Proposed Changes to the Marketing Order for Raisins Produced from Grapes Grown in California
On February 13-14, 2024, USDA held a two-day public hearing to gather evidence on proposed amendments to the federal marketing order for California raisins on February 13-14, 2024. The links for the witnesses’ testimony and exhibits, USDA’s supporting documents, and hearing transcripts are available below.
On April 3, 2026, USDA announced that the proposed amendments passed in the amendatory referendum conducted January 12-30, 2026. USDA will publish a final rule in the Federal Register adopting the amendments with an effective date of 30 days after publication.
For further information, contact Christy Pankey, Marketing Specialist, Rulemaking Services Branch; Matthew Pavone, Branch Chief, Rulemaking Services Branch; or Abigial Maharaj, Branch Chief, Western Region Branch at Christy.Pankey@usda.gov, Matthew.Pavone@usda.gov, or Abigail.Maharaj@usda.gov.
Supporting Documents
- View Notice of Hearing
- View Recommended Decision
- View Secretary’s Decision and Referendum Order
- View Results of Referendum NTT
Transcripts
- Order Certifying Transcripts (pdf)
- AMS Proposed Transcript Corrections (pdf)
- RAC Proposed Transcript Corrections (pdf)
- Order Post-Hearing Submissions and Notifications (pdf)
- Transcript Part 1 (pdf)
- Transcript Part 2 (pdf)
Exhibits
- Exhibit 1: Notice of Hearing
- Exhibit 2: Certificate of Mailing (pdf)
- Exhibit 3: Certificate of News Release (pdf)
- Exhibit 4: Certificate of Officials Notified (pdf)
- Exhibit 5: Marc McFetridge USDA Raisin Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 6: Marc McFetridge USDA Raisin Economist Presentation (pdf)
- Exhibit 7: Monte Schutz RAC Chairman Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 8: Monte Schutz RAC Chairman Testimony, Raisin Grape Acreage History (pdf)
- Exhibit 9: Monte Schutz RAC Chairman Testimony, Raisin Industry Brochure (pdf)
- Exhibit 10: Monte Schutz RAC Chairman Testimony, Import Data (pdf)
- Exhibit 11: Monte Schutz RAC Chairman Testimony, Acreage and Age Mapping (2022 and Historical) (pdf)
- Exhibit 12: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 13: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, History of Meeting Minutes (pdf)
- Exhibit 14: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, Meeting Minutes (August 17, 2022) & Attachments (pdf)
- Exhibit 15: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, 9 Point Justification (pdf)
- Exhibit 16: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, Meeting Attendance History (pdf)
- Exhibit 17: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, RAC Vacancies (pdf)
- Exhibit 18: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, Proposed Reduction in RAC Size (pdf)
- Exhibit 19: Debbie Powell RAC President Testimony, List of Raisin Packers 2023/2024 Season (pdf)
- Exhibit 20: Steve Kister Sun Maid Growers Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 21: Gerald Chooljian Del Rey Packing Co. Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 22: Gerald Chooljian Del Rey Packing Co. Testimony, RAC Memo (January 30, 2006) (pdf)
- Exhibit 23: Jeff Milinovich Mariani Packing and Central California Raisin Packing Company Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 24: Steven Spate Independent Raisin Producer Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 25: Dwayne Cardoza Raisin Bargaining Association Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 26: Richard Crowe Black-Crowe Vineyards Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 27: Richard Crowe Black-Crowe Vineyards Testimony, Article from California Agriculture, “California leads in raisin production” (July 1980) (pdf)
- Exhibit 28: Richard Crowe Black-Crowe Vineyards Testimony, Top Raisin Producing Countries (pdf)
- Exhibit 29: Richard Crowe Black-Crowe Vineyards Testimony, 2023 Ag Marketing Resource Center, Raisins (pdf)
- Exhibit 30: Richard Sahatijian Victor Packing Testimony (pdf)
- Exhibit 31: Steve Kister Sun Maid Growers Testimony 2 (pdf)