Release No. 133-15
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2015 --The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that, based on the unanimous recommendation of the Mushroom Council, it has approved an assessment increase under the Mushroom Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Program.
On Sept. 16, 2015, the Mushroom Council’s nine members – who represent all U.S. production regions, as well as imports – unanimously recommended the assessment increase at their meeting in Seattle, Wash. Effective Jan. 1, 2016, the assessment rate will increase from $0.005 cents per pound to $0.0055 cents per pound of mushrooms marketed or imported for the fresh market in the United States. Producers and importers who produce or import an average of more than 500,000 pounds of mushrooms annually for fresh use will be affected.
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the Mushroom Council in accordance with the Mushroom Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1990 and the Order. Like other Research and Promotion programs, the Council is industry-funded, empowering mushroom growers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities for fresh mushrooms. The program is administered by Council members who are nominated by industry and appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.
Research and promotion programs were authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards. The Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight to ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency, and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.
For more information about research and promotion programs, visit www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion. For information on the Board, please contact Jeanette Palmer by phone: (202) 720-9915, or email: Jeanette.Palmer@ams.usda.gov.
Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).