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
The 30-member board is comprised of 10 producers, 10 handlers, 9 importers and 1 public member. The producer and handler members are from five districts that divide the production of watermelons into equal production volume, and each district is represented on the Board by two producers and two handlers. For district representatives, nomination conventions are held in each of the respective districts. Nominations for importers are made by ballot or other means.
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.
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