Last night President-elect Trump selected former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as the next Secretary for the United States Department of Agriculture. Governor Perdue will oversee a Department of about 100,000 employees and about $140 billion across various programs. He also will have a significant role in the next Farm Bill debate which will be up for reauthorization in 2018. Governor Perdue served as the 81st Governor of Georgia from 2003-2011 and served as Senator in the Georgia Assembly. United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel made the following statement regarding Governor Perdue: “We congratulate Governor Perdue on his selection as the next Secretary of Agriculture. We have high regards for this past work with our Georgia fruit and vegetable industry, and are confident he will bring a passion and commitment to supporting agriculture, and helping us deliver healthy foods to all Americans. We anticipate meeting with Governor Perdue soon, and working with him on critical issues such as securing an adequate workforce through immigration reform and a new guest worker program, bolstering free and fair trade, serving the neediest Americans through federal feeding programs, and more. ”