[Federal Register: March 18, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 52)]
[Notices]               
[Page 12890]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18mr03-39]                         

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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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[[Page 12890]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. FV-03-376]

 
Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to notify all interested parties 
that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will hold a Fruit and 
Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (Committee) meeting that is open 
to the public. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established 
the Committee to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit 
and vegetable industry and provide suggestions and ideas to the 
Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet 
the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. This notice sets forth the 
schedule and location for the meeting.

DATES: The Committee meeting, which is open to the public, will be held 
on Tuesday, April 1, 2003, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Committee meeting will be held at the Sheraton Reston 
Hotel, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert C. Keeney, Deputy 
Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 2077-S, Stop 0235, Washington, DC 20250-
0235. Telephone: (202) 720-4722. Facsimile: (202) 720-0016. E-mail: 
robert.keeney@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App.), the Secretary of Agriculture established 
the Committee to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit 
and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the 
Secretary on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and 
vegetable industry's needs.
    The Chairperson of the Committee is Maureen Marshall and Vice-
Chairperson is Karen Caplan. AMS Deputy Administrator for Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, Robert C. Keeney, serves as the Committee's 
Executive Secretary and Andrew Hatch as the Designated Federal 
Official. Representatives from USDA mission areas and other government 
agencies affecting the fruit and vegetable industry will be called upon 
to participate in the Committee's meetings as determined by the 
Committee Chairperson. AMS is giving notice of the committee meeting to 
the public so that they may wish to attend and present their 
recommendations. The meeting is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 
Tuesday, April 1, 2003, at the Sheraton Reston Hotel, 11810 Sunrise 
Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191.
    Topics to be discussed at the meeting will include: USDA programs 
that encourage increased consumption of fruits and vegetables; a pilot 
project to increase purchases of fresh produce for domestic feeding 
programs; labor issues; and the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and 
Good Handling Practices (GHP) Audit Program.
    Those parties that wish to speak at the meeting should register on 
or before March 30, 2003. To register as a speaker or attend as an 
observer, please e-mail andrew.hatch@usda.gov or facsimile to (202) 

720-0016. Registrants should include their name, address, and daytime 
telephone number. Depending on the number of registered speakers, time 
limits may be imposed on speakers. Speakers who have registered in 
advance will be given priority.
    If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language 
interpreter, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. The meeting will be recorded, and information 
about obtaining a transcript will be provided at the meeting.
    The Secretary of Agriculture has selected a diverse group of 
members representing a broad spectrum of persons interested in 
providing suggestions and ideas on how USDA can tailor its programs to 
meet the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. Equal opportunity 
practices were considered in all appointments to the Committee in 
accordance with USDA policies.

    Dated: March 11, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-6387 Filed 3-17-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P