The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is amending the federal marketing order for almonds grown in California. This action will help the board and marketing order keep pace with evolving industry dynamics and build market opportunities.
This final rule will broaden the definition of almonds to include almond biomass for research purposes and expand the forms of shelled almonds for future marketing purposes. This rule also will change the election date of board members to coincide with the collection of assessments, and it will change the date for board estimates and reserve recommendations. Lastly, this rule will remove language that requires separate accounting of certain excess funds and specify the reserve fund limit as six months’ expenses.
Results of the referendum USDA conducted Oct. 30-Nov. 20, 2023, showed the four amendments passed by an average of 85.9% of producers voting, who represented 90.7% of the volume of almonds produced by those voting. The votes in support of the amendments far exceeded minimum thresholds for approval.
The final rule for this action was published in the Federal Register May 7, 2024. The changes will take effect June 6, 2024.
Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help fruit, vegetable and specialty crop producers and handlers achieve marketing success by leveraging their own funds to design and execute programs that they would not be able to do individually. AMS oversees fruit, vegetable and specialty crop marketing orders and agreements, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
More information about the marketing order is available on the 981 California Almonds webpage, the AMS Marketing Orders and Agreements webpage, or by contacting the Market Development Division at (202) 720-8085.
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