End of an era: Trump kills the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Commitee

Is the USDA intently listening to the needs of the fruit and vegetable industry? Given a recent notice in the Federal Register, I would say “not anymore.”

From the notice…

On February 19, 2025, the President issued the Executive Order (E.O.), ``Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,'' which set forth the Administration's policy of reducing the size of the Federal Government in order to minimize waste, fraud, abuse, and inflation and to promote American freedom and innovation. The President's order directed the termination of several Federal advisory committees and ordered the identification of additional Federal Advisory Committees for termination.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 19, 2025, the President issued Executive Order 14217, ``Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.'' Consistent with the E.O., on February 20, 2025, the Secretary of Agriculture issued a Secretary's Memorandum 1078-002 ``Elimination of Federal Advisory Committees within the Department of Agriculture.'' The Secretary determined that the following Federal advisory committees should be terminated, as they were no longer necessary:

• Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics

• Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards

• Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee

• National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection

• National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

• National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee

• Northwest Forest Plan Area Advisory Committee

In consultations with the USDA Committee Management Officer, Committee Management Secretariat of the General Services Administration, and the Office of General Counsel, this determination is consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C. ch.10), as well as 41 CFR 102-3.55.