The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing a rule to establish the free and restricted percentages of tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, tart cherry growers during the 2024-25 crop year.
This action sets 81% as the free percentage, which is the proportion of the crop that may ship to any market. It also sets 19% as the restricted percentage, the proportion that must be held in reserves, diverted in the orchard or at the processing plant or used in secondary markets. The Cherry Industry Administrative Board recommended this action to balance expected supply and demand for the 2024-25 crop year.
The proposed rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on Nov. 18, 2025. Written comments are due by Dec. 18, 2025.
Comments concerning the proposed change can be submitted at www.regulations.gov. All comments on the proposed rule submitted by the deadline will be made available for public review and will be considered before publication of a final rule.
The Cherry Industry Administrative Board administers the marketing order which authorizes the industry to conduct production and marketing research, promotional activities, and to control product flow to market to limit the possibility of oversupply.
More information about the tart cherry marketing order and Cherry Industry Administrative Board is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Tart Cherries webpage or by contacting the Market Development Division at (202) 720-8085.
Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended, 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 fruit, vegetable, and specialty crops marketing orders and agreements to ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
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