The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today proposed modifications to the handling regulations prescribed under the federal marketing order for tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The proposed rule would modify the basis for calculating district representation on the Cherry Industry Administrative Board, which locally administers the marketing order under USDA oversite. The proposed changes include adjusting the term of office start date for board members, simplifying the way a board member’s sales constituency is determined, clarifying how the sales constituency applies to alternate board members, changing the timeframe for submitting nominations, and clarifying when districts are subject to volume regulation. The board expects the proposed changes will make its operations more efficient.
The proposed rule for these amendments was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 4, 2023. Comments are due by Feb. 2, 2024.
More information about the marketing order is available on the 930 Tart Cherries webpage on AMS’s website. Information about federal marketing orders is available on AMS’s Marketing Orders and Agreements webpage or by contacting the Market Development Division at (202) 720-8085.
Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help 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 provides oversight to fruit vegetable and specialty crops marketing orders to ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.