The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing a proposed change to the percentages of free and restricted volume control for the 2017-18 crop year for cranberries grown in 10 cranberry-producing states.
The proposed change would designate 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 proposed rule would exempt small handlers who process less than 125,000 barrels or handlers who would not have carryover inventory at the end of the 2017-18 fiscal year. It also exempts organically grown cranberries.
USDA is issuing this proposed rule based on a recommendation from the Cranberry Marketing Committee.
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 would allow for the disposal of 2017-18 cranberry processed products to meet a portion of a handler’s restriction, which would help prevent additional build-up of juice concentrate inventory.
The proposed rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 2, 2018. Written comments must be received by Feb. 1, 2018.
Post comments concerning the proposed change at www.regulations.gov, 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 submitted by the deadline will be made available for public review and considered before any reporting requirements or information collection 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.
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