[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 19466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9672]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 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.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 76 / Monday, April 21, 2003 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 19466]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Parts 916 and 917

[Docket No. FV03-916-3]


Nectarines and Peaches Grown in California; Announcement of 
Public Meeting To Review Orders

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a public meeting will be held to 
provide information to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on 
whether the Federal marketing order programs for California nectarines 
and peaches should be continued, modified or terminated. Growers, 
handlers, and other interested persons are invited to submit written 
comments to USDA and/or present oral comments at the meeting with 
respect to the continued operations of the marketing order programs.

DATES: The public meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. P.D.T. on May 20, 
2003, and continue until 5 p.m. The meeting will continue on May 21, 
2003, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., if necessary. The meeting will be held 
at the Dinuba Memorial Building, 249 South Alta Avenue, Dinuba, 
California; telephone: 559-591-2223. Written comments will be received 
through June 20, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to California Marketing 
Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs, AMS, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, 
California 93721, Attention: Kurt Kimmel; telephone: (559) 487-5901, 
Fax: (559) 487-5906 or E-mail: [email protected]. All written 
comments should reference the docket number and the date and page 
number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made available 
for public inspection in the California Marketing Field Office during 
regular business hours or can be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab.html. Written comments received before the meeting will also be 
available for public inspection at the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen M. Finn, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; 
telephone: (202) 720-2491, or Fax: (202) 720-8938.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Continuance referenda were held from January 
6 through January 31, 2003, to determine whether the marketing order 
programs for nectarines, pears and peaches grown in California should 
be continued. Results of the pear continuance referendum demonstrated 
support for the pear program to be continued. However, in the nectarine 
and peach referenda, fewer than two-thirds of those voting supported 
continuation of the programs. This notice announces a meeting to 
provide additional information for USDA on the marketing order programs 
for nectarines (M.O. 916) and peaches (M.O. 917) to evaluate the future 
of these programs.
    On March 27, 2003, USDA announced it would hold listening sessions 
in the production area. The meeting will provide an opportunity for 
those in the industry to present detailed information on the present 
performance of the two marketing order programs. Information regarding 
present performance may include an analysis of the programs' cost 
effectiveness with regard to administration, research and advertising. 
USDA also seeks comments on whether amendment of some of the regulatory 
aspects of the two programs would make the programs more effective and 
create more support among growers and handlers. Finally, USDA seeks 
views on whether the orders for nectarines and peaches should be 
terminated. Interested persons are encouraged to send written comments 
to USDA and/or present oral comments at the meeting. Because we do not 
intend to transcribe the oral comments at the meeting, oral commenters 
are encouraged to submit their comments also in writing for best 
consideration.
    Written comments, views, opinions, and other information regarding 
the nectarine, pear, and peach marketing orders' impact on small 
businesses are invited.

    Dated: April 15, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-9672 Filed 4-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P