80 FR 22433 - Cranberries Grown in States of Massachusetts, et. al.; Continuance Referendum

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 77 (April 22, 2015)

This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible producers of cranberries grown in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York, to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of cranberries grown in the production area.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22433-22434]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09282]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 929

[Docket No. AMS-FV-15-0014; FV15-929-2]


Cranberries Grown in States of Massachusetts, et. al.; 
Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible producers of cranberries grown in the states of Massachusetts, 
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, 
Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York, to 
determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order 
regulating the handling of cranberries grown in the production area.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from May 4 through May 26, 
2015. To vote in this referendum, producers must have produced 
cranberries within the designated production area during the period 
September 1, 2013, through August 31, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
referendum agents at 1124 First Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880, 
or the Office of the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement 
Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Fax: (202) 720-8938; 
or Internet: www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Jamieson, Marketing Specialist, 
or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director, Southeast Marketing Field 
Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Fruit and Vegetable 
Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880; 
Telephone: (863) 324-3375, Fax: (863) 291-8614, or Email: 
[email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Agreement and Order 
No. 929, as amended (7 CFR part 929), 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 
the producers. The referendum shall be conducted from May 4 through May 
26, 2015, among cranberry growers in the production area. Only 
cranberry producers that were engaged in the production of cranberries, 
during the period of September 1, 2013, through August 31, 2014, may 
participate in the continuance referendum.
    USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for determining whether producers favor the continuation of 
marketing order programs. USDA would terminate the order if less than 
50 percent of the producers voting in the referendum and producers of 
less than 50 percent of the volume of cranberries represented in the 
referendum favor continuance.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520), the ballot materials to be used in the referendum have been 
submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0189, Generic Fruit Crops. It has 
been estimated that it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of 
the approximately 1,300 producers of cranberries to cast a ballot. 
Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after May 26, 2015, will 
not be included in the vote tabulation.
    Doris Jamieson and Christian D. Nissen of the Southeast Marketing 
Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable 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 
900.400-900.407).
    Ballots will be mailed to all producers of record and may also be 
obtained from the referendum agents, or from their appointees.

[[Page 22434]]

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 929

    Cranberries, Marketing Agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

    Dated: April 16, 2015.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-09282 Filed 4-21-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P