The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a final rule establishing a free percentage of 69 percent and restricted percentage of 31 percent for volume regulation of the 2017-18 crop year under the marketing order regulating the handling of tart cherries grown in the states of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Cherry Industry Administrative Board recommended these percentages for seasonal volume regulation.
Free percentage cherries can be used to supply pie filling, water packed and frozen tart cherries to any available market. Restricted percentage cherries may be sold in secondary markets for export, new product or market development, or held in reserve. Cherries held in the reserve will not be counted as free inventory and will remain in reserve until there is an industry request for a release.
The final rule was published in the Federal Register Sept. 21, 2018. The 30-day public comment period on the proposed rule ended June 11. USDA received two comments.
Information about the marketing order is also available on the 930 Tart Cherries page of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website.
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. The Agricultural Marketing Service 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 Marketing Orders and Agreements page of the AMS website or by contacting the Marketing Order and Agreement Division at (202) 720-2491.