USDA to Conduct Vote on Walla Walla Sweet Onions Marketing Order

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a referendum among eligible Walla Walla sweet onion producers Jan. 12-30, 2026, to determine their level of support for continuing their federal marketing order.

The order requires USDA to conduct a continuance referendum every six years. To be eligible to vote, producers must have produced sweet onions within the designated production area during the period of June 1, 2024-May 31, 2025.

USDA would consider termination of the marketing order if less than two-thirds of producers voting in the referendum or producers of less than two-thirds of the volume of Walla Walla sweet onions represented in the referendum, favor continuance of the program. Notice of the referendum was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 11, 2025.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will mail ballots and voting instructions to all producers of record. Eligible growers who do not receive a ballot by Oct. 30, 2025, should contact Kelsey Dugan at Kelsey.Dugan@usda.gov or (503) 351-2108. Requests for a ballot may also be mailed to USDA, AMS, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 305, Portland, Ore. 97204.

More information about the marketing order regulating the handling of sweet onions grown in the Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon is available on the AMS 956 Walla Walla Onions page or by contacting the Market Development Division at (202) 720-8085.

Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help producers and handlers achieve marketing success by using their own funds to design and execute programs that they would not be able to do individually. AMS provides oversight to fruit, vegetable, and specialty crops marketing orders and agreements, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.