Obama names former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to run USDA
Obama names former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to run USDA
WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama has named former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as his choice to run the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Mr. Vilsack, who served two terms as Iowa's Democratic governor and who represented a state known for growing corn and soybeans, has been tabbed to run a department facing critical energy, agriculture and nutrition issues.
At a Dec. 17 press conference in Chicago, President-elect Obama said that his nominee for secretary of agriculture was a leader in clean energy and an advocate for policies that protect family farms.
USDA must place nutrition in the forefront, Gov. Vilsack, who was flanked by Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar, the Obama administration's nominee for interior secretary, said at the press conference.
"The fruit and vegetable industry is pleased with President-elect Barack Obama's nomination of Governor Vilsack as secretary of agriculture," United Fresh Produce Association President Tom Stenzel told The Produce News. "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."
Brendan Comito, chief operating officr of family-run Capital City Fruit in Norwalk, IA, and a member of United Fresh's board of director, also praised the agriculture secretary nominee.
"During his time as governor, Tom helped diversify the Iowa economy and pushed to find new uses and technologies for Iowa's crops," said Mr. Comito. "He's intelligent and thoughtful, and equipped with the critical ability to work on a bipartisan basis, as he had a Republican legislature during his entire tenure as governor, steering the state through some difficult budget years."
Tom Nassif, president and chief executive officer of Western Growers Association, said he looked forward to getting to know Gov. Vilsack, who he hopes shares President-elect Obama's support for specialty crop issues, including money for research grants, marketing programs, school feeding programs and nutrition.
Though not a requirement for the USDA post, Mr. Nassif said he hopes the incoming agriculture secretary also sees the need to reform labor practices - - a key component of a sustainable agriculture industry.
Tom Harkin (D-IA) chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, promised a swift confirmation process in a statement issued Dec. 17.
"Tom Vilsack has a strong record in Iowa on building opportunities in renewable energy, conservation, food and nutrition -- experience that will serve him well as secretary of agriculture," said Sen. Harkin. "With our economy in a downturn, Tom Vilsack knows how to bring change that will rebuild rural economies and keep them vibrant."
The former Iowa governor ran for president before pulling out of the race last year and endorsing U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) for the job.
Mr. Vilsack, who served two terms as Iowa's Democratic governor and who represented a state known for growing corn and soybeans, has been tabbed to run a department facing critical energy, agriculture and nutrition issues.
At a Dec. 17 press conference in Chicago, President-elect Obama said that his nominee for secretary of agriculture was a leader in clean energy and an advocate for policies that protect family farms.
USDA must place nutrition in the forefront, Gov. Vilsack, who was flanked by Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar, the Obama administration's nominee for interior secretary, said at the press conference.
"The fruit and vegetable industry is pleased with President-elect Barack Obama's nomination of Governor Vilsack as secretary of agriculture," United Fresh Produce Association President Tom Stenzel told The Produce News. "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."
Brendan Comito, chief operating officr of family-run Capital City Fruit in Norwalk, IA, and a member of United Fresh's board of director, also praised the agriculture secretary nominee.
"During his time as governor, Tom helped diversify the Iowa economy and pushed to find new uses and technologies for Iowa's crops," said Mr. Comito. "He's intelligent and thoughtful, and equipped with the critical ability to work on a bipartisan basis, as he had a Republican legislature during his entire tenure as governor, steering the state through some difficult budget years."
Tom Nassif, president and chief executive officer of Western Growers Association, said he looked forward to getting to know Gov. Vilsack, who he hopes shares President-elect Obama's support for specialty crop issues, including money for research grants, marketing programs, school feeding programs and nutrition.
Though not a requirement for the USDA post, Mr. Nassif said he hopes the incoming agriculture secretary also sees the need to reform labor practices - - a key component of a sustainable agriculture industry.
Tom Harkin (D-IA) chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, promised a swift confirmation process in a statement issued Dec. 17.
"Tom Vilsack has a strong record in Iowa on building opportunities in renewable energy, conservation, food and nutrition -- experience that will serve him well as secretary of agriculture," said Sen. Harkin. "With our economy in a downturn, Tom Vilsack knows how to bring change that will rebuild rural economies and keep them vibrant."
The former Iowa governor ran for president before pulling out of the race last year and endorsing U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) for the job.
