Ann Wright Named Deputy Undersecretary:  We are enormously happy and proud to report that Ann Wright, former Sustainable Agriculture Coalition advocate, was named this week by USDA Secretary Vilsack as Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP).  MRP oversees the Agricultural Marketing Service, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, and Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration.  

Until last week, Wright served as senior policy advisor on agriculture for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).  Prior to her work at SAC, Wright was a legislative assistant on agriculture for Senators Paul Simon (D-IL) and Paul Wellstone (D-MN).  At SAC, Ann was the primary staff person for the Marketing and Rural Development Committee and led our efforts on such issues as farmers markets, value-added agriculture, and sustainable livestock meat label claim standards.  Congratulations Ann!