US: USDA sets dates for pecan research and promotion program referendum

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it will conduct a referendum May 10 through June 10, 2024, for eligible domestic producers and importers of pecans to decide whether to continue their research and promotion program. Current producers that have domestically produced 50,000 pounds of inshell pecans (25,000 pounds of shelled pecans), and current importers that have imported 50,000 pounds of inshell pecans (25,000 pounds of shelled pecans), during the representative period Oct. 1, 2022 through Sep. 30, 2023, are eligible to vote in the referendum. The order will continue if it is favored by the majority of domestic producers and importers voting in the referendum who, during the representative period, have been engaged in the production or importation of pecans. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will conduct the referendum by express mail and electronic ballot. AMS staff will express mail ballots and voting instructions to all known eligible ...