WASHINGTON, May 12, 2003 – Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick today announced the private sector appointees to seven agricultural trade advisory committees.

The members appointed to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade (APAC) and six Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade (ATACs) will serve two-year appointments that coincide with the continuation of the Bush Administration’s aggressive push to open foreign markets to U.S. agricultural products.

"The future of U.S. agriculture hinges on our success in the international marketplace," said Veneman. "The members of the committees provide expertise and unique knowledge of the latest trade trends in the food and agricultural sector to assist with the development of effective negotiating objectives."

"American agriculture has provided critical support for our agenda of opening markets and expanding opportunities around the world, because when American farmers can compete fairly, they win. Coordinating with our agriculture community will continue to be important as the tempo of negotiations for global, regional and bilateral trade agreements intensifies," Zoellick said. "We must have the best possible advice and consultation as negotiations for the World Trade Organization’s Doha Development Agenda, the Free Trade Area of the Americas and our free trade agreement talks with Central America, Morocco, the Southern African Customs Union, and Australia proceed."

Congress established these committees in 1974 to ensure a private sector voice in establishing U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation objectives. Members on the APAC and ATACs are important to advancing the Administration’s aggressive agenda to liberalize agricultural trade, expanding access for U.S. food and agricultural products in overseas markets, and reducing unfair competition.

Agricultural products face extensive barriers in foreign markets including tariffs and non-tariff measures. U.S. exports of high-value products have increased and are expected to continue to be a significant factor in agricultural trade. Therefore, USDA and USTR have established a new processed foods ATAC.

The APAC provides advice on overall policy objectives regarding agricultural trade issues. The ATACs offer more detailed technical advice and information on specific commodities. The six ATACs are:

· Animals and Animal Products

· Fruits and Vegetables

· Grains, Feed, and Oilseeds

· Processed Foods

· Sweeteners and Sweetener Products

· Cotton, Peanuts, Planting Seeds, and Tobacco

APAC and ATAC members are appointed primarily for their expertise and knowledge of agricultural trade as it relates to policy and commodity-specific products. Lists of members by committee are attached.

Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade

NAME	COMPANY
Charles D. Ahlem	Charles Ahlem Ranch
Gaylon B. Booker	National Cotton Council
James P. "Patrick" Boyle	American Meat Institute
Carl W. Brothers	Riceland Foods, Inc.
Joyce Cacho	Rabobank International
James P. Camerlo	Dairy Farmers of America
Karen B. Caplan	United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association
Stephen L. Censky	American Soybean Association
Richard T. Crowder	American Seed Trade Association
Paul A. Drazek	DTB Associates, LLP
Michael D. Dykes	Monsanto Company
Audrae Erickson	Corn Refiners Association, Inc.
Carol Tucker Foreman	Consumer Federation of America
Richard L. Gady	ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Nicholas D. Giordano	National Pork Producers Council
David R. Graves	National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
Thomas A. Hammer	National Oilseed Processors Association
Lucian J. "Jack" Hunt, III	King Ranch, Inc.
Kenneth R. Johannes	Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.
John R. Keeling	National Potato Council
Robert P. Koch	Wine Institute
Luther A. Markwart	American Sugarbeet Growers Association
Gary C. Martin	North American Export Grain Association
Chester M. "Manly" Molpus	Grocery Manufacturers of America
Thomas A. Nassif	Western Growers
Charles J. "Joe" O'Mara	O'Mara and Associates
Karen Ross	CA Association of Winegrape Growers
Christian E. Schlect	Northwest Horticultural Council
Roy R. "Bob" Stallman, Jr.	American Farm Bureau Federation
Michael J. Stuart	Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
James H. Sumner	USA Poultry & Egg Export Council
Constance E. Tipton	International Dairy Foods Association
Alan T. Tracy	U.S. Wheat Associates, Inc.
Elizabeth C. Ward	American Forest and Paper Association
Rodger L. Wasson	California Strawberry Commission

Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products

NAME	COMPANY
Jaime A. Castaneda	National Milk Producers Federation
Thomas M. Cook	National Renderers Association, Inc.
Gregory F. Doud	National Cattlemen's Beef Association
Richard A. Ellinghuysen	Producers Livestock Marketing Association
Richard G. Fritz	U.S. Meat Export Federation
John D. Hardin, Jr.	John Hardin Farms
Dana R. Hauck	Pike Trail Cattle Co., Inc.
James R. Hoben	Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
John E. Hogan	John Hogan, Attorney
Teresa J. Howes	American Farm Bureau Federation
Gregory A. Ibach	Nebraska Department of Agriculture
John W. Lincoln	Linholm Farm & New York Farm Bureau
Thomas W. May	Trugman-Nash, Inc.
Dennis D. McDonald	Open Spear Ranch
David L. Meeker	National Turkey Federation
Daniel P. Meyer	American Dairy Products Institute
Toby D. Moore	USA Poultry & Egg Export Council
Michael L. Mullins	Cargill, Inc.
James E. Peterson	Jim Peterson Ranch
John J. Reddington	American Meat Institute
William P. Roenigk	National Chicken Council
Alicia Sanchez	Red Doc Farm
Donald H. Schriver	Dairy Farmers of America
Jane E. Shey	Shey & Associates
Manuel S. Souza	Mel-Delin Dairy
Thomas M. Suber	U.S. Dairy Export Council
Jeffery M. Swain	Booth Creek Management Corporation
James E. Tillison	Alliance of Western Milk Producers
Gene L. Wiese	Wiese & Sons
Caren A. Wilcox	Caren Wilcox and Associates
Dennis C. Wolff	Pen-Col Farms
Robert D. Yonkers	National Cheese Institute

Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits Animals and Vegetables

NAME	COMPANY
Dennis A. Balint	California Walnut Commission
Gerald K. Ball	Gary Ball, Inc.
John P. Baranek	The Herzog Company
Douglas C. Bournique	Indian River Citrus League
Susan L. Brauner	Blue Diamond Growers
Reginald L. Brown	Florida Tomato Exchange
Lauri D. Buckley	A. Duda and Sons, Inc.
James C. Christie	Bryant Christie, Inc.
Henry A. Collin, III	Sunsweet Growers
Alice M. Dettwyler	American Agri-Women
Chris A. Eckert	Eckert Orchards, Inc.
Hugh W. "Wally" Ewart	California Citrus Quality Council
Nancy E. Foster	U.S. Apple Association
Carolyn B. Gleason	McDermott, Will & Emery
Robert L. Guenther	United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association
Daniel D. Haley	Haley and Associates
Julian B. Heron	Tuttle, Taylor, and Heron
John M. Himmelberg	O'Connor & Hannan, LLP
Richard A. Hudgins	California Canning Peach Association
Arthur G. Kawamura	Orange County Produce, LLC
Roger J. Knutzen	Knutzen Farms, LP
Barry F. Kriebel	Sun-Maid Growers of California
Andrew W. LaVigne	Florida Citrus Mutual
Joseph C. MacIlvaine	Paramount Farming Company
John M. McClung	Texas Produce Association
Kevin D. Moffitt	Pear Bureau Northwest
Joel A. Nelsen	California Citrus Mutual
James A. Pandol	Pandol Brothers, Inc.
Mark R. Powers	Northwest Horticultural Council
Freddie L. Richards, Sr.	Prairie View A&M University
Joseph A. Rollo	Wine Institute
Robert I. Schramm	Schramm, Williams and Associates, Inc.
Susan Spence	New York Wine & Grape Foundation
Michael J. Wootton	Sunkist Growers
Joseph C. Zanger	Casa de Fruta Orchards and Complex

Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grain, Feed, and Oilseeds

NAME	COMPANY
Mark T. Anderson	Anderson Hay and Grain Co., Inc.
Gary R. Blumenthal	World Perspectives, Inc.
David A. Bossman	American Feed Industry Association
Kyd D. Brenner	DTB Associates, LLP
Thomas P. Buis	National Farmers Union
Robert E. Cummings, Jr.	USA Rice Federation
Steven J. Daugherty	Pioneer, A Dupont Company
Dennis R. DeLaughter	Progressive Farm Management, Inc.
Neal H. Fisher	North Dakota Wheat Commission
Dwain L. Ford	Ford Farms / M&D Seed Co.
John D. Gordley	Gordley Associates, Inc.
Paul B. Green	Paul B. Green International Marketing Consultant
John K. Hansen	Nebraska Farmers Union
Kenneth L. Hobbie	U.S. Grains Council
Mark E. Hodges	Oklahoma Wheat Commission
Lurlin L. Hoelscher	Hoelscher Ag Dist., Inc. & Agri Ltd. By Hoelscher
Herbert S. Karst	Karag, Inc.
Alan R. Kemper	Kemper Farms
Larry W. Kleingartner	National Sunflower Association
Donald E. Latham	Latham Seed Company
David C. Lyons	Louis Dreyfus Corporation
Timothy D. McGreevy	USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council
Owen J. Newlin	Agronomic Science Foundation
Amy L. Philpott	National Dry Bean Council
John G. "Jack" Reed, Jr.	Archer Daniels Midland Company
Robert M. Reeves	Institute of Shortening and Edible Oils
Mark A. Rokala	Cornerstone Government Affairs
Candace A. Roper	CoBank
Claude P. "Parr" Rosson, III	Texas A&M University
Michael E. Rue	Catlett Warehouse
Robert C. Rynning	Robert Rynning Farms
Ladd M. Seaberg	MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Barbara R. Spangler	Wheat Export Trade Education Committee
Stephen R. Tolman	National Corn Growers Association
Margaret A. "Ann" Tutwiler	International Food & Agricultural Trade Policy Council

Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Processed Foods

NAME	COMPANY
Robert B. Anderson	Sustainable Strategies
Marietta E. Bernot	International Trade Services Corporation
David J. Bliss	Private Label Manufacturers Association
Alison R. Bodor	National Confectioners Association
Lynn M. Bragg	Chocolate Manufacturers Association
Karl B. Brown	SB Global Foods
Catherine A. Caponi	H.J. Heinz Company
Leonard W. Condon	Altria Corporate Services, Inc.
Nancy K. Cook	Pet Food Institute
Donna J. Denison	Cassidy & Associates
Mark A. Dunn	J.R. Simplot Company
James P. Finkle	Constellation Brands, Inc.
George A. Franklin	Kellogg Company
Ronald P. Graf	Hershey Foods Corporation
Steven F. Grover	National Restaurant Association
Timothy F. Hamilton	Miatco, Inc.
Gary J. Johnson	McDonald's Corporation
Kelly D. Johnston	Campbell Soup Company
Rodney C. Jones	ConAgra Foods
Robert J. Kapuscinski	Global Export Marketing Co., Ltd.
Kenneth L. Klippen	United Egg Producers
Steven P. Krikava	Land O'Lakes
Deborah A. Lamb	Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., Inc.
Emily B. Lane	Portland Processing
Eric A. Larson	Sabroso Company
John F. McDermid	International Business-Govt. Counsellors, Inc
Miriam S. Perry	Processed Food Institute
Lisa Y. Rath	Florida Citrus Processors Association
John P. Roberts	National Association for the Specialty Food Trade
Peggy S. Rochette	National Food Processors Association
Leslie G. Sarasin	American Frozen Food Institute
Sarah F. Thorn	Grocery Manufacturers of America
Juan J. Villarreal	Sensient Dehydrated Flavors, Inc.
Charles K. Witzleben	Supervalu International

Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Sweetners and Sweetener Products

NAME	COMPANY
Margaret O. Blamberg	American Cane Sugar Refiners' Association
Van R. Boyette	Okeelanta Corporation
Sarah A. Catala	United States Sugar Corporation
Otto A. "Al" Christopherson	Christopherson Farms
Thomas C. Earley	Promar International
Troy H. Fore, Jr.	American Beekeeping Federation, Inc.
Benjamin A. Goodwin	California Beet Growers Association, Ltd.
Robert R. "Randy" Green	McLeod, Watkinson and Miller
Patrick D. Henneberry	Imperial Sugar Company
Alfred P. Hensler	Masterfoods USA
Roland E. Hoch	Global Organics, Ltd.
James W. Johnson, Jr.	United States Beet Sugar Association
Kenneth F. Lorenze	Kraft Foods
Kent M. Peppler	Kent Peppler Farms
Donald M. Phillips, Jr.	American Sugar Alliance
Kevin S. Price	American Crystal Sugar Company
John C. "Jack" Roney	American Sugar Alliance
David H. Stafford	Grocery Manufacturers of America
Charles L. Thibaut	Evan Hall Sugar Co-op., Inc.
Linda K. Thrasher	Cargill, Inc.
Donald L. Wallace, Jr.	American Sugar Cane League
Frederick D. "Dalton" Yancey, III	Florida Sugar Cane League, Inc.

Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Cotton, Peanuts, Planting Seeds, and Tobacco

NAME	COMPANY
Gary M. Adams	National Cotton Council
Jeannette H. Anderson	American Peanut Council
Dale M. Artho	Dale and Kathy Artho Farms
Otto Bean, Jr.	Jason and Otto Bean Partnership
Jessie T. Bunn	Leaf Tobacco Exporters Association
W.L. Carter, Jr.	North Carolina Cotton Producers Association
Mark S. Condon	American Seed Trade Association
Thomas R. Cotton, Jr.	Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing
Andrew M. Coyle	Kentucky Farm Bureau
William B. Dunavant, III	Dunavant Enterprises, Inc.
Charles R. Earnest	Dolphin Land Company
William A. Gillon	Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens and Cannada, PLLC.
Kater D. Hake	Delta and Pine Land Company
Luby A. Hamm, Jr.	Fue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corp.
Kenneth B. Hood	Perthshire Farms
Jeffrey B. Johnson	Birdsong Peanuts
Kevin L. Kimle	Decision Commodities, LLC
Will C. Kinzel Case	New Holland, Inc.
Donald E. Koehler GA	Agricultural Commodity Commission for Peanuts
Dewey A. Lewis, Jr.	Chapman and Lewis Farms, Inc.
Larry D. Meyers	Meyers and Associates
Donald M. Nelson, Jr.	Altria Corporate Services, Inc.
Richard E. Pasco	American Peanut Product Manufacturers, Inc.
Evans J. Plowden, Jr.	American Peanut Shellers Association
Thomas W. Smith	Calcot, Ltd.
Mary K. Thatcher	American Farm Bureau Federation
Clyde N. Wayne, Jr.	Tobacco Associates, Inc.
Robert S. Weil, II	Weil Brothers Cotton, Inc.
Larry B. Wooten	North Carolina Farm Bureau