Tag: The North American Blueberry Council

The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) today announced the hiring of Monument Advocacy, a government relations and public affairs firm based in Washington, DC. Monument will work with NABC to promote the blueberry industry in the nation’s capital and advocate for programs and products in the 2023 Farm Bill that support the business of blueberries.

“The North American Blueberry Council represents every section of the blueberry industry, including farmers, packers, shippers and researchers, and keeps all stakeholders updated with market reports, consumer data and analytics, and marketing insights,” said Kasey Cronquist, President of the North American Blueberry Council. “As we move into 2023, NABC is focused on ramping up our presence in Washington, DC to ensure Members of Congress understand the scope, scale, and benefits of the highbush industry. It is vital our members’ views are heard during the upcoming Farm Bill negotiation, and that legislators are informed about the needs of the industry, as well as the nutritional benefits of blueberries. When searching for a firm to help us achieve these goals, Monument Advocacy was top-of-mind, and we are confident our partnership will immensely serve the blueberry industry.”

“We are thrilled to work with the North American Blueberry Council on advancing their members’ goals in Washington, DC,” said T.A. Hawks, Partner and head of the Agriculture Practice at Monument Advocacy. “The blueberry industry is experiencing unprecedented growth and Monument is excited to help NABC educate lawmakers about how to best support the industry through legislation. 2023 is a big year for agriculture policy, and we are ready to ensure NABC has its voice heard in Washington, DC.”

About NABC: Since 1965, the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) has been the voice of the blueberry industry in the U.S. and Canada. NABC’s members represent approximately 70% of the North American highbush blueberry crop. NABC was instrumental in the establishment of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHABC), a federal agriculture research and promotion program with independent oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Learn more athttps://nabc.blueberry.org/

About Monument Advocacy: Monument Advocacy is a bipartisan firm that offers government relations, public affairs, strategic and crisis communications, and digital services. We focus on providing our clients with the best advice on how to engage effectively in today’s challenging and crowded public policy marketplace.

The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) released the full slate of its recently elected board of directors, including new president Pat Goin of Goin’s Blueberry Lane in Indiana, and other board officers. Starting in 2023, the board has been expanded from six to 15 members, several of which hail from California.  Among the new Board members is Todd Sanders, Executive Director of the California Blueberry Commission.  “I am excited to join the NABC Board of Directors and help with the continued promotion and market development of the blueberry industry. The California blueberry industry has grown exponentially over the last 10 years and I look forward to representing the California blueberry industry in their efforts on the National level.”

The NABC board is charged with addressing issues, opportunities and industry practices that drive success and profitability in the production and distribution of blueberries in North America and around the world. Over the past two years, the NABC’s board leadership has taken a bold approach to further develop and drive the organization’s mission, including the expansion of board representation and new categories of membership to encourage membership growth.

Prior to her tenure as NABC board president, Goin served as vice chair of the board and chair of the NABC’s Government Affairs Committee. She was also the chair of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council’s (USHBC) Good Practices Committee.

“NABC continues to be uniquely positioned to unite our industry efforts,” explained Goin. “I look forward to working with our newly expanded board to accomplish together what none of us could accomplish alone. This is an exciting evolution for our organization, and I’m proud to be a part of where we are going.”

In addition to Goin, the 2023 executive board includes: