[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 8, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40867-40873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13125]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 930

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-19-0100; SC-20-930-1 FR]


Tart Cherries Grown in the States of Michigan, et al.; Free and 
Restricted Percentages for the 2019-20 Crop Year

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This rule implements a recommendation from the Cherry Industry 
Administrative Board (Board) to establish free and restricted 
percentages for the 2019-20 crop year pursuant to the marketing order 
for tart cherries grown in the states of Michigan, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. This action 
establishes the proportion of tart cherries from the 2019-20 crop that 
may be handled in commercial outlets. This action should stabilize 
marketing conditions by adjusting supply to meet market demand and help 
improve grower returns. Also, a correction is made to section 930.151 
to reflect the correct desirable carry-out inventory not

[[Page 40868]]

to exceed a maximum of 100 million pounds (81 FR 63676).

DATES: Effective August 7, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennie M. Varela, Marketing 
Specialist, or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director, Southeast 
Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, 
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA; Telephone: (863) 324-3375, Fax: 
(863) 291-8614, or Email: [email protected] or 
[email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on complying with this 
regulation by contacting Richard Lower, Marketing Order and Agreement 
Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW, Stop 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, 
Fax: (202) 720-8938, or Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, 
amends regulations issued to carry out a marketing order as defined in 
7 CFR 900.2(j). This final rule is issued under Marketing Agreement and 
Order No. 930, both as amended (7 CFR part 930), regulating the 
handling of tart cherries produced in the states of Michigan, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. Part 930 
(referred to as 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.'' The Board locally administers 
the Order and is comprised of producers and handlers of tart cherries 
operating within the production area, and a public member.
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing this final rule in 
conformance with Executive Orders 13563 and 13175. This final rule 
falls within a category of regulatory action that the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) exempted from Executive Order 12866 review. 
Additionally, because this rule does not meet the definition of a 
significant regulatory action, it does not trigger the requirements 
contained in Executive Order 13771. See OMB's Memorandum titled 
``Interim Guidance Implementing Section 2 of the Executive Order of 
January 30, 2017, titled `Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs' '' (February 2, 2017).
    This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. Under the Order, free and restricted percentages 
may be established for tart cherries handled during the crop year. This 
rule establishes free and restricted percentages for tart cherries for 
the 2019-20 crop year, beginning July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.
    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 the 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 final rule establishes the proportion of tart cherries from 
the 2019-20 crop that may be handled in commercial outlets at 67 
percent free and 33 percent restricted. The Secretary of Agriculture 
(Secretary) has determined that designating free and restricted 
percentages of tart cherries for the 2019-20 crop year effectuates the 
declared policy of the Act to stabilize marketing conditions by 
adjusting supply to meet market demand and help improve grower returns. 
A correction is also made to Sec.  930.151 to reflect the correct 
desirable carry-out inventory not to exceed a maximum of 100 million 
pounds (81 FR 63676). These recommendations were made by the Board at 
meetings on June 27, 2019, and September 12, 2019.
    Section 930.51(a) provides the Secretary authority to regulate 
volume by designating free and restricted percentages for any tart 
cherries acquired by handlers in a given crop year. Section 930.50 
prescribes procedures for computing an optimum supply based on sales 
history and for calculating these free and restricted percentages. Free 
percentage volume may be shipped to any market, while restricted 
percentage volume must be held by handlers in a primary or secondary 
reserve, or be diverted or used for exempt purposes as prescribed in 
Sec. Sec.  930.159 and 930.162. Exempt purposes include, in part, the 
development of new products, sales into new markets, the development of 
export markets, and charitable contributions. Sections 930.55 through 
930.57 prescribe procedures for inventory reserve. For cherries held in 
reserve, handlers would be responsible for storage and would retain 
title of the tart cherries.
    Section 930.52 states that only districts with an annual average 
production over the prior three years of at least six million pounds 
are subject to regulation, and any district producing a crop that is 
less than 50 percent of its annual average of the previous five years 
is exempt. The regulated districts for the 2019-20 crop year are: 
District 1--Northern Michigan; District 2--Central Michigan; District 
3--Southern Michigan; District 7--Utah; District 8--Washington; and 
District 9--Wisconsin. Districts 4, 5, and 6 (New York, Oregon and 
Pennsylvania, respectively) will not be regulated for the 2019-20 
season.
    Demand for tart cherries and tart cherry products tends to be 
relatively stable from year to year. Conversely, annual tart cherry 
production can vary greatly. In addition, tart cherries are processed 
and can be stored and carried over from crop year to crop year, further 
impacting supply. As a result, supply and demand for tart cherries are 
rarely in balance.
    Because demand for tart cherries is inelastic, total sales volume 
is not very responsive to changes in price. However, prices are very 
sensitive to changes in supply. As such, an oversupply of cherries 
would have a sharp negative effect on prices, driving down grower 
returns. Aware of this economic relationship, the Board focuses on 
using the volume control provisions in the Order to balance supply and 
demand to stabilize industry returns.
    Pursuant to Sec.  930.50, the Board meets on or about July 1, to 
review sales data, inventory data, current crop forecasts, and market 
conditions for the upcoming season and, if necessary, to recommend 
preliminary free and restricted percentages if anticipated supply would 
exceed demand. After harvest is complete, but no later than September 
15, the Board meets again to update its calculations using actual 
production data, consider any necessary adjustments to the preliminary 
percentages, and determine if final free and restricted percentages 
should be recommended to the Secretary.
    The Board uses sales history, inventory, and production data to 
determine whether there is a surplus and, if so, how much volume should 
be restricted to maintain optimum supply. The optimum supply represents 
the desirable volume of tart cherries that should be available for sale 
in the coming crop year. Optimum supply is defined as the average free 
sales of the prior three years plus desirable carry-

[[Page 40869]]

out inventory. Desirable carry-out is the amount of fruit needed by the 
industry to be carried into the succeeding crop year to meet market 
demand until the new crop is available. In June 2015, after considering 
market circumstances and needs, the Board recommended a desirable 
carry-out inventory not to exceed a maximum of up to 100 million pounds 
beginning with the 2016 crop year. That action was subsequently 
approved by the Secretary (81 FR 63676). Therefore, a correction will 
be made to Sec.  930.151 to reflect the correct desirable carry-out 
inventory not to exceed a maximum of 100 million pounds.
    In addition, USDA's ``Guidelines for Fruit, Vegetable, and 
Specialty Crop Marketing Orders'' (https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/1982-guidelines-fruit-vegetable-marketing-orders) 
specify that 110 percent of recent years' sales should be made 
available to primary markets each season before recommendations for 
volume regulation are approved. This requirement is codified in Sec.  
930.50(g), which specifies that in years when restricted percentages 
are established, the Board shall make available tonnage equivalent to 
an additional 10 percent of the average sales of the prior three years 
for market expansion (market growth factor).
    After the Board determines optimum supply, desirable carry-out, and 
market growth factor, it must examine the current year's available 
volume to determine whether there is an oversupply situation. Available 
volume includes carry-in inventory (any inventory available at the 
beginning of the season) along with that season's production. If 
production is greater than the optimum supply minus carry-in, the 
difference is considered surplus. This surplus tonnage is divided by 
the sum of production in the regulated districts to reach a restricted 
percentage. This percentage must be held in reserve or used for 
approved diversion activities, such as exports.
    The Board met on June 27, 2019, and computed an optimum supply of 
313 million pounds for the 2019-20 crop year using the average of free 
sales for the three previous seasons and desirable carry-out. To 
determine the carry-out figure, the Board discussed and considered a 
range of alternatives. One member suggested a carry-out value of 20 
million pounds, noting high carry-out puts downward pressure on grower 
prices. Another member agreed, noting the actual carry-out is often 
twice what the Board has estimated as desirable. Some members favored a 
carry-out of 50 million pounds. Other members were concerned that too 
low of a carry-out may push the restricted percentage too high for the 
industry to implement and suggested repeating the carry-out of 80 
million pounds from the previous season. The Board's executive director 
noted average sales are about 21 million pounds a month. Using that 
average, it would take 84 million pounds to supply the industry for 
four months. After considering the alternatives, the Board determined a 
carry-out of 85 million pounds would be enough to supply the industry's 
needs at the beginning of the next season.
    The Board subtracted the estimated carry-in of 174 million pounds 
from the optimum supply to calculate the production quantity needed 
from the 2019-20 crop to meet optimum supply. This number, 139 million 
pounds, was subtracted from the Board's estimated 2019-20 total 
production (from regulated and unregulated districts) of 248.2 million 
pounds to calculate a surplus of 109.2 million pounds of tart cherries. 
The Board also complied with the market growth factor requirement by 
removing 22.8 million pounds (average sales for prior three years of 
228 million times 10 percent) from the surplus. The adjusted surplus of 
86.4 million pounds was then divided by the expected production in the 
regulated districts (240 million pounds) to reach a preliminary 
restricted percentage of 36 percent for the 2019-20 crop year.
    The Board then discussed whether this calculation would supply 
enough cherries to grow sales and fulfil orders that have not yet 
shipped. Some members reported that there had been excessive rainfall, 
especially in Michigan, during the growing season. This could lead to 
poor fruit quality and handlers would need additional available tonnage 
to meet sales needs. As a result, the Board recommended an additional 
economic adjustment of 20 million pounds, which is subtracted from the 
surplus. The Board also anticipated that orchard diversion would be 
about 50 million pounds, which is subtracted from the expected 
production. With these modifications, the preliminary restricted 
percentage was calculated at 35 percent.
    The Board met again on September 12, 2019, to consider final volume 
regulation percentages for the 2019-20 season. The final percentages 
are based on the Board's reported production figures and the supply and 
demand information available in September.
    The total production for the 2019-20 season was 257.2 million 
pounds, 9 million pounds above the Board's June estimate. In addition, 
growers diverted 18.3 million pounds in the orchard, about a third of 
what had been anticipated. As a result, 238.9 million pounds would be 
available to market, 230.2 million pounds of which are in the 
restricted districts. Using the actual production numbers, and 
accounting for the recommended desirable carry-out and economic 
adjustment, as well as the market growth factor, the restricted 
percentage was recalculated.
    The Board subtracted the carry-in figure used in June of 174 
million pounds, from the optimum supply of 313 million pounds to 
determine 139 million pounds of 2019-20 production would be necessary 
to reach optimum supply. The Board subtracted the 139 million pounds 
from the actual production of 257.2 million pounds, resulting in a 
surplus of 118.2 million pounds of tart cherries.
    The recalculated surplus was reduced by subtracting the revised 
economic adjustment of 20 million pounds and the market growth factor 
of 22.8 million pounds, resulting in an adjusted surplus of 75.4 
million pounds. The Board then divided this final surplus by the 
available production of 230.2 million pounds in the regulated districts 
(248.5 million pounds minus 18.3 million pounds of in-orchard 
diversion) to calculate a restricted percentage of 33 percent with a 
corresponding free percentage of 67 percent for the 2019-20 crop year, 
as outlined in the following table:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Millions of
                                                              pounds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Calculations:
    (1) Average sales of the prior three years..........             228
    (2) Plus desirable carry-out........................              85
    (3) Optimum supply calculated by the Board..........             313
     (4) Carry-in as of July 1, 2019....................             174
    (5) Adjusted optimum supply (item 3 minus item 4)...             139
    (6) Board reported production.......................           257.2

[[Page 40870]]

 
    (7) Surplus (item 6 minus item 5)...................           118.2
    (8) Total economic adjustments......................              20
    (9) Market growth factor............................            22.8
    (10) Adjusted Surplus (item 7 minus items 8 and 9)..            75.4
                                                         ---------------
    (11) Production in regulated districts..............           248.5
    (12) In-Orchard Diversion...........................            18.3
                                                         ---------------
    (13) Production minus in orchard diversion..........           230.2
Final Percentages:
    Restricted (item 10 divided by item 13 x 100).......             33%
    Free (100 minus restricted percentage)..............             67%
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final restriction of 33 percent is lower than the preliminary 
restriction percentage of 35 percent. The change is due to the increase 
in production from the June estimate and lower in-orchard diversion 
volume. The desired carry-out remained the same at 85 million pounds. 
In discussing the calculation, members indicated the quality concerns 
that led to the adjustment were accurate. Members did not propose any 
changes to the adjustment following harvest.
    During the preliminary and final discussions, attendees raised 
concerns about the age of free inventory and the impact of imported 
tart cherry products. The Board voted to form a committee to develop a 
proposal for collecting additional data regarding inventory. Regarding 
the impact of imports, the Board approved a research proposal to gather 
additional data. The Board anticipates these actions will help provide 
additional data for future volume regulation discussions.
    Establishing free and restricted percentages is an attempt to bring 
supply and demand into balance. If the primary market is oversupplied 
with cherries, grower prices decline substantially. Restricted 
percentages have benefited grower returns and helped stabilize the 
market as compared to those seasons prior to the implementation of the 
Order. The Board, based on its discussion of this issue and the result 
of the above calculations, believes the available information indicates 
a restricted percentage should be established for the 2019-20 crop year 
to avoid oversupplying the market with tart cherries.
    Consequently, the Board recommended final percentages of 67 percent 
free and 33 percent restricted by a vote of 15 in favor, and 3 opposed. 
The Board could meet and recommend the release of additional volume 
during the crop year if conditions so warranted. The Secretary finds, 
from the recommendation and supporting information supplied by the 
Board, that designating final percentages of 67 percent free and 33 
percent restricted tends to effectuate the declared policy of the Act, 
and so designates these percentages.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601-612), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 
has considered the economic impact of this rule 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 
businesses 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 400 producers of tart cherries in the 
regulated area and approximately 40 handlers of tart cherries who are 
subject to regulation under the Order. Small agricultural producers are 
defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as those having 
annual receipts of less than $1,000,000, and small agricultural service 
firms have been defined as those whose annual receipts are less than 
$30,000,000 (13 CFR 121.201).
    According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) 
and Board data, the average annual grower price for tart cherries 
utilized for processing during the 2018-19 season was approximately 
$0.196 per pound. With total utilization at 288.8 million pounds for 
the 2018-19 season, the total 2018-19 value of the crop utilized for 
processing is estimated at $56.6 million. Dividing the crop value by 
the estimated number of producers (400) yields an estimated average 
receipt per producer of $141,500. This is well below the SBA threshold 
for small producers.
    A free on board (FOB) price of $0.80 per pound for frozen tart 
cherries was reported by the Food Institute during the 2018-19 season. 
Based on utilization, this price represents a good estimate of the 
price for processed cherries. Multiplying this FOB price by total 
utilization of 288.8 million pounds results in an estimated handler-
level tart cherry value of $231 million. Dividing this figure by the 
number of handlers (40) yields estimated average annual handler 
receipts of $5.8 million, which is below the SBA threshold for small 
agricultural service firms. Assuming a normal distribution, the 
majority of producers and handlers of tart cherries may be classified 
as small entities.
    The tart cherry industry in the United States is characterized by 
wide annual fluctuations in production. According to NASS, the pounds 
of utilized tart cherry production for the years 2014 through 2018 were 
301 million, 251 million, 319 million, 254 million, and 289 million, 
respectively. Because of these fluctuations, supply and demand for tart 
cherries are rarely in balance.
    Demand for tart cherries is inelastic, meaning changes in price 
have a minimal effect on total sales volume. However, prices are very 
sensitive to changes in supply, and grower prices vary widely in 
response to the large swings in annual supply. Grower prices per pound 
for processed utilization have ranged from a low of $0.073 in 1987 to a 
high of $0.588 per pound in 2012 when a weather event substantially 
reduced supply.
    Because of this relationship between supply and price, 
oversupplying the market with tart cherries would have a sharp negative 
effect on prices, driving down grower returns. Aware of this economic 
relationship, the Board focuses on using the volume control authority 
in the Order to align supply with demand and stabilize industry 
returns. This authority allows the industry to set free and restricted

[[Page 40871]]

percentages as a way to bring supply and demand into balance. Free 
percentage cherries can be marketed by handlers to any outlet, while 
restricted percentage volume must be held by handlers in reserve, 
diverted, or used for exempted purposes.
    This rule controls the supply of tart cherries by establishing 
percentages of 67 percent free and 33 percent restricted for the 2019-
20 crop year. These percentages should stabilize marketing conditions 
by adjusting supply to meet market demand and help improve grower 
returns. This action regulates tart cherries handled in Michigan, Utah, 
Washington, and Wisconsin. The authority for this action is provided in 
Sec. Sec.  930.50, 930.51(a), and 930.52. The Board recommended this 
action at a meeting on September 12, 2019.
    This rule will result in some fruit being diverted from the primary 
domestic markets. However, as mentioned earlier, the USDA's 
``Guidelines for Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crop Marketing 
Orders'' (https://www.ams.usda.gov/publications/content/1982-guidelines-fruit-vegetable-marketing-orders) specify that 110 percent 
of recent years' sales should be made available to primary markets each 
season before recommendations for volume regulation are approved. The 
available quantity under this regulation (337.5 million pounds) is 148 
percent of the average sales for the last three years (228 million 
pounds).
    In addition, there are secondary uses available for restricted 
fruit, including the development of new products, sales into new 
markets, the development of export markets, and being placed in 
reserve. While these alternatives may provide different levels of 
return than the sales to primary markets, they play an important role 
for the industry. The areas of new products, new markets, and the 
development of export markets utilize restricted fruit to develop and 
expand the markets for tart cherries. In 2018-19, these activities 
accounted for over 88 million pounds in sales, a 6-million-pound 
increase from the previous season.
    Placing tart cherries into reserves is also a key part of balancing 
supply and demand. Although handlers bear the handling and storage 
costs for fruit in reserve, reserves stored in large crop years are 
used to supplement supplies in short crop years. The reserves help the 
industry to mitigate the impact of oversupply in large crop years, 
while allowing the industry to supply markets in years when production 
falls below demand. Further, storage and handling costs are more than 
offset by the increase in price when moving from a large crop to a 
short crop year.
    The Board recommended a carry-out of 85 million pounds and made a 
demand adjustment of 20 million pounds in order to make the regulation 
less restrictive to account for fruit quality concerns. With 174 
million pounds of carry-in, 8.7 million pounds of production in the 
unregulated districts, and 154.8 million pounds of free tonnage from 
the regulated districts, 337.5 million pounds of fruit will be 
available for the domestic market. This amount is comparable to the 
336.9 million pounds made available in the previous season. Even with 
the recommended restriction, the domestic market will have an ample 
supply of tart cherries. Further, should marketing conditions change, 
and market demand exceed existing supplies, the Board could meet and 
recommend the release of an additional volume of cherries. 
Consequently, it is not anticipated that this rule will unduly burden 
growers or handlers.
    While this action could result in some additional costs to the 
industry, these costs are outweighed by the benefits. The purpose of 
setting restricted percentages is to attempt to bring supply and demand 
into balance. If the primary market (domestic) is oversupplied with 
cherries, grower prices decline substantially. Without volume control, 
the primary market would likely be oversupplied, resulting in lower 
grower prices.
    An econometric model has been developed to assess the impact volume 
control has on the price growers receive for their product. Based on 
the model, the use of volume control would have a positive impact on 
grower returns for this crop year. With volume control, grower prices 
are estimated to be approximately $0.04 per pound higher than without 
restrictions. In addition, in the absence of volume control, the 
industry could start to build large amounts of unwanted inventories. 
These inventories would have a depressing effect on grower prices.
    Retail demand is assumed to be highly inelastic, which indicates 
that the changes in price do not result in significant changes in the 
quantity demanded. Consumer prices largely do not reflect fluctuations 
in cherry supplies. Therefore, this action should have little or no 
effect on consumer prices and should not result in a reduction in 
retail sales.
    The free and restricted percentages established by this action will 
provide the market with optimum supply and will apply uniformly to all 
regulated handlers in the industry, regardless of size. As the 
restriction represents a percentage of a handler's volume, the costs, 
when applicable, are proportionate and should not place an extra burden 
on small entities as compared to large entities.
    The stabilizing effects of this action benefit all handlers by 
helping them maintain and expand markets, despite seasonal supply 
fluctuations. Likewise, price stability positively impacts all growers 
and handlers by allowing them to better anticipate the revenues that 
their tart cherries would generate. Growers and handlers, regardless of 
size, benefit from the stabilizing effects of the volume restriction.
    As noted earlier, the Board had extensive discussions on carry-out 
inventory alternatives. The alternatives ranged from 20 million pounds 
to 100 million pounds. Some expressed a concern that the relatively low 
reserves compared to high carry-in signaled that not enough fruit had 
been put in reserve in previous seasons. Some attendees indicated 
excess carry-in over the past few seasons has had a negative effect on 
returns and growers are seeking relief. The Board noted if the carry-
out number was too large, it could have a negative impact on grower 
returns, but enough fruit was needed to supply processors before the 
new harvest. After consideration of the alternatives, the Board 
recommended a carry-out of 85 million pounds.
    The Board also weighed alternatives when discussing the economic 
adjustment. Some members suggested making no adjustment to the formula. 
However, at its June meeting, the Board recommended a 20-million-pound 
adjustment to account for fruit quality concerns. When fruit is too 
large or too small, it does not move as efficiently through the pitting 
process. The Board was concerned excessive rainfall would result in 
large, soft, fruit that would not process as well as average-sized 
fruit. As a result, more fruit would be necessary to get the needed 
final product. Following harvest, Board members confirmed weather had 
indeed affected the size of fruit, and that the recommended adjustment 
was accurate and should not be changed.
    In discussing the preliminary recommendation, the Board heard a 
report from a committee that examined import issues. During the 
discussion there was a suggestion that the Board might consider using 
the previous year's import numbers to estimate imported volume in the 
coming year. However, there was no motion to make an adjustment for 
imports. To better address these issues, the Board allocated funds to a 
research project to provide

[[Page 40872]]

additional information on the volume and impact of imported cherry 
products.
    Given the concerns with regulation expressed by Board members and 
industry members in attendance, the Board also considered recommending 
no volume regulation. However, the data indicated a high carryover from 
previous seasons has created a substantial surplus. During this 
discussion, attendees questioned the age of the products in inventory. 
While all types of products can be stored for multiple years, their 
value does diminish over time. Reserve inventory must be under two 
years old, but there are no restrictions on free inventory. Industry 
members expressed concern that not all inventory is of equal value and 
suggested the Board should collect information on the age and quality 
of free inventory. A vote to recommend no volume regulation failed, but 
the Board did agree to form a committee to investigate potential 
reporting requirements to provide the industry better data regarding 
the available inventory. Thus, the alternatives were rejected.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the Order's information collection requirements have been 
previously approved by OMB and assigned OMB No. 0581-0177, Tart 
Cherries Grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, 
Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. No changes to those 
requirements are necessary as a result of this action. Should any 
changes become necessary, they would be submitted to OMB for approval.
    This final rule will not impose any additional reporting or 
recordkeeping requirements on either small or large tart cherry 
handlers. 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. As noted in the 
initial regulatory flexibility analysis, USDA has not identified any 
relevant Federal rules that duplicate, overlap or conflict with this 
final rule.
    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.
    The Board's meetings were widely publicized throughout the tart 
cherry industry, and all interested persons were invited to attend the 
meetings and participate in Board deliberations on all issues. Like all 
Board meetings, the June 27, 2019, and September 12, 2019, meetings 
were public meetings, and all entities, both large and small, were able 
to express views on this issue.
    A proposed rule concerning this action was published in the Federal 
Register on March 23, 2020 (85 FR 16273). Copies of the proposed rule 
were sent via email to all Board members and tart cherry handlers. The 
proposed rule was also made available through the internet by USDA and 
the Office of the Federal Register. A 30-day comment period was 
provided to allow interested persons to respond to the proposal.
    One comment was received in opposition to the proposal. This 
comment came from a tart cherry handler who expressed concern that the 
marketing order does not allow flexibility to serve changing markets. 
The comment also stated that the handler submitted a request to the 
Board to release reserves. Finally, the comment also attributed 
difficulties in meeting changing demands to current food safety 
regulations and food industry practices.
    Regarding the flexibility of supplying different tart cherry 
products, it is correct that the marketing order does not distinguish 
between product segments. The marketing order authorizes the Secretary 
to designate free and restricted percentages that apply to all 
handlers, regardless of the type of tart cherry product. Thus, the 
regulation is spread proportionally among handlers. Under any 
regulation, handlers can move restricted tonnage through approved 
diversion channels including but not limited to, supplying new markets 
or making charitable donations.
    Regarding a release of reserves, as mentioned earlier in this rule, 
the Board can meet and recommend a release of reserves at any time. The 
Board can make such a recommendation, regardless of whether a volume 
regulation is in place for the current fiscal year. This process is 
described in Sec.  930.154. The Board may request this action, which 
releases apportioned volume to handlers based on their total volume 
handled in the three previous years. In its discussions regarding 
volume regulation the Board indicated 174 million pounds of carry-in 
were available; the unregulated districts accounted for 8.7 million 
pounds of production; and this volume restriction will place 154.8 
million pounds of free tonnage from the regulated districts on the 
market for a total of 337.5 million pounds of fruit available for the 
domestic market. This is well above the average sales of 228 million 
pounds.
    The Board met multiple times following the volume regulation 
recommendation, and neither Board members nor public participants 
offered any evidence that sales had increased to the point of needing a 
release of reserves. Further, at these meetings, no requests for a 
release were made, nor were any motions introduced regarding a release. 
The Board's most recent sales report indicates that as of February 29, 
2020, some product category sales reported by handlers were up and 
others were down. In total, year over year sales were virtually 
unchanged; down one tenth of a percent, or 146,322 pounds. Given this 
information, there should be more than adequate fruit available to 
supply the market following this action.
    The concerns expressed regarding the limitations of food safety 
practices are outside the authorities of the marketing order and 
therefore not relevant to this action.
    Accordingly, based on the comment received, no changes will be made 
to the rule as proposed.
    A small business guide on complying with fruit, vegetable, and 
specialty crop marketing agreements and orders may be viewed at: 
https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/moa/small-businesses. Any 
questions about the compliance guide should be sent to Richard Lower at 
the previously mentioned address in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section.
    After consideration of all relevant matter presented, including the 
information and recommendation submitted by the Board, and other 
available information, it is hereby found that this rule, as 
hereinafter set forth, will tend to effectuate the declared policy of 
the Act.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 930

    Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Tart cherries.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, amend 7 CFR part 930 as 
follows:

PART 930--TART CHERRIES GROWN IN THE STATES OF MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, 
PENNSYLVANIA, OREGON, UTAH, WASHINGTON, AND WISCONSIN

0
1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 930 continues to read as 
follows:

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


0
2. Revise Sec.  930.151 to read as follows:


Sec.  930.151   Desirable Carry-out inventory.

    Beginning with the crop year starting July 1, 2016, for the 
purposes of

[[Page 40873]]

determining an optimum supply volume, the Board may recommend a 
desirable carry-out inventory not to exceed 100 million pounds.

0
3. Revise Sec.  930.256 to read as follows:


Sec.  930.256   Free and restricted percentages for the 2019-20 crop 
year.

    The percentages for tart cherries handled by handlers during the 
crop year beginning on July 1, 2019, which shall be free and 
restricted, respectively, are designated as follows: Free percentage, 
67 percent and restricted percentage, 33 percent.

Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-13125 Filed 7-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P