'll call the meeting back 

to order. I hope everybody had a very productive 

session working within your different working 

groups. 

 At this point in time I guess I'll 

just go around and have each group come up with 

their objective statement, share it with 

everybody. 

 Do we have the opportunity now to 

comment on that, or do we have discussion on 

that? 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

I would say that for each work group have them 

read what their plan is, discuss it as a group 

and then either you can approve it one by one or 

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wait till the day end and approve it all at once. 

 MR. CARR: Well, if it's all right 

with the group we'll approve one by one to make 

sure we stay on topic. 

 If I can call on trade. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins. We 

worked on four focus areas that we're working on. 

 Number one, develop trade agreement 

with countries, for example Mexico, Europe, Peru, 

Brazil that would protect the U.S. grower where 

the U.S. is dependent on supply from other 

countries during off season. 

 Number two, we want to work on the buy 

American where you support the American farmer, 

rancher and processor especially when taxpayer 

dollars are involved with that purchase. 

Following the school discussion yesterday. 

 Third, the USDA should increase its 

export market support by doubling available funds 

to support promotion and research that is 

currently being served by the MAP, the Market 

Access Program. 

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 And additionally we're going to look 

at the USDA should support development of 

domestic programs to enable specialty crop 

industries to compete against cheaper foreign 

imports. 

 MR. CARR: Did you all come up with an 

objective statement? 

 MR. WILKINS: We would like to pursue 

trade agreements that support the American farmer 

and buy American. 

 MR. CARR: Any questions or comments? 

Under your buy American plan, can you read that 

one again? 

 MR. WILKINS: We want to support the 

American farmer, rancher and processor especially 

when taxpayer dollars are involved with that 

purchase. 

 MR. CARR: Was there any discussion on 

competing against foreign product that is 

subsidized by foreign countries? 

 MR. WILKINS: No, but it's not that we 

would not have that conversation in our work 

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groups. 

 MR. CARR: Paul, I may ask you this. 

Some of the pushback on this subject has been 

really it will have a huge impact on that 80 

percent of the school funding that -- their 

discretionary money, that they can choose. As we 

said, some of these products could be 40 to 50 

percent less. 

 But we also know that they're 

government subsidized by the foreign countries. 

So a way to maybe do that under regulation is 

just add that it can be considerably less but 

cannot be from countries that subsidize their 

agriculture production. 

 MR. PALMBY: This is Paul Palmby. So 

I was able last night to do a little more 

research into the comments that we heard 

yesterday. 

 I think as we heard the buy American 

provisions were put in place by 1988 by I learned 

Leon Panetta. 

 And it was after that that the 

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department actually promulgated the rule on the 

notion, this concept of significant cost 

difference. 

 So what we plan to do is put together 

the background on that situation for the broader 

committee, recognize -- develop an objective 

statement along the line of what the chairman 

characterized. 

 And then we didn't want to presume to 

get into what the actual recommendations might be 

at this point. 

 I think once that happens you 

certainly would expand that into the discussion 

about how we deal with subsidized imports. 

 Because frankly we struggled a little 

bit about buy American, whether it really fits in 

trade. And I think concluded among the group 

that really what it is is it's a non-tariff 

barrier is what we're talking about. We're 

asking USDA to enforce already on the books rules 

that are effectively non-tariff barriers. 

 So that was kind of the overall 

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thinking. But obviously needs to be provided in 

a coherent manner and then to be fleshed out on 

our conference calls as well as amongst the group 

in August. 

 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr. I 

appreciate that. I guess I was jumping ahead. 

The reason why I was thinking that is just like 

when I questioned yesterday. 

 USDA actually has the ability to 

change that regulation. They have to go through 

the public comment, but they have the ability and 

under this current administration it's very in 

line with their principles of what the 

administration stands for. 

 The bad thing about doing regulation 

reform is the next time it comes around they 

could change it again. But again, that may be 

the easier way to get this solved. 

 But also just understand that foreign 

subsidy because of dealing with the World Trade 

Organization and everything we've already run 

into that. So it's already a precedent. 

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 MR. PALMBY: Yes. Paul Palmby again. 

You're a hundred percent right Chalmers. One of 

the four recommendations that I know a group of 

folks that I'm associated with actually met with 

the Secretary. 

 And one of the recommendations to the 

Secretary was to eliminate the significant cost 

difference standard. There were three or four 

others. 

 We didn't want to at this point 

without having the opportunity to flesh those out 

with our committee be able to throw those out to 

the broader group. 

 I'll speculate that that would be 

among one of the things that would be presented 

to the rest of the committee at the appropriate 

time. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins here. I'd 

like to also follow up that even if it was a 

point that you had to disclose where you 

purchased your product from, just exposing that 

to the public what that would be, we would chase 

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that avenue down as well. 

 MR. CARR: Any other questions or 

comments for trade? 

 MR. LIPETZKY: Tom Lipetzky. I really 

appreciate the direction that your committee is 

going. I had wanted to be on the trade but I was 

also on the food safety side. 

 But I really appreciate it from the 

viewpoint of looking at policy. And then I've 

always felt the way you dignify your policy work 

is through promotion. And I think that's great 

that you've included MAP. 

 Kind of my interest would be that 

sometimes we get industries that kind of get 

caught up, it's not really in gaining market 

access, it's in the technical world. 

 And whether or not you considered 

alongside of MAP the TASC program. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins here. I 

haven't got all of my acronyms down yet, but I'll 

try to be better informed on those things. 

 MR. LIPETZKY: That's certainly 

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important to our potato industry. We're caught 

up in kind of this long-running legal battle in 

Mexico and the TASC program has been very, very 

helpful to the potato industry in that respect. 

 MR. ZEA: Donn Zea. To add to the 

promotional discussion the Farm Bill, when the 

discussion was happening last year there was a 

lot of traction, bipartisan traction to give $400 

million and at the last minute it did not happen. 

 But the arguments that were being used 

in '17 leading up to '18 were trade related. 

There are so many disadvantages and we were 

starting to see the rumblings of these trade 

deals falling apart, et cetera. 

 Look where we are now with those. So 

that argument has gotten stronger. I think 

because there was bipartisan support last time 

there should be even more so this time albeit the 

politics will likely get in the way. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

A point of clarity. Just to state for the record 

can you clearly state the objective of the trade 

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group, working group, one more time? 

 MR. WILKINS: So we obviously worked 

on the four points. Tommy Wilkins here. And any 

of the committee can override me here, but I 

think what we're -- our objective is to focus the 

trade to protect the American farmer and buy 

American when possible. 

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. Darrell Hughes. 

One potential guidance point. The proposed trade 

policy market access work group that was sent, 

the language that is provided there you might 

consider looking at that language and rolling 

what you just stated into that language, getting 

rid of like the market access and any of the 

other stuff that doesn't fit that you don't like. 

 And I'm only stating that so that it's 

more uniform with some of the other work group 

objectives that I know will be coming up. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins. We 

weren't prepared to dig into the weeds as much as 

try to find a direction to head towards. I 

believe the group will -- we will get into better 

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clarity as we work together offsite. 

 MR. HUGHES: Perfect. 

 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr. Maybe the 

first time you all have your meeting go back and 

review your objective statement and kind of get 

that more together and then supply that back. 

 MR. WILKINS: Certainly. 

 MR. CARR: That would be great. 

Labor, Bret. 

 MR. ERICKSON: Labor. Our objective 

statement -- Bret Erickson speaking. Sorry. Our 

objective statement, draft objective statement, 

to deliver thoughtful and clear ag labor 

recommendations and statements to the Secretary 

with intent to preserve the survival and 

sustainability of U.S. fruit and vegetable 

production. 

 For decades the future of ag labor has 

had a high level of uncertainty due to lack of 

immigration reform and an inadequate guest worker 

program. So it's created a competitive 

disadvantage for U.S. producers. 

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 Because of this disadvantage U.S. 

dependency on foreign grown fruits and vegetables 

continues to rise dramatically as demonstrated by 

record-breaking import volumes. At the same time 

U.S. production is moving overseas. 

 Without immediate ag labor reforms the 

nation's food security will remain at risk and 

domestic production will continue to decline. 

 MR. CARR: So that's the objective 

statement. 

 MR. ERICKSON: Our objective 

statement. We can provide that to you in 

writing. 

 Focus areas. We selected or we 

prioritized five primary buckets. 

 Number one, the future flow of labor. 

Number two, the current workforce. Number three, 

wages and benefits. Number four, food security. 

And number five, technology and innovation. 

 MR. CARR: Questions of labor? And 

we're going to do a Doodle poll for our first 

meeting. 

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 MR. ERICKSON: We're going to Doodle 

poll for our first meeting. 

 MR. CARR: Production. 

 MR. SMITH: Steve Smith. We 

identified four things but our group was kind of 

small as a lot of our members were in other 

groups. So we'll depend upon our first 

conference call to get more people involved and 

garner some new ideas and feedback on what we 

came up with. 

 But we identified four things we were 

wanting to propose. Research initiatives is one 

of them to encourage and -- a lot of the research 

now is being done in the form of block grants. 

 And block grants recognize problems 

that occurred six months ago that someone now 

wants to do a research project on. It will be 18 

months before you get any results. And it's not 

there. 

 So we wanted to focus more research 

dollars on continual availability of researchers 

and ongoing research at universities so that 

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daily problems can be addressed and not two years 

later. So that was one of our things with 

research. 

 Also with universities staffing going 

continually down. Block grants are only 

available mainly to public institutions. And we 

wanted to allow private groups to apply in the 

same manner that other applications are submitted 

for research projects as long as all the research 

was made public at the finality. So a couple of 

things on research. 

 Our second area that we wanted to 

focus on is specifically a problem that's 

confronted in the last three years of off-target 

movement and contamination of produce mainly by 

the introduction of dicamba tolerant crops and 

the risk that that imposes to specialty and food 

crops. 

 So we wanted to make some 

recommendations to both USDA to work with EPA and 

get some better language and restrictions to 

protect food crops, pollinator habitats and 

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organic producers that are at risk of crop 

contamination. 

 We also have an area where we're 

identifying problems with product labels that are 

not clearly and uniformly written. Examples 

might be that a particular product is from one 

generic producer has a label for processing only 

and another very same active ingredient is 

labeled for fresh end product. 

 So that someone using that that bought 

a different generic product might be in violation 

of the label unknowingly because the other label 

has been used and had it on there. 

 So clear and uniformly written labels 

for fruits and vegetables is really important. 

 And then we wanted to address crop 

insurance. But none of us on the existing group 

was good enough on that and so we're going to 

rely on some more input about crop insurance for 

fruit and vegetable crops. 

 MR. CARR: Any questions? So you 

didn't really come up with an objective statement 

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yet. 

 MR. SMITH: We have overview 

statements on three, or two of the things. And 

Charlie, if you wanted to read any of those you 

could. Steve Smith. Or it can be --

 MR. WINGARD: This is Charles 

speaking. We kind of worked on an individual on 

research. 

 It is our opinion that agricultural 

research funding has traditionally gone into 

agronomic row crop research due to market 

potential. 

 As a result specialty crops research 

has lagged and this industry has significant 

production challenges that are not being 

addressed. Inclusion of the specialty crop 

titles in the Farm Bill which initiated specialty 

crop research initiatives and block grants has 

benefitted this industry. 

 However, budget constraints and public 

universities still are not adequately funded to 

support this industry such as providing ongoing 

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extension outreach, addressing producers' daily 

challenges. 

 Grants or research projects originate 

following the discovery of major production 

problems whereas funding for daily challenges 

remains insufficient. 

 Smaller producers lack the experience, 

ability and resources to address daily challenges 

and therefore suffer consequences of under-funded 

research. 

 Resident expertise has disappeared 

from university extension departments. 

 That is our very first go at it. We 

have not slept on it. I'm sure we'll make it a 

little better. 

 MR. CARR: So, Darrell. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes. I think 

that's good. The only thing that -- I mean, if 

you want to add more to it you totally can. The 

only thing that I would add to it is that the 

action item. What that objective is providing 

guidance to USDA, the Secretary, blah blah blah. 

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 MR. WINGARD: So that's the overview 

for research and then below the overview we have 

two recommendations in bullet points to address 

what we think. 

 MR. HUGHES: Wait, wait. So what you 

just read, that's only for research. What about 

the objective statement? 

 MR. WINGARD: We have not crafted that 

statement yet because we wanted to see in my 

opinion only the reason I did not talk about this 

-- we wanted to see what the other two overview 

statements do before we draft an overarching 

objective for our esteemed committee. 

 MR. CARR: And even the ones released 

today don't have to be program. They can be 

modified. 

 MR. HUGHES: This isn't like anything 

that's like set in stone right now. It just 

gives us the first meeting to refine, re-tune 

what we want to have. Like you guys have got to 

get work going, you've got to get to work 

drafting recommendations sooner rather than 

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later. 

 And so I mean we're all in the right 

direction. 

 MR. CARR: And that was Darrell Hughes 

speaking. 

 MR. WINGARD: This is Charles again. 

So we worked on research and we worked on 

chemical overspray and I think our opinion was 

that we would have this to email to our committee 

before we worked on the next two bullet points. 

 MR. HUGHES: Awesome. 

 MR. CARR: Charles, did I hear you --

I think you go back and look at your documents 

and you come back with just a more generic 

objective statement for production over the top 

that just could say production -- making sure 

that we have production in this country going 

forward. USDA should support these areas. And 

then you talk on each one. More of a general 

statement. 

 MR. WINGARD: We actually have one 

sentence. 

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 MR. CARR: Any other questions on 

production? And I would be glad to talk about 

crop insurance when we have the committee 

meeting. 

 MR. SMITH: Yes, and Steve Smith 

again. We do have our meeting set up for May 21 

at 1 p.m. So our teleconference. 

 MR. CARR: Food safety. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: All right. Well, 

first things first within the committee that we 

didn't get to talk about is we're going to have 

to reschedule our June 7 meeting that was 

proposed because Darrell needs to attend that 

meeting. So we'll do a Doodle poll for that. 

 Our mission, our objective statement 

is going to be simplified, combining the food 

safety audit work group and the inspection and 

standardization work group statements. 

 So for those of you who want to 

reference that you were given it yesterday in the 

back pocket of your notebook. And we're just 

going to combine those into one simplified thing. 

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 We did not spend very much time 

discussing inspection and standardization. By 

the way, this is Kiley Harper-Larsen. But we 

wanted to leave it in there because we feel like 

that may come up in future discussions. 

 Our objectives as they stand. We 

looked at taking small bites of the elephant to 

be successful and larger bites. 

 On the short-term looking at the 

current exclusions in the produce safety rule for 

rarely consumed raw commodities and expanding 

that list for all American producers. So that's 

the first thing. 

 And making a recommendation from our 

committee to FDA. Okay. On additional 

commodities that should be there. 

 Improving allocations for USDA GAP 

programs including the GAP+ auditing programs. 

As we learned yesterday from Ken Petersen and as 

we have further learned from Leanne those are 

fee-based predominantly. 

 And we're having an issue with the 

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promotion of those programs to our growers to be 

able to solve issues that we are having within 

food safety audits and food safety knowledge 

awareness. 

 The next objective which is going to 

be much broader is we intend to help strengthen 

the understanding of the foreign supplier 

verification program and its use by American 

producers to be able to verify sourcing integrity 

and compliance with the Food Safety Modernization 

Act. 

 This will be recommendations or 

statements that we will provide to the trade 

committee we think to be able to further your buy 

American endeavor. 

 The final objective is to understand 

and improve the process between the USDA, the FDA 

and the CDC when the CDC issues overarching 

advisories that can be market disruptors. We saw 

that with spinach. We've seen it with tomatoes. 

We've seen it with cut melons. We've seen it 

with romaine. And we want our federal agencies 

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to be able to work more effectively together 

before advisories get issues that could destroy, 

and potentially permanently disrupt commodities 

in America. 

 MR. CARR: Very good. Any questions 

on food safety or comments? 

 So the committee leads if you would, 

if you would make sure that an objective 

statement and your topics, you supply those to 

Darrell. 

 There was a form yesterday. I don't 

have it in front of me. Darrell, maybe you could 

send that to the committee leads. He did. Okay. 

 You have that in a short narrative but 

then you could also attach to it from that 

standpoint. But it gives standardization at 

least for them to do. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins here. I 

just want to add to that that several of you, 

Bret and yourself show some experience that some 

of us don't have. 

 What we're lacking in experience we'll 

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make up and be more effective in the next 

communique. 

 MR. CARR: Well look, we all know that 

a lot of us are new to this and the process is 

new to us. Luckily we have a couple of people 

that have been on the committee before so that 

helps quite a bit. 

 I think again it's your committee, 

it's how you want to do this. I just think for 

understanding Darrell's role coming from the 

committees and having it look in the same form or 

fashion makes it easier for him. 

 But each one of you are encouraged to 

work on your content all on your own and 

participate in as many different working groups 

as you can. 

 So one thing would be, Darrell, is to 

make sure that once a committee is having a date 

-- they've already decided on a date put that out 

there so the other committees won't schedule on 

the same time. 

 And again allow notification to all 

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members of the committee so that they can choose 

to participate or listen in if they choose to. 

So if we could make sure those communications get 

out. 

 Darrell, do you have anything else on 

the working groups or anything else that needs to 

be done there? 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

I would just add that initially what I was 

thinking that the committee may like all say we 

unanimously support the objectives of the working 

groups. 

 We may back away from that only 

because the working groups are still working. 

But also to be more flexible you may decide that 

for the most part based on what you're hearing 

that you are fine with whatever objective 

statement or focus items that the work groups 

decide on and go about it that way. 

 MR. PALMBY: Paul Palmby, just to 

comment. I think my experience with this 

committee has been that when you come down to the 

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final recommendations to the Secretary it is a 

sort of laborious process among the whole 

committee and that even though there are 

objective statements that are put forth coming 

out of the working groups, even those become 

subject to wordsmithing and tweaking. 

 I think that -- and you mentioned that 

earlier, Chairman Carr, that there may be some 

wordsmithing to the labor one although it's 

pretty darn good from what I heard. 

 So I think that's why we sort of 

backed away from trying to put together something 

too polished. 

 MR. CARR: Paul, I appreciate that 

comment. And I'll ask any of the other committee 

members. 

 Hearing that and knowing that we don't 

come back face to face until sometime in August, 

we're going to decide where here in a little bit, 

but would you have a recommendation that maybe 

two weeks or three weeks prior to that the 

working groups should have their final product 

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sent out so that we're not seeing it for the 

first time when we get back together so that at 

least if you're going to -- a lot of times you 

come into a meeting and you're reading something 

for the first time. And then we'll spend a lot 

of times wordsmithing and the word "is" becomes a 

conversation piece. 

 But would it be a recommendation of 

this group that maybe at least two weeks prior to 

our coming back together that the final product 

from the working groups is shared with everybody 

so that they have time to review them? 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

I actually now hearing what Paul said, I like 

that idea. Just providing your objective 

statement and any of your bullets, research, two 

weeks before we all come back together. 

 And one additional point. What Paul 

just did was something that is extremely useful 

which is sharing insights from his prior 

experience. 

 I'm new to this role. I cannot know 

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everything. It may seem like it, but I don't. 

And so if there is -- you're like that isn't 

going to work say it because it's helpful. 

 MR. PALMBY: Paul Palmby. Thank you. 

I think that -- and I think the work groups can 

put out what they think. And it is helpful if 

you've got an opportunity to look over. 

 Now, depending upon the agenda for the 

next meeting we might have a lot of time 

allocated to go through that and may be able to 

do it then as well. 

 At least me, I like to see it in 

advance as I know you do, Chalmers. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

The next meeting will not be this format. This 

was a very heavy administrative type agenda. The 

next meeting agenda I'll work with Chalmers to 

develop and my thinking is at a very high level 

there are going to be time slots dedicated for 

each topic which is your work group and you're 

going to go through and just discuss everything, 

refine and come up with a semi final draft. 

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meetings and do whatever the full committee has 

said. Let's add this, or let's add that. Let's 

do this. And then finalize leading up into the 

beginning of 2020. 

 MR. CARR: Darrell, a question would 

be for the working groups. If they need 

resources to help them develop their positions or 

their statements, whether it's an agency within 

USDA that they want to talk to. Maybe on trade 

or something. 

 But if it's another agency outside of 

USDA can they coordinate those requests through 

you and can you help facilitate those requests? 

 MR. HUGHES: That is my role. And so 

once my laptop stops going crazy one of the 

things I'll be doing is I can send an email to 

Ken Petersen because Kiley mentioned if they 

wanted to connect with Ken and hopefully he's 

available the next time the working group gets in 

session. 

 I know there is someone --

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 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: We have a 

plethora. This is Kiley. We have a plethora of 

actual names. 

 MR. HUGHES: The ERS contact, our 

economist that came, Greg Astill. Some of you 

may want to connect with him. And so my plan is 

to get his contact and share it with you all. 

 But also if there's a meeting, a 

working group session that you want him to come 

to I'll facilitate that. 

 That's all within USDA, but that being 

said anything outside of USDA. Like my role is 

to help you all succeed. I don't know all 

federal government workers, but I'll find out who 

the contact is and do what I can to make that 

connection and get them in touch with you as 

quickly as I can. 

 MR. CARR: To that point I would 

recommend to the committees and especially 

committee leads to try to identify that early on 

if you think you're going to need some of that 

expert -- not testimony, but consultation if you 

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will. 

 Because obviously schedules are pretty 

tough and they're not going to be able to answer 

on a dime. So the sooner you can identify if you 

want to do that please get with Darrell and make 

those requests. 

 And if you don't know the person by 

name just say you want to talk to somebody in 

this department that I'm sure you will track down 

the right person. 

 MR. HUGHES: And one more tip. 

Darrell Hughes speaking. In the back of Sonia's 

AMS overview for our agency there is a point of 

contact list. And the division directors, like 

you know, you guys are talking about research and 

promotion. 

 If you think like I want to contact 

someone in this area but I don't know if 

something like that exists, emailing Heather or 

giving Heather a call and saying hey, do you know 

anything about this so that she can point you in 

the right direction is absolutely fine and it's 

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what you should do so that when you come back to 

me and say well, we connected with Heather and 

she said there's someone at DoD that you may not 

get in contact with, but there's someone at DoD 

that can provide information on XYZ and this is 

their name. Can you put us in contact with that 

person. 

 And so that's just me making an 

insights comment that beyond just me you have 

other resources like the directors of our 

divisions. 

 MR. CARR: Any other questions or 

comments on working groups? Just really 

understand that I'm learning this as a lot of us 

are that this is really our core function is to 

delve into these specific areas and see 

statements or recommendations to the Secretary 

that he can follow up that will be very impactful 

in our industry. So I do appreciate everybody's 

time and consideration of that and your further 

dedication of time over the summer which is 

usually everybody's busy time. 

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 This is very important. We all got on 

this committee because we enjoy the industry 

we're in and we're here to represent them so 

we've got to put forth the work. Again, 

appreciate everybody on that. 

 Darrell, can I open this now up for 

just comments and questions? And particularly I 

would like to get the committee's input on what 

the next meeting should look like in terms of 

things you might like to have outside of these 

working groups. Any guest speakers or any other 

topics that we'd like to go over. 

 The format of that or anything like 

that. We have also got to talk about picking two 

dates. So maybe we can tie all this into the 

next meeting. So we can look at dates. But then 

also suggestions of things that we may want to 

encompass in that meeting if they're within the 

purview of what we can do. Any thoughts? 

 MS. GLEASON: Molly Gleason speaking. 

I do have a question not specifically related to 

that. But I am wondering what happens at the end 

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of August. Is our term up? After we make 

recommendations are we done? 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

So your terms and the charter is set to expire 

March of 2020. So as of Monday I'll be working 

on the reauthorization package for the charter. 

 With regard to the nomination packages 

I don't know exactly what approach we will take 

with like you know, if we'll want to do a full 

new combinations or do a staggered term 

membership. 

 What I'll do is connect with Sonia in 

a meeting and go back and look at our charter, 

our membership balance rules and figure out what 

approach we should take. 

 But after March you're still working 

up until March of 2020. I forget the exact date. 

Your term doesn't expire until March of 2020. 

 MS. GLEASON: Okay. So we're still on 

until 2020, but there's a charter being 

reauthorized that will decide if we continue to 

actually --

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committee authorization to function. The 

nomination package, you know how you completed 

the nomination package to be a part of the 

committee. That also happens at the same time. 

 And so the method that we take with 

conducting the nominations is what I haven't 

confirmed yet because I need to work on the 

charter first. 

 And so that's what I'll connect with 

Sonia and other groups may have insights on the 

approach that we take for the nomination package 

for the next committee cycle. 

 MS. GLEASON: Gotcha. Thank you. 

 MR. CARR: Darrell, can you put the 

dates up there for the -- dates for the next 

meeting? And we'll see if we can come to any 

kind of consensus. Or would it be the group's 

decision to do a poll outside of today on this. 

 We have four dates that were provided 

to us and we can choose two as potential dates if 

I'm understanding correctly. 

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two. And what I'll do is I'll connect with our 

resource folks and hotels to see which dates are 

available. All in August. 

 MR. CARR: So looking at these I see 

that the second full week in August or the third 

week in August. And there are Tuesday to 

Thursday, Wednesday to Friday, Monday to 

Wednesday or Tuesday to Thursday for 

consideration. 

 MR. PALMBY: Paul Palmby. As another 

follow-up question on Molly's point. I would 

expect, Darrell, there would be at least -- there 

would be, not at least, there probably would be 

one more meeting after the August meeting, is 

that right? January. 

 MR. HUGHES: The in-person? 

 MR. PALMBY: Yes. 

 MR. HUGHES: No. So August would be 

the last in-person meeting. And what I'll likely 

do is have a full conference call that has a 

video component to it. So like even on your 

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call via video. 

 MR. PALMBY: Gotcha. Thanks. 

 MR. HUGHES: Sort of like a webinar. 

 MR. CARR: So is there any suggestions 

for dates? 

 MR. PALMBY: Do you want to just go 

around? They all work for me. 

 MS. POWELL-MCIVER: The first two. 

 MR. HUGHES: First one. 

 MS. POWELL-MCIVER: First two options. 

 MR. SIEVERT: Bottom two. 

 MR. SMITH: I'm good on all of them. 

 MR. TALBOTT: Later is better but 

they're all in peach harvest. 

 MR. TISON: I'm good with all of them. 

 MR. WHEELER: Bottom two. 

 MR. WILKINS: I'm good with all. 

 MR. WINGARD: Bottom two. This is 

Charles speaking. 

 MR. ZEA: Good with all. 

 MR. LIPETZKY: Preference to the last 

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two. 

 MR. CARR: Good with all. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Preference to the 

last two. Kiley Harper-Larsen. 

 MR. HUCKABY: I can't do the first 

one, so the last three. 

 MR. JANIS: Same as Jeff actually. 

 PARTICIPANT: The last two. 

 MS. GORDON: Bottom two. 

 MS. GLEASON: Bottom two. 

 MR. HUGHES: Okay, so is everyone else 

going to choose the bottom two? All right, 

perfect. We have our two. 

 So what I'll do is I'll connect with 

 MR. CARR: Can I make a comment that 

if we choose between those two a Monday would not 

be a preference. A Monday meeting is tough. 

 MR. HUGHES: I agree. I would aim for 

this. 

 MS. GLEASON: Monday is just the fly 

in day, right? Monday is the travel day and the 

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Tuesday, Wednesday are the meeting dates? 

 MR. HUGHES: Let me make sure, look at 

my notes. Yes. We meet the 13th, half day, 

leave 14th. So Monday would be the travel day. 

 MR. CARR: Yes, it's just Mondays are 

Mondays. 

 Okay, so we have our two dates for the 

meeting. I'll send that out and then once they 

confirm that they'll let us know. 

 But suggestions for the meeting. 

Whether it's housekeeping like breaks or whether 

it's topics that you would like to discuss. We 

don't have to decide today, but if there's any 

notes or any thoughts that you can share with 

Darrell I think now would be a good time if there 

is any in particular. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins here. I 

want to go back. So based on that preliminary 

dates would we say that by July 31 we would try 

to have the final documents from the work groups 

to Darrell? 

 MR. CARR: Is that good with everybody 

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by consensus? The working group leads try to 

have their final product to present to the 

committee done by the end of July and forwarded 

to him so that he can send it out to all of us. 

Any objections to that? Okay. 

 So Darrell, if you'll make sure we 

have a record of that and then you'll communicate 

that with the leads throughout the summer so that 

we stay on task with that completion date. 

 MR. WILKINS: Tommy Wilkins again. Do 

we -- will we get all contact information for 

everybody, emails, everything? 

 MR. HUGHES: That's up to you all. 

 MR. WILKINS: I would like to have 

everyone's contact information and email. 

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. 

 MR. WILKINS: I understand we do any 

business we need to do it with you involved, but 

I would like to have everyone's contact and phone 

number, email. 

 MR. CARR: Question. Chalmers Carr. 

Would that be made public? Would it have to be a 

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part of the public record? 

 MR. HUGHES: I don't believe so. 

Sonia. I don't believe -- I think that's --

 MR. CARR: The question is if we are 

going to share our information with one another, 

our email addresses and all that, our contact 

information, does that become a matter of the 

public record or can that be kept in the confines 

of this committee? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Anything that is your 

personal information we would not release to the 

public. 

 MR. HUGHES: It's like a FOIA 

exemption. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Yes. If it's your 

business information that's probably on your 

website already. Your personal information, no. 

 MR. CARR: So does anybody have an 

objection with sharing our personal -- our 

contact information within the confines of this 

committee? Not hearing any. 

 And I know you were going to set up an 

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email thread for each working group. But maybe 

just do an initial email. 

 MR. HUGHES: Yes, just a contact. 

 MR. CARR: With the contact 

information for the whole committee. That would 

be great. Much appreciated. 

 MR. HUGHES: And I'll just keep it to 

your email, phone numbers and names. That way it 

doesn't get into a gray area. 

 MR. CARR: So any suggestions on the 

meeting? Are we good in the context of the way 

we're doing? I know we have the next time is to 

go through the working group session, but not 

being here before I don't know if there's any 

other topics that we'll discuss or can we have 

presenters come and talk to us? 

 MR. BELL: David Bell. My suggestion 

might be that by the middle, end of June if 

working groups have come across an expert that 

they think might be helpful in the discussion in 

August that they can be suggested as a guest 

presenter. Helps explain the objectives of what 

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they're pursuing. 

 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr speaking. 

One I had yesterday just listening to Greg but 

maybe just having somebody come and present the 

economic outlook for fruits and vegetables to 

this group so we're presented that information, 

kind of what they're working on and everything 

else, but we get relevant information that we can 

go back and share back in our communities and our 

industry other than just being a pamphlet. 

What's the hot topics right then and everything. 

 So maybe a presenter like that, or if 

trade continues to be a big deal maybe have 

somebody on trade as well. As it affects 

agriculture, especially fruits and vegetables. 

 We can work on this. As we're 

developing the agenda over the summer I'll be 

reaching out to all of you on that. But again if 

you've got any thoughts please forward them. 

Again, we want to make this as informative for 

every one of us as we come here and participate. 

And also we've got a work product we've got to 

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produce. 

 MS. ELLOR: This is Tina Ellor. It 

would be easier when we're going through the 

final edits if we're not finalizing till the next 

meeting to have them up on screen where we can 

all see them. Somebody can be making edits in 

realtime. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: This is Kiley 

Harper-Larsen. I can say from previous 

experience serving on other committees that it's 

incredibly beneficial for the entire group to be 

able to make effective and actionable things in 

our timeline, to be able to present it in front 

in realtime. 

 MR. HUGHES: So a projector is what 

you're saying. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Yes. 

 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr. Sonia, I 

direct this maybe to you or Darrell. Serving on 

the NAREEE Board we've always had different 

agencies, APHIS and everybody come to speak. 

 A lot of times they would not provide 

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-- they might be doing a PowerPoint and sometimes 

it's just written like yesterday when we had 

people. 

 But for us in the room it would be a 

whole lot better if we had a kind of a PowerPoint 

presentation in print because a lot of us want to 

make notes as we're going. Yesterday we were 

scrambling, flipping through our books. We 

didn't know where we were at and this, that and 

the other. 

 So we did make a request through the 

NAREEE Board that any presenter has to supply 

their PowerPoint presentation in an individual 

packet that we could follow along with to make 

notes on. 

 I don't want to be that rigid, but it 

would be a strong suggestion. Again, it was hard 

to keep going yesterday and making notes when we 

wanted to at least for me. 

 But knowing what they're talking about 

and following them, especially if presenters have 

-- if they have it on screen and we don't have 

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the same thing here you don't have anything to go 

back and reference to. 

 Any other comments? Go ahead. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

So when we talk about the dates and collecting 

information and confirming like documented report 

that's something that I'll -- I take part in in 

making sure that for public information and FOIA 

rule stuff we have set and is organized. 

 The committee will also have some 

responsibility to make sure that what I have is 

accurate. And so I don't know that you have 

already thought about what types of tasks will be 

shifted to the vice or the secretary. So I just 

wanted to throw that out to make sure that I know 

who I need to coordinate with to make sure that I 

have someone that I can connect with to validate 

and make sure that whatever I have on my side is 

correct. 

 And it may always be you. 

 MR. CARR: I'm kind of at a loss as to 

what -- we're not going to produce any working 

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product until we get through and we come back 

together. So at that point then if we do that, 

yes. 

 If we don't have time at that meeting 

to go back and review it before you go to print 

then we'll assign that day. 

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. 

 MR. CARR: Unless there's something 

I'm missing. 

 MR. HUGHES: I just wanted to throw it 

out there because you have three elected 

officials and I didn't know what their exact 

duties would be. 

 MR. CARR: Herding cats. 

 (Laughter) 

 MR. CARR: For former members are we 

missing anything from that standpoint? 

 MS. ELLOR: This is Tina Ellor. To 

think about leaving enough full committee time in 

the next live meeting in addition to enough 

subcommittee time to make all the adjustments 

brought on by both of those groups. So however 

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that. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

Like I said the meetings in the future will be so 

different from this format because this was a 

heavy administrative type meeting. 

 What that difference looks like I 

can't say. But I think the comments you all are 

providing will lead to the format that is most 

ideal. 

 MR. CARR: There's only three who have 

served before, Bruce, Paul and Tina. Is there 

anybody else? 

 So I will reach out offline to you all 

to get recommendations on the timeline for that 

and how it's coming about if that's okay. As we 

work on the agenda for the August meeting. That 

way I can get your input. 

 MR. PALMBY: Paul Palmby. Just again 

spend 15 years, but my perspective would be that 

plenty of time needed for the full committee. 

And the notion of having it up on the screen and 

all of that. There will be some limited on the 

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working group. 

 The working groups need to be tasked 

to really get their work done before they show up 

at that meeting. And then it's the full 

committee that then is tweaking and twisting and 

adding and deleting. So that's my perspective. 

 MR. CARR: Chalmers Carr. I really 

wouldn't see us go back within the subcommittees 

at that point in time. I think we hash it out 

between us. 

 Again, it would have been my job if 

you all start worrying about the word "is" or 

"than" then, you know, we're trying to stay on 

task. But if it's substantive then I think it's 

worth conversation. 

 I think we're all professionals and 

we'll turn out products that will reflect this 

group. So again that's our challenge. As Paul 

said everybody's got to do their work over the 

summer and that's when I'll start reminding make 

sure we get the products out and on time. 

 At this point in time I guess I'd 

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bring up there's been a couple of issues people 

talked about. And Kiley, I guess I'll ask you to 

talk about the Produce Safety Alliance if you 

want to make everybody aware? 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Yes. I will have 

information shared through Darrell in additional 

communication, but the Produce Safety Alliance 

which has been critical to conversations on 

getting growers all the way through the 

inspectors, the training that they need and the 

understanding that they need to fall into 

compliance with the produce safety rule under 

FSMA is time limited in its funding. 

 And so although we did not have that 

as an objective for our food safety working group 

we'll be sharing the information with you as a 

committee as a whole and with my committee I will 

be adding an additional talking point for us as 

we relay information. 

 MS. SKELTON: This is Leanne Skelton. 

So what Kiley is saying is true. Let me sort of 

lay out the premise for you. 

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Alliance starts at FDA. They fund it. The 

funding comes to USDA as a straight pass through. 

We don't take any overhead, any anything. 

 And then USDA actually has, maintains 

the cooperative agreement with Cornell 

University. That's where the PSA is stationed 

right now. 

 So it's 100 percent pass through. We 

don't take a nickel. 

 And we are on a currently a five-year 

cooperative agreement because our department sets 

cooperative agreement limits at five years. 

That's just an administrative thing. 

 At year 4 years 11 months and a half 

we can extend it, but right now they do have life 

spans of 5 years. 

 We are in year number three of the 

current agreement. So that's the administration 

of the agreement. 

 The funding part of the discussion is 

FDA is on an annual funding cycle. So year to 

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year we don't quite know until we're close, too 

close in my view to the end of the year to know 

if there's funding for the following year. 

 It has come through, it has routinely 

come through, but there have been sort of some 

angst as part of that. So that's just the 

addition I want to provide. 

 MS. HARPER-LARSEN: Thank you very, 

very much for that. But as you can see not just 

as a working group -- and this is Kiley HarperLarsen. Not as just a focus. 

 This is a whole committee type of 

thing because it affects not just domestic but 

also the requirements that we have for education 

of any foreign producers as well. 

 MR. CARR: Any comments on that? Any 

other topics that want to be brought before the 

group? Sonia, can I call on you to make some 

closing remarks? 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Sure. Thank you so much 

for all of you taking from your busy time. I 

know it's not easy to just fly into DC and spend 

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three days here. 

 I know you do know how important this 

is. We went without a committee for two years 

and you can see the results. It's a big gap of 

issues that we just didn't work on. So I really 

appreciate you taking your time and appreciate 

all the work. 

 I told Bruce this is a great group. 

They're serious about it. They have issues. 

They have rolled up their sleeves in the last two 

days. They just went for it. So that's what we 

want. 

 I'm very happy with the group that was 

selected. And again, Darrell, Charles and I are 

here to help you with those recommendations and 

anything that we can do to help you with your 

tasks, your objectives, we're here to do. 

 So thank you so much. I really, 

really appreciate it. 

 MR. CARR: Thank you. Housekeeping 

reminder. Our communications especially with the 

working groups, be sure Darrell is copied on all 

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emails. And participating in the calls as well. 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

I've created my Outlook groups for each work 

group already. And I was going to send my 

introduction email but this thing shut down on 

me. 

 So probably once this is over and I 

can get to a different power source I'm going to 

send emails out probably today or if not today 

Monday that just starts off the email thread so 

that each working group, you have your thread all 

ready. 

 MR. CARR: Very good. Is there 

anything else to come before the committee? 

 MR. TISON: Just a housekeeping. This 

is Greg Tison. Just I know some others have 

commented too. How do we go about reimbursement 

for hotel and things like that? 

 MR. HUGHES: Darrell Hughes speaking. 

That should be in the travel guidance document. 

But if it's not in the travel guidance document 

that was emailed early because I don't know all 

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the specifics of how that happened Devonia Betts 

who -- her contact information is in that 

document. She's the correct person to connect 

with specific questions on reimbursement. 

 I do know that there's a -- there's 

some type of form that needs to be completed. 

It's like the last page of that Word document. 

And the timeline on when receipts need to be 

submitted, I know that's included. I just don't 

know the exact dates. But Devonia is lead on all 

of that. 

 MS. JIMENEZ: Darrell, can we just get 

some information, send it out to them after this 

meeting? 

 MR. CARR: That's what I was going to 

ask. So just put an email solely on 

reimbursement and the contact person for that so 

everybody knows that. 

 I think everybody -- on the travel 

side of it if you're going to get reimbursement 

for that you need to work through the official 

travel agent. Is that correct? 

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 MR. HUGHES: So, wait, wait, wait. 

Darrell Hughes. The travel Word document 

provided, did everyone receive that? Okay, so 

that has all of the information and I can resend 

that and it has everything you need on travel 

reimbursement and the process and the timeline 

and everything. 

 MR. CARR: If you could resend just 

that section on the reimbursement. 

 MR. HUGHES: Sure. 

 MR. CARR: Because when you get big 

packets like that it's difficult what you pay 

attention to. Probably a lot scan it just to see 

who the committee members are just to see if 

we'll know the faces and we don't pay attention 

to everything else. In this particular one if 

you would send out that guidance that would be 

great. 

 MR. HUGHES: Okay. Will do. 

 MR. CARR: Anything else? I'll 

entertain a motion -- it's 11 o'clock. 

 MR. PALMBY: Paul Palmby. So moved. 

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 MR. CARR: All in favor we adjourn? 

 (Chorus of ayes) 

 MR. CARR: Thank you all. 

 (Whereupon, the above-entitled matter 

went off the record at 11:01 a.m.) 

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additionally 13:1 

address 5:6 25:16 27:8 

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53:15 

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Alliance 60:3,7 61:2 

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15:16 20:6,7 31:12 

32:8,15 

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46:4,6,7,15,19 52:21 

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21:9,11 33:20 

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5:19 6:6 8:9,15 9:2,6 

11:3,8 12:2 13:6,11 

13:18 14:2 16:5,5 

18:2 21:3,3,8 22:9,20 

23:3 25:21 27:16 

28:14 29:4,12 30:1,8 

33:5 34:3 36:8,14 

39:6 40:18 42:12 

45:15 46:5 47:5 48:2 

48:16 49:5,22 50:21 

50:21 51:4,18 52:4,10 

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57:8,14,16 58:10 59:7 

59:7 62:16 63:20 

64:13 65:15 66:8,11 

66:20 67:1,3 

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Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

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

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check 5:4 7:14 

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45:21 46:1 48:12,17 

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clear 21:13 25:14 

clearly 19:22 25:5 

close 62:1,2 

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coherent 16:2 

collecting 56:5 

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combine 30:22 

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come 9:14 11:13 13:6 

25:22 29:14 31:5 

35:22 36:18 37:4,17 

38:22 40:9 42:1 45:17 

52:16,19 53:4,21 

54:21 57:1 62:4,5 

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35:21 36:15 42:9 

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18:3 33:6 42:13 43:7 

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10:10 15:6 17:12,16 

18:5 20:4 28:13 29:9 

30:3,10 31:15 32:14 

33:7,13 34:6,8,18 

35:1,10,22 36:3,15 

39:2 40:20 43:2 45:2 

45:5,13 50:3 51:9,21 

52:5 56:10 57:19 

58:20 59:5 60:17,17 

62:12 63:3 64:14 

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competitive 21:21 

completed 45:3 65:6 

completion 50:9 

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comprehensive 5:10 

concept 15:2 

concluded 15:17 

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conference 6:9,19 16:3 

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consensus 45:18 50:1 

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41:17 42:4,6 50:11,15 

50:19 51:6,20 52:3,4 

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25:2 

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continues 22:3 53:13 

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create 7:1,11 

created 21:21 64:3 

critical 60:8 

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26:11,16,18 30:3 

crops 24:16,18,22 

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current 16:12 22:17 

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27:16,17 29:4 30:13 

33:10,12 34:17 35:5,8 

37:13 38:14 39:6 41:5 

41:12 43:6 44:3 45:15 

46:13 49:15,21 50:6 

54:19 56:4 58:2 60:6 

63:14,22 64:2,19 

65:12 66:2 

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dates 5:2,8,11 10:14,16 

43:15,16 45:16,16,20 

45:21 46:1,3 47:6 

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day 12:1 48:22,22 49:3 

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days 63:1,11 

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deal 15:14 53:13 

dealing 16:20 

deals 19:14 

decades 21:18 

decide 35:15,19 36:19 

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decision 45:19 

decline 22:8 

dedicated 38:19 

dedication 42:21 

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direction 18:5 20:21 

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disadvantage 21:22 

22:1 

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discuss 6:4 9:18 11:21 

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discussion 11:17 12:17 

13:18 15:13 19:6,7 

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Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
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document 64:20,21 

65:3,7 66:2 

documented 56:6 

documents 29:13 49:20 

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doing 16:15 39:17 

52:12 55:1 

dollars 12:16 13:16 

23:21 

domestic 8:22 13:3 

22:8 62:13 

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19:5 

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doubling 12:19 

draft 21:12 28:12 38:22 

drafting 28:22 

dramatically 22:3 

due 21:19 26:11 

duties 57:13 

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early 40:20 64:22 

easier 16:18 34:12 54:3 

easily 7:10,12 

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economic 53:5 

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education 62:14 

effective 34:1 54:12 

effectively 15:21 33:1 

either 11:22 

elected 5:10 57:11 

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eliminate 17:7 

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29:9 39:17 50:15,20 

51:6 52:1,2,8 64:5,10 

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emailing 41:19 

emails 6:8 50:12 64:1,9 

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encompass 43:18 

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encouraged 34:13 

endeavor 32:15 

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entertain 66:21 

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exactly 6:2 44:8 

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existing 25:17 

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expand 15:13 

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expect 46:13 

experience 27:7 33:20 

33:22 35:21 37:21 

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export 12:19 

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extend 61:16 

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extremely 37:19 

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faces 66:15 

facilitate 39:14 40:10 

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falling 19:14 

Farm 19:6 26:17 

farmer 12:14 13:9,15 

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favor 67:1 

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61:22 

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feedback 23:9 

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final 32:16 36:1,22 

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five-year 61:11 

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funding 14:5 26:10 27:5 

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11:13,20,21 12:3 

15:17 16:3 17:3,13 

20:1,1,10,17,22 23:5 

25:17 30:17,18 37:9 

38:20 39:20 40:9 50:1 

52:1,13 53:6 54:11 

59:1,18 60:15 62:10 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
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group's 45:18 

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36:5,22 37:11 38:5 

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45:11 49:20 52:19 

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hopefully 9:16 39:19 

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hotel 1:10 64:18 

hotels 46:3 

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10:12,20 11:1,19,19 

19:20,20 20:8,8 21:2 

27:17,17 28:5,17 29:4 

29:11 35:8,8 37:13,13 

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41:11,12 44:3,3 45:1 

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48:11,19 49:2 50:13 

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26:14,19,22 42:19 

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50:11,15 51:5,7,11,16 

51:17,20 52:5 53:6,8 

56:6,8 60:6,16,19 

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initiatives 23:12 26:18 

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insights 37:20 42:9 

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inspectors 60:10 

institutions 24:6 

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introduction 24:16 64:5 

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Jeff 1:18 8:4 48:7 

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Julie 1:18 7:21 8:7,12 

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Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
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looking 18:9 20:12 31:9 

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maintains 61:5 

major 27:4 

making 29:16 31:14 

42:8 54:6 55:18 56:8 

manner 16:2 24:8 

MAP 12:21 18:12,18 

March 44:5,16,17,18 

market 12:19,21 18:15 

20:10,14 26:11 32:19 

matter 11:5 51:7 67:4 

mean 10:13 27:18 29:2 

meet 9:12 49:3 

meeting 1:5 4:16 5:12 

5:21 6:1,2,3 9:20 10:7 

11:8 21:4 22:22 23:2 

28:19 30:4,6,12,14 

37:4 38:9,15,17 40:8 

43:9,16,18 44:13 

45:17 46:15,15,20 

48:18 49:1,8,10 52:11 

54:5 57:4,20 58:5,16 

59:4 65:14 

meetings 6:5,20 10:1 

11:4 39:2 58:3 

melons 32:21 

member 7:4,18 

members 8:3,7 23:6 

35:1 36:16 57:16 

66:14 

membership 44:11,14 

mentioned 36:7 39:18 

met 1:9 17:4 

method 45:6 

Mexico 12:9 19:3 

Michael 1:19 7:18 

middle 52:18 

million 19:9 

minute 19:9 

missing 8:1,5 57:9,17 

mission 30:15 

Modernization 32:10 

modified 28:16 

Molly 1:17 7:17 8:7,12 

8:18 43:20 

Molly's 46:12 

Monday 44:5 46:8 

48:17,18,21,22 49:4 

64:10 

Mondays 49:5,6 

money 14:6 

months 23:16,18 61:15 

morning 4:3,4,14 9:13 

motion 66:21 

moved 66:22 

movement 24:15 

moving 22:5 

N

name 8:20 41:8 42:6 

names 7:14 40:3 52:8 

NAREEE 54:20 55:12 

narrative 33:14 

nation's 22:7 

need 5:5 6:8,19 39:7 

40:21 45:8 50:18 

56:16 59:2 60:10,11 

65:8,21 66:5 

needed 58:20 

needs 16:1 30:13 35:6 

65:6 

new 23:9 34:4,5 37:22 

44:10 

nickel 61:10 

night 4:21 14:16 

nomination 44:7 45:3,4 

45:12 

nominations 45:7 

non-tariff 15:18,21 

notebook 30:21 

notes 4:14 49:3,14 55:7 

55:15,18 

notification 34:22 

notion 15:2 58:21 

number 6:14 12:8,13 

22:16,17,17,18,19 

50:20 61:18 

numbers 52:8 

O

o'clock 10:4 66:21 

objection 51:19 

objections 50:5 

objective 9:17 11:14 

13:7 15:6 19:22 20:5 

21:5,10,12,12 22:9,11 

25:22 27:21 28:7,13 

29:15 30:15 32:5,16 

33:8 35:17 36:4 37:15 

60:15 

objectives 20:18 31:6 

35:11 52:22 63:17 

obviously 4:7 16:1 20:2 

41:2 

occurred 23:16 

off-target 24:14 

officers 5:10 

official 2:4 65:21 

officially 4:15 

officials 57:12 

offline 58:13 

offsite 21:1 

once 12:1 15:12 34:18 

39:16 49:8 64:7 

ones 4:22,22 28:14 

ongoing 23:22 26:22 

open 43:6 

opinion 26:9 28:10 29:8 

opportunity 11:16 

17:11 38:7 

options 47:11 

order 3:11 4:16 11:9 

organic 25:1 

Organization 16:21 

organize 5:4 

organized 56:9 

originate 27:3 

outlook 53:5 64:3 

outreach 27:1 

outside 39:12 40:12 

43:10 45:19 

overall 15:22 

overarching 28:12 

32:18 

overhead 61:4 

override 20:4 

overseas 22:5 

overspray 29:8 

overview 26:2 28:1,2 

28:11 41:13 

P

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

4:1 

p.m 30:7 

package 44:6 45:3,4,12 

packages 44:7 

packet 55:14 

packets 66:12 

page 5:13 65:7 

pages 8:19 

Palmby 1:20 14:15,15 

17:1,1 35:20,20 38:4 

38:4 46:11,11,18 47:3 

47:7 58:18,18 66:22 

66:22 

pamphlet 53:10 

Panetta 14:21 

part 35:16 45:4 51:1 

56:7 61:21 62:6 

PARTICIPANT 48:8 

participate 34:15 35:2 

53:21 

participating 64:1 

particular 25:6 49:16 

66:16 

particularly 43:7 

pass 61:3,9 

Paul 1:20 7:20 14:2,15 

17:1 35:20 36:14 

37:14,18 38:4 46:11 

58:11,18 59:18 66:22 

pay 66:12,15 

peach 47:15 

people 23:8 34:5 55:3 

60:1 

percent 14:5,8 17:2 

61:9 

perfect 21:2 48:13 

permanently 33:3 

person 6:21 41:7,10 

42:7 65:3,17 

personal 51:11,17,19 

perspective 58:19 59:6 

Peru 12:9 

Petersen 31:19 39:18 

phone 6:12,13 50:19 

52:8 

phones 47:1 

picking 43:14 

piece 37:7 

place 14:20 

plan 4:10 9:12 11:21 

13:12 15:4 40:6 

platform 6:10 

please 41:5 53:19 

plenty 58:20 

plethora 40:2,2 

pocket 30:21 

point 6:18 11:12 15:11 

17:10,20 19:21 20:9 

37:18 40:18 41:13,21 

46:12 57:2 59:9,22 

60:18 

points 20:3 28:3 29:10 

policy 18:9,10 20:10 

polished 36:13 

politics 19:19 

poll 10:8 22:21 23:2 

30:14 45:19 

pollinator 24:22 

positions 39:8 

possible 9:21 10:18,19 

20:7 

potato 19:1,4 

potential 6:4 20:9 26:12 

45:21 

potentially 7:5 33:3 

POWELL-MCIVER 1:20 

47:9,11 

power 64:8 

PowerPoint 55:1,5,13 

precedent 16:22 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

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73 

predominantly 31:21 

preference 47:22 48:3 

48:18 

preliminary 49:18 

premise 60:22 

prepared 20:20 

present 1:12 2:3 50:2 

53:4 54:13 

presentation 55:6,13 

presented 17:15 53:6 

presenter 52:22 53:12 

55:12 

presenters 52:16 55:21 

preserve 21:15 

presiding 1:11 

presume 15:9 

pretty 36:10 41:2 

previous 54:9 

primary 22:15 

principles 16:13 

print 55:6 57:5 

prior 36:21 37:9,20 

prioritized 9:18 22:15 

private 24:7 

probably 7:6 46:14 

51:16 64:7,9 66:13 

problem 24:13 

problems 23:15 24:1 

25:4 27:5 

process 32:17 34:4 

36:2 66:6 

processing 25:7 

processor 12:15 13:15 

produce 24:15 31:10 

54:1 56:22 60:3,7,12 

61:1 

producer 25:7 

producers 21:22 25:1 

27:7 31:12 32:9 62:15 

producers' 27:1 

product 13:19 17:21 

25:4,6,9,11 36:22 

37:10 50:2 53:22 57:1 

production 8:6,11,17 

8:20,21,22 9:1,3 

14:14 21:17 22:5,8 

23:3 26:15 27:4 29:15 

29:16,17 30:2 

productive 11:9 

products 14:7 59:17,21 

professionals 59:16 

program 12:22 18:18 

19:3 21:21 28:15 32:8 

programs 13:3 31:18 

31:18 32:1 

project 23:17 

projector 54:15 

projects 24:9 27:3 

promotion 12:20 18:11 

32:1 41:16 

promotional 19:6 

promulgated 15:1 

propose 23:12 

proposed 5:7 20:9 

30:13 

protect 12:10 20:6 

24:22 

provide 5:1 7:8,11 

22:12 32:13 42:5 

54:22 62:7 

provided 16:1 20:11 

45:20 66:3 

providing 26:22 27:21 

37:15 58:8 

provisions 14:20 

PSA 61:7 

public 7:9,12 16:11 

17:22 24:6,10 26:20 

50:22 51:1,8,12 56:8 

pulling 10:14 

purchase 12:16 13:17 

purchased 17:21 

pursue 13:8 

pursuing 53:1 

purview 43:19 

pushback 14:3 

put 10:17 14:20 15:4 

34:19 36:4,12 38:6 

42:6 43:4 45:15 65:16 

Q

question 39:6 43:21 

46:12 50:21 51:4 

questioned 16:8 

questions 13:11 18:2 

22:20 25:21 30:1 33:5 

42:12 43:7 65:4 

quick 5:20 7:14,15 

quickly 40:17 

quite 34:7 62:1 

R

R 1:11,13 

rancher 12:15 13:15 

random 10:14 

rarely 31:11 

raw 31:11 

re-tune 28:19 

reach 10:6 58:13 

reaching 53:18 

read 11:21 13:12 26:4 

28:6 

Reade 1:21 7:18 

reading 37:4 

ready 64:12 

real 7:15 

realtime 54:7,14 

reason 16:7 28:10 

reauthorization 44:6 

reauthorized 44:21 

receipts 65:8 

receive 66:3 

recognize 15:6 23:15 

recommend 40:19 

recommendation 31:14 

36:20 37:8 

recommendations

15:10 17:3,6 21:14 

24:20 28:3,22 32:12 

36:1 42:17 44:2 58:14 

63:15 

reconvene 4:11 10:3 

record 10:6 11:6 19:21 

50:7 51:1,8 67:5 

record-breaking 22:4 

reference 30:20 56:2 

refine 28:19 38:22 

reflect 59:17 

reform 16:16 21:20 

reforms 22:6 

regard 44:7 

Regency 1:10 

regulation 14:11 16:10 

16:15 

reimbursement 64:17 

65:4,17,20 66:6,9 

related 19:11 43:21 

relay 60:19 

release 51:11 

released 28:14 

relevant 53:8 

rely 25:19 

remain 22:7 

remains 27:6 

remarks 62:19 

reminder 6:6 63:21 

reminding 59:20 

report 56:6 

reports 3:13 9:14 

represent 43:3 

request 55:11 

requested 6:7 

requests 39:13,14 41:6 

requirements 62:14 

reread 8:16 

reschedule 30:12 

research 12:20 14:17 

23:12,13,17,20,22 

24:3,9,9,11 26:8,10 

26:11,13,18 27:3,10 

28:2,6 29:7 37:16 

41:15 

researchers 23:21 

resend 66:4,8 

Resident 27:11 

resource 46:3 

resources 27:8 39:8 

42:10 

respect 19:4 

respond 5:7 

responsibility 56:11 

rest 5:3 17:16 

restrictions 24:21 

result 26:13 

results 23:18 63:4 

resumed 11:6 

review 21:5 37:12 57:5 

Richard 1:15 7:21 

Richmond 1:10 

rid 20:14 

rigid 55:16 

rise 22:3 

risk 22:7 24:17 25:1 

role 34:10 37:22 39:15 

40:12 

rolled 63:10 

rolling 20:12 

romaine 32:22 

room 1:10 55:4 

routinely 62:4 

row 26:11 

rule 15:1 31:10 56:9 

60:12 

rules 15:20 44:14 

rumblings 19:13 

run 16:21 

running 9:8 

S

safety 7:16 18:7 30:8 

30:17 31:10 32:3,3,10 

33:6 60:3,7,12,15 

61:1 

saw 32:19 

saying 41:20 54:16 

60:21 

scan 66:13 

schedule 5:22 9:7,8,20 

9:20 34:20 

schedules 5:4 41:2 

school 12:17 14:5 

SCP 5:5 

scrambling 55:8 

screen 54:5 55:22 

58:21 

season 12:12 

second 24:12 46:6 

secretary 1:14 17:5,7 

21:14 27:22 36:1 

42:17 56:14 

section 66:9 

security 22:7,18 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

(202) 234-4433 Washington DC www.nealrgross.com 
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seeing 37:1 

seen 32:20,21,21 

selected 22:14 63:14 

semi 38:22 

send 5:5,9 33:13 39:17 

49:8 50:4 64:4,9 

65:13 66:17 

sent 4:20 10:17 20:10 

37:1 

sentence 29:22 

serious 63:9 

served 12:21 58:11 

serving 54:10,19 

session 11:10 39:21 

40:9 52:13 

set 10:21 28:18 30:6 

44:4 51:22 56:9 

sets 61:12 

share 11:14 40:7 49:14 

51:5 53:9 

shared 37:11 60:6 

sharing 37:20 51:19 

60:16 

shifted 56:14 

short 33:14 

short-term 31:9 

show 33:20 59:3 

shut 64:5 

side 18:7 56:18 65:20 

SIEVERT 1:21 47:12 

significant 15:2 17:7 

26:14 

simplified 30:16,22 

situation 15:5 

six 23:16 

Skelton 2:5 60:20,20 

sleeves 63:10 

slept 27:14 

slots 38:19 

small 23:6 31:7 

Smaller 27:7 

Smith 1:21 23:4,4 26:2 

26:5 30:5,5 47:13 

solely 65:16 

solve 32:2 

solved 16:18 

somebody 41:8 53:4,14 

54:6 

Sonia 2:4 44:12 45:11 

51:3 54:18 62:18 

Sonia's 41:12 

sooner 28:22 41:4 

sorry 8:14 21:11 

sort 36:2,11 47:4 60:21 

62:5 

source 64:8 

sourcing 32:9 

spans 61:17 

speak 54:21 

speakers 43:11 

speaking 4:20 11:19 

19:20 21:11 26:7 29:5 

35:8 37:13 38:14 

41:12 43:20 44:3 

47:20 53:2 56:4 58:2 

64:2,19 

special 6:12 

specialty 13:3 24:17 

26:13,16,17 

specific 42:16 65:4 

specifically 24:13 

43:21 

specifics 65:1 

speculate 17:14 

spend 31:1 37:5 58:19 

62:22 

spinach 32:20 

STAFF 2:3 

staffing 24:4 

staggered 44:10 

stand 31:6 

standard 17:8 

standardization 30:18 

31:2 33:16 

standpoint 33:16 57:17 

stands 16:14 

start 4:8 9:9 59:12,20 

starting 19:13 

starts 61:2 64:10 

state 19:21,22 

stated 20:13 

statement 9:17 11:14 

13:7 15:7 21:5,11,12 

21:12 22:10,12 25:22 

28:7,9 29:15,20 30:15 

33:9 35:18 37:16 

statements 21:14 26:3 

28:12 30:18 32:13 

36:4 39:9 42:17 

STATES 1:1 

stating 20:16 

stationed 61:7 

stay 12:4 50:9 59:13 

STEPHENS 2:5 

Steve 1:21 8:7,12,17 

23:4 26:5 30:5 

stone 28:18 

stops 39:16 

straight 61:3 

strengthen 32:6 

strong 55:17 

stronger 19:16 

struggled 15:15 

stuff 4:8 20:15 56:9 

subcommittee 57:21 

subcommittees 59:8 

subject 14:3 36:6 

submitted 24:8 65:9 

subsidize 14:13 

subsidized 13:20 14:10 

15:14 

subsidy 16:20 

substantive 59:14 

succeed 40:13 

successful 31:8 

suffer 27:9 

suggested 52:21 

suggestion 52:17 55:17 

suggestions 43:17 47:5 

49:10 52:10 

summer 10:1 42:21 

50:8 53:17 59:20 

supplier 32:7 

supply 12:11 21:6 33:9 

55:12 

support 12:14,19,20 

13:2,9,14 19:17 26:22 

29:18 35:11 

supposed 9:9 

survival 21:15 

sustainability 21:16 

T

TALBOTT 1:22 47:14 

talk 9:19,22 28:10 29:19 

30:2,11 39:10 41:8 

43:14 52:16 56:5 60:3 

talked 60:2 

talking 4:8 10:9 15:19 

41:15 55:20 60:18 

TASC 18:18 19:3 

task 50:9 59:14 

tasked 59:2 

tasks 56:13 63:17 

taxpayer 12:15 13:16 

technical 18:16 

technology 22:19 

teleconference 30:7 

tentative 4:22 

term 44:1,10,18 

terms 43:9 44:4 

testimony 40:22 

text 7:5,11 

texting 7:5 

thank 38:4 45:14 62:8 

62:20 63:18,20 67:3 

Thanks 47:3 

things 17:15 18:21 23:5 

23:11 24:2,11 26:3 

30:10 39:17 43:10,17 

54:12 64:18 

third 12:18 46:6 

thought 56:13 

thoughtful 21:13 

thoughts 43:19 49:14 

53:19 

thread 7:1,3,11 52:1 

64:10,11 

three 17:8 22:17 24:14 

26:3 36:21 48:6 57:11 

58:10 61:18 63:1 

throw 17:12 56:15 

57:10 

Thursday 46:8,9 

tie 43:15 

till 4:10 9:9 12:1 54:4 

timeline 54:13 58:14 

65:8 66:6 

times 5:17 37:3,6 54:22 

Tina 1:16 8:3 54:2 

57:18 58:11 

tip 41:11 

Tison 2:1 47:16 64:15 

64:16 

titles 26:17 

today 5:2,14 9:7,10,16 

28:15 45:19 49:13 

64:9,9 

told 63:8 

tolerant 24:16 

Tom 1:19 7:18,22 18:4 

tomatoes 32:20 

Tommy 1:14 7:19 8:15 

8:19 12:6 17:18 18:19 

20:3,19 33:18 49:17 

50:10 

top 29:15 

topic 12:4 38:20 

topics 4:8 9:17 33:9 

43:12 49:12 52:15 

53:11 62:17 

totally 27:19 

touch 40:16 

tough 41:3 48:18 

track 41:9 

traction 19:8,8 

trade 7:19 8:1 12:5,8 

13:9 15:17 16:20 18:3 

18:6 19:11,13,22 20:6 

20:9 32:13 39:10 

53:13,14 

traditionally 26:10 

training 60:10 

travel 48:22 49:4 64:20 

64:21 65:19,22 66:2,5 

true 60:21 

try 18:21 20:21 40:20 

49:19 50:1 

trying 36:12 59:13 

Tuesday 46:7,9 49:1 

turn 59:17 

tweaking 36:6 59:5 

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twisting 59:5 

two 8:19 12:13 22:17 

24:1 26:3 28:3,11 

29:10 36:21 37:9,16 

43:14 45:21 46:2 47:9 

47:11,12,17,19 48:1,4 

48:8,9,10,12,13,17 

49:7 63:3,10 

type 38:16 58:5 62:12 

65:6 

types 56:13 

U

U.S 12:10,11 21:16,22 

22:1,5 

unanimously 35:11 

uncertainty 21:19 

under-funded 27:9 

understand 16:19 

32:16 42:14 50:17 

understanding 32:7 

34:10 45:22 60:11 

uniform 20:17 

uniformly 25:5,14 

UNITED 1:1 

universities 23:22 24:4 

26:21 

university 27:12 61:7 

unknowingly 25:12 

USDA 2:5,5 12:18 13:2 

15:20 16:9 24:20 

27:22 29:18 31:17 

32:17 39:10,13 40:11 

40:12 61:3,5 

use 6:10,16 10:7 32:8 

useful 37:19 

usually 42:22 

V

VA 1:10 

validate 56:17 

vegetable 1:3 21:16 

25:20 

vegetables 22:2 25:15 

53:5,15 

verification 32:8 

verify 32:9 

vice 1:13 56:14 

video 46:22 47:2 

view 62:2 

viewpoint 18:9 

violation 25:11 

volumes 22:4 

W

wages 22:18 

wait 12:1 28:5,5 66:1,1 

66:1 

walk 6:17 

wanted 18:6 23:20 24:7 

24:12,19 25:16 26:4 

28:9,11 31:4 39:19 

55:19 56:15 57:10 

wanting 23:12 

wants 23:17 

way 14:11 16:18 18:10 

19:19 31:3 35:19 52:8 

52:11 58:17 60:9 

webinar 6:15 47:4 

website 51:17 

Wednesday 46:8,9 49:1 

weeds 20:20 

week 5:3,15,17 9:21 

46:6,7 

weeks 36:21,21 37:9,17 

went 11:6 63:3,11 67:5 

weren't 9:9 20:20 

WHEELER 2:1 47:17 

Wilkins 1:14 12:6,6 

13:8,14,21 17:18,18 

18:19,19 20:2,3,19,19 

21:7 33:18,18 47:18 

49:17,17 50:10,10,14 

50:17 

WINGARD 2:2 10:5,11 

10:19 26:6 28:1,8 

29:6,21 47:19 

wondering 43:22 

word 37:6 59:12 65:7 

66:2 

wordsmithing 36:6,9 

37:6 

work 3:13 5:11,16 7:1,2 

7:6,7,7,19 8:20 10:10 

10:11,13,14,15 11:20 

12:13 13:22 18:10 

20:10,17 21:1 24:20 

28:21,21 30:17,18 

33:1 34:14 35:18 38:3 

38:5,17,20 39:1 43:4 

45:8 47:8 49:20 53:16 

53:22 58:16 59:3,19 

63:5,7 64:3 65:21 

worked 12:7 20:2 26:7 

29:7,7,10 

worker 21:20 

workers 40:14 

workforce 22:17 

working 4:5 5:1,2 6:4 

7:14 9:9,15 11:10,10 

12:7 20:1 34:15 35:6 

35:11,14,14 36:5,22 

37:11 39:7,20 40:9 

42:13 43:11 44:5,16 

50:1 52:1,13,19 53:7 

56:22 59:1,2 60:15 

62:10 63:22 64:11 

world 16:20 18:16 

worrying 59:12 

worth 59:15 

wouldn't 59:8 

writing 22:13 

written 25:5,14 55:2 

X

XYZ 42:5 

Y

year 19:7 61:15,18,22 

62:1,2,3 

years 24:1,14 58:19 

61:13,15,17 63:3 

yesterday 4:6 8:11 

12:17 14:18 16:8 

30:20 31:19 33:11 

53:3 55:2,7,18 

Z

Zea 2:2 19:5,5 47:21 

Zoom 6:10 

0

1

10 1:7 10:4 

10:03 11:7 

100 61:9 

11 3:13 61:15 66:21 

11:01 67:5 

13th 49:3 

14th 49:4 

15 58:19 

17 19:11 

18 19:11 23:17 

1988 14:20 

2

2019 1:7 

2020 39:5 44:5,17,18,20 

21 30:6 

2799 1:10 

3

31 49:19 

4

4 3:11 61:15 

40 14:7 

400 19:8 

5

5 61:17 

50 14:7 

67 3:15 

7

7 30:12 

8

6

8:00 1:11 

8:02 4:2 

8:09 11:6 

80 14:4 

9

9 9:13 

9:30 4:10 

9:45 9:13 

Neal R. Gross and Co., Inc. 

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

76

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: 05-10-19

Place: Arlington, VA

was duly recorded and accurately transcribed under 

my direction; further, that said transcript is a 

true and accurate record of the proceedings. 

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

NEAL R. GROSS 

COURT REPORTERS AND TRANSCRIBERS 

1323 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: Chalmers Carr <chalmers@titanfarms.com> 

Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 4:09 PM 

To: Hughes, Darrell A - AMS <darrella.hughes@usda.gov> 

Cc: Hillary Barrow <hillary@titanfarms.com> 

Subject: Re: Please Approve - FVIAC May 9-10 Meeting Minutes 

Approved. 

Chalmers Carr 

803-480-0545 

Titan Farms 

Sent from iPhone 

Please excuse any typos or grammatical errors 

From: AMS - SCP FVIAC <SCPFVIAC@usda.gov> 

Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 9:39 AM 

To: Chalmers Carr <chalmers@titanfarms.com>; 'Mrs. Kiley Harper-Larsen' <safefarm@aol.com>; 

Tommy Wilkins <tommy@growfarmstx.com> 

Cc: Hillary Barrow <hillary@titanfarms.com> 

Subject: Please Approve - FVIAC May 9-10 Meeting Minutes 

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Good morning Chalmers: 

I’ve attached the meeting minutes for the May 9-10 FVIAC session. Please respond to this email 

approving the minutes. 

One important correction. On page 95, beginning in the third paragraph, I said: “If you want to create a 

work group on let’s just say agricultural labor or rural broadband those are topics that get outside of 

USDA’s center of influence.” This statement is partially incorrect. USDA Rural Development agencies 

work to enhance telecommunication (among other infrastructure) needs in rural communities. 

Once the minutes are approved, I will have them posted on the USDA FVIAC website. 

Thanks, 

Darrell 

<image015.jpg> Darrell A. Hughes | Designated Federal Officer 

Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee 

U.S. Department of Agriculture | Agricultural Marketing Service 

Desk: (202) 378-2576 | Mobile: (202) 336-2016 

SCPFVIAC@ams.usda.gov