The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that California kiwifruit growers voted to continue their marketing order program. In a referendum conducted May 18–29, 2020, continuance of the marketing order was favored by 56% of eligible kiwifruit growers voting in the referendum. For the marketing order to continue, at least 50% of the growers voting in the referendum had to vote in favor of the marketing order.
The marketing order enables the California kiwifruit industry and the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee, which is responsible for local administration of the program, to regulate product quality and to conduct research and promotion initiatives under USDA oversight.
A referendum among California kiwifruit growers is required every six years under the marketing order to determine ongoing support for the program. The next continuance referendum will be held in 2026.
More information about the marketing order is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 920 Kiwifruit webpage.
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 29 fruit vegetable and specialty crops marketing orders and agreements which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity. More information about federal marketing orders is available on the AMS Marketing Orders and Agreements webpage or by contacting the Marketing Order and Agreement Division at (202) 720-2491.
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