The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is seeking applicants to fill 15 commissioner positions on 10 of the state’s agricultural and commercial fisheries commodity commissions. The deadline for applications is August 15, 2025.
Those interested in applying or learning more about the commissions can visit the Commodity Commissions website. Commissioners are appointed by the Director of ODA and serve as public officials, typically for three-year terms. Their responsibilities include decisions regarding funding for promotion, education, and research projects.
The Director aims to appoint commissioners who reflect the diversity among Oregon’s farmers, ranchers, processors, and commercial fisheries. Public members should be U.S. citizens residing in Oregon with an active interest in improving economic conditions for the commodity but must not be directly involved in producing or handling it.
Applicants for producer or handler roles must also be U.S. citizens residing in Oregon and have paid or collected assessments for that commodity over the previous three years or longer. A producer is defined as a grower or harvester, while a handler is usually a processor, distributor, or marketer who first buys from the producer.
Openings are available on various commissions:
– Oregon Albacore Commission: 2 Producers
– Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission: 1 Producer, 1 Handler
– Oregon Hazelnut Commission: 1 Public Member
– Oregon Hemp Commission: 1 Handler
– Processed Vegetable Commission: 2 Producers
– Oregon Sheep Commission: 1 Producer, 1 Handler
– Oregon Strawberry Commission: 1 Producer
– Oregon Sweet Cherry Commission: 1 Producer
– Oregon Tall Fescue Commission: 1 Producer, 1 Handler
– Oregon Trawl Commission: 1 Handler
