Government Affairs

Almond Industry Welcomes Key USDA Appointments

Rayne Pegg, California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Deputy Secretary of Legislation and Policy, has been appointed Administrator of the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Before joining CDFA, Ms. Pegg served the California Farm Bureau Federation, the California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement, the World Trade Organization and the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement negotiations, and on the USDA's Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee on Fruits and Vegetables. ABC works closely with AMS on all regulatory issues related to the administration of the marketing order, and compliance with its requirements.

Michael Michener has been named administrator of USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Mr. Michener served in the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Iraq, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. FAS is responsible for furthering U.S. agricultural policies abroad, including identifying and addressing market access issues, administering food aid programs, and collecting/analyzing market data. Through FAS, the almond industry receives funding for market promotion programs in strategic markets. In addition, ABC works closely with FAS on addressing market access, including food safety and quality standards for almond exports and pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs) requirements.

For details on a recent meeting between Mr. Michener and ABC, see Market Access Partnerships Strengthened at Export Meetings story.