The Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule on October 9, 2026, amending Marketing Order No. 989, which regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California. The amendments were proposed by the Raisin Administrative Committee and adopted after a public hearing and a referendum in which California raisin producers voted in favor. The rule takes effect on November 9, 2026.
The main changes concern how the Committee is made up. Membership falls from 47 to 21 and the quorum requirement drops from 25 to 14. Representation by producer district is removed and a seat for an unaffiliated producer is added. The seat reserved for the designated cooperative bargaining association is eliminated. Independent and small cooperative producers will also no longer need separate nominations for member and alternate member positions.
The rule also updates the order’s operating provisions. It removes some of the factors previously used to set marketing policy and adds language to clarify the quality of reconditioned raisins. It also gives the Committee authority to accept voluntary contributions and adds language on ownership of intellectual property.
