Dec 29, 2020

USDA proposes changes to tart cherries assessment rate

The USDA is inviting comments on a recommendation by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board to change the allocation of the assessment rate prescribed under the marketing order regulating tart cherries grown in the states of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

According to a USDA news release, this action would decrease the portion of the assessment rate allocated to research and promotion activities from $0.005 to $0.00275 per pound of tart cherries and increase the portion allocated to administrative expenses from $0.00075 to $0.003 per pound of tart cherries. The overall assessment rate established for the board would remain unchanged at $0.00575 per pound of cherries for 2020-2021 and subsequent fiscal periods. Reallocation of income generated from the assessment rate, along with reserve funds, should be adequate to fund the board expenditures.

The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 16, 2020. Written comments are due by Jan. 15, 2021.

Comments should be submitted through Regulations.gov or mailed to Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, D.C. 20250-0237; or faxed to (202) 720-8938. All comments submitted before the deadline will be made available for public review and considered before making a final decision.

More information about the marketing order is available on the AMS 930 Tart Cherries webpage, the AMS Marketing Orders and Agreements webpage or by contacting the Marketing Order and Agreement Division at (202) 720-2491.

Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help fruit, vegetable and specialty crop 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 crop marketing orders and agreements, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.