Agricultural Marketing Service January 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule implements a recommendation from the California Walnut Board (Board) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2023-2024 and subsequent marketing years. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing a two-day virtual meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC). This meeting is being convened to examine the full spectrum of fruit and vegetable industry issues and provide recommendations and ideas on how the USDA can tailor programs and services to better meet the needs of the U.S. produce industry. Agenda items may include, but are not limited to, administrative matters and consideration of recommendations pertaining to labor and production, food safety, infrastructure and sustainability, consumption and nutrition, and data reporting and analysis.

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to receive evidence on proposals recommended by the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee) to amend Federal Marketing Order No. 989 (Order). The proposed amendments would reduce Committee membership, eliminate the designated cooperative bargaining association member seat, lower quorum requirements, remove producer district representation, remove the requirement for separate member and alternate nominations, 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. The Committee recommended the proposed amendments after determining a significant reduction in the size of the industry has made it increasingly difficult to fill Committee positions and conduct business. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) also proposes to make additional changes to the Order as may be necessary to conform to any amendatory changes that result from the hearing.

This rule implements recommendations from the National Potato Promotion Board (Board) to change its membership and organization by revising the formula used to determine the number of producer and importer seats on the Board, reducing the maximum number of importer seats on the Board, and indefinitely suspending the Administrative Committee. In addition to these Board-recommended changes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) makes several non-substantive changes to clarify the start of the term of office for Board members and modernize the Board's procedures. The Board administers the Potato Research and Promotion Plan (Plan) with oversight by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).