USDA to Conduct Vote on Hazelnut Marketing Order

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it will conduct a referendum Oct. 28 - Nov. 18, 2024, among Oregon and Washington hazelnut growers to determine their level of support for continuing their federal marketing order. To be eligible to vote, growers must have produced hazelnuts within the designated production area during the period of July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. Notice of the referendum was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 10, 2024.<_o3a_p>

The marketing order requires USDA to conduct a continuance referendum within the first half of every 10-year period. USDA would consider termination of the marketing order if less than two-thirds of growers voting in the referendum, or growers of less than two-thirds of the volume of hazelnuts represented in the referendum, favor continuance of the program.<_o3a_p>

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will mail ballots and voting instructions to all growers of record. Eligible growers who do not receive a ballot by Oct. 31, 2024, should contact Virginia Tjemsland at [email protected] or (971) 416-6472. Requests for a ballot may also be mailed to USDA, AMS, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 305, Portland, Oregon 97204.<_o3a_p>

More information about the marketing order regulating the handling of hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington is available on the AMS 982 Hazelnut marketing order webpage, the Marketing Orders and Agreements webpage, or by contacting the Market Development Division at (202) 720-8085.<_o3a_p>

Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help producers and handlers achieve marketing success by leveraging 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.<_o3a_p>

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender<_o3a_p>