PUBLIC SUBMISSION | As of: February 09, 2009 Tracking No. 8024ea29 Comments Due: July 09, 2007 |
Docket: AMS-FV-07-0038
Watermelon Research and Promotion Plan; Assessment Increase
Comment On: AMS-FV-07-0038-0001
Watermelon Research and Promotion Plan; Assessment Increase
Document: AMS-FV-07-0038-0009
Van Groningen & Sons Inc.
Manteca, CA,
Organization: Van Groningen & Sons, Inc.My name is Ryan Van Groningen and I am Sales Manager at Van Groningen &
Sons located in Manteca, CA. We grow, pack, and ship watermelons from various
growing regions in California and Arizona. I am also the Research Chairman for the
National Watermelon Promotion Board. As someone involved in the watermelon
industry, I have been able to see first hand how the National Watermelon
Promotion Board has been able to increase consumption of watermelons. One
area that I find to be very important for the watermelon industry is research in the
amino acid, Citrulline. Recent research conducted on Citrulline has shown to have
a number of different health benefits to the cardiovascular system. One of the most
valuable effects is that Citrulline has shown to reduce blood sugar levels for people
prone to diabetes. Not only is this great for the consumer, but this is a marketable
asset for the watermelon industry as there is no other fruit or vegetable that can
come close to the amount of Citrulline that watermelons contain. Many fruits and
vegetable don?t even contain this amino acid.
Research on Citrulline in watermelon needs to be advanced and
continued, however further studies will require more money than the National
Watermelon Promotion Board can currently fund. This is just one reason our
company strongly supports the proposed increase of the assessment rate. This
increase will not only benefit the consumer, but also the watermelon industry.
| AMS-FV-07-0038-0009.1 | Van Groningen & Sons Inc. |