The U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct a referendum April 12-30 for Irish potato producers in Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon, to vote on whether to continue their federal marketing order.
The marketing order authorizes the establishment of size, grade, quality, maturity, container and pack regulations, under USDA oversight, according to a news release.
Producers who produced potatoes within the designated areas for the fresh market from Aug. 1, 2019, through July 31, 2020, are eligible to vote. USDA will continue the marketing order if at least two-thirds of the producers voting, by number or volume, vote in favor of continuance.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will mail ballots and voting instructions to all producers of record. Eligible producers who do not receive a ballot by Feb. 1, 2021, may contact Gregory A. Breasher at Gregory.Breasher@usda.gov or (303) 326-2054. Requests for a ballot may also be mailed to USDA, AMS, MOAD, 1220 SW 3rd Ave, Suite 305, Portland, Oregon, 97204.
Notice of the referendum was published in the Federal Register on Feb. 12, 2020.
More information about the marketing order regulating the handling of Idaho and Eastern Oregon Potatoes is available on the 945 Idaho and Oregon Potatoes webpage.
