The Florida Tomato Committee, which advises the Department of Agriculture on tomato policy and makes recommendations on marketing and packing, received a letter from the department's Agricultural Marketing Service, scolding it for lack of diversity. "I am concerned about the committee's lack of significant effort and commitment to increase participation of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in the nomination process," wrote Kathleen Merrigan, a USDA diversity enforcer. "I will ask the committee to conduct new nominations for my consideration. Current committee members will continue to serve until I appoint the new committee."

Industry representatives insist the committee's lack of diversity mirrors the industry's lack of diversity. "I just don't know of any women or minorities in the business," commented Wayne Hawkins, manager of the committee and executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange. "If there is a minority tomato grower in Florida, I don't know any. They don't exist and [the USDA] won't accept that." Hawkins also bristles at the allegation that the committee failed to conduct outreach efforts as part of the nomination process. "We did everything we possibly could to meet [the USDA's] requirements. We contacted every known tomato grower, every packing house, every county extension director, and many newspapers. Several newspapers even wrote articles about our search. This is government harassment."

At least the tomato growers are not being singled out for special treatment. "Let's just say it's an across-the-board effort," says Merrigan. "This is the last opportunity in this administration to make appointments. We're just following through on this administration's pledge on diversity." That means other industry groups are receiving letters as well. "From soybeans to beef, to onions in south Texas. The winter pear control commission in Yakima, Washington, is going to get one. We're ratcheting it up everywhere."

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