This week, President Biden announced his intent to nominate CDFA Undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt to serve as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regularory Progams at the U.S. Department of Agriculture where she will oversee domestic and interational market development. If confirmed, Jenny will join a mission area that is focused on facilitating the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products, ensuring the health and care of animals and plants, and setting national and international standards
We are very excited to see Jenny move into this role at USDA. As a California farmer herself, she has a keen appreciation for and understanding of the issues and priorities of specialty crop producers. We have greatly enjoyed working with her during her tenure at CDFA and look forward to working with her in her new role at USDA.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsak issued the following statement in response to Moffit’s nomination, “Jenny Moffitt’s nomination to serve as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs demonstrates that USDA is committed to putting the perspective of our producers at the heart of what we do. Jenny currently serves as the Undersecretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and previously served as Deputy Secretary for the agency. Prior to her time with CDFA, Jenny spent 10 years as Managing Director at Dixon Ridge Farms, her family’s organic walnut farm and processing operation in Solano County, California. Jenny says that growing up and working on the farm solidified the importance of taking care of the land and the people who farm it…She will be a welcomed addition to a growing USDA team.”
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross praised Moffit’s nominations, stating, “I am thrilled that someone of Jenny Lester Moffitt’s caliber has been selected by President Biden to serve as USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs…Jenny is a trusted colleague and a good friend, and she will be missed here in California. But I am gratified that she will be serving a larger cause. She is a shining example of the next generation of agricultural leadership.”
