U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of seven members to serve on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. Six of the seven appointees will serve three-year terms, effective immediately, through June 30, 2023. The other appointee will serve the remaining two-year portion of a vacant position, effective immediately, and expiring June 30, 2022.
The newly appointed members are:
- Monica Massey, Kansas City, Missouri (Region 2);
- Hugo Lizarraga, San Antonio, Texas (Region 10), (2-year term); and
- Matt McClelland, O’Fallon, Missouri (Region 11).
- The newly reappointed members are:
- Doug Harris, Lakeland, Florida (Region 5);
- Randell Eronimous, Seattle, Washington (Region 13)
- Evan Rainwater, Boise, Idaho (Region 14); and
- Erin Sharp, Elmhurst, Illinois (At-large, processor).
The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board is composed of 15 fluid milk processors from 15 geographic regions and five at-large members. At least three at-large members must be fluid milk processors and at least one must be from the general public. The remaining at-large seat may be filled by a fluid milk processor or a member of the general public. The board was established by the Fluid Milk Promotion Act of 1990 to develop and administer a coordinated program of advertising and promotion to increase the demand for fluid milk products.
The National Fluid Milk Program is financed by a mandatory 20-cent per hundredweight assessment on all fluid milk processed and marketed commercially in consumer-type packages in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. Processors who commercially process and market 3 million pounds or less per month, excluding those fluid milk products delivered to the residence of a consumer, are exempt from assessments.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 21 industry-funded research and promotion boards. They empower farmers and ranchers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity. Information about these programs is available on the Research and Promotion Programs page on the AMS website.
