Member Archives

Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC)

The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) is an executive agency of Florida government charged with the marketing, research and regulation of the Florida citrus industry. Its activities are funded by an assessment paid by growers on each box of citrus that moves through commercial channels. The industry employs 33,000 people, provides an annual economic impact of $6.7 billion to the state, and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that help support Florida’s schools, roads and health care services. The FDOC also has extensive regulatory responsibilities, covering every aspect of the industry, including research, production, maturity standards, licensing, transportation, labeling, packing and processing. The FDOC is governed by the Florida Citrus Commission, an eleven-member board appointed by the Governor of Florida to represent citrus growers, processors and packers.

American Feed Industry Association

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to representing the business, legislative, and regulatory interests of the U.S. animal food industry and its suppliers. AFIA’s members include over 650 domestic and international companies, such as livestock feed and pet food manufacturers, integrators, pharmaceutical companies, ingredient suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and supply companies that provide other products or services to feed manufacturers. Several state, national, and regional associations are also AFIA members. No other association represents all these facets of the U.S. animal food industry. The AFIA is also recognized as the leader on international industry developments, representing the industry at global forums, including within the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF).

California Prune Board

The California Prune Board was established in 1952 to represent growers and handlers under the authority of the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture. California is the world’s largest producer of prunes with orchards across 14 counties in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Promoting a lifetime of wellness through the enjoyment of California Prunes, the organization leads the premium prune category with generations of craftsmanship supported by California’s leading food safety and sustainability standards. California Prunes. Prunes. For life.

Cotton USA

Under the banner of COTTON USA, Cotton Council International (CCI) promotes U.S. cotton fiber and manufactured cotton products to more than 50 countries through 20 offices around the world. CCI’s COTTON USA programs generate market opportunity not otherwise feasible for the numerous individual, family and small business entities that comprise the U.S. cotton industry. COTTON USA growers believe that responsibly grown cotton: uses resources responsibly; optimizes efficiencies; minimizes water, energy, chemical-use, waste and environmental impacts; provides safe and dignified working conditions; and provides social and economic benefits to local communities.

American Peanut Council

The American Peanut Council (APC) is the trade association which represents all segments of the peanut industry. Members include peanut growers, peanut shellers, brokers, peanut product manufacturers, and suppliers of goods and services to the industry. The APC monitors developments in the domestic and international markets and responds with a diverse array of domestic and international marketing, trade servicing, food safety, research and issues management programs. Peanuts have a great story to tell on sustainability. The American Peanut Council has set up a task force which is measuring the carbon footprint and other indicators of sustainability throughout the supply chain from the farm through processing, and even the life cycle of the packaging of its food products. It is the Task Force’s goal to forge a clear common understanding of what sustainability means within the peanut industry and to ensure that various constituencies’ (business, academic, consumer) evaluation of peanut sustainability is based on consistent sound science and appropriate principles, as well as provide industry members with goals, tools, and support to incorporate sustainability in their business operations.

U.S Wheat Associates

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is the export market development organization for the U.S. wheat industry. USW promotes the reliability, quality and value of all six U.S. wheat classes to wheat buyers, millers, bakers, food processors and government officials in more than 100 countries around the world. USW does not buy, sell nor process wheat but helps make it easier for everyone else who does. USW proudly represents the hard-working farm families that produce enough wheat every year to fill American tables, while still supplying a leading share of world wheat trade. USW links overseas customers directly to the wheat they purchase and to the farmers who grow it.

U.S. Meat Export Federation

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. As a nonprofit organization it works to create new opportunities and develop existing international markets for U.S. beef, pork, lamb and veal. The federation is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and it has an extensive international presence with offices in Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Mexico City, Monterrey and Brussels. USMEF also has special market representatives covering China, the Middle East, Europe, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa. USMEF shares its local intelligence and more than three decades of experience with U.S. exporters, traders and buyers in addition to end users and processors in each market. As high-quality U.S. beef, pork and lamb have taken a lead position in international markets, exports play a more prominent role in industry growth and prosperity.

U.S. Livestock Genetics Exports, Inc.

U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. (USLGE) is a nonprofit, nationwide trade association that brings together a broad base of U.S. livestock organizations. We represent the international marketing interests of the dairy, beef, swine, horse, and small ruminant (sheep and goats) breeding industries. Our members also include the embryo and semen industries, livestock export sector, and State Departments of Agriculture. USLGE members match international producers with sources in the United States that offer genetics with superior credentials. The combined resources of USLGE members include most major species and breeds — resources that are unmatched by any other single organization. This unique broad-based team offers more sources for superior performance-oriented genetics than any other group in the world. USLGE works as a one-stop center to make the genetic selection process easier, more efficient, and more productive.

U.S. Grains Council

The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and related products vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s productivity. Founded in 1960, the Council is a private, non-profit corporation with 10 international offices and programs in more than 50 countries. Its membership includes producer organizations and agribusinesses with a common interest in developing export markets. The Council tailors its programs to meet individual countries’ cultures and needs. Our technical programs teach livestock and poultry producers how to use feed grains effectively and manage their operations efficiently.

U.S. Dry Bean Council

The U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) is comprised of leaders in the bean industry with the common goal of promoting the U.S. edible bean trade, both in the United States and abroad, and educating U.S. consumers about the benefits of beans. The USDBC gives a voice to the bean industry and provides information to consumers, health professionals, buyers, suppliers and the media about the good taste, nutritional value and versatility of beans. As part of USDBC’s mission, the organization also collaborates with public health organizations, research centers, universities, and the entire supply chain on projects related to nutrition, food aid, sustainability and trade. Bean farmers proudly foster the sustainability of agriculture through the production of beans. The nitrogen-fixing properties of beans improve soil fertility, which improves and extends the productivity of farmland. Intercropping with pulses increases farm biodiversity and creates a more diverse landscape for animals and insects. Beans are also highly water efficient and require less water compared to other protein sources. An unexpected ally against climate change, dry bean species have broad genetic diversity from which climate resilient varieties can be selected. By producing a smaller carbon footprint, beans indirectly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

U.S. Dairy Export Council

The U.S. Dairy Export Council is a non-profit, independent membership organization that represents the global trade interests of U.S. dairy producers, proprietary processors and cooperatives, ingredient suppliers and export traders. Dairy farmers have a long heritage as responsible stewards of the land, air and water, which has enabled them to pass their farms along to multiple generations. Through the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment, dairy farmers, dairy processors, retailers and businesses are working together so they can continue to provide products that are nutritious, produced responsibly and economically viable for all. In 2009, the dairy industry committed to a voluntary goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of fluid milk by 25 percent by 2020, while adding business value to the entire industry. Individual dairy businesses and the industry as a whole need to collaborate, measure, innovate and lead to achieve long-term sustainability. Already, the U.S. dairy community has reduced greenhouse gas emissions 63 percent over the past 60 years.

USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council

The Council was established in 1965 as a non-profit organization to promote and protect the interests of growers, processors, warehousemen and sellers of dry peas, lentils and chickpeas in the United States. The 5,000 growers, processors, exporters and associates represented by the Dry Pea & Lentil Council take pride in their ability to produce the highest quality dry peas, lentils and chickpeas for national and international markets.