GLICKMAN NAMES NEW MEMBER TO MUSHROOM COUNCIL
                                            Release No. 0168.00
                                                               
                                                               
                                                               
                                       Billy Cox (202) 720-8998
                                               billy.cox@usda.gov


GLICKMAN NAMES NEW MEMBER TO MUSHROOM COUNCIL

     WASHINGTON, May 18, 2000 Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced the appointment of C. Gregory Sagan of Plymouth, Minn., representing
region 1, to fill a vacancy on the Mushroom Council.  Sagan will serve the
remainder of a 3 year term ending Dec. 31, 2001.

     The Mushroom Council is composed of a minimum of four and a maximum of
nine members representing producers and importers in four regions throughout
the United States. Region 1 encompasses 23 New England, Midwestern, and
Western states.

     Authorized under the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer
Information Act of 1990, the council administers a national promotion,
research, and consumer information program to maintain and expand markets for
fresh mushrooms.  Persons who produce or import an average of more than
500,000 pounds of fresh market mushrooms annually pay assessments to fund the
program.

     USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service oversees the operations of the
council.

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