USA: California Raisin Producers to Vote in Referendum on Proposed Amendments to Marketing Order
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a proposed rule and referendum order proposing amendments to Marketing Order No. 989, which regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California, and providing producers with the opportunity to vote in a referendum to determine if they favor the proposed changes.
The Raisin Administrative Committee, which locally administers the Order, recommended amendments that would reduce Committee size, eliminate the designated cooperative bargaining association member seat, lower quorum requirements, remove producer district representation, remove the requirement for separate member and alternate nominations for independent and small cooperative producers, remove factors for establishing marketing policy, add language to clarify the quality of reconditioned raisins, add authority to accept voluntary contributions, and add language regarding ownership of intellectual property. In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service proposed to make any such changes to the Order as may be necessary to conform to any amendment that may result from the hearing.
The referendum will be conducted from January 12, 2026, through January 30, 2026.