California walnut growers to vote on marketing credit-back program
California walnut growers will soon vote on a measure that would encourage growers to promote their crop, receiving credit from the California Walnut Board for their marketing investments.
The credit-back program, if approved, allows the walnut board to credit handlers for eligible market promotion activities, with a return of 70 cents for every dollar spent, up to a cap of available money, based on prior year crop acquisitions, according to a news release.
The California Walnut Board is funded by grower assessments via a federal marketing order. The board promotes walnuts and also funds research.
“The program is designed to encourage handler investment to grow the walnut market through individual marketing activities which, along with the board’s generic activities, are critical to future crop utilization through the development of new segments of business and new product development,” Bill Carriere, walnut grower, handler and a member of the California Walnut Board, said in the release.
“The board, in undertaking this rulemaking action, is acting on its mission to increase global consumption by utilizing new approaches to grow demand,” Michelle McNeil Connelly, executive director of the board, said in the release. “The referendum poses an important question to the industry, and we encourage everyone to make their voice heard by casting their ballot.”
California’s production represents 99% of the walnuts grown in the U.S.
“We know that the industry is going to have larger crops ahead of us with an estimated 75,000 non-bearing acres, therefore, we need every tool available to encourage current and future consumption,” Donald Norene, walnut grower and board member, said in the release.
Voting begins Nov. 30 and ballots are due back to the U.S. Department of the Agriculture by Dec. 11. Questions about voting should be directed to Terry Vawter of the USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service at 559-978-8212.
