The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that pistachio producers in three states will vote Oct. 31 through Nov. 18, 2022, on whether to continue their federal marketing order. Producers who have produced pistachios in California, Arizona, and New Mexico from Sept. 1, 2021, through Aug. 31, 2022, are eligible to vote. Notice of the referendum was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 19, 2022.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will mail ballots and voting instructions to all producers of record. If an eligible producer does not receive a ballot with instruction, he or she should contact Peter Sommers at PeterR.Sommers@usda.gov. Requests for ballots can also be sent by mail to Western Region Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721-3129. For additional information call (559) 538-1670.
The pistachio marketing order provides authority for the Administrative Committee for Pistachios to regulate quality, including aflatoxin sampling, analysis, and inspection, and research projects and requires a continuance referendum be held every six years. USDA would consider terminating the marketing order if continuance is not approved by a two-thirds majority of voting producers or a two-thirds majority of the volume of pistachios represented in the referendum.
More information about this marketing order is available on AMS’ 983 Pistachios webpage. More information about Federal marketing orders is available on the AMS Marketing Orders and Agreements webpage or by contacting the Market Development Division at (202) 720-2491.
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 crop marketing orders to ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender