Agricultural Marketing Service July 27, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule proposes to amend the Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) to increase the assessment rate on producers and importers who produce or import more than 2,000 pounds of highbush blueberries annually from $12 per ton to $24 per ton. The increase provided under the Order is authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (Act). The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (Council) which administers the Order recommended this action to expand their promotional activities and add an advertising component to bridge the potential gap between highbush blueberry demand and future supply. Furthermore, the Council recommended to use the additional revenue to strengthen existing consumer, food service, and food manufacturer publicity; to expand their health research; to develop an educational campaign on good management practices and food safety within the United States as well as internationally.