The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of 13 members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board. The appointees will serve three-year terms from Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2024.
Members appointed are:
- District 2 Producer: Kyle Pless, Cordele, Georgia
- District 2 Producer: Lee Wroten, Cordele, Georgia
- District 2 Handler: Rich Chastain, Brooklyn, New York
- District 2 Handler: Jordan Carter, Cordele, Georgia
- District 3 Producer: James Sharp, Kenly, North Carolina
- District 3 Producer: Patrick Stewart, Ringling, Oklahoma
- District 3 Handler: Cody Buckley, San Antonio, Texas
- District 3 Handler: Dakota Sutton, Kemp Texas
- Importer: Dalton Borders, Edinburg, Texas
- Importer: Ward Thomas, McAllen, Texas
- Importer: Jose F. Gomez, El Paso, Texas
- Importer: Kenneth Kodish, Oakland Park, Florida
- Importer: John Gee, Hemet, California
More information about the board, including a roster of members, is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Watermelon Promotion Board webpage and on the board’s website.
AMS policy is that diversity of the board should reflect the diversity of its industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. When submitting nominations, the industry must consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
