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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 71031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28288]

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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 230 / Monday, December 1, 2014 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 71031]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 915

[Docket No. AMS-FV-14-0080; FV15-915-1 CR]

Avocados Grown in South Florida; Continuance Referendum

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among 
eligible producers of avocados grown in South Florida to determine 
whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the 
handling of avocados grown in the production area.

DATES: The referendum will be conducted from January 12 through January 
27, 2015. To vote in this referendum, producers must have produced 
Florida avocados within the designated production area during the 
period April 1, 2013, through March 31, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the 
referendum agents at 1124 First Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880, 
or the Office of 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris Jamieson, Marketing Specialist, 
or Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director, Southeast Marketing Field 
Office, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Fruit and Vegetable 
Program, AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880; 
Telephone: (863) 324-3375, Fax: (863) 291-8614, or Email: 
Doris.Jamieson@ams.usda.gov or Christian.Nissen@ams.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 915, as 
amended (7 CFR part 915), 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 from January 12 through January 27, 2015, 
among Florida avocados growers in the production area. Only Florida 
avocado producers that were engaged in the production of Florida 
avocado, during the period of April 1, 2013, through March 31, 2014, 
may participate in the continuance referendum.
    USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective 
means for determining whether producers favor the continuation of 
marketing order programs. USDA would consider termination of the order 
if less than two-thirds of the producers voting in the referendum and 
less than two-thirds of the volume of Florida avocados represented in 
the referendum favor continuance. In evaluating the merits of 
continuance versus termination, USDA will not exclusively consider the 
results of the continuance referendum. USDA will also consider all 
other relevant information concerning the operation of the order and 
the relative benefits and disadvantages to producers, handlers, and 
consumers in order to determine whether continued operation of 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. 
3501-3520), the ballot materials to be used in the referendum have been 
submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
and have been assigned OMB No. 0581-0189, Generic Fruit Crops. It has 
been estimated that it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of 
the approximately 300 producers of Florida avocados to cast a ballot. 
Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after January 27, 2015, 
will not be included in the vote tabulation.
    Doris Jamieson and Christian D. Nissen of the Southeast Marketing 
Field Office, Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, are hereby 
designated as the referendum agents of the Secretary of Agriculture to 
conduct this 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 
900.400-900.407).
    Ballots will be mailed to all producers of record and may also be 
obtained from the referendum agents, or from their appointees.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 915

    Avocados, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

    Dated: November 25, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-28288 Filed 11-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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