USDA Seeks Nominees for the Fresh Pear Committee

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominees for the Fresh Pear Committee to fill four grower member seats and two handler member seats to serve two-year terms that begin July 1, 2024. Nominations for grower and handler members and their alternates will be made at nomination meetings in each district.

Nominations will be accepted at the following meetings:

Wenatchee District:
•    Handler nomination meeting:
•    Dec. 14, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. PT.
•    2900 Euclid Ave., Wenatchee, Washington, 98801

USDA to Conduct Vote on Sweet Cherry Marketing Order

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it will conduct a referendum among Washington sweet cherry producers Feb. 5-26, 2024, to determine their level of support for continuing their federal marketing order.

The marketing order requires that a continuance referendum be held every six years. To be eligible to vote, producers must have produced sweet cherries within the designated production area during the period of April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.

USDA Proposes Termination of Cranberry Marketing Order

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking comments on a proposal to terminate Marketing Order No. 929, which regulates the handling of cranberries grown in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the state of New York.

The proposed termination follows the referendum that AMS conducted June 9-30, 2023, showing producers did not support continuing the marketing order. 

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