Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Pummelos Grown in Florida; Continuance Referendum
| Published date | 06 October 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 63039 |
| Record Number | 2020-20745 |
| Section | Proposed rules |
| Court | Agricultural Marketing Service,Agriculture Department |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 194 (Tuesday, October 6, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 6, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 63039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20745]
========================================================================
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 194 / Tuesday, October 6, 2020 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 63039]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 905
[Docket No. AMS-SC-20-0028; SC20-905-1 CR]
Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Pummelos Grown in Florida;
Continuance Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Referendum order.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among
eligible producers of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos
grown in Florida to determine whether they favor continuance of the
marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit,
tangerines, and pummelos produced in the production area.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from October 19 through
November 9, 2020. Only current fresh citrus producers within the
production area that produced oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, or
pummelos for the fresh market during the period of August 1, 2019,
through July 31, 2020, are eligible to vote in this referendum.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the
Southeast Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order Agreement Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South, Winter
Haven, FL 33880; Telephone: (863) 324-3375; from the Marketing Order
and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237;
Telephone: (202) 720-2491; or internet: https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennie M. Varela, Senior Marketing
Specialist, or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director, Southeast
Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division,
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South, Winter
Haven, FL 33880; Telephone: (863) 324-3375, Fax: (863) 291-8614, or
Email: [email protected] or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Agreement and Order
No. 905, as amended (7 CFR part 905), hereinafter referred to as the
``Order,'' and the applicable provisions of the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter
referred to as the ``Act,'' it is hereby directed that a referendum be
conducted to ascertain whether continuance of the Order is favored by
producers. The referendum shall be conducted from October 19 through
November 9, 2020, among Florida fresh citrus producers in the
production area. Only current fresh citrus producers that were engaged
in the production of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, or pummelos grown
in the production area, during the period of August 1, 2019, through
July 31, 2020, may participate in the continuance referendum.
USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective
means for determining whether producers favor the continuation of
marketing order programs. The Order will continue in effect if at least
two-thirds of the producers voting in the referendum or at least two-
thirds of the volume of Florida fresh citrus represented in the
referendum votes in favor of continuance. In evaluating the merits of
continuance versus termination, USDA will not exclusively consider the
results of the continuance referendum. USDA will also consider all
other relevant information concerning the operation of the Order and
the relative benefits and disadvantages to producers, handlers, and
consumers in determining whether continued operation of the Order would
tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), the ballots used in the referendum have been approved by
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and have been assigned OMB
No. 0581-0189, Fruit Crops. It has been estimated it will take an
average of 20 minutes for each of the approximately 500 producers of
oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos grown in Florida to cast
a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after November
9, 2020, will not be included in the vote tabulation.
Jennie M. Varela, Dolores Lowenstine, and Christian D. Nissen of
the Southeast Marketing Field Office, Specialty Crops Program, AMS,
USDA, are hereby designated as the referendum agents of the Secretary
of Agriculture to conduct this referendum. The procedure applicable to
the referendum shall be the ``Procedure for the Conduct of Referenda in
Connection with Marketing Orders for Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts
Pursuant to the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as
Amended'' (7 CFR 900.400 et seq.).
Ballots will be mailed to all producers of record and may also be
obtained from the referendum agents or their appointees.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 905
Grapefruit, Oranges, Pummelos, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, and Tangerines.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-20745 Filed 10-5-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
