WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold a public hearing on April 24, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to discuss proposed modifications to the federal marketing order for Florida-grown oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and tangelos.
The hearing will be held at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, located at 500 3rd Street NW, in Winter Haven, Fla. The hearing will be extended an additional day, if needed, to ensure sufficient time to hear comments.
The proposed amendments, recommended by the Citrus Administrative Committee which oversees local administration of the marketing order, would:
· Authorize regulation of new citrus fruit varieties and hybrids
· Regulate intrastate fruit shipments
· Revise the process for redefining production area districts
· Modify committee member terms of office and tenure requirements
· Authorize mail balloting procedures for committee membership nominations
· Increase financial reserve fund capacity
· Authorize different pack and container requirements for in-state, out-of-state and foreign shipments, and the different markets therein
· Eliminate separate acceptance statements in the nomination process, and
· Require handlers to register with the Citrus Administrative Committee
If the evidence presented at the hearing favors the proposed modifications and the USDA determines that the revisions will enhance the marketing order’s operation, USDA will conduct a referendum.
The hearing notice and proposed amendments will be published in the March 28, 2013, Federal Register. For more information or a copy of the amendments, please contact Melissa Schmaedick, by phone: (202) 557-4783, email: Melissa.Schmaedick@ams.usda.gov or U.S. mail: P.O. Box 952, Moab, Utah 84532. You may also contact Michelle Sharrow by phone: (202) 720-2491, email: Michelle.Sharrow@ams.usda.gov, or U.S. mail: 1400 Independence Avenue SW. Stop 0237, Washington, D.C. 20250-0237, if you have questions.
Source: USDA
