[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07396]


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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. 88 , No. 67 / Friday, April 7, 2023 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 20780]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 927

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-22-0089]


Pears Grown in Oregon and Washington; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture 
(USDA).

ACTION: Referendum order.

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

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from May 8 through May 30, 
2023. Only current pear growers who grew pears within the designated 
production area during the period July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, 
are eligible to vote in this referendum.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
office of the referendum agents at 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 305, 
Portland, Oregon 97212; Telephone: (503) 326-2724; or the Office of the 
Docket Clerk, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 
0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491; or on the 
internet https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-IX/part-927.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale Novotny or Gary Olson, Western 
Region Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 305, 
Portland, Oregon 97212; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, or Email: 
[email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 927, as 
amended (7 CFR part 927), 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 pear growers. 
The referendum shall be conducted from March 20 to March 31, 2023, 
among pear growers in the production area. Only current pear growers 
that were engaged in the production of pears during the period of July 
1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, may participate in the continuance 
referendum.
    USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for determining whether growers favor continuation of marketing 
order programs. USDA would consider termination of the Order if less 
than two-thirds of growers voting in the referendum, and growers of 
less than two-thirds of the volume represented in the referendum favor 
continuance. In evaluating the merits of continuance versus 
termination, USDA will not exclusively consider the results of the 
continuance referendum. USDA will also consider all other relevant 
information concerning the operation of the Order and the relative 
benefits and costs to growers, handlers, and consumers to determine 
whether continued operation of 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) and have been 
assigned OMB No. 0581-0189, Fruit Crops. It has been estimated that it 
will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the approximately 1,500 
Oregon and Washington pear growers to cast a ballot. Participation is 
voluntary. Ballots postmarked after March 31, 2023, will not be 
included in the vote tabulation.
    Dale Novotny and Gary Olson of the Western Region Branch, Market 
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing 
Service, 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 eligible pear growers of record and 
may also be obtained from the referendum agents or their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 927

    Marketing agreements, Pears, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-07396 Filed 4-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P