[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 4, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 17612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8297]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1218

[FV-99-702-PR3]


Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Reopening 
and Extension of Voting Period

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule and Referendum Order; Amendment to Referendum 
Order.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action reopens and extends the voting period for the 
referendum during which cultivated blueberry producers and importers 
will vote on whether the Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information 
Order will become effective. The voting period has been extended an 
additional 21 days to conclude on April 14, 2000, rather than on March 
24, 2000. This action will better facilitate voter participation.

DATES: In order to be eligible to vote, blueberry producers and 
importers must have produced or imported 2,000 pounds or more of 
cultivated blueberries during the period from January 1, 1999, through 
December 31, 1999 (representative period). The voting period for the 
referendum will be March 13 through April 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Oliver L. Flake, Research and Promotion Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Room 2535-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-0244.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Oliver L. Flake at the above address 
or telephone toll free (888) 720-9917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Previous documents in this proceeding: 
Proposed rule on referendum procedures published in the July 22, 1999, 
issue of the Federal Register [64 FR 39803]; Proposed Rule on the 
Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order, which included a 
Referendum Order, published in the February 15, 2000, issue of the 
Federal Register [65 FR 7657]; a final rule on referendum procedures 
published in the February 15, 2000, issue of the Federal Register [65 
FR 7652].
    The February 15, 2000, referendum order [65 FR 7657] specified that 
the voting period would be from March 13, 2000, through March 24, 2000. 
However, throughout the voting period, the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) has received numerous telephone calls from 
potentially eligible voters who did not receive ballots. These calls 
continued through the last days of the voting period. Therefore, in 
order to better facilitate full voter participation in the referendum, 
USDA is extending the voting period through April 14, 2000. In 
addition, USDA will continue to mail ballots to those potentially 
eligible voters who request a ballot and others as they become known.
    Section 518 of the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information 
Act of 1996 (Act) requires that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible blueberry producers and importers as to whether they favor the 
Order. The proposed Order [65 FR 7657] would become effective if it is 
approved by a majority of producers and importers who also represent a 
majority of the volume of blueberries represented in the referendum.
    Any eligible producer or importer who has not received a ballot and 
related material should telephone the following toll-free telephone 
number to speak with a referendum agent: 1 (888) 720-9917.

Amended Referendum Order

    It is hereby directed that the referendum Order published in the 
Federal Register on February 15, 2000, at 65 FR 7657, be amended so 
that the voting period for the referendum conducted among eligible 
blueberry producers and importers to determine whether they favor 
implementation of the Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information 
Order be reopened and extended.
    Accordingly, the referendum shall be conducted from March 13 
through April 14, 2000. Ballots were mailed to all known cultivated 
blueberry producers and importers. Eligible voters who did not receive 
a ballot by mail should call the following toll-free telephone number 
to receive a ballot: 1 (888) 720-9917. All ballots will be subject to 
verification.
    In order to be eligible to vote, blueberry producers and importers 
must have produced or imported 2,000 pounds or more of cultivated 
blueberries during the period from January 1, 1999, through December 
31, 1999 (representative period). Ballots must be received by the 
referendum agents no later than April 14, 2000, to be counted.
    Oliver L. Flake and Martha B. Ransom, Research and Promotion 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 2535-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 
20250-0244, are designated as the referendum agents of the Secretary of 
Agriculture to conduct the referendum. The Procedure for the Conduct of 
the Referenda in Connection with the Blueberry Promotion, Research, and 
Consumer Information Order, 7 CFR 1218.100-1218.107, which was 
published separately in the Federal Register [65 FR 7652], shall be 
used to conduct the referendum.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1218

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Blueberries, 
Consumer information, Marketing agreements, Blueberry promotion, 
Reporting and Recordkeeping requirements.

    Authority: U.S.C. 7401-7425

    Dated: March 30, 2000.
Kathleen A. Merrigan,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-8297 Filed 3-31-00; 10:40 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P