Docket Number: AMS-SC-23-0055
Dates: The referendum will be conducted from February 5 through February 26, 2024. Only current sweet cherry growers that also grew sweet cherries within the designated production area during the period April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023, are eligible to vote in this referendum. Ballots returned via express mail must show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 26, 2024, to be counted.

Addresses

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for the Fresh Pear Committee to fill four grower member seats and two handler member seats to serve two-year terms that begin July 1, 2024. Nominations for grower and handler members and their alternates will be made at nomination meetings in each district.

Nominations will be accepted at the following meetings:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it will conduct a referendum among Washington sweet cherry producers Feb. 5-26, 2024, to determine their level of support for continuing their federal marketing order.

The marketing order requires that a continuance referendum be held every six years. To be eligible to vote, producers must have produced sweet cherries within the designated production area during the period of April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking comments on a proposal to terminate Marketing Order No. 929, which regulates the handling of cranberries grown in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the state of New York.

The proposed termination follows the referendum that AMS conducted June 9-30, 2023, showing producers did not support continuing the marketing order. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for the American Pecan Promotion Board. Nominees are needed to fill five seats for members whose terms will begin Oct. 1, 2024, and end Sept. 30, 2027. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 16, 2024.

The American Pecan Promotion Board is seeking nominees for the following seats:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today proposed modifications to the handling regulations prescribed under the federal marketing order for tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.