Fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington will be subject to a small increase in marketing order assessments for the 2018-19 season.
Effective Dec. 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the regulation raises the assessment on fresh pears from $0.449 to $0.463 per 44-pound standard box of fresh pears.
The federal marketing order for Oregon and Washington pears is governed by a committee of fresh pear handlers and a committee for processed pear handlers. The USDA said there are about 827 growers of fresh pears in the production area and 38 handlers subject to regulation.
The fresh committee earlier this year recommended 2018-19 period expenditures of $9.213 million and an assessment rate of $0.463 per standard box.
Because expenses have exceeded assessment revenue for the past two years, an increase in the assessment was necessary for 2018-19 the USDA said.
The major expenditures recommended by the committee for the 2018-19 fiscal period include $550,790 for contracted administration by Pear Bureau Northwest, $190,700 for administrative expenses, $771,643 for production research and market development, and $7.7 million for promotion and paid advertising for fresh pears.
The new assessment rate will be in effect for an indefinite period, but the committee can recommend modifications of the rate in the future, according to the USDA.
