USA: Federal Marketing Order for California Walnuts to Be Amended
On August 21, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that producers of walnuts grown in California voted for six amendments to the federal marketing order regulating the handling of walnuts grown in California. The amendments will eliminate mandatory inspection and certification of in-shell and shelled walnuts, and of shelled walnuts for processing; create a new mechanism for determining and collecting handler assessments; add authority to charge interest for late payments; establish an assessment rate of $0.0125 per inshell pound of walnuts; expand the definition of “to handle” to include “receive”; and remove volume control authority. The amendments became effective on September 20, 2023.
USA: Results of Cranberry Marketing Order Referendum Announced
On August 16, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that producers voting in a referendum on the federal marketing order for cranberries did not show enough support to continue the program. The marketing order was favored by 26.5% of cranberry growers voting in the referendum and by 20.1% of the production volume voted in the referendum. USDA will engage with committee staff on next steps and provide the opportunity for cranberry producers, industry participants and the public to express their views on terminating the program during an upcoming public notice and comment period.
