Jimmie Turner (202) 720-8998 jimmie.turner@ams.usda.gov
Billy Cox (202) 720-8998 billy.cox@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, April 22, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the results of a producer and processor referendum to amend the federal marketing order regulating tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
The referendum was held Feb. 1-13, 2010. Eligible voters must have produced or processed tart cherries during the representative period of July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009.
Several amendments were proposed by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board, which is responsible for local administration of the order. Voters favored all of the amendment proposals set forth in the referendum.
To be adopted, the amendments needed to be approved by more than two-thirds of the producers voting in the referendum and producers representing at least two-thirds of the volume of tart cherries represented in the referendum.
In addition, the amendments needed to be approved by processors that had processed more than 50 percent of the volume of tart cherries handled during the representative period.
When implemented, these amendments will:
-- Authorize changing the primary reserve capacity associated with the volume control provisions of the order;
-- Authorize establishment of a minimum inventory level at which all remaining product held in reserves would be released to handlers for use as free tonnage;
-- Establish an age limitation on product placed into reserves;
-- Revise the nomination and election process for handler members on the board;
-- Revise board membership affiliation requirements; and
-- Update order language to more accurately reflect grower and handler participation in the nomination and election process in districts with only one board representative.
Notice of the referendum was published in the Jan. 13, 2010, Federal Register. These amendments will become effective after a final rule is issued in the Federal Register.
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