The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that fresh citrus producers voted to continue the marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos grown in Florida. The marketing order requires a continuance referendum be held every six years.
In a referendum held Oct. 19 to Nov. 9, 2020, 99% of producers, representing 94% of volume produced, voted in favor of continuing the marketing order. For the marketing order to continue, two-thirds of the producers voting in the referendum, or two-thirds of the fresh citrus volume represented in the referendum, needed to vote in favor.
The marketing order enables the fresh citrus industry and the Citrus Administrative Committee to regulate quality, volume control, and marking, pack and container regulations, and conduct research and promotion activities under USDA’s oversight. These authorities under the marketing order support the industry’s effort to thrive in a competitive marketplace.
More information about this marketing order is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 905 Florida Citrus webpage. More information about Federal marketing orders is available on 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 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 of 29 active fruit vegetable and specialty crops marketing orders, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
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