FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

USDA - 10732 - Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee	Agency Name	Department of Agriculture
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	10732
Original Establishment Date	8/6/2001	Committee Status	Terminated
Actual Termination Date	2/20/2025	Committee URL	http://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/facas-advisor...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	25
Terminated This FY	Yes	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Designated Federal Officer
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Miss
Current Charter Date	5/21/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Jennie
Date Of Renewal Charter	5/21/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	M.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Varela
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 658-8616
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(863) 291-8614
Specific Establishment Authority*		Designated Federal Officer Email*	jennie.varela@usda.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	8/6/2001
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The scope and objective of the committee is to examine the full spectrum of fruit and vegetable issues and provide suggestions and ideas to USDA on how it can tailor its programs to meet the industry's needs. The duties of the Committee are solely advisory. Agenda items and issues of importance are gathered by the Agricultural Marketing Service from Committee members in advance of each meeting. Following identified officials, experts and specialists speaking to the Committee during meetings, the Committee devises recommendations, and votes as a full Committee on recommendations to be forwarded to the Secretary of Agriculture. The Committee conducts votes on issues by voice vote. During two previous charters, Committee members have divided into 5-to 6-person working groups to do research on specified issues between meetings. A working group spokesperson then presents findings to the full Committee for its consideration during meetings.
How is membership balanced?*	Membership consists of up to 25 members who represent the fruit and vegetable industry: growers/shippers, wholesalers/receivers, retailers, state departments of agriculture, trade associations, processors, fresh-cut processors, importers, foodservice suppliers and brokers, each representing a balanced diversity of views regarding fruit and vegetable industry interests.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Estimated number of meetings average 1-2 per fiscal year, with committee members split into working groups based upon subject matter determined by the full committee. These working groups meet approximately 2-4 times per year each via teleconference call.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	This committee is essential in the view of the fruit and vegetable industry's importance to the nation's economy. The exchange of views and information between industry representatives and USDA should result in improved understanding of the impact of USDA programs on the fruit and vegetable industry and contribute to those programs effective and efficient administration. Advice of the committee is not available from other sources because no other source would provide a focal point and unified voice for an industry otherwise represented by numerous and small firms that are often overshadowed by larger interests.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A.
Recommendation Remarks	The Committee made six recommendations for USDA leaders to consider. The Committee held a virtual meeting on March 4-5, 2024, to finalize those recommendations. These recommendations are under agency review. The Committee also developed an additional set of recommendations for consideration in FY 25.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	Yes	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	n/a
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	Yes	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	During a number of meetings throughout the tenure of the Committee, Committee members expressed a satisfaction that USDA is working for the benefit of their industry, something that they were not assured of prior to the Committee participation. Simply knowing government is open to change and their ideas has foster positive exchange of ideas and a strong, personable relationship between USDA and the produce industry.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	143	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	143 total recommendations for the life of the committee. The six recommendations finalized in 2024 are under agency review. As of FY24, the Committee is working to provide and additional six recommendations by Q2 of FY25.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	80.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	The Committee continues to evaluate USDA programs and services via recommendations to the Agriculture Secretary.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	15.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Recommendations outside of the Agricultural Marketing Services jurisdiction are conveyed to the appropriate agency and office, with dialogue as to the source of the recommendation. Some of these are delivered in the format as either a supporting or change option statement as opposed to a recommendation.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	The Agency consistently provides feedback on the recommendations from this committee in general. the affected divisions have provided feedback on 2024 recommendations that are now under review. Once the review is complete, the full report, including feedback will be posted on the Committee website.	Narrative Description*	A goal of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is to continually evolve to meet the changing needs of the U.S. produce industry. AMS services to the industry are related to price and market information (Market News), fresh and processed product grading and certification, food procurement for domestic schools and assistance organizations, marketing orders, generic promotion, and the administration of a fair-trade law (the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act). Hearing from the industry in a unified voice, that this Committee provides, enables AMS to adjust its user-fee services, which are mostly voluntary (in most cases not required to be used by industry members) for the best value by customers.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	3/14/2025 12:42 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Agriculture Agriculture

Custom Links

Committee Level Reports