Crop Shipping Season: August 1 through July 31
Fiscal Year: August 1 through July 31
Production Area(s): California
Order Authority and Regulations
The marketing order authorizes quality regulations, research and promotion programs, and volume control regulations for raisins grown in California. The order went into effect in 1949 and was last amended under formal rulemaking on August 18, 1989. View the full regulation.
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Quality Regulations: The marketing order authorizes grade and size regulations to maintain raisin quality shipped to consumers. These requirements in effect under the marketing order also are applied to imports of raisins year-around, due to 8e requirements.
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8e Requirements: The 8e requirements specify that raisin imports must meet the same or comparable minimum grade, size, quality, and maturity requirements as those specified under this marketing order. Learn more about importing raisins.
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Research and Promotion: The marketing order authorizes marketing research and development projects and marketing promotion, including paid advertising. Projects in these areas are currently active, except that paid advertising is now being used only in foreign marketing efforts.
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Volume Control: The marketing order currently authorizes volume control measures in the form of free and reserve tonnage. Tonnage is released gradually through the season by preliminary, interim, and final percentages. Under the order, free raisins can be used in any market. Reserve raisins may be sold to handlers for free use; used in diversion programs; exported to authorized countries; carried over to the next crop year; sold to government agencies; or disposed to other outlets noncompetitive with free raisins. Due to a recent United States Supreme Court decision, these provisions are currently suspended, being reviewed, and will be amended.
Committee Structure
The Raisin Administrative Committee is comprised of 35 members representing producers; 10 members representing handlers of varying sizes; 1 member representing the Raisin Bargaining Association (RBA); and 1 public member. Members serve 2-year terms of office that begin on May 1. Producer and handler members are nominated at meetings and by mail ballots. View a list of members & alternates (pdf).
Contacts
Debbie Powell, Interim President/General Manager, Raisin Administrative Committee
2445 Capitol Street, Suite 200
Fresno, California 93721
Phone: (559) 225-0520
FAX: (559) 225-0652
Website: www.raisins.org
USDA/AMS Contact
Director, Market Development Division
Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service
Phone: (202) 720-8085