The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a referendum May 13 through June 3, 2019, for eligible first handlers and importers of mangos to determine whether they favor the inclusion of frozen mangos as a covered commodity under the Mango Promotion, Research and Information Order.
The referendum was originally scheduled to take place March 25 through April 12, 2019. A notice of the change to the referendum dates was published in the Federal Register April 9, 2019.
First handlers who received 500,000 or more pounds of fresh mangos from producers from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2017, are eligible to vote. Importers who imported 500,000 or more pounds of fresh mangos or 200,000 or more pounds of frozen mangos into the United States during the same period are eligible to vote.
USDA will provide the option for electronic ballots. Further details will be provided in the ballot instructions. Mail ballots must be postmarked by June 3, 2019. Ballots delivered by express mail or email must show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. ET April 12.
For more information, contact Marketing Specialist Jeanette Palmer at (202) 720-5976 or Jeanette.Palmer@ams.usda.gov. You may also call the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Promotions and Economics Division (PED) at (202) 720-9915, fax (202) 205-2800 or send mail to:
Promotion and Economics Division
Specialty Crops Program
Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA
Stop 0244, Room 1406-S
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250-0244
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
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