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 US 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 US 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 – while 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 US$771.7bn – Vilsack considers the 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 other United Fresh Produce Association member organiations have been named to USDA’s advisory committees on trade policy, fruits and vegetables, and grains.