USDA's "AMS Fruit and Vegetable Program News"--Winter/Spring 2015 Edition

Dear Produce Industry Member,

We are pleased to present the Winter/Spring 2015 edition of USDA's
AMS Fruit and Vegetable Program News.

In this issue, you’ll find information about our programs, additional resources offered by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and the following articles:

·         Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee;

·         Fresh Produce Inspection 101;

·         Get to Know PACA:  Online Training Resources;

·         Training Solutions for the Produce Industry;

·         Growers Are You Protected?;

·         Private Versus Government Inspections in PACA Claims;

·         Produce Pilot Ready To Take Root in Schools; and

·         Fruit and Vegetable Program Webinar Series.

This and previous issues of the newsletter can be found in the
AMS Fruit and Vegetable Program News library.

We are also pleased to provide a video overview of several of our important programs, they are:

·         A Video Introduction to the Services Provided by Specialty Crops Inspection Division--NEW

·         An Introduction to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA)

As always, feel free to contact me or the AMS Fruit and Vegetable Program staff with any questions.


Sincerely,

Charles W. Parrott
Deputy Administrator
USDA AMS Fruit and Vegetable Program
charles.parrott@ams.usda.gov
www.ams.usda.gov/fv

www.ams.usda.gov/fv

New NMIAA Director and the Brick Job

Below are photos of Mr. Rodney "Drew" Brown and a couple of the seniors in high school; Roderick and Floyd (Hip Hop Producer Members). Drew was recently hired full-time here at the academy to supervise the young men and do other agribusiness projects for NWIAA. Mr. Brown has recently received a masters degree in international agriculture business with an emphasis on agriculture business and economics. Drew really knows his stuff and we have need for outreach community projects. These projects will be hands-on workshops with NWIAA's innovative AgriDiva Agribusiness Education that will have a college student education piece. Moreover, Roderick and Floyd have had the pleasure of meeting some of our Washington, D.C. leadership team last year at PAWC. These young men have approximately 2 years of urban farm experience through NWIAA's Hip Hop Producer Program. Also the Hip Hop Producers have worked and volunteered in NWIAA's People's garden. Young brothers that are about the community business...while they get their's as well. 
 

    

Pathways Internship Program is in search of Student Trainees

Hello Everyone! These vacancies are in Arkansas, California, Tennessee, Wyoming and Puerto Rico. Texas vacancies will be out sometime after the new year. Here are 2 more job postings: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/389091000 Pathways Internship Program Student Trainee (Soil Conservation) GS-0499-02/03 Friday, December 12, 2014 to Thursday, December 18, 2014 16 Positions: 1 vacancy - Hamburg, AR 1 vacancy - North Little Rock, AR 1 vacancy - Searcy, AR 1 vacancy - Walnut Ridge, AR 1 vacancy - Indio, CA 1 vacancy - Madera, CA 1 vacancy - Modesto, CA 1 vacancy - Petaluma, CA 1 vacancy - Dresden, TN 1 vacancy - Franklin, TN 1 vacancy - Memphis, TN 1 vacancy - Shelbyville, TN 1 vacancy - Sparta, TN 1 vacancy - Douglas, WY 1 vacancy - Gillette, WY 1 vacancy - Powell, WY https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/389120900 Pathways Internship Program Student Trainee (Soil Conservation) GS-0499-02/03 Friday, December 12, 2014 to Thursday, December 18, 2014 1 vacancy - Juana Diaz, PR Bertha T. Venegas State Outreach Coordinator United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 136 Old San Antonio Rd., Suite 301 Boerne, TX 78006 Direct: 830-249-3508 Cell: 830-998-5659 1 Fax: 830-249-9120 bertha.venegas@tx.usda.gov

Connecting with the Minority Farming Community (Tuskegee, AL)

EPA Region 4 Administrator Heather McTeer Toney will hold a round table session (Tuskegee University) and farm tour (Al Hooks Produce – Shorter, AL) on December 4, 2014. Ms. McTeer Toney is interested in reaching out to the minority farming community in Alabama as she plans to do in each of the eight southeastern states comprising EPA Region 4. She has expressed a particular interest in low income and minority communities and addressing their specific needs.

During the round table discussion, it is suggested for those who wish to speak to highlight what their individual organization does overall and any specific activities with agricultural low income and minority communities. Feel free to address any other topics you may want to make EPA and the Regional Administrator aware of. We look forward to hearing back from you.  

Sincerely, 

Shea Jones-Johnson, MS 
Acting Agriculture Coordinator 
State and Local Government Coordinator

Office of the Regional Administrator 
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4 
61 Forsyth Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 
Phone: (404) 562-8206

SOUTHERN REGION SARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 2014 SPECIAL CALL FOR PROPOSALS

SOUTHERN REGION SARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

2014 SPECIAL CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Cover Crops in the Southern SARE Region

PROPOSAL DEADLINE 11:59 PM CST, January 16, 2015

Click Here to Learn More

NWIAA in need of College Interns to that want to help make a change in their community

National Women in Agriculture Association

College Internship Opportunities

Internship Description

National Women in Agriculture Association (“NWIAA”) is a professional minority owned and operated non-profit 501(c)3 organization. We have recently purchased the former McFarland YWCA building located at 1701 N. Martin Luther King Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73111., interns are needed IMMEDIATELY to help us implement health and education initiatives.

 JOB DUTIES:  Agriculture urban practices and/or Agribusiness (review/revise contracts, agreements, policy and procedures, food policy legislation, civil rights, estate planning, trademark, business and international legal government affairs).  Also assist with community based fundraising for NWIAA’s Sustainable Science Academy.  National Women in Agriculture’s innovative agriculture and agribusiness education have been such a positive influence on the communities that the White House of the United States of America has invited us to participate in an agriculture national briefing and signing award ceremony to present our vision of promoting access to affordable and healthy food for all. 

Interns from all majors are welcome to apply with us. Interns are expected to be available between 20-25 hours a week but we are willing to work around your student schedule. Our offices are open Monday-Friday. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday our offices are open between the hours of 10 am -7pm; and Tuesday and Friday between the hours of 10 am - 5pm. This is not a paid internship, but this will be a great opportunity to build your resume which is a vital tool when seeking employment after graduation. Please visit our website at www.nwiaa.org for more information about our organization. For internship inquires please contact our offices at (405) 424-4623 or email your resume to womeninag@gmail.com.  Come help us continue to make history.

HIRING IMMEDIATELY: SSA Sign Language Teacher!

 

NOW HIRING IMMEDIATELY

NWIAA is looking to fill the following positions for its Sustainable Science Academy.

Location: 1701 N. Martin Luther King Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73111

Position: Sign Language Teacher

Hours of Operation: 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Age Group of Children: 3-5 years of age

Contact information: (405) 424-4623 or womeninag@gmail.com

Qualifications:

18 years of age

2 years in-class training with 3-5 year old students

Pass Background Check and Finger Printing

                            

Education:

High school Diploma or G.E.D required, Bachelor’s degree preferred 

Fax resume to (405) 424-4625

 

Please Only Serious Inquiries Need to Apply

NWIAA Halloween Carnival Hosted by Local Churches

Dr. Steele to Co-Host the Detroit Black United Growers, Inc. - 5th Annual National Black Farmers and Urban Growers Conference

Southern SARE Producer Grant Calls for Proposal

Southern SARE Producer Grant Calls for Proposals Released

GRIFFIN, Georgia – The Calls for Proposals for the 2014 Producer Grants, intended for farmers/ranchers and farmer/rancher organizations throughout the Southern region, are now available from the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) program. 

Proposal submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 17, 2014. Announcement of funded grants will take place in late February 2015.

Producer Grants are used to conduct sustainable agriculture research projects that solve agricultural production challenges farmers face and to develop information on what works and what doesn’t so that other farmers and ranchers facing those same challenges can benefit from the results of the funded project.
Producer grants are not designed to pay a farmer to farm; buy livestock, equipment, or land; make permanent farm improvements or support private enterprises through capital investments.  Southern SARE Producer Grants are research grants, designed to take some of the financial risk away from trying a solution to an agricultural production issue.

Projects may be funded for up to two years for a project maximum of $10,000 for an individual producer or $15,000 for a producer organization. Producer organizations should be comprised primarily of farmers/ranchers and must have a majority farmer representation on their governing board.

For detailed information on how to apply for a Producer Grant, download the current Producer Grant Call for Proposals.

The Producer Grant Call for Proposals includes application information, use of funds, proposal submission instructions, and contact information. Be sure to carefully follow the information in the Call for Proposals when submitting your proposal. Failure to follow the submission guidelines may result in your proposal being rejected.

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Published by the Southern Region of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Southern SARE operates under cooperative agreements with the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University, and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture to offer competitive grants to advance sustainable agriculture in America's Southern region.

Southern SARE On-Farm Research Grant Calls for Proposal

Southern SARE On-Farm Research Grant Calls for Proposals Released

GRIFFIN, Georgia -- The Calls for Proposals for the 2014 On-Farm Research Grants, intended for agricultural professionals throughout the Southern region, have been released by the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) program. 

Proposal submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 17, 2014. Announcement of funded grants will take place in late February 2015.

Agriculture professionals in Cooperative Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service, universities, NGOs, and government and non-government organizations who regularly work with farmers/ranchers are invited to apply for a grant that affords them the opportunity to conduct on-farm research in sustainable agriculture.

Applicants must work with at least one farmer/rancher on the project to conduct on-farm research in sustainable agriculture.

The On-Farm Research Grants are not intended for farmers/ranchers.

If you are a farmer/rancher and are interested in applying for a grant, refer to the Producer Grant Program. Calls for Proposals for Producer Grants are also currently open.

On-Farm Research Grants may be funded up to two years for a project maximum of $15,000.

For detailed information about how to apply for an On-Farm Research Grant, download the current Call for Proposals.

The Call for Proposals includes application information, use of funds, proposal submission instructions, and contact information. Be sure to carefully follow the information in the Call for Proposals when submitting your grant.  Failure to follow the submission guidelines may result in your proposal being rejected.

--30--

Published by the Southern Region of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Southern SARE operates under cooperative agreements with the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University, and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture to offer competitive grants to advance sustainable agriculture in America's Southern region.

Learn how to Grow Your Business with Government Contracting Tomorrow

NWIAA 3rd Quarter Newsletter

NWIAA has Notary Services

The Sustainable Science Academy is requesting VOLUNTEERS!

The Sustainable Science Academy is requesting volunteers to assist in completing the renovations for the Higher Learning Child Care Center. These Renovations need to be completed ASAP.

Volunteer hours are Weekdays: 5 pm to 8 pm, and Saturdays.

Projects include: Painting, staining doors/cabinets, tiling floors, minor wall demolition and other repairs to ensure that our youth have a safe, clean and healthy environment.

With your help, our youth can get that necessary jump-start to ensure a successful positive future before they enter Kindergarten.

***Please post and pass along to as many volunteer candidates as possible***

“Something new, that’s never happened before in the OKC Eastside community”

Again, we need to finish ALL projects. If you can't volunteer and help, please send to someone that would like to volunteer and help save and educate our youth..

Team work makes the dream work. Our youth deserve better. We will give better opportunities to our youth at an early age to ensure education...

For more information:

NWIAA’s Sustainable Science Academy

1701 N. Martin Luther King Ave.

Oklahoma City, OK 73111

(405) 424-4623

womeninag@gmail.com

www.nwiaa.org

NWIAA First Outreach Meeting in Detroit, MI

Circle R Ranch GRAND DAY Photos

Atlanta Chapter Resource Meeting this Friday!

NWIAA Farmer's Market 2014 Starts Today!

Circle 'R' Ranch GRAND DAY 2014

Circle “R” Disability Ranch's Grand Day 2014 is educational agriculture outreach program…This program will offer activities for special needs children who are mentally or physically challenged or social-economically deprived citizens. Although the focus is for these groups, other children are welcome as well. The age range is 6 years and older.

The purpose of this event is to provide an educational fun day on a farm that will demonstrate how healthy foods are raised and how to farm with a disability.

Activities for the day will be:
- Planting FOOD to take home
- Harvesting vegetables to take home
- Viewing various types of gardening (raised bed and plastic culture)
- Petting Zoo (farm animals)
- Hay rides
- Farm Games

FREE!! There is no cost for this event! Lunch will be provided
Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Circle “R” Ranch is located at: 13584 N.S. 365 Rd.
Holdenville, OK 74884, (405) 596-0348 or (405) 941-3773

Please register at: nwiaa.org

See Photos from GRAND DAY 2013  - CLICK HERE

“Everyone Deserves An Opportunity To Eat and Live Healthy.”

Copyright 2014 © National Women In Agriculture Association. All rights reserved.

Tommy Brown, Mgr. Eng. /Government Affairs at Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) and President of NWIAA Board of Directors

Mr. Tommy Brown, a man who cares, dares and shares TANGIBLY to make a healthy and positive difference in the lives of at-risk minority youth.  Perhaps what is most important is that Mr. Brown serves where education, training and resources are MOST needed in the minority eastside community of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.   He teaches and mentors young men ages 12 – 21 on how to be men of integrity, action and not just words.  He also teaches them how to give back tangibly BIG in their community, not lip service.  Mr. Brown’s leadership of generation “X” is trailblazing along with National Women In Agriculture Association to Save & Educate our children through NWIAA’s Agriculture Science and Math Health initiatives.  Mr. Brown is  married, has a two (2) year old daughter, is a full time employee for an Oklahoma energy company; yet he still makes it his business to take time to make a tangible difference.   Again as a full time employee at Oklahoma Natural Gas Company he, checks-in on NWIAA on his lunch break, gets off at 5:00 pm, then arrives at NWIAA’s Sustainable Science Academy. Mr. Brown also assists on weekends to ensure that our youth have the nice, safe, and healthy learning environment that has never been established in this community on the level that Mr. Brown and NWIAA are bringing about so quickly.   This team knows it is an emergency when the majority of the schools within a 5 mile radius of the Academy are receiving failing grades.  NWIAA is trying to work with the legislatures and school board leadership to become a funded higher learning child care center before the month of August 2014.  NWIAA’s Academy has already been approved by DHS to accept twenty 3 – 5 year olds. The Academy’s goal is to have 50 children from 6 months old to 5 years old.  Its NWIAA’s vow that when lower income children come through NWIAA’s Academy, they will learn how to 1.  Read, 2. Speak proper English and Spanish, 3. Sign Language, and 4. Have Proper Etiquette Social Development Skills. The Goal is to step above and break traditional poverty curses.  

Mr. Brown has made a vow to HELP change the environment; and he has and continues to diligently stick by his word.  He makes it his business daily to be a leader that the young men in this community can relate to and look up to and be proud to be a part of the Eastside community.   Again, Mr. Brown works a full-time job (40 hours, plus), and comes over to mentor minority teen young men how to do manly community repairs for younger minority youth in the eastside community; and these young men ultimately train the younger youth as they can relate to one another.   

 Mr. Brown and his young men’s team have completed upgraded repairs inside and outside of the former McFarland YWCA building which is now NWIAA’s Sustainable Science Academy.  This team of individuals tries to ensure daily that the at-risk-youth have a decent environment to learn and grow in with true opportunities.   Mr. Brown literally shows that anyone can volunteer and do what they want to do even with a 40 hour plus work schedule.   Needless to say, this community is in need of more young, gifted, giving and dedicated leaders.  Mr. Brown and NWIAA are developing more minority leaders here in the East of Oklahoma City to train and 

save others across the world through NWIAA’s 

Save & Educate A Child Health Imitative.

                                                                                            

OKC Community Resource Meeting

NWIAA wants to ensure that our children know how to read, properly speak English and Spanish, Learn Sign Language and know who to produce, eat healthy and learn how to live in a healthy environment BEFORE they start Kindergarten in Oklahoma City Public Schools.

NWIAA has partnered with all Oklahoma City Public School within a five (5) mile radius of the academy to ensure that mission save & educate a child is being diligently being executed within this community to bring about a change beginning September 2, 2014. NWIAA is asking for help to community leaders and organizations companies to make sure that our children have a decent and healthy environment before the Sustainable Science Academy opens the 1st part of September 2014 for ages 6 month old - 5 years old.

NWIAA is a New Generation of college graduate and national certified leaders that are making a difference quickly because it is URGENT for our youth in the east community; and our youth are able to relate and grow in NWIAA's environment that like no other in America and soon to be international. We have pledged to break non-traditional generational curses that has caused severe failure.

FREE Gardening Agriculture & Health Classes all Summer Long!

#FREE #Gardening #Agriculture & #Health #Classes and Hands-on-Workshops - #Sustainable & Innovative + #USDA certified

Community AgRiculture Education Youth Summit (Grand Opening)

Register Today!  All FREE!  Bring the Family!
http://nwiaayouthsummit2014.eventbrite.com

NWIAA Farm Business Training Workshop

Grant writing and business owner workshop. Ages 18 and over, please no children. 

Please share with adults who may be interested in attending. They will need call and register at nwiaa.org by Wednesday June 11, 2014.

https://nwiaafarmbusiness.eventbrite.com

NWIAA's 4th Annual New Generation Symposium - Day 3

NWIAA 4th Annual New Generation Symposium - Day 2

NWIAA 4th Annual New Generation Symposium - Day 1

PLEASE EVALUATE US!

Please give us your feedback about the 2014 New Generation Symposium by completing this short evaluation online.---- https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ATLSymposium2014

THANK YOU!

Thank you all for the support and encouragement in our efforts to save and educate the world through agricultural health initiatives and programs.

Participation Points for Haldor

 Hello Class !

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending National Women In Ag. Association's 4th Annual New Generation Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference was held at the Renaissance Hotel which is in midtown Atlanta, the heart of Atlanta’s music and art scene. Guests from numerous states and several different countries attended the conference including Canada, Africa, and Jamaica just to name a few. The conference held classes for adults and youth the first two days ranging from topics of Bee Keeping, Insurance, and Farm Safety. There were also Congresswomen, deans of Agriculture of Colleges, and USDA and Forestry reps spoke at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At the conclusion we had farm tours, the first stop was my favorite organization other than NWIAA, USDA of Atlanta. We toured the facility which was located at the airport, which made it easy for cargo to be delivered for inspection by qualified individuals to enter the country. If the plants had any new pests that weren’t already in America the specimens would be rejected and sent back to where they came from. Our tour guide also stated that the examiners never touched a box! The security would place the box on the floor and open it and the examiner would just examine the specimen. No hard labor is what I’m trying to get at which is awesome! He also stated some make six digit salaries. This tour really made me realize there are numerous avenues in Agriculture and not to take it lightly. One could go the traditional route of farming or pursue a career in education, business agriculture, or any of the various government regulatory positions.  

Tiffany C. Guess

Volunteers & Donations Needed