[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 130 (Monday, July 7, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38307-38311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15293]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 130 / Monday, July 7, 2008 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 38307]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 989

[Docket No. AMS-FV-07-0130; FV08-989-1 FIR]


Raisins Produced From Grapes Grown in California; Final Free and 
Reserve Percentages for 2007-08 Crop Natural (Sun-Dried) Seedless 
Raisins

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final 
rule, without change, an interim final rule that established final 
volume regulation percentages for the 2007-08 crop of Natural (sun-
dried) Seedless (NS) raisins covered under the Federal marketing order 
for California raisins (order). The order regulates the handling of 
raisins produced from grapes grown in California and is locally 
administered by the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee). The 
volume regulation percentages are 85 percent free and 15 percent 
reserve. The percentages are intended to help stabilize raisin supplies 
and prices, and strengthen market conditions.

DATES: Effective Date: August 6, 2008. The volume regulation 
percentages apply to acquisitions of NS raisins from the 2007-08 crop 
until the reserve raisins from that crop are disposed of under the 
marketing order.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rose M. Aguayo, Marketing Specialist, 
or Kurt J. Kimmel, Regional Manager, California Marketing Field Office, 
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
AMS, USDA; Telephone: (559) 487-5901; Fax: (559) 487-5906; or E-mail: 
[email protected] or [email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on complying with this 
regulation by contacting Jay Guerber, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 
720-2491; Fax: (202) 720-8938; or E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule is issued under Marketing 
Agreement and Order No. 989, both as amended (7 CFR part 989), 
regulating the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in 
California, hereinafter referred to as the ``order.'' The order is 
effective under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the ``Act.''
    USDA is issuing this rule in conformance with Executive Order 
12866.
    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. Under the order provisions now in effect, final free 
and reserve percentages may be established for raisins acquired by 
handlers during the crop year. This rule continues in effect the action 
that established final free and reserve percentages for NS raisins for 
the 2007-08 crop year, which began August 1, 2007, and ends July 31, 
2008. This rule will not preempt any State or local laws, regulations, 
or policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this 
rule.
    The Act provides that administrative proceedings must be exhausted 
before parties may file suit in court. Under section 608c(15)(A) of the 
Act, any handler subject to an order may file with USDA a petition 
stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any obligation 
imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance with law and 
request a modification of the order or to be exempted therefrom. A 
handler is afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the petition. 
After the hearing, USDA would rule on the petition. The Act provides 
that the district court of the United States in any district in which 
the handler is an inhabitant, or has his or her principal place of 
business, has jurisdiction to review USDA's ruling on the petition, 
provided an action is filed not later than 20 days after the date of 
the entry of the ruling.
    This rule continues in effect the action that established final 
volume regulation percentages for 2007-08 crop NS raisins covered under 
the order. The volume regulation percentages are 85 percent free and 15 
percent reserve and were established through an interim final rule 
published on February 19, 2008 (73 FR 9005). Free tonnage raisins may 
be sold by handlers to any market. Reserve raisins must be held in a 
pool for the account of the Committee and are disposed of through 
various programs authorized under the order. For example, reserve 
raisins may be sold by the Committee to handlers for free use or to 
replace part of the free tonnage raisins they exported; used in 
diversion programs; carried over as a hedge against a short crop; or 
disposed of in other outlets not competitive with those for free 
tonnage raisins, such as government purchase, distilleries, or animal 
feed.
    The volume regulation percentages are intended to help stabilize 
raisin supplies and prices, and strengthen market conditions. The 
Committee unanimously recommended final percentages for NS raisins on 
October 4, 2007, and October 11, 2007.

Computation of Trade Demand

    Section 989.54 of the order prescribes procedures and time frames 
to be followed in establishing volume regulation. This includes 
methodology used to calculate free and reserve percentages. Pursuant to 
Sec.  989.54(a) of the order, the Committee met on August 14, 2007, to 
review shipment and inventory data, and other matters relating to the 
supplies of raisins of all varietal types. The Committee computed a 
trade demand for each varietal type for which a free tonnage percentage 
might be recommended. Trade demand is computed using a formula 
specified in the order and, for each varietal type, is equal to 90 
percent of the prior year's shipments of free tonnage and reserve 
tonnage raisins sold for free use into all market outlets, adjusted by 
subtracting the carryin on August 1 of the current crop year, and 
adding the desirable carryout at the end of that crop year. As 
specified in Sec.  989.154(a), the desirable carryout for NS raisins 
shall equal the total shipments of free tonnage during August and 
September for each of the past 5 crop years, converted to a natural 
condition basis, dropping the high and

[[Page 38308]]

low figures, and dividing the remaining sum by three, or 60,000 natural 
condition tons, whichever is higher. For all other varietal types, the 
desirable carryout shall equal the total shipments of free tonnage 
during August, September and one-half of October for each of the past 5 
crop years, converted to a natural condition basis, dropping the high 
and low figures, and dividing the remaining sum by three. In accordance 
with these provisions, the Committee computed and announced the 2007-08 
trade demand for NS raisins at 232,822 tons as shown below.

                          Computed Trade Demand
                        [Natural condition tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             NS Raisins
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prior year's shipments....................................    309,169
Multiplied by 90 percent..................................          0.90
Equals adjusted base......................................    278,252
Minus carryin inventory...................................    105,430
Plus desirable carryout...................................     60,000
Equals computed NS trade demand...........................    232,822
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computation of Volume Regulation Percentages

    Section 989.54(b) of the order requires that the Committee announce 
crop estimates and determine whether volume regulation is warranted for 
the varietal types for which it computed a trade demand. If the 
Committee determines that volume regulation is warranted, it must also 
compute and announce preliminary free and reserve percentages. Section 
989.54(c) provides that the Committee may modify the preliminary free 
and reserve percentages prior to February 15 by announcing interim 
percentages which release less than the trade demand. Section 989.54(d) 
requires the Committee to recommend final percentages no later than 
February 15 which will tend to release the full trade demand. Final 
percentages are established by USDA through informal rulemaking.
    The Committee met on October 4 and October 11, 2007, and announced 
a 2007-08 crop estimate of 273,908 tons for NS raisins pursuant to 
Sec.  989.54(b). NS raisins are the major varietal type of California 
raisin. The crop estimate of 273,908 tons was significantly higher than 
the computed trade demand of 232,822 tons. Thus, the Committee 
determined that volume regulation for NS raisins was warranted. The 
Committee therefore announced preliminary volume regulation percentages 
of 72 percent free and 28 percent reserve for NS raisins, which 
released 85 percent of the computed trade demand, as required by the 
order, since a field price had been established. Field price is the 
price paid by handlers to producers for the free tonnage portion of 
their crop. The field price for 2007-08 NS raisins is $1,210 per ton. 
The Committee also announced interim volume regulation percentages of 
84.75 percent free and 15.25 percent reserve, and recommended final 
volume regulation percentages of 85 percent free and 15 percent reserve 
pursuant to Sec.  989.54(d).
    The Committee has historically recommended interim and final volume 
regulation percentages later in the season. However, the Committee 
determined it was in the best interest of producers and handlers to 
establish interim and final percentages as soon as possible for the 
2007-08 crop year. Rains during the harvest period this season while 
grapes were lying on the ground to dry caused a problem with embedded 
sand particles on a portion of the crop. To remedy this situation, 
growers subjected the raisins to a process known as reconditioning to 
remove the sand in order for the raisins to be acceptable for 
acquisition by handlers. This process resulted in additional costs to 
growers. Establishing interim and final percentages early in the season 
allowed growers to be paid on a higher percentage of their crop earlier 
in the season. This helped growers meet the costs of reconditioning, 
and the reconditioned product was then suitable for acquisition and 
processing by handlers.
    Pursuant to Sec.  989.54(d), the Committee's calculations and 
determinations to arrive at final percentages for NS raisins are shown 
in the table below:

                   Final Volume Regulation Percentages
                        [Natural condition tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             NS Raisins
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade demand..............................................    232,822
Divided by crop estimate..................................    273,908
Equals the free percentage................................         85.00
100 minus free percentage equals the reserve percentage...         15.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    By the week ending May 17, 2008, deliveries of NS raisins totaled 
322,458 tons of NS raisins. Thus, the committee's recommendation 
provided handlers with an additional 41,267 tons over the computed 
trade demand (322,458 tons x 85 percent = 274,089 tons; 274,089 tons-
232,822 tons = 41,267 tons). This additional tonnage is not expected to 
cause disorderly marketing conditions, as California export shipments 
are up about 30 percent due to other countries' declining export 
shipments.
    In addition, USDA's ``Guidelines for Fruit, Vegetable, and 
Specialty Crop Marketing Orders'' (Guidelines) specify that 110 percent 
of recent years' sales should be made available to primary markets each 
season for marketing orders utilizing reserve pool authority. This goal 
was met for NS raisins for the 2007-08 crop year. Application of the 
final percentages made 232,822 tons of raisins available to handlers 
when the crop estimate was realized. In addition, handlers are offered 
additional reserve raisins for sale under the ``10 plus 10 offers.'' As 
specified in Sec.  989.54(g), the 10 plus 10 offers are two offers of 
reserve pool raisins which are made available to handlers during each 
season. For each such offer, a quantity of reserve raisins equal to 10 
percent of the prior year's shipments is made available to handlers for 
free use. Handlers may sell their 10 plus 10 raisins to any market.
    Based on 2006-07 NS shipments of 309,169 natural condition tons, 
30,916.9 tons should have been made available in each of the 10 plus 10 
offers. However, this amount was not available in reserve.
    The first 10 plus 10 offer was made in February 2008. A total of 
6,065.2 tons of remaining 2006-07 reserve raisins and 24,851.7 tons of 
2007-08 reserve raisins (a total of 30,916.9 tons) were made available 
to raisin handlers and all available tonnage was purchased and released 
to handlers during the 2007-08 crop year.
    The second 10 plus 10 offer (a balance of about 24,000 tons 
remaining in the reserve pool) will be made available to handlers by 
July 31, 2008. Thus, all available reserve pool raisins should be 
offered to handlers for free use through the 10 plus 10 offers by the 
end of the crop year.
    In addition to the second anticipated 10 plus 10 purchase, 14,793 
tons of 2006-07 reserve raisins were sold to handlers through 10 plus 
10 offers in July 2007 and released to handlers in the 2007-08 crop 
year (August 2007). Finally, 105,430 tons of free tonnage raisins were 
carried into the 2007-08 crop year in handler's inventories. Combining 
all the raisins available to handlers for use as free tonnage for the 
2007-08 crop year (including the 232,822-ton trade demand) results in a 
total supply of 404,962 tons of natural condition raisins, or 380,674 
packed tons. This equates to 131 percent of the 2006-07 shipments of 
309,169 natural condition tons or 290,628 packed tons. (Additionally, 
at least another 41,000

[[Page 38309]]

tons of raisins are available to handlers for free use with the 
Committee's underestimation of the crop.)
    In addition to the 10 plus 10 offers, Sec.  989.67(j) of the order 
provides authority for sales of reserve raisins to handlers under 
certain conditions such as a national emergency, crop failure, change 
in economic or marketing conditions, or if free tonnage shipments in 
the current crop year exceed shipments during a comparable period of 
the prior crop year. Such reserve raisins may be sold by handlers to 
any market. When implemented, the additional offers of reserve raisins 
make even more raisins available to primary markets, which is 
consistent with USDA's Guidelines.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the 
economic impact of this action on small entities. Accordingly, AMS has 
prepared this final regulatory flexibility analysis.
    The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of 
business subject to such actions in order that small businesses will 
not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued 
pursuant to the Act, and rules issued thereunder, are unique in that 
they are brought about through group action of essentially small 
entities acting on their own behalf.
    There are approximately 21 handlers of California raisins who are 
subject to regulation under the order and approximately 3,000 raisin 
producers in the regulated area. Small agricultural firms are defined 
by the Small Business Administration (SBA) (13 CFR 121.201) as those 
having annual receipts of less than $6,500,000, and small agricultural 
producers are defined as those having annual receipts of less than 
$750,000. No more than 8 handlers and a majority of producers of 
California raisins may be classified as small entities.
    Since 1949, the California raisin industry has operated under a 
Federal marketing order. The order contains authority to, among other 
things, limit the portion of a given year's crop that can be marketed 
freely in any outlet by raisin handlers. This volume regulation 
mechanism is used to stabilize supplies and prices and strengthen 
market conditions. If the primary market (the normal domestic market) 
is over-supplied with raisins, grower prices decline substantially.
    Pursuant to Sec.  989.54(d) of the order, this rule continues in 
effect the action that established final volume regulation percentages 
for 2007-08 crop NS raisins. The volume regulation percentages are 85 
percent free and 15 percent reserve. Free tonnage raisins may be sold 
by handlers to any market. Reserve raisins must be held in a pool for 
the account of the Committee and are disposed of through certain 
programs authorized under the order.
    Volume regulation was warranted this season because the Committee's 
October crop estimate of 273,908 tons was significantly higher than the 
232,822 ton trade demand. As mentioned previously, by the week ending 
May 17, 2008, acquisitions were at 322,458 tons.
    The volume regulation procedures have helped the industry address 
its marketing problems by keeping supplies in balance with domestic and 
export market needs, and strengthening market conditions. The volume 
regulation procedures fully supply the domestic and export markets, 
provide for market expansion, and help reduce the burden of 
oversupplies in the domestic market.
    Raisin grapes are a perennial crop, so production in any year is 
dependent upon plantings made in earlier years. The sun-drying method 
of producing raisins involves considerable risk because of variable 
weather patterns.
    Even though the product and the industry are viewed as mature, the 
industry has experienced considerable change over the last several 
decades. Before the 1975-76 crop year, more than 50 percent of the 
raisins were packed and sold directly to consumers. Now, about 62 
percent of raisins are sold in bulk. This means that raisins are now 
sold to consumers mostly as an ingredient in another product such as 
cereal and baked goods. In addition, for a few years in the early 
1970's, over 50 percent of the raisin grapes were sold to the wine 
market for crushing. Since then, the percent of raisin-variety grapes 
sold to the wine industry has decreased.
    California's grapes are classified into three groups--table grapes, 
wine grapes, and raisin-variety grapes. Raisin-variety grapes are the 
most versatile of the three types. They can be marketed as fresh 
grapes, crushed for juice in the production of wine or juice 
concentrate, or dried into raisins. Annual fluctuations in the fresh 
grape, wine, and concentrate markets, as well as weather-related 
factors, cause fluctuations in raisin supply. This type of situation 
introduces a certain amount of variability into the raisin market. 
Although the size of the crop for raisin-variety grapes may be known, 
the amount dried for raisins depends on the demand for crushing. This 
makes the marketing of raisins a more difficult task. These supply 
fluctuations can result in producer price instability and disorderly 
market conditions.
    Volume regulation is helpful to the raisin industry because it 
lessens the impact of such fluctuations and contributes to orderly 
marketing. For example, producer prices for NS raisins remained fairly 
steady from the 1993-94 through the 1997-98 seasons, although 
production varied. As shown in the table below, during those years, 
production varied from a low of 272,063 tons in 1996-97 to a high of 
387,007 tons in 1993-94.
    According to Committee data, the total producer return per ton 
during those years, which includes proceeds from both free tonnage plus 
reserve pool raisins, has varied from a low of $904.60 in 1993-94 to a 
high of $1,049.20 in 1996-97. Producer prices for the 1998-99 and 1999-
2000 seasons increased significantly due to back-to-back short crops 
during those years. Record large crops followed and producer prices 
dropped dramatically for the 2000-01 through 2003-04 crop years, as 
inventories grew while demand stagnated. However, producer prices were 
higher for the 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07 crop years.
    The chart below shows data regarding NS raisin deliveries, field 
prices, and producer prices over the past several years:

                Natural Seedless (Natural Condition) Deliveries, Field Prices and Producer Prices
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Producer
                            Crop year                               Deliveries     Field prices    prices  (per
                                                                      (tons)       (per ton) \1\       ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006-07.........................................................         282,999       $1,210.00   \2\ $1,089.00
2005-06.........................................................         319,126        1,210.00      \2\ 998.25
2004-05.........................................................         265,262        1,210.00    \3\ 1,210.00
2003-04.........................................................         296,864          810.00          567.00
2002-03.........................................................         388,010          745.00          491.20

[[Page 38310]]

 
2001-02.........................................................         377,328          880.00          650.94
2000-01.........................................................         432,616          877.50          603.36
1999-2000.......................................................         299,910        1,425.00        1,211.25
1998-99.........................................................         240,469        1,290.00    \3\ 1,290.00
1997-98.........................................................         382,448        1,250.00          946.52
1996-97.........................................................         272,063        1,220.00        1,049.20
1995-96.........................................................         325,911        1,160.00        1,007.19
1994-95.........................................................         378,427        1,160.00          928.27
1993-94.........................................................         387,007        1,155.00         904.60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Field prices for NS raisins are established by the Raisin Bargaining Association, and are also referred to
  in the industry as the free tonnage price for raisins.
\2\ Return-to-date, reserve pool still open.
\3\ No volume regulation.

    There are essentially two broad markets for raisins--domestic and 
export. Domestic shipments have been generally increasing in recent 
years. Although domestic shipments decreased from a high of 204,805 
packed tons during the 1990-91 crop year to a low of 156,325 packed 
tons in 1999-2000, they increased from 174,117 packed tons during the 
2000-01 crop year to 188,944 tons during the 2006-07 crop year. Export 
shipments ranged from a high of 107,931 packed tons in 1991-92 to a low 
of 91,599 packed tons in the 1999-2000 crop year. Export shipments 
increased to 106,755 tons of raisins during the 2004-05 crop year, but 
fell to 101,684 tons in 2006-07. For the 2007-08 crop year, exports are 
up about 30 percent due to a short crop from Turkey.
    The per capita consumption of raisins has declined from 2.07 pounds 
in 1988 to 1.44 pounds in 2005. This decrease is consistent with the 
decrease in the per capita consumption of dried fruits in general, 
which is due to the increasing availability of most types of fresh 
fruit throughout the year.
    While the overall demand for raisins has increased in three of the 
last four years (as reflected in increased commercial shipments), 
production has been decreasing. Deliveries of NS dried raisins from 
producers to handlers reached an all-time high of 432,616 tons in the 
2000-01 crop year. This large crop was preceded by two short crop 
years; deliveries were 240,469 tons in 1998-99 and 299,910 tons in 
1999-2000. Deliveries for the 2000-01 crop year soared to a record 
level because of increased bearing acreage and yields. Deliveries for 
the 2001-02 crop year were at 377,328 tons, 388,010 tons for the 2002-
03 crop year, 296,864 for the 2003-04 crop year, and 265,262 tons for 
the 2004-05 crop year.
    After three crop years of high production and a large 2001-02 
carryin inventory, the industry diverted raisin production to other 
uses or removed bearing vines. Diversions/removals totaled 38,000 acres 
in 2001; 27,000 acres in 2002; and 8,000 acres of vines in 2003. These 
actions resulted in declining deliveries of 296,864 tons for the 2003-
04 crop year and 265,262 tons for the 2004-05 crop year. Although 
deliveries increased in 2005-06 to 319,126 tons, this may have been 
because fewer growers opted to contract with wineries, as raisin 
variety grapes crushed in 2005-06 decreased by 161,000 green tons, the 
equivalent of over 40,000 tons of raisins. In 2006-07, raisin 
deliveries were again less than 300,000 tons, at 282,999 tons. 
Deliveries have increased for the 2007-08 crop year, and were at 
322,458 for the week ending May 17, 2008.
    The order permits the industry to exercise volume regulation 
provisions, which allow for the establishment of free and reserve 
percentages, and establishment of a reserve pool. One of the primary 
purposes of establishing free and reserve percentages is to equilibrate 
supply and demand. If raisin markets are over-supplied with product, 
producer prices will decline.
    Raisins are generally marketed at relatively lower price levels in 
the more elastic export market than in the more inelastic domestic 
market. This results in a larger volume of raisins being marketed and 
enhances producer returns. In addition, this system allows the U.S. 
raisin industry to be more competitive in export markets.
    The reserve percentage limits what handlers can market as free 
tonnage. Data available as of May 17, 2008, showed that deliveries of 
NS raisins were at 322,458 tons. The 15 percent reserve limited the 
total free tonnage to 274,089 natural condition tons (.85 x 322,458 ton 
crop). Adding the 274,089 ton figure with the carryin of 105,430 tons, 
plus 45,710 tons of 10 plus 10 reserve raisins that were released to 
handlers during the 2007-08 crop year (14,793 tons in August 2007 and 
30,917 tons in February 2008) made the total free supply equal to 
425,229 natural condition tons. Including the anticipated 24,000 tons 
or reserve raisins that likely will be offered in the second 10 plus 10 
offer to be held prior to July 31, 2008, the end of the crop year, 
should make the total free supply 449,229 natural condition tons.
    With volume regulation, producer prices are expected to be higher 
than without volume regulation. This price increase is beneficial to 
all producers regardless of size and enhances producers' total revenues 
in comparison to no volume regulation. Establishing a reserve allows 
the industry to help stabilize supplies in both domestic and export 
markets, while improving returns to producers.
    Free and reserve percentages are established by varietal type, and 
usually in years when the supply exceeds the trade demand by a large 
enough margin that the Committee believes volume regulation is 
necessary to maintain market stability. Accordingly, in assessing 
whether to apply volume regulation or, as an alternative, not to apply 
such regulation, it was determined that volume regulation was warranted 
for the 2007-08 season for only one of the nine raisin varietal types 
defined under the order.
    The free and reserve percentages continue in effect the release of 
the full trade demand and apply uniformly to all handlers in the 
industry, regardless of size. For NS raisins, with the exception of the 
1998-99 and 2004-05 crop years, small and large raisin producers and 
handlers have been operating under volume regulation percentages every 
year since 1983-84. There are no known additional costs

[[Page 38311]]

incurred by small handlers that are not incurred by large handlers. 
While the level of benefits of this rulemaking are difficult to 
quantify, the stabilizing effects of the volume regulations impact 
small and large handlers positively by helping them maintain and expand 
markets even though raisin supplies fluctuate widely from season to 
season. Likewise, price stability positively impacts small and large 
producers by allowing them to better anticipate the revenues their 
raisins will generate.
    AMS is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, to promote 
the use of the Internet and other information technologies to provide 
increased opportunities for citizen access to Government information 
and services, and for other purposes.
    There are some reporting, recordkeeping and other compliance 
requirements under the order. The reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements are necessary for compliance purposes and for developing 
statistical data for maintenance of the program. The requirements are 
the same as those applied in past seasons. Thus, this action imposes no 
additional reporting or recordkeeping requirements on either small or 
large raisin handlers. The forms require information which is readily 
available from handler records and which can be provided without data 
processing equipment or trained statistical staff. The information 
collection and recordkeeping requirements have been previously approved 
by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB No. 0581-0178, 
Vegetable and Specialty Crops. As with all Federal marketing order 
programs, reports and forms are periodically reviewed to reduce 
information requirements and duplication by industry and public sector 
agencies. In addition, as noted in the initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis, USDA has not identified any relevant Federal rules that 
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this rule.
    Further, the Committee's meetings were widely publicized throughout 
the raisin industry and all interested persons were invited to attend 
the meetings and participate in the Committee's deliberations. Like all 
Committee meetings, the August 14, 2007, October 4, 2007, and October 
11, 2007, meetings were public meetings and all entities, both large 
and small, were able to express their views on this issue.
    Also, the Committee has a number of appointed subcommittees to 
review certain issues and make recommendations to the Committee. The 
Committee's Reserve Sales and Marketing Subcommittee met on August 14, 
2007, and October 4, 2007, and discussed these issues in detail. Those 
meetings were also public meetings and both large and small entities 
were able to participate and express their views.
    An interim final rule concerning this action was published in the 
Federal Register on February 19, 2008. Copies of the rule were mailed 
by the Committee's staff to all Committee members and alternates and 
raisin handlers. In addition, the rule was made available through the 
Internet by USDA and the Office of the Federal Register. That rule 
provided a 60-day comment period which ended April 21, 2008. No 
comments were received during the comment period.
    A small business guide on complying with fruit, vegetable, and 
specialty crop marketing agreements and orders may be viewed at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateN&page=MarketingOrdersSmallBusinessGuide. Any questions about the compliance guide should be sent to 
Jay Guerber at the previously mentioned address in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    After consideration of all relevant material presented, including 
the Committee's recommendation, and other information, it is found that 
finalizing the interim final rule, without change, as published in the 
Federal Register (73 FR 9005, February 19, 2008) will tend to 
effectuate the declared policy of the Act.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 989

    Grapes, Marketing agreements, Raisins, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

PART 989--RAISINS PRODUCED FROM GRAPES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA

0
Accordingly, the interim final rule amending 7 CFR part 989 which was 
published at 73 FR 9005 on February 19, 2008, is adopted as a final 
rule without change.

    Dated: July 1, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-15293 Filed 7-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P