The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a referendum for cranberry producers to decide whether to continue their federal marketing order. The voting period will be open May 6-28, 2019.
The marketing order requires that a continuance referendum be held during the month of May every four years. To be eligible to vote, producers must have produced cranberries for the fresh market from Sept. 1, 2017, through Aug. 31, 2018.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will mail ballots and voting instructions to all producers of record. Eligible producers who have not received a ballot by May 16, 2019, may request one from Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director, USDA AMS SCP Southeast Marketing Field Office, 1124 1st St. S., Winter Haven, FL 33880; phone: (863) 324-3375; fax (863) 291-8614.
The marketing order will continue in effect if at least 50 percent of the growers voting in the referendum or if growers of more than 50 percent of the volume of cranberries represented in the referendum vote in favor of continuance.
Notice of the referendum was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2019.
Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help 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 crops marketing orders and agreements which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender