The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a final rule establishing free and restricted percentages of cranberries for the 2017-18 crop year as a volume control measure for cranberries grown in 10 cranberry-producing states.
The rule designates 85 percent of the crop as free and 15 percent of the crop as restricted for cranberries under the marketing order regulating the handling of cranberries grown in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York.
The free portion of the crop may be shipped to any market, while the restricted portion of the crop must be diverted or used in noncompetitive outlets. This action also allows for the disposal of 2017-18 cranberry processed products to meet a portion of a handler’s restriction to help prevent additional build-up of juice concentrate inventory. A minimum quantity exemption for small handlers who have little or no inventory and an exemption for organically grown cranberries are also in effect.
The Cranberry Marketing Committee recommended limiting cranberry volume to help bring supplies in line with demand.
The final rule for this action was published in the Federal Register April 4, 2018, and will take effect May 4, 2018. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register Jan. 2, 2018, and had a 30-day comment period.
Information about the marketing order is available on the 929 Cranberry page of the AMS website.
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. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight to 29 fruit vegetable and specialty crops marketing orders and agreements, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
More information about federal marketing orders is available on the Marketing Orders and Agreements page of the AMS website or by contacting the AMS Marketing Order and Agreement Division at (202) 720-2491.
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