USDA considers mango promotion board

USDA considers mango promotion board    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has proposed to set up a promotion program for fresh mangos.
   The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas requested the development of the mango promotion program.
   To cover the program’s administrative costs, USDA said fruit handlers and importers of more than 500,000 pounds of mangos would pay an assessment of a half-cent per pound on domestic and imported mangos to the National Mango Promotion Board.
   “The board would be appointed by the department to conduct a program of research and promotion, industry information, and consumer information needed for the maintenance, expansion, and development of domestic markets for fresh mangos,” USDA said.
   The board must also be approved by a majority vote from eligible handlers and importers voting in a referendum, Nov. 10-28.
   For more information, contact Kathie Birdsell of USDA at (888) 720-9917.