Nominations Process
2025 NOMINATIONS PROCESS BACKGROUND
The 2025 nominations process for the 2026-2028 positions is open. The avaliable positions are: three Foreign Producers (3), two District III Importers (2), and one District IV Importer (1).
Mango industry members who are interested in serving as a member of the NMB in the future should read below for complete details and the necessary forms. Questions about the nominations and appointment process can be directed to the NMB’s Operations Manager, Ms. Gabriela Rocha at nominations@mango.org or by phone at 407-629-7318 x112.
NOMINATIONS PROCESS
For each type of position, the process is slightly different. What they have in common is that the industry and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture each have a role in selecting the individuals who will serve. The NMB staff does not have any role or influence over decisions made by USDA.
These are simplified descriptions meant to provide an overview of the process. If you would like to learn more about the detailed nominations process, please contact us at nominations@mango.org.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
The National Mango Board (NMB) encourages industry members to participate without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, size of business/operations, and marital or family status or other basis protected by the U.S. Law to participate in NMB activities and seek a position on the NMB.
BOARD POSITIONS
Click here for more information about the fresh mango importer positions.
Click here for more information about the fresh mango foreign producer positions.
Click here for National Mango Board Member roles and responsibilities.
Click here for frequently asked questions for fresh mango board positions.
IMPORTER POSITION
The NMB is seeking nominations from mango importers to fill two (2) member seats in District III and (1) member seat for District IV on the board.
According to the Mango Order, in order to be eligible to serve on the Board as an importer, a person must import 500,000 or more pounds of mangos into the U.S. in a calendar year as a principal or as an agent, broker, or consignee of any person who produces or handles mangos outside of the U.S., and who is listed by the Customs and Border Protection of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as the importer of record.
As a mango importer, you qualify to nominate yourself or someone else for the importer position on the board in the forthcoming election. If you are interested in serving, you will have to complete and return a Nomination and Statement of Eligibility & Commitment form.
If you would like to nominate someone else, you will need to obtain a Statement of Eligibility & Commitment form from the other person certifying that he or she meets the eligibility requirements, is willing to be nominated, and if appointed, to serve on the Board. If you are nominating more than one person, please make copies of the form or contact us for additional forms.
Once eligible importers have been identified, a ballot will be prepared and mailed to all eligible importers to determine those importers to be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) for selection. Two names will be needed for each available position. The Secretary will then appoint two importers to serve on the Board for District III and one importer for District IV.
Download District III packets below:
Download District IV packets below:
FOREIGN PRODUCER POSITION
The NMB is seeking nominations from foreign producers to fill three (3) seats on the board.
According to the Mango Order, in order to be eligible to serve on the Board as a foreign producer, a person must be engaged in the production and sale of mangos outside of the United States and own, or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop for sale in the U.S. market or is engaged, outside of the United States, in the business of producing, or causing to be produced, mangos beyond the person’s own family use and having value at first point of sale to the United States.
Once eligible foreign producers have been identified, those foreign producers’ names will be submitted to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for selection. The Secretary will then appoint three foreign producers to serve on the Board.
Download Foreign Producer packets below:
NATIONAL MANGO BOARD MEMBER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Understand and comply with the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (Act), the Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order), rules and regulations, and USDA guidelines.
- Be dedicated to the mission, goals, and objectives of the Mango Board (Board). Represent the members of the mango industry
- Act as ambassador of the NMB
- Speak on behalf of the NMB.
- Represent NMB to peers.
- Serve the industry impartially, making decisions based on the welfare of the industry as a whole rather than on personal or business considerations. To ensure fair and equal treatment of all industry peers in market promotion and research programs.
- Regularly attend the Mango Board meetings and come prepared to discuss the issues and business to be addressed.
- Select Board officers, committees, and subcommittees at the start of each fiscal period or at other appropriate times.
- Appoint an executive committee and delegate authority to administer duties under Board direction and within Board policies.
- Develop Board policies, bylaws, and procedures for approval by USDA for Board implementation and recommend amendments to rules and regulations under the Order, as necessary.
- Ensure staff compliance with the Act, Order, rules and regulations, bylaws, Board policies and procedures, and USDA policies.
- Develop programs and projects to carry out the mission of the Board (use a fiscal year marketing plan) and forward to USDA for approval prior to implementation.
- Enter into contracts or agreements to develop and carry out approved programs and projects. Secure USDA approval prior to implementation of contracts and agreements.
- Demonstrate fiscal responsibility by performing the following: recommend an assessment rate; prepare fiscal budgets; amend budgets as necessary; set a reserve; ensure that the staff issues monthly financial reports and accurate records of Board actions and transactions; ensure that the books of the board are audited each fiscal year; and evaluate the effectiveness of all programs and projects to assure wise stewardship of industry funds.
- Ensure efficient and timely enforcement of the Act and Order by staff; ensure identification, investigation/audit of violators and the complete documentation of cases and a timely referral of compliance cases to USDA.
- Assist in securing qualified candidates for membership on the Board.
- Promote industry unity. Advise the industry of the Board’s mission, goals, objectives, projects, and programs. Support the programs, projects, and actions of the Board outside of its meetings.
- Make decisions for the good of the entire industry.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NOMINATIONS – NATIONAL MANGO BOARD POSITIONS
Q. What is the deadline for submitting nominations to NMB office?
A. Nominations must be received at the NMB’s office by February 28, 2025, by 6:00pm. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Q. Which positions will be available for the current nominations?
A. The following positions that will be available are:
Three (3) Foreign Producers
Two (2) District III importers
One (1) District IV Importer
For the nomination packets visit: https://www.mango.org/nominations
Q. What areas include the NMB Importer Districts?
A. View map of NMB Importer Districts.
Q. How is the process for domestic producers, first handlers and importers conducted?
A. NMB staff will send nomination packets to industry members.
After receiving nominations from industry members, NMB staff will mail or e mail ballots, listing the candidates in alphabetical order.
For each position, the nominee who receives the highest number of votes and the nominee who receives the second highest number of votes will be the nominees to be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture and in this order, (i.e.in the current nominations, four names will be submitted for importers in District 1.)
NMB staff will send background forms to these nominees.
NMB staff will submit the number of votes and background information forms for each candidate to the Secretary.
Of the two nominee names submitted for each position, the Secretary will appoint the NMB member,(i.e.in the current nominations, two importers for District III. )
Q. Who is eligible to be nominated or to vote for domestic producers, first handlers, and importers?
A. All known eligible domestic producers, first handlers and importers (produced or importer on record of 500,000 pounds or more of fresh mangos into the United States in the last calendar year). Reference the Mango Promotion, research and Information Order for more information.
Q. Can a company that has office locations in different Districts submit nominees for each of the Districts?
A. Yes.
Q. Can a company that has an office location in only one District submit more than one nominee?
A. Yes.
Q. In the instances an industry member performs multiple tasks, for example, domestic producer, first handler and importer, can this industry member be nominated for all the three (3) categories?
A. Yes, they can nominate themselves and/or be nominated by their peers to all three (3) categories.  The nominee must meet the eligibility requirements.
Q. How is voting for domestic producers, first handlers, and importers going to be made?
A. Voting will be conducted via e-mail and mail.
Q. Can a company that has office locations in different Districts vote in each District?
A. Yes. For example, if a company operates in both District I and District II, the company may cast votes for both District I and District II if seats are available.
Q. How is the process for foreign producers conducted?
A. Foreign producers should be nominated by a Foreign Mango Organization (FMO) or can nominate themselves.
NMB staff will solicit the names of nominees from known FMOs of the six (6) major mango producing countries exporting to the U.S.
FMOs of each country may submit two nominees’ names for each position.
NMB staff will also send a press release to the FMOs and ask them to send it out to the media.
NMB staff will submit the names of all candidates to the Secretary of Agriculture.
Out of the candidates submitted, the Secretary will appoint three (3) NMB members.
Q. What do you mean by “Are you a federally registered lobbyist?
Please confirm if you are a federally registered lobbyist in the United States.
For more information, visit USDA website regarding the importance of Diversity on Research & Promotion Boards
2024 Nominations Update
The National Mango Board is pleased to share the results of the 2024 nomination process. The Secretary of Agriculture made the appointments public on December 4, 2024.
The following individuals have been appointed to the National Mango Board for the period 2025-2027:
- District I importer: Albert Perez. Miami, Florida
- District I importer: Luis Orrantia. Doral, Florida
- Domestic producer: Umi Martin. Waimea, Hawaii
- First handler: Luis Gabriel Cintron. Miami, Florida
- Foreign producer: Helena Medeiros. Petrolina, Brazil
- Foreign producer: Jose Angel Crespo. El Rosario, Sinaloa, Mexico
The National Mango Board has 18 members, including eight importers, seven foreign producers, two domestic producers, and one first handler.
The NMB welcomes its new board members as their expertise and dedication to the mango industry will make them an outstanding addition to our board.
Special thanks to outgoing Board members, Clark Golden, Luis Carlos Martinez, and Guillermo Lozano for their valuable contributions, vision and leadership during their tenure at the NMB.
Please visit:Â https://www.ams.usda.gov/content/usda-announces-appointments-national-mango-board-2Â for additional information from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service regarding the recent appointments to the NMB.
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