Agricultural Marketing Service November 29, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This recommended decision invites written exceptions on proposed amendments to Marketing Agreement Nos. 124 and 85 and Order Nos. 916 and 917 (orders), which regulate the handling of nectarines and peaches grown in California. The Nectarine Administrative Committee (NAC), the Peach Commodity Committee (PCC), and the Control Committee (part of M.O. No. 917) (Committees), which are responsible for local administration of orders 916 and 917, jointly proposed the amendments. The proposed amendments to order 917 only apply to peaches. The amendments included in this recommended decision would: Update definitions for ``handle'', ``grower'', and the commodities covered in both orders; add a definition for ``pure grower''; increase committee membership of the NAC from eight to thirteen members and modify sections of the order to conform to the increased membership; eliminate the Shippers Advisory Committee (order 916); allow the Control Committee under order 917 to be suspended if the provisions of one commodity are suspended and transfer applicable duties and responsibilities to the remaining Commodity Committee; and authorize interest and late payment charges on assessments paid late; and other related amendments. All of the proposals are intended to streamline and improve the administration, operation, and functioning of the orders.