This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

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Rules and Regulations Federal Register

1127 

Vol. 78, No. 5 

Tuesday, January 8, 2013 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

7 CFR Part 922 

[Docket No. AMS–FV–12–0028; FV12–922– 

2 IR] 

Apricots Grown in Designated 

Counties in Washington; Temporary 

Suspension of Handling Regulations 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Interim rule with request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: This rule suspends the 

minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, 

and inspection requirements prescribed 

under the Washington apricot marketing 

order for the 2012–13 fiscal period. The 

marketing order regulates the handling 

of apricots grown in designated 

Counties in Washington and is 

administered locally by the Washington 

Apricot Marketing Committee 

(Committee). In order for the Committee 

to continue collecting assessments and 

administer the marketing order, the 

Washington State Department of 

Agriculture will provide apricot 

handling data to the Committee during 

the suspension of the handling 

regulations. This rule is expected to 

reduce overall industry expenses and 

increase net returns to producers and 

handlers. 

DATES: Effective January 9, 2013 through 

March 31, 2013; comments received by 

March 11, 2013 will be considered prior 

to the issuance of a final rule. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments 

concerning this rule. Comments must be 

sent to the Docket Clerk, Marketing 

Order and Agreement Division, Fruit 

and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 

1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 

0237, Washington, DC 20250–0237; Fax: 

(202) 720–8938; or Internet: 

www.regulations.gov. All comments 

should reference the document number 

and the date and page number of this 

issue of the Federal Register and will be 

made available for public inspection in 

the Office of the Docket Clerk during 

regular business hours, or can be viewed 

at: www.regulations.gov. All comments 

submitted in response to this rule will 

be included in the record and will be 

made available to the public. Please be 

advised that the identity of the 

individuals or entities submitting the 

comments will be made public on the 

Internet at the address provided above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Manuel Michel, Marketing Specialist, or 

Gary Olson, Regional Manager, 

Northwest Marketing Field Office, 

Marketing Order and Agreement 

Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, 

AMS, USDA; Telephone: (503) 326– 

2724; Fax: (503) 326–7440; or Email: 

Manuel.Michel@ams.usda.gov or 

GaryD.Olson@ams.usda.gov. 

Small businesses may request 

information on complying with this 

regulation by contacting Laurel May, 

Marketing Order and Agreement 

Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, 

AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence SW., 

STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250– 

0237; Telephone: (202) 720–2491, Fax: 

(202) 720–8938, or Email: 

Laurel.May@ams.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule 

is issued under Marketing Agreement 

and Order No. 922, as amended (7 CFR 

922), regulating the handling of apricots 

grown in designated counties in 

Washington, hereinafter referred to as 

the ‘‘order.’’ The order is effective under 

the Agricultural Marketing Agreement 

Act of 1937, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 601– 

674), hereinafter referred to as the 

‘‘Act.’’ 

The Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) is issuing this rule in 

conformance with Executive Order 

12866. 

This rule has been reviewed under 

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice 

Reform. This rule is not intended to 

have retroactive effect. 

The Act provides that administrative 

proceedings must be exhausted before 

parties may file suit in court. Under 

section 608c(15)(A) of the Act, any 

handler subject to an order may file 

with USDA a petition stating that the 

order, any provision of the order, or any 

obligation imposed in connection with 

the order is not in accordance with law 

and request a modification of the order 

or to be exempted therefrom. A handler 

is then afforded the opportunity for a 

hearing on the petition. After the 

hearing USDA would rule on the 

petition. The Act provides that the 

district court of the United States in any 

district in which the handler is an 

inhabitant, or has his or her principal 

place of business, has jurisdiction to 

review USDA’s ruling on the petition, 

provided an action is filed not later than 

20 days after date of the entry of the 

ruling. 

This rule suspends the handling 

regulations prescribed under the order 

for the 2012–13 fiscal period. 

Specifically, this rule suspends the 

minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, 

and inspection requirements under the 

order. Notwithstanding the suspension 

of the order’s handling regulations, 

apricots handled in Washington must 

still meet the state minimum grade 

requirement of Washington No. 2. 

As a direct result of the suspension of 

the order’s handling regulations, 

information from the Inspection Service 

will no longer be available for the 

Committee to compile industry statistics 

and to assess handlers. However, 

collaboration with the Washington State 

Department of Agriculture will provide 

the Committee access to apricot 

handling data, similar to the handler 

information that has been previously 

collected and provided by the 

Inspection Service. 

Section 922.52 of the order authorizes 

the issuance of regulations for grade, 

size, quality, maturity, and pack for 

apricots grown in the production area. 

Section 922.53 authorizes the 

modification, suspension, or 

termination of regulations issued under 

§ 922.52, whenever the Secretary finds 

that a regulation no longer effectuates 

the declared policy of the act. 

Section 922.55 provides that 

whenever the handling of any variety of 

apricots is regulated pursuant to 

§ 922.52 or § 922.53, such apricots must 

be inspected by the Inspection Service, 

and certified as meeting the applicable 

requirements. The cost of this 

inspection and certification is borne by 

handlers. 

Section 922.60 authorizes the 

Committee, with the approval of USDA, 

to require reports and other information 

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1128 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 5 / Tuesday, January 8, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

from handlers that are necessary for the 

Committee to perform its duties. 

Minimum grade, size, quality, 

maturity, and inspection requirements 

for apricots regulated under the order 

are specified in § 922.321 (the section 

being suspended by this rule). When 

effective, § 922.321, with exemptions for 

certain varieties and types of shipments, 

provides that all apricots shall grade not 

less than Washington No. 1, and are at 

least reasonably uniform in color; 

provided, that such apricots of the 

Moorpark variety in open containers 

shall be generally well matured. The 

regulation also includes a minimum 

quantity exemption, as well as specific 

tolerances for apricots that fail to meet 

color, minimum diameter, and quality 

requirements. 

The Committee meets regularly to 

review and consider recommendations 

for the regulatory requirements of 

Washington apricots. Committee 

meetings are open to the public and 

interested persons may express their 

views at these meetings. The USDA 

reviews Committee recommendations, 

information submitted by the 

Committee, and other available 

information, and determines whether 

modification, suspension, or 

termination of the regulatory 

requirements would tend to effectuate 

the declared policy of the Act. 

At its May 24, 2012, meeting, the 

Committee unanimously recommended 

suspending the order’s handling 

regulations for the 2012 season. The 

Committee requested that this rule be 

effective immediately for the 2012–13 

fiscal period, which began on April 1, 

2012. 

The objective of the handling 

regulation has been to ensure that only 

acceptable quality apricots enter fresh 

market channels, thereby ensuring 

consumer satisfaction, increasing sales, 

and improving returns to producers. 

The apricot industry recognizes the 

continued importance of quality as a 

significant factor in maintaining sales. 

Some Committee members expressed 

concern that the elimination of current 

handling and inspection requirements 

could potentially result in lower quality 

apricots being shipped to fresh markets, 

thereby affecting consumer demand. 

There is also concern that if overall 

quality declines, the Washington apricot 

industry could lose sales to other 

apricot producing regions. 

However, due to the evolving nature 

of fresh fruit marketing, many wholesale 

and retail apricot buyers now require 

their own specific criteria for product 

quality from all handlers. Therefore, the 

Committee believes the cost of 

inspection and certification, which is 

mandated when the handling 

regulations are in effect, may exceed the 

benefits derived. 

After much consideration, the 

Committee recommended the 

suspension of the handling regulations 

prescribed under the order for the 2012– 

13 fiscal period. This action will allow 

the Committee to evaluate the impact 

that suspended regulations will have on 

the quality of Washington apricots. 

Should the market situation so dictate, 

the Committee may take appropriate 

action to continue the suspension of the 

handling regulations or recommend 

termination of the order. 

This rule enables Washington apricot 

handlers to ship apricots without regard 

to the order’s minimum grade, size, 

quality, maturity, and inspection 

requirements. This suspension action 

will also allow handlers to decrease 

their total costs by eliminating the 

expenses associated with mandatory 

inspection. However, this rule does not 

impede handlers from seeking product 

inspection on a voluntary basis if they 

find inspection desirable. Prior to the 

end of the fiscal period, the Committee 

will evaluate the effect that the 

suspension of the handling regulations 

has on the 2012 market conditions and 

on producer returns, and if necessary, 

make recommendations to USDA for 

changes. 

The suspension of the handling 

regulations will also result in the 

elimination of the inspection certificates 

being generated and forwarded to the 

Committee office by the Inspection 

Service. The Committee has used these 

certificates as the basis for the collection 

of handler assessments and for 

compiling apricot industry statistics. As 

a result of not having the information 

provided by the inspection certificates, 

the Committee will enter into a 

memorandum of understanding with the 

Washington State Department of 

Agriculture in order to obtain the 

information necessary to collect 

assessments and generate statistical 

information. 

Authorization to assess handlers 

enables the Committee to incur 

expenses that are reasonable and 

necessary to administer the program. 

Consistent with the suspension of 

§ 922.321, this rule also suspends 

§ 922.111 of the rules and regulations in 

effect under the order. Section 922.111 

contains provisions for handlers to 

apply for waivers from mandatory 

inspection when such inspection is not 

readily available from the Inspection 

Service. With the suspension of 

regulation, such waivers are no longer 

necessary. 

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Pursuant to requirements set forth in 

the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 

U.S.C. 601–612), the Agricultural 

Marketing Service (AMS) has 

considered the economic impact of this 

action on small entities. Accordingly, 

AMS has prepared this initial regulatory 

flexibility analysis. 

The purpose of the RFA is to fit 

regulatory actions to the scale of 

business subject to such actions in order 

that small businesses will not be unduly 

or disproportionately burdened. 

Marketing orders issued pursuant to the 

Act, and the rules issued thereunder, are 

unique in that they are brought about 

through group action of essentially 

small entities acting on their own 

behalf. 

There are approximately 20 handlers 

of Washington apricots who are subject 

to regulation under the marketing order 

and approximately 94 apricot producers 

in the regulated area. Small agricultural 

service firms are defined by the Small 

Business Administration (SBA) (13 CFR 

121.201) as those having annual receipts 

of less than $7,000,000, and small 

agricultural producers are defined as 

those having annual receipts of less than 

$750,000. 

Apricot production has been 

approximately 4,200 to 8,900 tons per 

year for the past several years. The 

National Agricultural Statistics Service 

(NASS) reports that all Washington 

apricot handlers combined ship 

approximately $7,132,000 worth of 

apricots during the 2011 season. In 

addition, based on acreage, production, 

and producer prices reported by NASS, 

and the total number of Washington 

apricot producers, average annual 

producer receipts are approximately 

$76,000, which is considerably less than 

the $750,000 threshold. In view of the 

foregoing, it can be concluded that a 

majority of the handlers and producers 

of Washington apricots may be 

classified as small entities. 

At its May 24, 2012, meeting, the 

Committee unanimously recommended 

suspending the handling regulations for 

the 2012–13 fiscal period. 

This rule suspends the handling 

regulations specified in §§ 922.111 and 

922.321. The suspension of these 

handling regulations will allow the 

Washington apricot industry to market 

apricots without regard to minimum 

grade, size, quality, maturity, and 

inspection requirements prescribed 

under the federal marketing order. 

Authority for this action is provided in 

§ 922.53. 

The handling regulations help ensure 

that only acceptable quality apricots 

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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 5 / Tuesday, January 8, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 1129 

enter fresh market channels, thereby 

ensuring consumer satisfaction, 

increasing sales, and improving returns 

to producers. While the industry 

continues to believe that quality is an 

important factor in maintaining sales, 

the Committee believes the cost of 

inspection and certification may exceed 

the benefits derived. The Committee 

also believes that the demands of 

wholesale buyers and consumers will 

drive handlers and producers to 

maintain a high level of product quality 

without the necessity of minimum 

quality standards and mandatory 

inspections. The Committee will review 

the outcome of the handling regulation 

suspension prior to the end of the 2012– 

13 fiscal period and determine if 

continued suspension, or alternatively, 

termination of the marketing order is 

warranted. The handling regulations 

will be automatically reinstated on 

April 1, 2013. 

Apricot prices have fluctuated 

considerably in recent years, and at 

times some producers have faced 

difficulty covering their total costs. In 

response to the adverse economic 

conditions experienced by the industry, 

the Committee discussed the possibility 

of reducing expenses through the 

elimination of mandatory inspection. 

The Committee considered the potential 

consequences of suspending the 

handling and inspection requirements, 

and how this could result in lower 

quality apricots being shipped to fresh 

markets. Also, if fruit quality were to 

decline, there is some concern among 

Committee members that the 

Washington apricot industry could lose 

sales to other apricot producing regions. 

While acknowledging these concerns, 

the Committee also believes that the 

current marketing conditions make the 

program unnecessary, because the costs 

of regulation may be greater than the 

benefits gained. Therefore, the 

Committee recommended the 

suspension of the handling regulations 

for the 2012–13 fiscal period. The 

Committee will review the impacts of 

the suspension prior to the end of the 

fiscal period and consider appropriate 

actions for ensuing seasons. 

This rule enables handlers to ship 

apricots without regard to the order’s 

minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, 

and inspection requirements during the 

2012–13 fiscal period. This rule allows 

handlers to decrease their overall costs 

by eliminating the costs associated with 

mandatory inspection. This rule, 

however, does not impede handlers 

from seeking inspection on a voluntary 

basis if they find inspection desirable. 

The suspension of the handling 

regulations will result in the elimination 

of mandatory inspections and, in turn, 

the inspection certificates generated by 

the Inspection Service and provided to 

the Committee. The Committee has used 

such certificates for assessment billing 

purposes and for compiling industry 

statistics. As a result of needing the 

information that was previously 

provided by the inspection certificates, 

the Committee will enter into a 

memorandum of understanding with the 

Washington State Department of 

Agriculture in order to obtain 

information on which to collect 

assessments and generate statistical 

information. 

The Committee anticipates that this 

rule will not negatively impact small 

handlers and producers because it 

suspends minimum grade, size, quality, 

maturity, and inspection requirements 

prescribed under the order. The total 

cost of inspection and certification for 

fresh shipments of Washington apricots 

during the 2011 marketing season is 

estimated by the Committee to have 

been $0.23 per hundredweight, or 

approximately $12,700 total. This 

represents approximately $635 per 

handler. Since handlers may continue to 

have their apricots voluntarily 

inspected, the Committee expects that 

some handlers will continue to have at 

least a portion of their fresh apricots 

inspected and certified by the 

Inspection Service. 

Alternatives to the suspension of the 

handling regulations considered by the 

Committee included maintaining the 

status quo, suspending regulations 

indefinitely, and terminating the 

marketing order in its entirety. The 

Committee believes that the 

continuation of regulation would be an 

unnecessary burden on the industry, 

given the evolving marketing conditions 

and future outlook. Thus, continuing to 

regulate in the same manner was not a 

viable option to the Committee. The 

Committee also discussed suspending 

regulation indefinitely, but rejected this 

alternative at this time. The Committee 

believes that suspending the handling 

regulations for one season will provide 

sufficient information to evaluate the 

impact this has on the quality of 

Washington apricots. Last of all, the 

Committee considered terminating the 

order in its entirety, but similarly 

declined the option. The Committee 

will review the impacts of the 

suspension prior to the end of the fiscal 

period and consider appropriate actions 

for ensuing seasons. 

In accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 

Chapter 35), the order’s information 

collection requirements have been 

previously approved by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) and 

assigned OMB No. 0581–0189. No 

changes in those requirements as a 

result of this action are necessary. 

Should any changes become necessary, 

they would be submitted to OMB for 

approval. 

This rule will not impose any 

additional reporting or recordkeeping 

requirements on either small or large 

apricot handlers. As with all Federal 

marketing order programs, reports and 

forms are periodically reviewed to 

reduce information requirements and 

duplication by industry and public 

sector agencies. 

AMS is committed to complying with 

the E-Government Act, to promote the 

use of the Internet and other 

information technologies to provide 

increased opportunities for citizen 

access to Government information and 

services, and for other purposes. 

In addition, USDA has not identified 

any relevant Federal rules that 

duplicate, overlap or conflict with this 

rule. 

Further, the Committee’s meeting was 

widely publicized throughout the 

Washington apricot industry and all 

interested persons were invited to 

attend the meeting and participate in 

Committee deliberations. Like all 

Committee meetings, the May 24, 2012, 

meeting was a public meeting and all 

entities, both large and small, were able 

to express their views on this issue. 

Finally, interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on this interim rule, 

including the regulatory and 

informational impacts of this action on 

small businesses. 

A small business guide on complying 

with fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop 

marketing agreements and orders may 

be viewed at: www.ams.usda.gov/ 

MarketingOrdersSmallBusinessGuide. 

Any questions about the compliance 

guide should be sent to Laurel May at 

the previously mentioned address in the 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

section. 

This rule invites comments on the 

suspension of the handling regulations 

prescribed under the Washington 

apricot marketing order. Any comments 

timely received will be considered prior 

to finalization of this rule. 

After consideration of all relevant 

material presented, including the 

Committee’s recommendation, and 

other information, it is found that the 

regulatory requirements no longer tend 

to effectuate the declared policy of the 

Act, and are therefore being suspended. 

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also 

found and determined upon good cause 

that it is impracticable, unnecessary, 

and contrary to the public interest to 

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1130 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 5 / Tuesday, January 8, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

give preliminary notice prior to putting 

this rule into effect, and that good cause 

exists for not postponing the effective 

date of this rule until 30 days after 

publication in the Federal Register 

because: (1) This interim rule is a 

relaxation in the apricot handling 

regulations and should be in place as 

soon as possible for the 2012–13 fiscal 

period; (2) handlers need to know as 

soon as possible that they are free to 

market their apricots without regard to 

the order’s handling regulations; (3) this 

issue has been widely discussed at 

various industry and association 

meetings and the Committee has kept 

the industry well informed; (4) handlers 

are aware of this rule, which was 

recommended at a public meeting; and 

(5) this rule provides a 60-day comment 

period and any comments received will 

be considered prior to finalization of 

this rule. 

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 922 

Apricots, Marketing agreements, 

Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

For the reasons set forth in the 

preamble, 7 CFR part 922 is amended as 

follows: 

PART 922—APRICOTS GROWN IN 

DESIGNATED COUNTIES IN 

WASHINGTON 

■ 1. The authority citation for 7 CFR 

part 922 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601–674. 

§§ 922.111 and 922.321 [Suspended] 

■ 2. In Part 922, §§ 922.111 and 922.321 

are suspended in their entirety from 

January 9, 2013 through March 31, 2013. 

Dated: January 2, 2013. 

David R. Shipman, 

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–00129 Filed 1–7–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

7 CFR Part 987 

[Docket No. AMS–FV–12–0035; FV12–987– 

1 IR] 

Domestic Dates Produced or Packed in 

Riverside County, CA; Decreased 

Assessment Rate 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Interim rule with request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: This rule decreases the 

assessment rate established for the 

California Date Administrative 

Committee (Committee) for the 2012–13 

and subsequent crop years from $1.00 to 

$0.90 per hundredweight of dates 

handled. The Committee locally 

administers the marketing order which 

regulates the handling of dates grown or 

packed in Riverside County, California. 

Assessments upon date handlers are 

used by the Committee to fund 

reasonable and necessary expenses of 

the program. The crop year begins 

October 1 and ends September 30. The 

assessment rate will remain in effect 

indefinitely unless modified, 

suspended, or terminated. 

DATES: Effective January 9, 2013. 

Comments received by March 11, 2013, 

will be considered prior to issuance of 

a final rule. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments 

concerning this rule. Comments must be 

sent to the Docket Clerk, Marketing 

Order Agreement Division, Fruit and 

Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., STOP 0237, 

Washington, DC 20250–0237; Fax: (202) 

720–8938; or Internet: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Comments should 

reference the docket number and the 

date and page number of this issue of 

the Federal Register and will be 

available for public inspection in the 

Office of the Docket Clerk during regular 

business hours, or can be viewed at: 

http://www.regulations.gov. All 

comments submitted in response to this 

rule will be included in the record and 

will be made available to the public. 

Please be advised that the identity of the 

individuals or entities submitting the 

comments will be made public on the 

Internet at the address provided above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff 

Smutny, Marketing Specialist, or Kurt J. 

Kimmel, Regional Director, California 

Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order 

and Agreement Division, Fruit and 

Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA; 

Telephone: (559) 487–5901, Fax: (559) 

487–5906, or Email: 

Jeffrey.Smutny@ams.usda.gov or 

Kurt.Kimmel@ams.usda.gov. 

Small businesses may request 

information on complying with this 

regulation by contacting Laurel May, 

Marketing Order and Agreement 

Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, 

AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence 

Avenue SW., STOP 0237, Washington, 

DC 20250–0237; Telephone: (202) 720– 

2491, Fax: (202) 720–8938, or Email: 

Laurel.May@ams.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule 

is issued under Marketing Agreement 

and Order No. 987, both as amended (7 

CFR part 987), regulating the handling 

of dates produced or packed in 

Riverside County, California, hereinafter 

referred to as the ‘‘order.’’ The order is 

effective under the Agricultural 

Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as 

amended (7 U.S.C. 601–674), hereinafter 

referred to as the ‘‘Act.’’ 

The Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) is issuing this rule in 

conformance with Executive Order 

12866. 

This rule has been reviewed under 

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice 

Reform. Under the marketing order now 

in effect, Riverside County, California 

date handlers are subject to assessments. 

Funds to administer the order are 

derived from such assessments. It is 

intended that the assessment rate as 

issued herein will be applicable to all 

assessable dates beginning October 1, 

2012, and continue until amended, 

suspended, or terminated. 

The Act provides that administrative 

proceedings must be exhausted before 

parties may file suit in court. Under 

section 608c(15)(A) of the Act, any 

handler subject to an order may file 

with USDA a petition stating that the 

order, any provision of the order, or any 

obligation imposed in connection with 

the order is not in accordance with law 

and request a modification of the order 

or to be exempted therefrom. Such 

handler is afforded the opportunity for 

a hearing on the petition. After the 

hearing, USDA would rule on the 

petition. The Act provides that the 

district court of the United States in any 

district in which the handler is an 

inhabitant, or has his or her principal 

place of business, has jurisdiction to 

review USDA’s ruling on the petition, 

provided an action is filed not later than 

20 days after the date of the entry of the 

ruling. 

This rule decreases the assessment 

rate established for the Committee for 

the 2012–13 and subsequent crop years 

from $1.00 to $0.90 per hundredweight 

of dates. 

The California date marketing order 

provides authority for the Committee, 

with the approval of USDA, to formulate 

an annual budget of expenses and 

collect assessments from handlers to 

administer the program. The members 

of the Committee are producers and 

handlers of Riverside County, California 

dates. They are familiar with the 

Committee’s needs and with the costs 

for goods and services in their local area 

and are thus in a position to formulate 

an appropriate budget and assessment 

rate. The assessment rate is formulated 

and discussed in a public meeting. 

Thus, all directly affected persons have 

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