USDA searching for National Processed Raspberry Council nominations

Next meeting scheduled for May 18-19 in Blaine, Washington

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

If you’re a producer, importer or just take a strong interest in raspberries and their roles in the economy, nutrition and on the dinner plate, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking for your nomination to be part of the National Processed Raspberry Council (NPRC).

The National Processed Raspberry Council is made up of 26 total people (13 people, 13 alternates) who adhere to the NPRC’s mission “to conduct nutrition research on the health and wellness benefits of raspberries and to promote the consumption of processed raspberries based on research results.”

The NPRC is looking to fill the following membership seats, whose terms would begin Friday, January 1, 2016.

• 2 producer member and 2 alternate seats from states that producer a minimum of three million pounds of raspberries that will be processed (Oregon, California, Washington, etc)
• 1 member and 1 alternate seat from “all other states producing less than three million pounds of raspberries for processing”
• 1 importer member and 1 alternate seat
• A foreign producer member and alternate

Current empty seats needing to be filled are one importer alternate seat and a public member and alternate seat. Their terms would end Saturday, December 31, 2016.

The National Processed Raspberry Council will hold its next meeting May 18-19 in Blaine, Washington.