Release No. 0112.00
GLICKMAN NAMES NATIONAL WATERMELON PROMOTION BOARD MEMBERS

                                 George Chartier (202) 720-8998
                                       george.chartier@usda.gov
                                       Billy Cox (202) 720-8998
                                             billy.cox@usda.gov


GLICKMAN NAMES NATIONAL WATERMELON PROMOTION BOARD MEMBERS

     WASHINGTON, April 10, 2000   Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman today
announced eight appointments to the National Watermelon Promotion Board which
administers the Watermelon Research and Promotion Plan.

     The following appointees will serve terms beginning immediately and
ending on December 31, 2002:

     Producers representing District 1: Robert E. Tolar of Felda, Fla., and
Ralph L. Chastain of Alva, Fla.

     Handlers representing District 1: Lee A. Wroten of Lakeland, Fla., and
James F. Shepherd of Naples, Fla.

     Importer: Robert A. Dyer of McAllen, Texas.

     Public member: Karen P. Penner of Manhattan, Kansas.
     
     The following appointees will serve for the remainder of the term that
began Jan. 1, 1998, and ends Dec. 31, 2000:

     Producer representing District 2: Alto A. Straughn of Gainesville, Fla.

     Producer representing District 3: Jerry P. Albritton of Butler, Ga.

     The producer members were nominated by producers; the handler members
were nominated by handlers; the importer member was nominated by importers;
and the public member was nominated by the board.  Watermelon producers,
handlers, and importers finance the board's programs through assessments.  The
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service monitors the
board's operations.

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