Tart Cherries Grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin; Recommended Decision and Opportunity To File Written Exceptions to the Proposed Marketing Agreement and Order

Résumé

This recommended decision proposes the issuance of a marketing agreement and order (order) for tart cherries grown in certain designated states. The proposed order and agreement would authorize volume regulation, grade, size, and maturity regulations, and mandatory inspection. The proposed order would also authorize production, processing, and marketing research and promotion projects, including paid advertising. The order would be administered by an 18 member administrative board consisting of 17 growers and handlers and one public member. The order would be financed through assessments on handlers of tart cherries grown in the production area. A primary objective of this program would be to improve grower returns by strengthening consumer demand through volume control and quality assurance mechanisms. Tart cherry producers and processors would vote in a referendum to determine if they favor issuance of the proposed marketing order.