Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Continuance Referendum
| Published date | 16 July 2021 |
| Citation | 86 FR 37669 |
| Record Number | 2021-15160 |
| Section | Rules and Regulations |
| Court | Agricultural Marketing Service |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 37669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15160]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 134 / Friday, July 16, 2021 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 37669]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1218
[Document No. AMS-SC-21-0030]
Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Continuance
Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service.
ACTION: Notification of referendum.
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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among
eligible producers and importers of highbush blueberries to determine
whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's
regulations regarding a national highbush blueberry research and
promotion program.
DATES: This referendum will be conducted by express mail and electronic
ballot from October 8, 2021, through October 22, 2021. To be eligible
to vote, blueberry producers and importers must have produced or
imported 2,000 pounds or more of highbush blueberries during the
representative period of January 1 through December 31, 2020, and must
currently be producers or importers of highbush blueberries subject to
assessment under the Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information
Order (Order). Ballots delivered to AMS via express mail or email must
show proof of delivery no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
(EDT) on October 22, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information
Order (Order) may be obtained from: Referendum Agent, Promotion and
Economics Division (PED), Specialty Crops Program (SCP), Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-
0244, telephone: (202) 720-9915; or contact Jeanette Palmer at (202)
720-5976 or via electronic mail: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette Palmer, Marketing Specialist,
PED, SCP, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop
0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244; telephone: (202) 720-5976; or
electronic mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Commodity Promotion,
Research and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425) (Act), it is
hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether
continuance of the Order (7 CFR part 1218) is favored by eligible
producers and importers of highbush blueberries. The Order is
authorized under the Act.
The period for establishing voter eligibility for the referendum
shall be the period from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020.
Persons who produced or imported 2,000 pounds or more of highbush
blueberries during the representative period, paid assessments during
that period, and are currently highbush blueberry producers or
importers subject to assessment under the Order are eligible to vote.
Persons who received an exemption from assessments for the entire
representative period are ineligible to vote. The U.S. Department of
Agriculture will provide the option for electronic balloting. The
referendum will be conducted by express mail and electronic ballot from
October 8, 2021, through October 22, 2021. Further details will be
provided in the ballot instructions.
Section 518 of the Act authorizes continuance referenda. Under
Sec. 1218.71(b) of the Order, the U.S. Department of Agriculture must
conduct a referendum every 5 years to determine whether persons subject
to assessment favor continuance of the Order. The last referendum was
held in 2016. USDA would continue the Order if continuance is favored
by a majority of the producers and importers voting in the referendum,
who also represent a majority of the volume of blueberries represented
in the referendum.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the referendum ballot has been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB No. 0581-0093. It has been
estimated that there are approximately 1,547 producers and 271
importers who will be eligible to vote in the referendum. It will take
an average of 15 minutes for each voter to read the voting instructions
and complete the referendum ballot.
Referendum Order
Jeanette Palmer, Marketing Specialist, and Heather Pichelman,
Director, Promotion Economics Division, SCP, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room
1406-S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0244, are
designated as the referendum agents to conduct this referendum. The
referendum procedures at 7 CFR 1218.100 through 1218.107, which were
issued pursuant to the Act, shall be used to conduct the referendum.
The referendum agent will express mail or email the ballots to be
cast in the referendum and voting instructions to all known, eligible
highbush blueberry producers and importers prior to the first day of
the voting period. Persons who produced or imported 2,000 more pounds
of highbush blueberries during the representative period and are
currently highbush blueberry producer or importers subject to
assessment under the Order are eligible to vote. Persons who received
an exemption from assessments during the entire representative period
are ineligible to vote. Any eligible producer or importer who does not
receive a ballot should contact the referendum agent no later than
three days before the end of the voting period. Ballots delivered via
express mail or email must show proof of delivery by no later than
11:59 p.m. EDT on October 22, 2021, to be counted.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1218
Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Blueberry
promotion, Consumer information, Marketing agreements, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425; 7 U.S.C. 7401.
Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021-15160 Filed 7-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
