The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for the Far West Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee to fill seats for three members and three alternates for two-year terms, beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

The committee will accept nominations at the following meetings for each district:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a referendum among eligible Florida avocado growers Sept. 21 through Oct. 13, 2026, to determine their level of support for continuing their federal marketing order.

The order requires USDA to conduct a continuance referendum every six years. To be eligible to vote, growers within the production area must have produced avocados during the period of April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking input from the public and industry stakeholders on how the U.S. beef grade standards could be updated to better serve the needs of beef producers, packers, wholesalers, volume food buyers, retailers, and consumers. AMS was asked by the American Wagyu Association to review the grade standards and explore potential revisions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it will conduct a referendum among eligible Christmas tree domestic producers and importers from Oct. 1 through Oct. 16, 2026, to decide whether to continue their research and promotion order.

Background

Members of the grapevine industry submitted a draft proposal to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for a promotion, research and information program covering grapevines that produce grapes for juice, wine, table use, raisins or other products. AMS received a draft Order and a support document in August 2026.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is modifying the handling requirements for sweet cherries grown in designated counties in Washington.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of six members to serve on the American Pecan Promotion Board. The six members will serve three-year terms, effective Oct. 1, 2026, through Sep. 30, 2029.

Newly appointed members are: 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the United States Standards for Grades of Mushrooms, at the industry’s request, to align with current marketing trends and provide industry with uniformity when marketing mushrooms.

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Canned Peaches, Concord Grape Juice, Fresh Mandarins, Pork, Prunes, Raisins, Walnuts, and Wild-Caught Shrimp products for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. Purchases will be made under the authority of Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (Section 32).