Governor de Jongh: Department of Agriculture to Host Meeting of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture

Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. said Sunday that the V.I. Department of Agriculture will be hosting the annual regional business meeting of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA) June 22-27, 2010 at the Buccaneer Hotel on St. Croix. 

“Part of the goal of this year’s meeting is to impart information to his fellow commissioners and other meeting participants regarding issues in local agriculture and current initiatives to revive our industry. The regional meeting will also be used to strengthen partnerships with other state departments to enhance local efforts,” de Jongh said.

The Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture is an organization comprised of chief executives of state departments of agriculture throughout the southern region of the United States. The mission of SASDA is to represent the southern region state departments of agriculture by developing and implementing sound public policies and programs to support and promote the regional agricultural industry. Its members include fifteen states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The annual meetings provide an opportunity for SASDA to conduct its business affairs in addition to enhancing and strengthening networking throughout the region.

In addition to other commissioners of agriculture, private sector agribusinesses and growers associations will be attending the meeting from numerous southern states and jurisdictions, including Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Texas, and Puerto Rico. The President of the National Association of State will also participate to share nation wide up-dates with our membership.

This year’s meeting activities will commence with presentations by staff of the VI Department of Agriculture and the UVI Cooperative Extension Service. Other presentations will be delivered by regional and national representatives regarding USDA program up-dates. Cultural activities and agriculture-focused field trip have also been planned as well as a dinner at Government House. The week’s program will end with an island tour and festivities at the annual Mango Melee and Tropical Fruits Festival at the St. George Botanical Garden on Sunday.

The significance of hosting this meeting in the territory is increased exposure and focus on issues in local agriculture and the opportunity to engage in mutually beneficial partnerships. “This is consistent with the administration’s efforts to increase public private partnerships, regionally and nationally, to advance the growth and development of the local agricultural industry. SASDA played a very important support and lobbying role in the administration’s local efforts to acquire eligibility for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program which was finally achieved in May 2008,” Petersen said.

Commissioner Petersen was elected as SASDA Secretary in 2007 and served as Vice President from 2008 – 2009. He currently serves as the association’s first President from the Territory.

Commissioner Petersen expresses appreciation to his staff and numerous local and regional partners for their support and contribution in making this important meeting possible.

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