The USDA is seeking comments on a proposal to end its cranberry marketing order, which regulates the handling of the crop grown in specific states.
USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service conducted a referendum in June which showed a lack of support for continuing the marketing order by cranberry growers, according to a news release.
The marketing order in question, No. 929, assesses growers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington state and Long Island in New York to help them design and execute marketing programs, according to the USDA.
The agency said it administratively suspended the authority of the Cranberry Marketing Committee on Oct. 25 to collect assessments and reports from growers for the 2023-24 crop year as AMS conducts its rulemaking and comment proceedings.
USDA published this proposed rule to terminate the marketing order and committee in the Federal Register and seeks comments by Feb. 5.
