Release No.: 141-16
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations of 15 growers and shellers (handlers) to serve on the American Pecan Council. Members of the council will be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to administer the federal marketing order with oversight by AMS.
The marketing order authorizes data collection; research and promotion activities; and regulation of grade, size, quality, pack and containers for pecans grown in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. Assessments collected from pecan handlers will finance the program.
AMS has mailed nomination forms to all known producers and shellers in the U.S. pecan industry. Nomination forms are also available on online at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/moa/986-pecans or by contacting AMS at (863) 324-3375.
Completed nomination forms must be received by AMS no later than Sept. 6, 2016. Forms may be submitted by mail to USDA, AMS, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, 1124 First Street South, Winter Haven, Fla. 33880 or email Jennie.Varela@ams.usda.gov.
Notice of USDA’s final decision to establish the marketing order for pecans was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 4, 2016.
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