AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Referendum order.

SUMMARY:

This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible growers and processors of tart cherries grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of tart cherries produced in the production area.

DATES:

The referendum will be conducted from March 9 through March 30, 2020. Only current growers and processors of tart cherries within the production area that produced or processed tart cherries during the period July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, are eligible to vote in this referendum.

ADDRESSES:

Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the Southeast Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880; Telephone: (863) 324-3375; from the Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491; or on the internet: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennie M. Varela, Marketing Specialist, or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director, Southeast Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880; Telephone: (863) 324-3375, Fax: (863) 291-8614, or Email: Jennie.Varela@usda.gov or Christian.Nissen@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pursuant to Marketing Agreement and Order No. 930, as amended (7 CFR part 930), hereinafter referred to as the “Order,” and the applicable provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the “Act,” it is hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether continuance of the Order is favored by growers and processors. The referendum will be conducted from March 9 through March 30, 2020, among tart cherry growers and processors in the production area. Only current tart cherry growers and processors who were also engaged in the production or processing of tart cherries during the period of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, may participate in the continuance referendum.

USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective means for determining whether growers and processors favor the continuation of marketing order programs. The Order will continue in effect if at least 50 percent of the growers and processors voting, by number or volume, vote in favor of continuance. In evaluating the merits of continuance versus termination, USDA will not exclusively consider the results of the continuance referendum. USDA will also consider all other relevant information regarding operation of the Order and relative benefits and disadvantages to growers, processors, and consumers in determining whether continued operation of the Order would tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the ballots used in the referendum have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0177, Tart Cherries Grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. It has been estimated it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the approximately 400 tart cherry growers and 40 processors to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after March 30, 2020, will not be included in the vote tabulation.

Jennie M. Varela and Christian D. Nissen of the Southeast Marketing Field Office, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, are hereby designated as the referendum agents of the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct this referendum. The procedure applicable to the referendum shall be the “Procedure for the Conduct of Referenda in Connection With Marketing Orders for Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts Pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as Amended” (7 CFR 900.400).

Ballots will be mailed to all growers and processors of record and may also be obtained from the referendum agents or from their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 930

• Marketing agreements
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Tart cherries

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.