[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 9222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-4705]


 ========================================================================
 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. 67, No. 40 / Thursday, February 28, 2002 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 9222]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 915

[Docket No. FV02-915-1]


Avocados Grown in South Florida; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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

SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible growers of Florida avocados to determine whether they favor 
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of avocados 
grown in the production area.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from June 3, through June 14, 
2002. To vote in this referendum, growers must have been producing 
Florida avocados during the period April 1, 2001, through March 31, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may obtained from the office 
of the referendum agent at 799 Overlook Drive, Suite A, Winter Haven, 
Florida, 33884, or the Office of the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service (AMS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Jamieson, Southeast Marketing 
Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 799 Overlook Drive, Suite A, Winter 
Haven, Florida, 33884; telephone (863) 324-3375; or Kathleen Finn, 
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit & Vegetable Programs, AMS, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Ave SW., Stop 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; 
telephone (202) 720-2491.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 915 (7 CFR 
part 915), 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 growers. The referendum shall be 
conducted during the period June 3, through June 14, 2002, among 
Florida avocado growers in the production area. Only growers that were 
engaged in the production of Florida avocados during the period of 
April 1, 2001, through March 31, 2002, may participate in the 
continuance referendum.
    The USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for ascertaining whether growers favor continuation of marketing 
order programs. The USDA would consider termination of the order if 
less than two-thirds of the growers voting in the referendum and 
growers of less than two-thirds of the volume of Florida avocados 
represented in the referendum favor continuance. In evaluating the 
merits of continuance versus termination, the USDA will consider the 
results of the referendum and other relevant information regarding 
operation of the order. The USDA will evaluate the order's relative 
benefits and disadvantages to growers, handlers, and consumers to 
determine whether continuing 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 ballot materials used in the referendum herein ordered 
have been submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0189 for Florida 
avocados. It has been estimated that it will take an average of 20 
minutes for each of the approximately 150 growers of Florida avocados 
to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after 
June 14, 2002, will not be included in the vote tabulation.
    Doris Jamieson and Chris Nissen of the Southeast Marketing Field 
Office, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, are hereby designated 
as the referendum agents of the USDA to conduct such 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 growers of record and may also be 
obtained from the referendum agents and from their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 915

    Avocados, Marketing agreements, Reporting and Recordkeeping 
requirements.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

    Dated: February 22, 2002.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-4705 Filed 2-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P