Sweet Cherries Grown in Designated Counties in Washington; Recommended Decision and Opportunity To File Written Exceptions to Proposed Amendments to Marketing Agreement and Order No. 923

Resumen

This recommended decision invites written exceptions on proposed amendments to the marketing agreement and order (order) for sweet cherries grown in Washington. Four amendments were proposed by the Washington Cherry Marketing Committee (Committee), which is responsible for local administration of the order: adding authority for promotion, including paid advertising, and production research projects; adding authority for supplemental rates of assessment for individual varieties of cherries; adding authority for the Committee to accept voluntary contributions for research and promotion; and, adding a public member to the Committee. Two additional amendments are proposed by the Agricultural Marketing Service: establishing tenure limitations for Committee members; and, requiring that continuance referenda be conducted every 6 years.