USDA Names Mango Board Members

WASHINGTON - May 18/05 - SNS -- The USDA named 18 members to serve on the newly established National Mango Board.

The members are the first to serve on the board under the Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order which became effective on Nov. 3, 2004. Their terms of office begin immediately and end on Dec. 31 of the appropriate year for the position appointed on this initial board.

Appointed to fill the U.S. producer positions are: Vernancio C. Marti of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, for a four-year term of office; and Ingrid Rivas of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, for a three-year term. Appointed to fill the first handler position is Anthony R. Godinez of McAllen, Texas, for a four-year term.

Appointed to fill the importer positions are: District I, John-Campbell Barmmer of Miami, Fla., and Isabel C. Freeland of La Jolla, Calif., each for four-year terms; District II, Sue Duleba of Mission, Texas, Leonardo Tarriba of Rio Rico, Ariz., and Wade Shiba of Missouri City, Texas, each for a three-year term; District III, Charles Ciruli Jr. of Tubac, Ariz., and Ismael Diaz of Nogales, Ariz., each for a two-year term; and District IV, Larry Nienkerk of Woodside, Calif., for a two-year term.

Appointed members to fill the foreign producer positions are: Alberto Luis Burgos of Ecuador, for a two-year term; Bonifacio Hernandez Bustamante and Cesar A. Cabello, both of Mexico, each for a four-year term; Jorge Eustacio Perez Calderon and Antonio Diaz Daniel of Mexico, each for a three-year term; Luque Miranda of Mexico for a two-year term; and Paul Barclay of Peru for a two-year term.

The National Mango Board, authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996, is an industry-funded, national generic program of research and promotion, industry and consumer information conducted to maintain, expand, and develop domestic markets for fresh mangos. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service monitors the operations of the National Mango Board.