[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 78 (Monday, April 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 20972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3846]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. FV-06-377]


Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to notify all interested parties 
that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will hold a Fruit and 
Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (Committee) meeting that is open 
to the public. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established 
the Committee to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit 
and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the 
Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet 
the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. This notice sets forth the 
schedule and location for the meeting.

DATES: Tuesday, June 27, 2006, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 
June 28, 2006, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Committee meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn 
Capitol, 550 C Street, SW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Hatch, Designated Federal 
Official, USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs. Telephone: (202) 
690-0182. Facsimile: (202) 720-0016. e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. II), the Secretary of Agriculture established 
the Committee in August 2001 to examine the full spectrum of issues 
faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions 
and ideas to the Secretary on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet 
the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. The Committee was rechartered 
in July 2003 and again in June 2005 with new members appointed by USDA 
from industry nominations.
    AMS Deputy Administrator for Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Robert 
C. Keeney, serves as the Committee's Executive Secretary. 
Representatives from USDA mission areas and other government agencies 
affecting the fruit and vegetable industry will be called upon to 
participate in the Committee's meetings to the public so that they may 
attend and present their recommendations. Reference the date and 
address section of this announcement for the time and place of the 
meeting.
    Topics of discussion at the advisory committee meeting will 
include: the Speciality Crop Block Grant Program; sustainable 
agriculture; U.S. produce industry labor and immigration issues; the 
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program; the 2007 Farm Bill; state 
and federal minimum quality requirements and grade standards; and 
overviews of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) program 
and government support of Produce for Better Health Foundation 
initiatives.
    Those parties that would like to speak at the meeting should 
register on or before June 16, 2006. To register as a speaker, please 
e-mail your name, affiliation, business address, e-mail address, and 
phone number to Mr. Andrew Hatch at: [email protected] or facsimile 
to (202) 720-0016. Speakers who have registered in advance will be 
given priority. Groups and individuals may submit comments for the 
Committee's consideration to the same e-mail address. The meeting will 
be recorded, and information about obtaining a transcript will be 
provided at the meeting.
    The Secretary of Agriculture selected a diverse group of members 
representing a broad spectrum of persons interested in providing 
suggestions and ideas on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the 
fruit and vegetable industry's needs. Equal opportunity practices were 
considered in all appointments to the Committee in accordance with USDA 
policies.
    If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language 
interpreter, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: April 18, 2006.
Lloyd Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 06-3846 Filed 4-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-M