The USDA announced that in a May referendum producers in the federal marketing order for pears grown in Oregon and Washington approved lowering the voting requirement for changes to the fresh pear handling regulations from the current 80% in favor to 75% in favor.
In the referendum, 99.24% of voting pear producers, representing 99.42% of the production volume voting in the referendum, favored the amendment, according to a news release. The votes met the requirement of needing support from two-thirds of the producers voting or two-thirds of the volume represented.
More information about the pear marketing order is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service’ 927 Oregon and Washington Pears webpage or the marketing orders and agreements webpage or by contacting the Market Development Division at 202-720-8085.
