Jimmie Turner (202) 720-8998jimmie.turner@ams.usda.govBilly Cox (202) 720-8998billy.cox@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it will conduct a referendum May 17 to June 4, 2010, for eligible producers of U.S. honey to determine whether a new national U.S Honey Producer Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Order should be established.
The program will be implemented if approved by a majority of producers voting who also represent a majority of the volume of U.S. honey produced during the representative period. To be eligible to vote in the referendum, producers must have produced 100,000 or more pounds of honey from Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2008.
If implemented, the program would be administered by a seven-member board and its alternates – from seven regions – who will be responsible for carrying out activities intended to strengthen the position of the U.S. honey industry in the marketplace. In addition, the board will work to develop, maintain and expand domestic markets for U.S. honey.
The national coordinated generic program would be financed by a mandatory assessment of two cents per pound paid by U.S. honey producers; a U.S. producer who produces less than 100,000 pounds would be exempt from paying assessments.
The proposed order, referendum order, and referendum procedures for the program will be published in the April 12, 2010, Federal Register, and posted on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion and http://www.regulations.gov.
On April 19, 2010, AMS will mail the ballots, voting instructions and a summary of the proposed program to all known eligible producers of U.S. honey. Eligible producers who do not receive a ballot should contact Kimberly Coy, Research and Promotion Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0244; by calling (888) 720-9917; faxing (202) 205-2800; or e-mailing Kimberly.Coy@ams.usda.gov.
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