Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Continuance Referendum, 37669 [2021-15160]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 37669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15160]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 134 / Friday, July 16, 2021 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 37669]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1218

[Document No. AMS-SC-21-0030]


Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Continuance 
Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service.

ACTION: Notification of referendum.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible producers and importers of highbush blueberries to determine 
whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's 
regulations regarding a national highbush blueberry research and 
promotion program.

DATES: This referendum will be conducted by express mail and electronic 
ballot from October 8, 2021, through October 22, 2021. To be eligible 
to vote, blueberry producers and importers must have produced or 
imported 2,000 pounds or more of highbush blueberries during the 
representative period of January 1 through December 31, 2020, and must 
currently be producers or importers of highbush blueberries subject to 
assessment under the Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information 
Order (Order). Ballots delivered to AMS via express mail or email must 
show proof of delivery no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time 
(EDT) on October 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information 
Order (Order) may be obtained from: Referendum Agent, Promotion and 
Economics Division (PED), Specialty Crops Program (SCP), Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-
0244, telephone: (202) 720-9915; or contact Jeanette Palmer at (202) 
720-5976 or via electronic mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette Palmer, Marketing Specialist, 
PED, SCP, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 
0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone: (202) 720-5976; or 
electronic mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Commodity Promotion, 
Research and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425) (Act), it is 
hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether 
continuance of the Order (7 CFR part 1218) is favored by eligible 
producers and importers of highbush blueberries. The Order is 
authorized under the Act.
    The period for establishing voter eligibility for the referendum 
shall be the period from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020. 
Persons who produced or imported 2,000 pounds or more of highbush 
blueberries during the representative period, paid assessments during 
that period, and are currently highbush blueberry producers or 
importers subject to assessment under the Order are eligible to vote. 
Persons who received an exemption from assessments for the entire 
representative period are ineligible to vote. The U.S. Department of 
Agriculture will provide the option for electronic balloting. The 
referendum will be conducted by express mail and electronic ballot from 
October 8, 2021, through October 22, 2021. Further details will be 
provided in the ballot instructions.
    Section 518 of the Act authorizes continuance referenda. Under 
Sec.  1218.71(b) of the Order, the U.S. Department of Agriculture must 
conduct a referendum every 5 years to determine whether persons subject 
to assessment favor continuance of the Order. The last referendum was 
held in 2016. USDA would continue the Order if continuance is favored 
by a majority of the producers and importers voting in the referendum, 
who also represent a majority of the volume of blueberries represented 
in the referendum.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35), the referendum ballot has been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB No. 0581-0093. It has been 
estimated that there are approximately 1,547 producers and 271 
importers who will be eligible to vote in the referendum. It will take 
an average of 15 minutes for each voter to read the voting instructions 
and complete the referendum ballot.

Referendum Order

    Jeanette Palmer, Marketing Specialist, and Heather Pichelman, 
Director, Promotion Economics Division, SCP, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 
1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0244, are 
designated as the referendum agents to conduct this referendum. The 
referendum procedures at 7 CFR 1218.100 through 1218.107, which were 
issued pursuant to the Act, shall be used to conduct the referendum.
    The referendum agent will express mail or email the ballots to be 
cast in the referendum and voting instructions to all known, eligible 
highbush blueberry producers and importers prior to the first day of 
the voting period. Persons who produced or imported 2,000 more pounds 
of highbush blueberries during the representative period and are 
currently highbush blueberry producer or importers subject to 
assessment under the Order are eligible to vote. Persons who received 
an exemption from assessments during the entire representative period 
are ineligible to vote. Any eligible producer or importer who does not 
receive a ballot should contact the referendum agent no later than 
three days before the end of the voting period. Ballots delivered via 
express mail or email must show proof of delivery by no later than 
11:59 p.m. EDT on October 22, 2021, to be counted.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1218

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Blueberry 
promotion, Consumer information, Marketing agreements, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425; 7 U.S.C. 7401.

Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021-15160 Filed 7-15-21; 8:45 am]
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