The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today a final rule amending the handling regulations for the federal marketing order for almonds grown in California.
The amendments change existing authorities for quality control, exempt dispositions, interest and late payments. The amendments also indefinitely suspend obsolete sections 981.466 and 981.467, and align requirements of the marketing order with current industry practices. The final rule also makes conforming changes to clarify handling requirements and includes changes to make the administration of the marketing order more orderly.
The final rule appeared for public inspection in the Federal Register on Sept. 29, 2023. It will be effective 30 days after it has been officially published.
More information about the marketing order is available on the 981 California Almonds 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.