Agricultural Marketing Service February 14, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This decision proposes amending the marketing agreement and order (order) for Irish potatoes grown in Washington, and provides producers with the opportunity to vote in a referendum to determine if they favor the changes. The amendments are based on those proposed by the State of Washington Potato Committee (Committee), which is responsible for local administration of the order. These amendments include: adding authority for container and marking regulations; requiring Committee producer members to have produced potatoes for the fresh market in at least 3 out of the last 5 years prior to nomination; updating order provisions pertaining to establishment of districts and apportionment of Committee membership among those districts; requiring Committee nominees to submit a written background and acceptance statement prior to selection by USDA; allowing for nominations to be held at industry meetings or events; adding authority to change the size of the Committee; and adding authority to allow temporary alternates to serve when a Committee member and that member's alternate are unable to serve. The USDA proposed two additional amendments: to establish tenure limitations for Committee members, and to require that continuance referenda be conducted on a periodic basis to ascertain producer support for the order. The proposed amendments are intended to improve the operation and functioning of the marketing order program.