USDA Announces Appointments to the Paper and Packaging Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of five members to serve on the Paper and Packaging Board beginning Jan 1, 2025. Three of the appointees will serve three-year terms through Dec. 31, 2027. One appointee will serve a two-year term through Dec. 31, 2026, and another appointee will serve a one-year term through Dec. 31, 2025.

Appointed for a three-year term:

• South Region: Steve Henry, Fort Mill, S.C.
• Rest of U.S. Region: Erin Raccah, Memphis, Tenn.
• Rest of U.S. Region: Brandon Bennett, Atlanta, Ga.

Appointed for a two-year term:

• Importer: Anne Ayer, Boston, Mass.

Appointed for a one-year term:

• South Region: Richard Bennett, Memphis, Tenn.

The Paper and Packaging Board has eight members, including seven domestic manufacturers and one importer. Members can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.

More information about the board is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Paper and Packaging Board webpage and the board's website at www.paperandpackaging.org.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.

AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender