Proposed Promotion Research and Information Order on Processed Raspberries
The Proposed Order would be implemented if it is approved by a majority of producers and importers voting in the referendum.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service published in today’s Federal Register a proposed rule and referendum order to establish an industry-funded promotion, research and information program for processed raspberries. The department is conducting an initial referendum to ascertain whether the persons to be covered by and assessed under the proposed order favor it prior to it going into effect. Under the proposed order, importers of processed raspberries and producers of raspberries for processing would pay an assessment of up to one cent per pound, with certain exemptions.
The Proposed Order would be implemented if it is approved by a majority of producers and importers voting in the referendum. A separate final rule on referendum procedures was also published in today’s Federal Register.
The voting period is March 22 through April 2, 2010. To be eligible to vote, importers must have imported 20,000 or more pounds of processed raspberries during the representative period from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. Ballots will be mailed to all known importers of processed raspberries on or before March 8. Ballots must be received by the referendum agents no later than the close business on April 2, 2010 to be counted.
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