United Fresh Statement on Nomination of Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to Secretary of Agriculture Post
December 17, 2008
The United Fresh Produce Association has issued the following statement in response to the nomination of former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture by President-elect Barack Obama.
"The fruit and vegetable industry is pleased with President-elect Obama's nomination of Governor Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture," said United Fresh president Tom Stenzel. "Governor Vilsack has demonstrated he has a firm grasp on issues important to agriculture and rural communities across the country. He has also demonstrated strong support for increased access to fruits and vegetables in nutrition programs during his tenure as governor. We look forward to working with the new Administration on important issues facing our industry such as funding for nutrition, food safety, trade and the implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill."
United Fresh board member Brendan Comito, COO of Capital City Fruit in Norwalk, Iowa, is equally optimistic about his state's former governor. "Governor Vilsack will be a great representative for the agricultultural industry. During his time as governor, Tom helped diversify the Iowa economy and pushed to find new uses and technologies for Iowa's crops. He's intelligent and thoughtful, and equipped with the critical ability to work on a bi-partisan basis, as he had a Republican legislature during his entire tenure as governor, steering the state through some difficult budget years. On a personal note, I've come to know Governor Vilsack in our church in Des Moines over the past few years, and he is a very decent person. He has a compelling life story and I believe that is why he is such a good leader."
About Tom Vilsack:
Vilsack occupied the Iowa governor's mansion from 1998 to 2006 as the first Democrat elected to the position in 32 years. During his two terms, Vilsack supported the expansion of the fruit and vegetable snack program in the 2004 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act. As governot, he focused on improving education, particularly in early childhood, expanding health care to the uninsured, making the state a national leader in renewable energy and creating a nationally-recognized efficient and accountable state government. He also worked to invest in conservation, rural development and nutrition programs. Vilsack established relationships among all levels of local, state and federal government, and worked closely with Iowa-based and national companies involved in Iowa commerce, seeking to make Iowa the "Food Capital of the Country." He ran as a candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination until announcing his withdrawal from the race in February 2007. Vilsack is an attorney and most recently served in an Of Counsel role with the Des Moines-based Dorsey Trial Group.
United Fresh Produce Association
1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202 303 3400
Fax: 202 303 3433 united@unitedfresh.org
