National Mango Board welcomes new members
by Francisco Seva Rivadulla, International agri-food journalist
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the appointment of six new members to the National Mango Board (NMB), who will serve a three-year term that began immediately and will conclude on December 31, 2028.
The newly appointed members represent both the importer and foreign producer sectors.
Representing importers from District III are Michael B. Warren of Fort Lauderdale (Florida) and David Ponce of West Deptford (New Jersey). Keith Barnard of Oxnard (California) joins, representing District IV.
In the foreign producer section, the USDA has confirmed the addition of Francisco Villegas of Sinaloa (Mexico), Kyra Müller-Gelineck of Guayaquil (Ecuador), and Edwin René Zaparolli Torres of Guatemala City (Guatemala).
Additionally, it has been reported that Francisco Villegas and Edwin René Zaparolli (already part of the board) have been re-elected by the US Secretary of Agriculture to serve a second term on the NMB representing foreign producers.
The National Mango Board thanks outgoing members
The National Mango Board consists of 18 members: eight importers, seven foreign producers, two domestic producers, and one first handler of mangoes. Members can serve for a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms.
“I want to take this opportunity to express my sincerest thanks for the leadership and valuable contributions of our outgoing Board members: Ms. Mary Velasquez, Mr. Tom Argyros, and Mr. Daniel Ibarra, as well as Ms. Victoria Aguirre," said Executive Director of the National Mango Board, Ramon Ojeda. "To all of them, our deepest gratitude for their talent, their contributions, and the time dedicated to fulfilling the NMB's mission.”
Ojeda also highlighted the addition of the new members, ensuring that “they will enrich the work carried out by the National Mango Board and that with their extensive experience, they will surely contribute to driving the growth of mango consumption in the United States.”
Since 1966, the United States Congress has authorized the creation of research and promotion boards funded by the agricultural industry itself. These entities aim to coordinate resources to open new markets, strengthen existing ones, and promote research and promotion activities.
Currently, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) oversees 21 boards funded by industry assessments, with the goal of ensuring fiscal responsibility and the integrity of these programs.
*All images are referential.
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