Agricultural Marketing Service September 3, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to consider a proposed marketing agreement under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 to cover the handling of leafy green vegetables and products in the United States. The proposal was submitted by a cross- section of producer and handler representatives from the fresh produce industry, collectively referred to as the ``proponent group.'' The proposed agreement would authorize the development and implementation of production and handling regulations (metrics). Such metrics would reflect Good Agricultural Practices, Good Handling Practices, and Good Manufacturing Practices. The proposal would be voluntary in that only handlers who sign the marketing agreement would be subject to the requirements of the marketing agreement. Signatory handlers could only handle leafy green vegetables or product from the production area or imported that meets the requirements of the program. The program would be financed by assessments on first handlers of leafy green vegetables for the fresh market and would be administered by a twenty-three member committee, the majority of whom would be growers and handlers nominated by the industry and appointed by the Department of Agriculture (USDA).