Shutdown ends United Fresh meeting early, causes cancellation of other ag events
October 02, 2013 | 03:59 PM
The United Fresh Produce Association’s annual Washington conference ended early today and two other agriculture-related events have been canceled because of the government shutdown.
The United Fresh conference ended before 10 a.m. after Michael Taylor, the deputy commissioner for foods at the Food and Drug Administration, informed the group that he would not be able to speak to them. On Tuesday, Taylor had offered to come to meet with the fruit and vegetable growers and executives after it became clear that the government shutdown would prevent FDA staff from explaining the agency’s plans for implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. The meeting had been scheduled for today.
Sam Kass, the White House deputy chef who also is executive director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign against childhood obesity, was supposed to be the group’s luncheon speaker today, but he was furloughed on Tuesday and canceled his speech.
The Global Harvest Initiative, a private sector group that promotes agricultural growth in the developing countries, has postponed the launch of a new policy paper scheduled for Thursday.
“GHI was very excited to have the U.S. Trade Representative for Agriculture, Ambassador [Islam] Siddiqui, and Phil Karsting, administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service for USDA, as our featured speakers for the event,” Margaret Zeigler, the GHI executive director, wrote in an email.
“Unfortunately, due to the government shutdown, they, and their colleagues will be unable to attend. Their insight and perspective on this issue is a critical part of our discussion, so we have decided to postpone the event until they can join us.”
Agriculture Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse has also canceled a speech to the National Chicken Council on Thursday, but the NCC meeting will go on.
World Food Program USA, a private group that supports the World Food Program and is involved in anti-hunger issues, has postponed its annual awards ceremony scheduled for October 9.
“In light of the continuing uncertainty surrounding the government shutdown, which impacts the U.S. Institute of Peace’s building where World Food Program USA was planning to host its October 9th award ceremony, the event will be postponed to a later date,” a WFP USA spokeswoman said in an email.
The United Fresh conference ended before 10 a.m. after Michael Taylor, the deputy commissioner for foods at the Food and Drug Administration, informed the group that he would not be able to speak to them. On Tuesday, Taylor had offered to come to meet with the fruit and vegetable growers and executives after it became clear that the government shutdown would prevent FDA staff from explaining the agency’s plans for implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. The meeting had been scheduled for today.
Sam Kass, the White House deputy chef who also is executive director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign against childhood obesity, was supposed to be the group’s luncheon speaker today, but he was furloughed on Tuesday and canceled his speech.
The Global Harvest Initiative, a private sector group that promotes agricultural growth in the developing countries, has postponed the launch of a new policy paper scheduled for Thursday.
“GHI was very excited to have the U.S. Trade Representative for Agriculture, Ambassador [Islam] Siddiqui, and Phil Karsting, administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service for USDA, as our featured speakers for the event,” Margaret Zeigler, the GHI executive director, wrote in an email.
“Unfortunately, due to the government shutdown, they, and their colleagues will be unable to attend. Their insight and perspective on this issue is a critical part of our discussion, so we have decided to postpone the event until they can join us.”
Agriculture Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse has also canceled a speech to the National Chicken Council on Thursday, but the NCC meeting will go on.
World Food Program USA, a private group that supports the World Food Program and is involved in anti-hunger issues, has postponed its annual awards ceremony scheduled for October 9.
“In light of the continuing uncertainty surrounding the government shutdown, which impacts the U.S. Institute of Peace’s building where World Food Program USA was planning to host its October 9th award ceremony, the event will be postponed to a later date,” a WFP USA spokeswoman said in an email.
