USDA Seeks Nominations for the Peanut Standards Board

CONTACT: Jimmie Turner (202) 720-6179, jimmie.turner@usda.gov, Billy Cox (202) 720-8998, billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks nominations of six individuals to serve on the Peanut Standards Board for terms of office ending June 30, 2011. Selected nominees will replace six producer and industry representatives currently serving terms that will end on June 30, 2008.

The 18-member board consists of three producers and three industry representatives from each of the three producing regions: Southeast (Alabama, Georgia and Florida); Southwest (Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico); and Virginia and North Carolina. The nomination process will replace one producer and one industry member position for each region.

Eligible individuals, organizations and groups are invited to submit their nominations. Nominations should be accompanied by a Peanut Standards Board Background Information form completed by the nominee. The form is available at www.ams.usda.gov/fv (below the "See Also" section, select "More," then select "Peanut Quality Standards," and below "News," select Background Information Form) or obtain the form from: Dawana J. Clark, D.C. Marketing Field Office, Mail Unit 155, 4700 River Rd., Riverdale, MD 20737; phone (301) 734-5243; fax (301) 734-5275; or e-mail dawana.clark@usda.gov.

Written nominations and accompanying Peanut Standards Board Background Information forms should be sent to the D.C. Marketing Field Office. Nominations must be received on or before July 17, 2008. Notice of the request for nominations was published in the June 17, 2008 Federal Register.

USDA welcomes membership on industry boards that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the programs. USDA encourages all eligible women, minorities and persons with disabilities to seek nomination for a seat on the Peanut Standards Board.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, which the Peanut Standards Board advises on quality issues, administers the regulations for peanut quality standards for domestic and imported peanuts.