[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 44 (Thursday, March 5, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12860-12861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04176]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 920

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-20-0016; SC20-920-1 CR]


Kiwifruit Grown in California; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from May 18 through May 29, 
2020. Only current producers of kiwifruit within the California 
production area that produced kiwifruit during the period August 1, 
2018, through July 31, 2019, are eligible to vote in this referendum.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
California Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement 
Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

[[Page 12861]]

2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721-3129, or the 
Office of the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, 
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 
0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237, or internet: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffery Rymer, Marketing Specialist, 
or Terry Vawter, Regional Director, California Marketing Field Office, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, 
USDA; Telephone: (559) 487-5901, Fax: (559) 487-5906, or Email: 
[email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 920, as 
amended (7 CFR part 920), 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 from May 18 through May 29, 2020, among 
eligible California kiwifruit growers. Only current growers who were 
also engaged in the production of kiwifruit in California during the 
period of August 1, 2018, through July 31, 2019, may participate in the 
continuance referendum.
    USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for determining whether growers favor the continuation of 
marketing order programs. USDA would consider termination of the Order 
if less than fifty percent of the growers voting in the referendum and 
growers of less than fifty percent of the volume of California 
kiwifruit represented in the referendum favor continuance of their 
program. In evaluating the merits of continuance versus termination, 
USDA will consider the results of the continuance referendum and other 
relevant information regarding operation of the Order. USDA will also 
consider the Order's relative benefits and disadvantages to growers, 
processors, 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 have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB No. 
0581-0189, Fruit Crops. It has been estimated that it will take an 
average of 20 minutes for each of the approximately 150 growers of 
California kiwifruit to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. 
Ballots postmarked after May 29, 2020, will not be included in the vote 
tabulation.
    Jeffery Rymer and Terry Vawter of the California 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 part 900.400 et 
seq.).
    Ballots will be mailed to all growers of record and may also be 
obtained from the referendum agents or their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 920

    Marketing agreements, Kiwifruit, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

    Dated: February 25, 2020.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-04176 Filed 3-4-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P