The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing a proposed volume regulation for the 2018-19 crop year under the marketing order for tart cherries grown in seven tart cherry-producing states.
The proposed volume regulation would establish a free percentage of 73 percent and restricted percentage of 27 percent for the current crop year under the marketing order regulating handling of tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
The Cherry Industry Administrative Board recommended the seasonal volume regulation to establish the quantity of tart cherries handlers can place into the market. Free percentage cherries could be used to supply any available market, including domestic markets for pie filling, water packed and frozen tart cherries. Restricted percentage cherries must be either diverted in orchard or at the processing plant, sold as exports, used for new product development, used for new market development or held in reserve. Cherries held in reserve would not be counted as free inventory and would remain in reserve until there is an industry request for release.
The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on May 8, 2019. Written comments must be received by June 7, 2019. Post comments concerning the proposed change at www.regulations.gov, fax them to (202) 720-8938 or mail them to:
Docket Clerk
Marketing Order and Agreement Division
Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA
1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237
Washington, DC 20250-0237
All comments submitted by the deadline will be made available for public review and considered before any reporting requirements or information collection are finalized.
More information about the marketing order regulating the handling of tart cherries is available on the 930 Tart Cherries page on 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. AMS provides oversight to 29 fruit vegetable and specialty crops marketing orders and agreements to ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
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