Aug 4, 2011

Washington state sweet cherry growers to vote on marketing order

USDA announced that Washington state sweet cherry growers will vote Nov. 5 through Nov. 18, on whether to continue their federal marketing order.

A continuance referendum must be held once every six years. Growers who produced sweet cherries in designated Washington state counties during the period April 1, 2010, through March 31, 2011, are eligible to vote.

The referendum will pass if either two-thirds of the growers vote or producers accounting for two-thirds of the volume of sweet cherries represented in the referendum vote to continue the order. Notice of the referendum appears in the Aug. 3 Federal Register.

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will mail ballots and voting instructions to all eligible Washington state sweet cherry growers. Eligible growers who do not receive a ballot should contact Gary D. Olson, Regional Manager, USDA AMS FV Northwest Marketing Field Office, 805 SW Broadway, Suite 930, Portland OR 97205, by phone at (503) 362-2724, or by fax at (503) 326-7440.