Almonds Grown in California; Continuance Referendum, 88661 [2024-26048]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 217 (Friday, November 8, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 88661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26048]


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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. 89, No. 217 / Friday, November 8, 2024 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 88661]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 981

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-24-0050]


Almonds Grown in California; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible almond growers to determine whether they favor continuance of 
the marketing order regulating the handling of almonds grown in 
California.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from December 4 through 
December 20, 2024. Only current growers of almonds within the 
production area that grew almonds during the period August 1, 2023, 
through July 31, 2024, are eligible to vote in this referendum. The 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide the option for 
ballots to be returned electronically. Further detail will be provided 
in the ballot instructions. Ballots returned via express mail or 
electronic mail must show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. 
Eastern time on December 20, 2024, to be counted.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the West 
Region Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, 
AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721-
3129; Telephone: (559) 487-5901; the Office of the Docket Clerk, Market 
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; 
Telephone: (202) 720-8085; or on the internet: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/moa/commodities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Sommers, Marketing Specialist, 
or Abigail Maharaj, Branch Chief, West Region Branch, Market 
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 2202 Monterey 
Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, CA 93721-3129; Telephone: (559) 487-5901, 
or Email: [email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 981, as 
amended (7 CFR part 981), 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 will be conducted from December 4 through December 20, 2024, 
among almond growers in the production area. Only current almond 
growers that were engaged in the production of almonds during the 
period of August 1, 2023, through July 31, 2024, 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. USDA would consider termination of the Order 
if less than two-thirds of the growers voting in the referendum, or 
growers of less than two-thirds of the volume of almonds represented in 
the referendum, favor 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 concerning the operation of the Order and 
the relative benefits and costs to growers, handlers, and consumers to 
determine 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 ballot materials used in the referendum have been 
submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0178, Fruit Crops. It has been 
estimated it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the 
approximately 9,500 almond growers to cast a ballot. Participation is 
voluntary. Ballots postmarked after December 20, 2024, will not be 
included in the vote tabulation.
    Abigail Maharaj, Jeffery Rymer, and Peter Sommers of the West 
Region Branch, Market Development Division, 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 part 900.400 et seq.).
    Ballots and voting instructions will be sent by U.S. Postal 
Service, or through electronic mail to all growers of record and may 
also be obtained from the referendum agents or from their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 981

    Marketing agreements, Nuts, and Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-26048 Filed 11-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P