January 13, 2025 — Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of 25 industry representatives to serve on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC). The reappointed and newly appointed members will serve two-year terms beginning immediately and ending in January 2027.
Newly appointed members:
Broker/Distributor/Wholesaler/Importer/Exporter
- Alice Choi-Barrick, President, Tay Shing Corporation of New York
- Mike Dill, Director of Advocacy & Sustainability, Organically Grown Company
- Alex DiNovo, President and Chief Operating Officer, DNO Produce
- Tony Freytag, Executive Vice President, Advisor to Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Crunch Pak LLC
- Bill Weyland, Vice President Imports, Seven Seas Fruit
Industry/Trade Association
- Ken Love, Executive Director, Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers
- Jenny Maloney, Americas Industry Affairs Director, Bayer Vegetable Seeds
Farmers Market/Food Hub/Retailer/Food Service
- Roland R. Harmon II, Senior Director Produce Sourcing-California, Walmart
- Don Wambles, Division Director, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Farmers Market Authority Division
- Eastlyn Marie Wright, Buy Fresh Buy Local Program Coordinator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Farm Organization/Grower/Producer/Shipper
- Stephen Brazeel, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, SunTerra Produce Traders
- Sarah Davidson Evanega, Vice President of Business Development, Okanagan Specialty Fruits
- Frank Mazzetti III, Council Member, Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians
- Neil Nagata, Farmer, Nagata Bros Farms Inc.
- Takashi Nakamura, Vice President of Research & Development and Global Food Safety for Fresh Del Monte
- Eric Profitt, Executive Vice President, Grimmway Farms/Cal-Organic
Re-appointed members:
Broker/Distributor/Wholesaler/Importer/Exporter
- Angel Rafael Santiago, President and Chief Executive Officer, Caribbean Produce Exchange, Inc.
Industry/Trade Association
- Karla J. Stockli, Chief Executive Officer, California Fig Advisory Board
- Kay Swartz Rentzel, Executive Director, Southeastern Food Processors Association, National Peach Council, and U.S. Sweet Potato Council
Farmers Market/Food Hub/Retailer/Food Service
- Anthony M. Mirisciotta, Executive Director, Spring Creek Food Hub
Farm Organization/Grower/Producer/Shipper
- Amy Jeanne Baker, Senior Director, Quality and Regulatory Compliance Management for Peterson Farms
- James Robert Benson, National Sales Director, Hronis, Inc.
- Morris Hodges, Owner/Farm Manger, Morris Watermelon Farm LLC
- Darwin Anthony Inman, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Horizon Nut Company, LLC
- Reggie Marshall, Grower, Reggie’s Veggies
Originally chartered in 2001, the FVIAC advises the Secretary of Agriculture on issues affecting the fruit and vegetable industry. Committee members represent organic and non-organic growers, shippers, wholesalers, retailers, industry trade associations, importers, processors, foodservice suppliers, food brokers, state departments of agriculture and farmers markets; and represent local, regional and national levels. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) ensures the committee is administered according to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
More information about the committee is available on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee page on the AMS website.
AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, AMS conducts extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
