CDFA ANNOUNCES VACANCIES ON ADVISORY COMMITTEES

SACRAMENTO, July 12, 2010 — The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing vacancies on three advisory committees: the California Citrus Advisory Committee, California Organic Products Advisory Committee, and the Standardization Advisory Committee. Each committee advises the CDFA secretary on matters pertaining to their respected program.

Six vacancies are available on the California Citrus Advisory Committee. This committee oversees the implementation of the California Citrus Program, which provides inspection for citrus standards, ensuring that minimum maturity and quality standards for size, color and sugar content are maintained. Four producer and two handler positions are available.  Two producers must be engaged in the production of navel or Valencia oranges in the San Joaquin Valley and one producer must be engaged in the production of lemons. Positions will commence for the California Citrus Advisory Committee on October 1, 2010.

Twelve vacancies are available on the California Organic Products Advisory Committee. This committee advises the secretary on the California Organic Program, which is responsible for enforcement of federal and state law governing organic production.  Vacancies include: three producers; one wholesale distributor; one processor; one retail representative; one consumer representative; and five alternate positions representing technical, wholesale, environment, consumer and producer positions. The environmental, technical, and consumer representatives must not have a financial interest in the direct sales or marketing of organic products. Positions will commence for California Organic Products Advisory Committee on November 1, 2010.

Six vacancies are available on the Standardization Advisory Committee. The committee makes recommendations to the secretary on all matters pertaining to the department’s Standardization Program, which ensures that fresh fruit, nuts and vegetables meet minimum market standards. Two of the positions must represent fresh fruits, three must represent fresh vegetables, and one will represent other commodities. One of the two fresh fruit members must represent oranges, table grapes, or other citrus fruit. One of the fresh vegetable members must represent lettuce, tomatoes, or mixed vegetables. Positions will commence for the Standardization Advisory Committee on September 1, 2010.

The term of office for the California Citrus Advisory Committee and the Standardization Advisory Committee is two years. The term of office for the California Organic Products Advisory Committee is three years.  Committee members receive no compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement of necessary travel expenses, provided they are attending the meeting as a voting member. Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment to an advisory committee should contact Maria Hicks at (916) 445-2180 or via email at Mhicks@cdfa.ca.gov

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