The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a proposal to establish handler diversion and reporting requirements for seasonal volume control for cranberries grown 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.
This proposal would establish procedures for handlers to divert restricted fruit to noncompetitive outlets or dispose of the fruit when a seasonal volume control is established. The proposal would also establish reporting requirements to provide the Cranberry Marketing Committee with information about diversion plans and other information that would help ensure the rule is applied fairly.
The proposed rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on Feb. 15, 2018. Written comments must be received by April 16, 2018.
Post comments concerning the proposed change at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=AMS-SC-17-0066-0001, or mail them to Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; or fax them to (202) 720-8938.
All comments to this proposed rule and any relevant background documents submitted by the deadline will be posted without change for public review and considered before any reporting requirements are finalized.
Information about the marketing order is available on the 929 Cranberry page of the AMS website.
More information about federal marketing orders is available on the Marketing Orders and Agreements page of the AMS website or by contacting the Marketing Order and Agreement Division at (202) 720-2491.