The Florida Tomato Committee will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 10:30 am in which tomato growers in the state can nominate fellow growers or themselves to serve on the Committee for a two-year term, from September 2023 to September 2025.   The FTC is a federal marketing order that regulates the handling of Florida tomatoes and supports the industry through research and promotion efforts.  The Committee oversees production in two districts:

District 1 Counties         
Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach

District 2 Counties
Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Manatee, Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, St. Lucie

Each district will have five open member positions and five open alternate positions for a total of ten members and ten alternates on the full Committee.  All persons who have grown tomatoes in a proprietary capacity (or as an officer of a corporate producer), in either of the FTC districts, during the 2022-23 season, will be eligible to nominate and be nominated.  Persons who have grown tomatoes in both districts must select the district in which they wish to nominate, and in which they are willing to serve should they be nominated.  No person may nominate or be nominated in more than one district.

The Meeting will be held on Zoom.  If you are interested in participating or have questions about the nomination process, please contact the Florida Tomato Committee office at 407-660-1949 or info@FloridaTomatoes.org.

FLORIDA TOMATO COMMITTEE
Established Pursuant to Federal Marketing Agreement and Order No. 966, As Amended
Regulating the Handling of Tomatoes
800 Trafalgar Court, Suite 300, Maitland, Florida 32751
Telephone (407) 660-1949
www.floridatomatoes.org

TO:                FTC Members and Alternates

FROM:          Michael Schadler, FTC Manager

SUBJECT:     Organizational Meeting

CC:                 FTC Registered Handlers from 2020-21;
                       USDA: Chris Nissen, Steven Kauffman, Jennie Varela
                                                                                                                                                           

Chairman J.M. Procacci has scheduled the Florida Tomato Committee’s 2021-22 Organizational Meeting for Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.

The meeting will be held in the Sea Star Room at The Westin Sarasota:

100 Marina View Drive
Sarasota, FL 34236
Telephone: 941-217-4777
Website: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/srqwi-the-westin-sarasota/

A continental breakfast will be provided for Committee Members and Alternates at 8:45 a.m.
For those unable to attend in person, please use the following teleconference line and password:

Phone Number:  646-632-1000
Code:  1407-8214-151

Participation is critical as a quorum is needed.  The Committee nominees will be seated, and actions taken will be official policies for the upcoming season.

If you need special accommodations or special meal needs to participate in any events, please contact the Committee office at (407) 660-1949.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal and, where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online athttp://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities and wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).

Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

FLORIDA TOMATO COMMITTEE
Established Pursuant to Federal Marketing Agreement and Order No. 966, As Amended
Regulating the Handling of Tomatoes

800 Trafalgar Court, Suite 300, Maitland, FL  32751
Telephone: (407) 660-1949
www.floridatomatoes.org
June 14, 2021

NOTICE OF NOMINATING MEETING

The Florida Tomato Committee has a grower member position in District 2 that it is seeking to fill.  If you are interested in being nominated, or nominating someone else for the position, please attend a meeting on Thursday, June 24, at 12:00 pm at the UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension Service office, located at 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL 34221.  The meeting will be held in the Stewart conference room.

The Florida Tomato Committee is a Federal Marketing Order that was established in 1955. The Committee enforces quality and packing standards on Florida tomatoes that are shipped in interstate commerce. The Committee also supports research efforts and conducts promotional activities to spur consumption of fresh tomatoes.  The Committee consists of two districts; each district has five member positions and five alternate positions for a total of ten members and ten alternates on the full Committee.

To be eligible to serve or to nominate someone to serve in this open position, you must have grown tomatoes in a proprietary capacity (or as an officer of a corporate producer) within District 2 during the 2020-21 season.  District 2 encompasses the following counties of Florida: Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Manatee, Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and St. Lucie.

This position is for a two-year term, from September 2021 to September 2023.

The Florida Tomato Committee acknowledges the benefits of diversity and encourages the nomination of women, minorities, and disabled persons to serve on the Committee.

 If you need special accommodations to participate in this event, please contact the FTC office at (407) 660-1949 by April 13, 2021, to inform us of your need(s).  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.  (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)  To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14^th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

cc:       FTC Members, Alternates, and Registered Handlers

Chris Nissen, Steven Kauffman, Jennie Varela (USDA)