Jimmie Turner (202) 720-8998jimmie.turner@ams.usda.govBilly Cox (202) 720-8998billy.cox@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, March 30, 2010 – In response to a request from stakeholders, the U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it will indefinitely delay a referendum for eligible producers of raspberries for processing, and importers of processed raspberries. The referendum would determine whether a new national Processed Raspberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order should be established.
The referendum was scheduled to be held March 22 to April 2, 2010. The Washington Red Raspberry Commission requested a delay in the referendum to consider further modifications to the proposal.
On April 9, 2009, USDA published in the Federal Register proposals for the Processed Raspberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order [74 FR 16266] and referendum procedures [74 FR 16289].
A second proposal addressing the comments received for the proposed order [75 FR 6131] and a final referendum procedures [75 FR 6089] were published in the Feb. 8, 2010, Federal Register [75 FR 6131].
The notice to delay the referendum was published in the March 19, 2010, Federal Register, and posted electronically on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion and http://www.regulations.gov.
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