Washington, DC, USA
November 30, 2012

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed 12 members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board. Each representative will serve a three-year term of office beginning Jan. 1, 2013.

Newly appointed board members include:

• Joshua A. Moore of Turkey, N.C.;
• Daniel T. King of Chula, Ga.;
• Jack C. Wallace, Jr. from Edinburg, Texas and
• Kevin V. Green of Henderson, Texas.

Reappointed members include:

• William Henry (Hank) Floyd of Malone, Fla.;
• Brian Arrigo of Estero, Fla.;
• Dana C. Strong, of Arlington, Texas;
• John W. Thomas from Palmhurst, Texas;
• Anthony (Tony) A. Moore from Raleigh, N.C.;
• W. Brent Jackson of Autryville, N.C.;
• Leslie A. Bloebaum of Tifton, Ga. and
• Ricky W. Tucker of Enigma, Ga.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides board oversight in accordance with the Watermelon Research and Promotion Act. The program is administered by board members, who are selected by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 20 research and promotion boards. They empower farmers and ranchers, establishing a framework for them to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS oversight ensures fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.

Visit www.ams.usda.gov/ResearchandPromotion to learn more about research and promotion programs.
 

Website: http://www.ams.usda.gov

Published: November 30, 2012