[Federal Register: February 6, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 25)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5526]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06fe02-20]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 5526]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 928
[Docket No. FV02-928-1]
Papayas Grown in Hawaii; Continuance Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Referendum order.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among
eligible growers of Hawaiian papayas to determine whether they favor
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of papayas
grown in the production area.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from March 4, through March 22,
2002. To vote in this referendum, growers must have been producing
Hawaiian papayas during the period July 1, 2000, through June 30, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may obtained from the office
of the referendum agent at 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102 B, Fresno,
California, 93721, or the Office of the Docket Clerk, Marketing Order
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural
Marketing Service (AMS), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0237, Washington, DC, 20250-0237.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Terry Vawter, California Marketing
Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and
Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, at 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102 B,
Fresno, California, 93721; telephone (559) 487-5901; or Melissa
Schmaedick, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit & Vegetable
Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave SW., Stop 0237, Washington,
DC 20250-0237; telephone (202) 720-2491.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 928 (7 CFR
part 928), 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 shall
be conducted during the period March 4, through March 22, 2002, among
papaya growers in the production area. Only growers that were engaged
in the production of Hawaiian papayas during the period of July 1,
2000, through June 30, 2001, may participate in the continuance
referendum.
The USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective
means for ascertaining whether growers favor continuation of marketing
order programs. The USDA would consider termination of the order if
less than two-thirds of the growers voting in the referendum and
growers of less than two-thirds of the volume of Hawaiian papayas
represented in the referendum favor continuance. In evaluating the
merits of continuance versus termination, the USDA will consider the
results of the referendum and other relevant information regarding
operation of the order. The USDA will evaluate the order's relative
benefits and disadvantages to growers, handlers, and consumers to
determine whether continuing the order would tend to effectuate the
declared policy of the Act.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), the ballot materials used in the referendum herein ordered
have been submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0102 for Hawaiian
papayas. It has been estimated that it will take an average of 20
minutes for each of the approximately 400 growers of Hawaiian papayas
to cast a ballot. Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after
March 22, 2002, will not be included in the vote tabulation.
J. Terry Vawter and Martin Engeler of the California Marketing
Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, are hereby
designated as the referendum agents of the Department to conduct such
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 part 900.400 et.
seq).
Ballots will be mailed to all growers of record and may also be
obtained from the referendum agents and from their appointees.
List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 928
Marketing agreements, Papayas, Reporting and Recordkeeping
requirements.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
Dated: January 31, 2002.
A. J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-2845 Filed 2-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 2002/02/06 EST