Avocados Grown in South Florida; Continuance Referendum, 68005 [2020-23348]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 27, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 68005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23348]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 208 / Tuesday, October 27, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 68005]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 915

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-20-0064; SC20-915-1 CR]


Avocados Grown in South Florida; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule; referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible growers of avocados grown in South Florida to determine 
whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the 
handling of avocados produced in the production area.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from November 30 through 
December 21, 2020. Only current growers of Florida avocados within the 
production area that produced avocados during the period April 1, 2019, 
through March 31, 2020, are eligible to vote in this referendum.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
Southeast Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement 
Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South, 
Winter Haven, FL 33880; Telephone: (863) 324-3375; or from the 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-
0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491; or on the internet: https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abigail Campos, Marketing Specialist, 
or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director, Southeast Marketing Field 
Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops 
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. 915, as amended (7 CFR part 915), 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 
growers. The referendum shall be conducted from November 30 through 
December 21, 2020, among Florida avocado growers in the production 
area. Only current Florida avocado growers who were engaged in the 
production of Florida avocados grown in the production area, during the 
period of period April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020, may participate 
in the continuance referendum.
    USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for determining whether growers favor the continuation of 
marketing order programs. The Order will continue in effect if two-
thirds of the growers that cast votes, or growers representing two-
thirds of the volume of Florida avocados voted in the referendum, cast 
ballots in favor of continuance. In evaluating the merits of 
continuance versus termination, USDA will not exclusively consider the 
results of the continuance referendum. USDA will also consider all 
other relevant information regarding the operation of the Order and 
relative benefits and disadvantages to growers, handlers, and consumers 
in determining whether continued operation of the Order would tend to 
effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the ballots used in the referendum have been approved by 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and have been assigned OMB 
No. 0581-0189, Fruit Crops. It has been estimated it will take an 
average of 20 minutes for each of the approximately 325 growers of 
Florida avocados to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots 
postmarked after December 21, 2020, will not be included in the vote 
tabulation.
    Abigail Campos, Dolores Lowenstine, and Christian D. Nissen of the 
Southeast Marketing Field Office, Specialty Crops 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 et seq.).
    Ballots will be mailed to all growers of record and may also be 
obtained from the referendum agents or their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 915

    Avocados, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-23348 Filed 10-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P