July 2, 2015

United Fresh’s Stenzel, Gombas, Guenther join USDA committees

United Fresh’s President and CEO, Tom Stenzel, along with Senior Vice President, Food Safety and Technology, Dave Gombas, and Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Robert Guenther, have been appointed by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to serve on federal agriculture advisory committees.

Stenzel is one of 34 members of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) that will advise the Secretary of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative on the administration of trade policy, including the enforcement of existing trade agreements and negotiating objectives for new trade pacts. Guenther serves on the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables – one of six technical committees that provide counsel on specific commodities and products. Gombas is a member of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods, which provides impartial, scientific advice to federal food safety agencies.

Noting that international sales of American farm and food exports over the last six years were the strongest in history – totaling $771.7 billion – Vilsack considers committee appointees “an invaluable asset representing one of the most important sectors to America’s export economy, whose expertise and knowledge will be relied upon to bring home the best possible trade deals.”

In addition, representatives from several United Fresh Produce Association member organizations have been named to USDA’s advisory committees on trade policy, fruits and vegetables, and grains, including:

  • Julie Adams, Almond Board of California
  • Ken Melban, California Avocado Commission
  • Joel Nelsen, California Citrus Mutual
  • James Cranney, Jr., California Citrus Quality Council
  • Marcy Martin, California Fresh Fruit Association
  • Karen Lowe, CoBank, ACB
  • John Foster, Earthbound Farm
  • Michael Stuart, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association
  • Reginald Brown, Florida Tomato Exchange
  • Larry Wooten, North Carolina Farm Bureau
  • Christian Schlect, Northwest Horticultural Council
  • Rayne Thompson, Sunkist Growers
  • Dale Murden, Texas Citrus Mutual
  • Matt Harris, Washington State Potato Commission
  • Tom Nassif, Western Growers Association




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