CDFA DEPUTY SECRETARY OF LEGISLATION AND POLICY RAYNE PEGG APPOINTED ADMINISTRATOR OF USDA’S AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

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SACRAMENTO, May 13, 2009 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Deputy Secretary of Legislation and Policy Rayne Pegg has been appointed Administrator of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

“Rayne has served the people of California admirably through her legislative work here at CDFA, including areas such as invasive pests, organic farming and food safety,” said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura.  “We thank her for her dedication as a public servant, and look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role in Washington, D.C.”

“Rayne is an effective problem-solver who will be a great addition to our national agriculture programs,” added CDFA Undersecretary Will Brown.

At CDFA, Pegg was the principal advisor to both Secretary Kawamura and the governor’s cabinet on legislative and policy issues involving agriculture.  As AMS administrator, she will work to ensure a productive and competitive global and domestic marketplace for U.S. agricultural products.

Prior to her appointment at CDFA, Pegg represented the California Farm Bureau Federation on issues ranging from export market opportunities to phytosanitary barriers and the Leafy Green Product Handler Marketing Agreement, an industry-backed food safety initiative established in response to the spinach E. Coli outbreak in 2006.  She participated in the World Trade Organization and US-Korea FTA negotiations, and was previously appointed to USDA’s Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee on Fruits and Vegetables.

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The California Department of Food and Agriculture protects and promotes California’s agricultural industry. California’s farmers and ranchers produce a safe, secure supply of food, fiber and shelter; marketed fairly for all Californians; and produced with responsible environmental stewardship.