[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 33846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11151]


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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. 101 / Thursday, May 25, 2023 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 33846]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 929

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-23-0015]


Cranberries Grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 
Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, 
Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York; 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 cranberry producers to determine whether they favor 
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of 
cranberries grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 
Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, 
Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from June 9 through June 30, 
2023. Only current producers of cranberries within the production area 
who also grew cranberries in the production area during the period 
September 1, 2021, through August 31, 2022, are eligible to vote in 
this referendum. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide 
the option for ballots to be returned electronically. Further details 
will be provided in the ballot instructions. Ballots returned via 
express mail or electronic mail must show proof of delivery by no later 
than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30, 2023, to be counted.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
Southeast Region Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops 
Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880; 
Telephone: (863) 324-3375; or from the Market Development Division, 
Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 
0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone (202) 720-8085; or on the 
internet: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/moa/commodities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennie M. Varela, Marketing 
Specialist, or Christian D. Nissen, Chief, Southeast Region Branch, 
Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 
First Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880; Telephone: (863) 324-3375, 
Fax: (863) 291-8614, or Email: [email protected] or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Agreement and Order 
No. 929, as amended (7 CFR part 929), 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 
producers. The referendum will be conducted from June 9 through June 
30, 2023, among eligible cranberry producers in the production area. 
Only current cranberry producers who were engaged in the production of 
cranberries in the production area during the period of September 1, 
2021, through August 31, 2022, may participate in the continuance 
referendum.
    USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for determining whether producers favor the continuation of 
marketing order programs. USDA would consider termination of the Order 
if a majority of producers voting in the referendum representing more 
than 50 percent of the volume of cranberries represented in the 
referendum favor termination of the program.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35), the ballot materials used in the referendum have been 
submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0189, Fruit Crops. It has been 
estimated it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the 
approximately 1,100 cranberry producers in the production area to cast 
a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after June 30, 
2023, will not be included in the vote tabulation. Ballots delivered to 
USDA via express mail or returned electronically must show proof of 
delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on June 30, 
2023.
    Dolores Lowenstine, Christian D. Nissen, and Jennie M. Varela of 
the Southeast Region Branch, Market Development Division, 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 900.400 et seq.).
    Ballots and voting instructions will be sent by U.S. mail, United 
Parcel Service, or through electronic mail to all producers of record 
and may also be obtained from the referendum agents or from their 
appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 929

    Cranberries, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

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

Erin Morris,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-11151 Filed 5-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P