Source: https://ecfr.io/Title-07/pt7.8.929
Timestamp: 2019-11-20 07:43:11
Document Index: 405879385

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[7 CFR 929] Title 7 Part 929 : Code of Federal Regulations ';
Title 7 Part 929
Title 7 → Subtitle B → Chapter IX → Part 929
PART 929—CRANBERRIES GROWN IN STATES OF MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW JERSEY, WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, OREGON, WASHINGTON, AND LONG ISLAND IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK
§929.1 Secretary.
§929.2 Act.
§929.3 Person.
§929.4 Production area.
§929.5 Cranberries.
§929.6 Fiscal period.
§929.7 Committee.
§929.8 Grower.
§929.9 Handler.
§929.10 Handle.
§929.11 To can, freeze, or dehydrate.
§929.12 Acquire.
§929.13 Sales history.
§929.14 Marketable quantity.
§929.15 Annual allotment.
§929.17 Barrel.
§929.20 Establishment and membership.
§929.21 Term of office.
§929.22 Nomination.
§929.23 Selection.
§929.24 Failure to nominate.
§929.25 Acceptance.
§929.26 Vacancies.
§929.27 Alternate members.
§929.28 Redistricting and Reapportionment.
§929.30 Powers.
§929.31 Duties.
§929.32 Procedure.
§929.33 Expenses and compensation.
§929.40 Expenses.
§929.41 Assessments.
§929.42 Accounting.
§929.43 Contributions.
§929.45 Research and development.
§929.46 Marketing policy.
§929.48 Sales history.
929.49 Marketable quantity, allotment percentage, and annual allotment.
§929.50 Transfers of Sales Histories and Annual Allotments.
§929.51 Recommendations for regulation.
§929.52 Issuance of regulations.
§929.53 Modification, suspension, or termination of regulations.
§929.54 Withholding.
§929.55 Interhandler transfer.
§929.56 Special provisions relating to withheld (restricted) cranberries.
§929.57 Outlets for restricted cranberries.
§929.58 Exemptions.
§929.59 Excess cranberries.
§929.60 Handling for special purposes.
§929.61 Outlets for excess cranberries.
§929.62 Reports.
§929.63 Records.
§929.64 Verification of reports and records.
§929.65 Confidential information.
§929.66 Compliance.
§929.67 Right of the Secretary.
§929.68 Effective time.
§929.69 Termination.
§929.70 Proceedings after termination.
§929.71 Effect of termination or amendment.
§929.72 Duration of immunities.
§929.73 Agents.
§929.74 Derogation.
§929.75 Personal liability.
§929.76 Separability.
§929.101 Minimum exemption.
§929.102 Procedure to determine quantity of screened cranberries in unscreened lots.
§929.103 Inspection procedure.
§929.104 Outlets for excess cranberries.
§929.105 Reporting.
§929.106 Fiscal period.
§929.107 Conversion.
§929.108 Outlets for restricted cranberries.
§929.110 Transfers or sales of cranberry acreage.
§929.125 Committee review procedures.
§929.142 Reserve.
§929.149 Determination of sales history.
§929.150 Transfer or assignment of sales history.
§929.152 Delinquent assessments.
§929.157 Handler diversion.
§929.158 Exemptions.
§929.159 Excess cranberries.
§929.160 Public member eligibility requirements and nomination procedures.
§929.161 Nomination and balloting procedures for candidates other than the major cooperative marketing organization.
§929.162 Handler diversion reports.
Subpart C—Assessment Rate
§929.236 Assessment rate.
§929.250 Marketable quantity and allotment percentage for the 2000-2001 crop year.
§929.251 Marketable quantity and allotment percentage for the 2001-2002 crop year.
§929.252 Free and restricted percentages for the 2017-18 crop year.
§929.253 Marketable quantity and allotment percentage for the 2018-19 crop year.
Source: 27 FR 8101, Aug. 15, 1962, unless otherwise noted.
Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, or any officer or employee of the United States Department of Agriculture to whom authority has heretofore been delegated, or to whom authority may hereafter be delegated, to act in his stead.
Act means Public Act No. 10, 73d Congress (May 12, 1933), as amended, and as reenacted and amended by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (secs. 1-19, 48 Stat. 31, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 601-674).
Production area means the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York.
Cranberries means all varieties of the fruit Vaccinium Macrocarpon, known as cranberries, grown in the production area.
Fiscal period is synonymous with fiscal year and crop year and means the 12-month period beginning September 1 of 1 year and ending August 31 of the following year.
[33 FR 11640, Aug. 16, 1968]
Committee means the Cranberry Marketing Committee established pursuant to §929.20.
Grower is synonymous with producer and means any person who produces cranberries for market and who has a proprietary interest therein.
Handler means any person who handles cranberries.
(a) Handle means:
(4) The cold storage or freezing of excess or restricted cranberries for the purpose of temporary storage during periods when an annual allotment percentage and/or a handler withholding program is in effect prior to their disposal, pursuant to §§929.54 or 929.59.
[57 FR 38748, Aug. 27, 1992, as amended at 70 FR 7640, Feb. 15, 2005]
To can, freeze, or dehydrate means to convert cranberries into canned, frozen, or dehydrated cranberries or other cranberry products by any commercial process.
Acquire means to obtain cranberries by any means whatsoever for the purpose of handling such cranberries.
Sales history means the number of barrels of cranberries established for a grower by the committee pursuant to §929.48.
[57 FR 38748, Aug. 27, 1992]
Marketable quantity means for a crop year the number of pounds of cranberries necessary to meet the total market demand and to provide for an adequate carryover.
A grower's annual allotment for a particular crop year is the number of barrels of cranberries determined by multiplying such grower's sales history by the allotment percentage established pursuant to §929.49 for such crop year.
Barrel means a quantity of cranberries equivalent to 100 pounds of cranberries.
(a) There is hereby established a Cranberry Marketing Committee consisting of 13 grower members, and 9 grower alternate members. Except as hereafter provided, members and alternate members shall be growers or employees, agents, or duly authorized representatives of growers.
(b) The committee shall include one public member and one public alternate member nominated by the committee and selected by the Secretary. The public member and public alternate member shall not be a cranberry grower, processor, handler, or have a financial interest in the production, sales, marketing or distribution of cranberries or cranberry products. The committee, with the approval of the Secretary, shall prescribe qualifications and procedures for nominating the public member and public alternate member.
(c) Members shall represent each of the following subdivisions of the production areas in the number specified in Table 1. Members shall reside in the designated district of the production area from which they are nominated and selected. Provided, that there shall also be one member-at-large who may be nominated from any of the marketing order districts.
District 1: The States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut;
District 2: The State of New Jersey and Long Island in the State of New York.
District 3: The States of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.
District 4: The States of Oregon and Washington.
Any 1 member-at-large
(d) Disclosure of unregulated production. All grower nominees and alternate grower nominees of the committee shall disclose any financial interest in the production of cranberries that are not subject to regulation by this part.
(e) The committee may establish, with the approval of the Secretary, rules and regulations for the implementation and operation of this section.
[69 FR 18806, Apr. 9, 2004]
(a) The term of office for each member and alternate member of the committee shall be for two years, beginning on August 1 of each even-numbered year and ending on the second succeeding July 31. Provided, That following adoption of this amendment, the term of office for the initial members and alternates shall also include any time served prior to August 1 of the first even numbered year served. Members and alternate members shall serve the term of office for which they are selected and have been qualified or until their respective successors are selected and have been qualified.
(b) Beginning on August 1 of the even-numbered year following the adoption of this amendment, committee members shall be limited to three consecutive terms. This limitation on tenure shall not include service on the committee prior to the adoption of this amendment or service on the committee by the initial members prior to August 1 of the first even-numbered year served and shall not apply to alternate members.
(c) Members who have served three consecutive terms must leave the committee for at least one full term before becoming eligible to serve again unless specifically exempted by the Secretary. The consecutive terms of office for alternate members shall not be so limited.
(a) Initial members. As soon as practicable after adoption of this amendment, the committee shall hold nominations in accordance with this section. The names and addresses of all nominees shall be submitted to the Secretary for selection as soon as the nomination process is complete. Nominees selected for the initial Committee, following adoption of this amendment, shall serve a minimum of one two-year term beginning on August 1 of the first even-numbered year served.
(b) Successor members. Beginning on June 1 of the even-numbered year following the adoption of this amendment, the committee shall hold nominations in accordance with this section.
(c) Whenever any cooperative marketing organization handles more than fifty percent of the total volume of cranberries produced during the fiscal period in which nominations for membership on the committee are made, such cooperative or growers affiliated therewith shall nominate:
(1) Six qualified persons for members and four qualified persons for alternate members of the committee. These members and alternate members shall be referred to as the major cooperative members and alternate members. Nominee(s) for major cooperative member and major cooperative alternate member shall represent growers from each of the marketing order districts designated in §929.20.
(2) A seventh major cooperative member shall be referred to as the major cooperative member-at-large. The major cooperative member-at-large may be nominated from any of the marketing order districts.
(3) Six qualified persons for members and four qualified persons for alternate members of the committee shall be nominated by those growers who market their cranberries through entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization. Nominees for member and alternate member representing entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization shall represent growers from each of the marketing order districts as designated in §929.20(c).
(d) Whenever any major cooperative marketing organization handles 50 percent or less of the total volume of cranberries produced during the fiscal period in which nominations for membership on the committee are made, the major cooperative or growers affiliated therewith, shall nominate:
(1) Six qualified persons for major cooperative members and four qualified persons for major cooperative alternate members of the committee. Nominees for member and alternate member shall represent growers from each of the marketing order districts as designated in §929.20(c).
(2) Six qualified persons for members and four qualified persons for alternate members of the committee shall be nominated by those growers who market their cranberries through entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization. Nominees for member and alternate member shall represent growers from each of the marketing order districts as designated in §929.20(c).
(3) A seventh member nominee shall be referred to as the member-at-large representing entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization. The member-at-large may be nominated from any of the marketing order districts.
(e) Nominations of qualified member nominees representing entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization shall be made through a call for nominations sent to all eligible growers residing within each of the marketing order districts. The call for such nominations shall be by such means as are recommended by the committee and approved by the Secretary.
(1) The names of all eligible nominees from each district received by the committee, by such date and in such form as recommended by the committee and approved by the Secretary, will appear on the nomination ballot for that district.
(2) Election of the member nominees and alternate member nominees shall be conducted by mail ballot.
(3) Eligible growers shall participate in the election of nominees from the district in which they reside.
(4) When voting for member nominees, each eligible grower shall be entitled to cast one vote on behalf of him/herself.
(5) The nominee receiving the highest number of votes cast in districts two and four shall be the member nominee representing entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization from that district. The nominee receiving the second highest number of votes cast in districts two and four shall be the alternate member representing entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization from that district.
(6) The nominees receiving the highest and second highest number of votes cast in districts one and three shall be the member nominees representing entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization from that district. The nominee receiving the third highest number of votes cast in districts one and three shall be the alternate member representing entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization from that district.
(f) Nominations for the member-at-large representing entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization shall be made through a call for nominations sent to all eligible growers residing within the marketing order districts. The call for such nominations shall be by such means as recommended by the committee and approved by the Secretary.
(1) Election of the member-at-large shall be held by mail ballot sent to all eligible growers in the marketing order districts by such date and in such form as recommended by the committee and approved by the Secretary.
(2) Eligible growers casting ballots may vote for a member-at-large nominee from marketing order districts other than where they produce cranberries.
(3) When voting for the member-at-large nominee, each eligible grower shall be entitled to cast one vote on behalf of him/herself.
(4) The nominee receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be designated the member-at-large nominee representing entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization. The nominee receiving the second highest number of votes cast shall be declared the alternate member-at-large nominee representing entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization.
(g) The committee may request that growers provide their federal tax identification number(s) in order to determine voting eligibility.
(h) The names and addresses of all successor member nominees shall be submitted to the Secretary for selection no later than July 1 of each even-numbered year.
(i) The committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may issue rules and regulations to carry out the provisions or to change the procedures of this section.
[69 FR 18807, Apr. 9, 2004]
(a) From nominations made pursuant to §929.22(b), the Secretary shall select members and alternate members to the committee on the basis of the representation provided for in §929.20 and in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section.
(b) Whenever any cooperative marketing organization handles more than 50 percent of the total volume of cranberries produced during the fiscal year in which nominations for membership on the committee are made, the Secretary shall select:
(1) Six major cooperative members and four major cooperative alternate members from nominations made pursuant to §929.22(c)(1).
(2) One major cooperative member-at-large from nominations made pursuant to §929.22(c)(2), and
(3) Six members and four alternate members from growers who market their cranberries through other than the major cooperative marketing organization made pursuant to §929.22(c)(3).
(c) Whenever any major cooperative marketing organization handles 50 percent or less of the total volume of cranberries produced during the fiscal year in which nominations for membership on the committee are made, the Secretary shall select:
(1) Six major cooperative members and four major cooperative alternate members from nominations made pursuant to §929.22(d)(1).
(2) Six members and four alternate members from nominations made pursuant to §929.22(d)(2).
(3) One member-at-large representing entities other than the major cooperative marketing organization from nominations made pursuant to §929.22(d)(3).
[69 FR 18808, Apr. 9, 2004]
If nominations are not made within the time and in the manner prescribed in §929.22, the Secretary may, without regard to nominations, select the members and alternate members of the committee on the basis of representation provided for in §§929.20 and 929.23.
Any person selected by the Secretary as a member or as an alternate member of the committee shall qualify by filing a written acceptance with the Secretary promptly after being notified of such selection.
To fill any vacancy occasioned by the failure of any person selected as a member or as an alternate member of the committee to qualify, or in the event of the death, removal, resignation, or disqualification of any member or alternate member of the committee, a successor for the unexpired term of such member or alternate member of the committee shall be nominated and selected in the manner specified in §§929.22 and 929.23. If the names of nominees to fill any such vacancy are not made available to the Secretary within a reasonable time after such vacancy occurs, the Secretary may fill such vacancy without regard to nominations, which selection shall be made on the basis of representation provided for in §§929.20 and 929.23.
An alternate member of the committee shall act in the place and stead of a member during the absence of such member and may perform such other duties as assigned. In the event of the death, removal, resignation, or disqualification of a member, an alternate shall act for him/her until a successor for such member is selected and has qualified. In the event both a member and alternate member from the same marketing order district are unable to attend a committee meeting, the committee may designate any other alternate member to serve in such member's place and stead at that meeting provided that:
(a) An alternate member representing the major cooperative shall not serve in place of a member representing other than the major cooperative or the public member.
(b) An alternate member representing other than the major cooperative shall not serve in place of a major cooperative member or the public member.
(c) A public alternate member shall not serve in place of any industry member.
(a) The committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may reestablish districts within the production area and reapportion membership among the districts. In recommending such changes, the committee shall give consideration to:
(1) The relative volume of cranberries produced within each district.
(2) The relative number of cranberry producers within each district.
(3) Cranberry acreage within each district.
[70 FR 7641, Feb. 15, 2005]
(b) To receive, investigate, and report to the Secretary complaints of violations of the provisions of this part;
(c) To make and adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the terms and provisions of this part; and
(b) To appoint such employees, agents, and representatives as it may deem necessary and to determine the compensation and to define the duties of each:
(f) To cause its books to be audited by a competent public accountant at least once each fiscal year and at such times as the Secretary may request;
(h) To investigate and assemble data on the growing, handling, and marketing conditions with respect to cranberries;
(i) To submit to the Secretary the same notice of meetings of the committee as is given to its members;
(j) To submit to the Secretary such available information as he may request; and
(k) To investigate compliance with the provisions of this part.
(a) Ten members of the committee, or alternates acting for members, shall constitute a quorum. All actions of the committee shall require at least ten concurring votes: Provided, if the public member or the public alternate member acting in the place and stead of the public member, is present at a meeting, then eleven members shall constitute a quorum. Any action of the committee on which the public member votes shall require eleven concurring votes. If the public member abstains from voting on any particular matter, ten concurring votes shall be required for an action of the committee.
(b) The committee may vote by mail, telephone, fax, telegraph, or other electronic means; Provided that any votes cast by telephone shall be confirmed promptly in writing. Voting by proxy, mail, telephone, fax, telegraph, or other electronic means shall not be permitted at any assembled meeting of the committee.
(c) All assembled meetings of the committee shall be open to growers and handlers. The committee shall publish notice of all meetings in such manner as it deems appropriate.
The members of the committee, and alternates when acting as members, shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, as approved by the committee, incurred by them in the performance of their duties under this part. The committee at its discretion may request the attendance of one or more alternates at any or all meetings, notwithstanding the expected or actual presence of the respective members, and may pay expenses, as aforesaid.
The committee is authorized to incur such expenses as the Secretary finds are reasonable and likely to be incurred by the committee for its maintenance and functioning and to enable it to exercise its powers and perform its duties in accordance with the provisions hereof. The funds to cover such expenses shall be paid to the committee by handlers in the manner prescribed in §929.41.
(a) As a handler's pro rate share of the expenses which the Secretary finds are reasonable and likely to be incurred by the committee during a fiscal period, a handler shall pay to the committee assessments on all cranberries acquired as the first handler thereof during such period, except as provided in §929.55: Provided, That no handler shall pay assessments on excess cranberries as provided in §929.57. The payment of assessments for the maintenance and functioning of the committee may be required under this part throughout the period it is in effect, irrespective of whether particular provisions thereof are suspended or become inoperative.
(b) The Secretary shall fix the rate of assessment to be paid by each handler during a fiscal period in an amount designated to secure funds sufficient to cover the expenses which may be incurred during such period and to accumulate and maintain a reserve fund equal to approximately one fiscal period's expenses. At any time during or after the fiscal period, the Secretary may increase the assessment rate in order to secure funds sufficient to cover any later finding by the Secretary relative to the expenses which may be incurred. Such increase shall be applied to all cranberries acquired during the applicable fiscal period. In order to provide funds for the administration of the provisions of this part during the first part of a fiscal year, before sufficient operating income is available from assessments, the committee may accept the payment of assessments in advance and may also borrow money for such purposes.
(c) If a handler does not pay such assessment within the period of time prescribed by the committee, the assessment may be increased by either a late payment charge, or an interest charge, or both, at rates prescribed by the committee, with the approval of the Secretary.
(a) If, at the end of a fiscal period, the assessments collected are in excess of expenses incurred, the committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may carryover such excess into subsequent fiscal periods as a reserve: Provided, That funds already in the reserve do not exceed approximately one fiscal period's expenses. Such reserve funds may be used (1) to cover any expenses authorized by this part and (2) to cover necessary expenses of liquidation in the event of termination of this part. If any such excess is not retained in a reserve, it shall be refunded proportionately to the handlers from whom the excess was collected. Upon termination of this part, any funds not required to defray the necessary expenses of liquidation shall be disposed of in such manner as the Secretary may determine to be appropriate; Provided, That to the extent practical, such funds shall be returned pro rata to the persons from whom such funds were collected.
(b) All funds received by the committee pursuant to the provisions of this part shall be used solely for the purpose specified in this part and shall be accounted for in the manner provided in this part. The Secretary may at any time require the committee and its members to account for all receipts and disbursements.
The Committee may accept voluntary contributions to pay expenses incurred pursuant to §929.45, Research and development. Such contributions may only be accepted if they are sourced from domestic contributors and are free from any encumbrances or restrictions on their use by the donor. The Cranberry Marketing Committee shall retain complete control of their use.
[84 FR 9939, Mar. 19, 2019]
(a) The committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish or provide for the establishment of production research, marketing research, and market development projects, including paid advertising, designed to assist, improve, or promote the marketing, distribution, consumption, or efficient production of cranberries. The expense of such projects shall be paid from funds collected pursuant to §929.41, or from such other funds as approved by the Secretary.
(b) The committee may, with the approval of the Secretary, establish rules and regulations as necessary for the implementation and operation of this section.
[57 FR 38748, Aug. 27, 1992, as amended at 70 FR 7641, Feb. 15, 2005]
Each season prior to making any recommendation pursuant to §929.51, the committee shall submit to the Secretary a report setting forth its marketing policy for the crop year. Such marketing policy shall contain the following information for the current crop year:
(a) The estimated total production of cranberries;
(b) The expected general quality of such cranberry production;
(c) The estimated carryover, as of September 1, of frozen cranberries and other cranberry products;
(d) The expected demand conditions for cranberries in different market outlets;
(e) The recommended desirable total marketable quantity of cranberries including a recommended adequate carryover into the following crop year of frozen cranberries and other cranberry products;
(f) Other factors having a bearing on the marketing of cranberries.
(a) A sales history for each grower shall be computed by the committee in the following manner:
(1) For growers with acreage with 6 or more years of sales history, the sales history shall be computed using an average of the highest four of the most recent six years of sales.
(2) For growers with 5 years of sales history from acreage planted or replanted 2 years prior to the first harvest on that acreage, the sales history is computed by averaging the highest 4 of the 5 years.
(3) For growers with 5 years of sales history from acreage planted or replanted 1 year prior to the first harvest on that acreage, the sales history is computed by averaging the highest 4 of the 5 years and in a year prior to a year of a producer allotment volume regulation shall be adjusted as provided in paragraph (a)(6) of this section.
(4) For a grower with 4 years or less of sales history, the sales history shall be computed by dividing the total sales from that acreage by 4 and in a year prior to a year of a producer allotment volume regulation shall be adjusted as provided in paragraph (a)(6) of this section.
(5) For growers with acreage having no sales history, or for the first harvest of replanted acres, the sales history will be the average first year yields (depending on whether first harvested 1 or 2 years after planting or replanting) as established by the committee and multiplied by the number of acres.
(6) In a year prior to a year of a producer allotment volume regulation, in addition to the sales history computed in accordance with paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) of this section, additional sales history shall be assigned to growers using the formula x = (a−b)c. The letter “x” constitutes the additional number of barrels to be added to the grower's sales history. The value “a” is the expected yield for the forthcoming year harvested acreage as established by the committee. The value “b” is the total sales from that acreage as established by the committee divided by four. The value “c” is the number of acres planted or replanted in the specified year. For acreage with five years of sales history: a = the expected yield for the forthcoming sixth year harvested acreage (as established by the committee); b = an average of the most recent 4 years of expected yields (as established by the committee); and c = the number of acres with 5 years of sales history.
(b) A new sales history shall be calculated for each grower after each crop year, using the formulas established in paragraph (a) of this section, or such other formula(s) as determined by the committee, with the approval of the Secretary.
(c) The committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may adopt regulations to change the number and identity of years to be used in computing sales histories, including the number of years to be used in computing the average. The committee may establish, with the approval of the Secretary, rules and regulations necessary for the implementation and operation of this section.
(d) Sales histories, starting with the crop year following adoption of this part, shall be calculated separately for fresh and processed cranberries. The amount of fresh fruit sales history may be calculated based on either the delivered weight of the barrels paid for by the handler (excluding trash and unusable fruit) or on the weight of the fruit paid for by the handler after cleaning and sorting for the retail market. Handlers using the former calculation shall allocate delivered fresh fruit subsequently used for processing to growers' processing sales. Fresh fruit sales history, in whole or in part, may be added to process fruit sales history with the approval of the committee in the event that the grower's fruit does not qualify as fresh fruit at delivery.
(e) The committee may recommend rules and regulations, with the approval of the Secretary, to adjust a grower's sales history to compensate for catastrophic events that impact the grower's crop.
(a) Marketable quantity and allotment percentage. If the Secretary finds, from the recommendation of the committee or from other available information, that limiting the quantity of cranberries purchased from or handled on behalf of growers during a crop year would tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act, the Secretary shall determine and establish a marketable quantity for that crop year.
(b) The marketable quantity shall be apportioned among growers by applying the allotment percentage to each grower's sales history, established pursuant to §929.48. Such allotment percentage shall be established by the Secretary and shall equal the marketable quantity divided by the total of all growers' sales histories including the estimated total sales history for new growers. Except as provided in paragraph (g) of this section, no handler shall purchase or handle on behalf of any grower cranberries not within such grower's annual allotment.
(c) In any crop year in which the production of cranberries is estimated by the committee to be equal to or less than its recommended marketable quantity, the committee may recommend that the Secretary increase or suspend the allotment percentage applicable to that year. In the event it is found that market demand is greater than the marketable quantity previously set, the committee may recommend that the Secretary increase such quantity.
(d) Issuance of annual allotments. The committee shall require all growers to qualify for such allotment by filing with the committee a form wherein growers include the following information:
(1) The amount of acreage which will be harvested;
(2) A copy of any lease agreement covering cranberry acreage;
(3) The name of the handler(s) to whom their annual allotment will be delivered;
(4) Such other information as may be necessary for the implementation and operation of this section.
(e) On or before such date as determined by the committee, with the approval of the Secretary, the committee shall issue to each grower an annual allotment determined by applying the allotment percentage established pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section to the grower's sales history.
(f) On or before such date as determined by the committee, with the approval of the Secretary, in which an allotment percentage is established by the Secretary, the committee shall notify each handler of the annual allotment that can be handled for each grower whose total crop will be delivered to that handler. In cases where a grower delivers a crop to more than one handler, the grower must specify how the annual allotment will be apportioned among the handlers. If a grower does not specify how their annual allotment is to be apportioned among the handlers, the Committee will apportion such annual allotment equally among those handlers they are delivering their crop to.
(g) Growers who do not produce cranberries equal to their computed annual allotment shall transfer their unused allotment to such growers' handlers unless it is transferred to another grower in accordance with §929.50(b) or if it is not assigned in accordance with paragraph (i) of this section. The handler shall equitably allocate the unused annual allotment to growers with excess cranberries who deliver to such handler. Unused annual allotment remaining after all such transfers have occurred shall be reported and transferred to the committee by such date as established by the committee with the approval of the Secretary.
(h) Handlers who receive cranberries more than the sum of their growers' annual allotments have “excess cranberries,” pursuant to §929.59, and shall so notify the committee. Handlers who have remaining unused allotment pursuant to paragraph (g) of this section are “deficient” and shall so notify the committee. The committee shall allocate unused allotment to all handlers having excess cranberries, proportional to each handler's total allotment.
(i) Growers who decide not to grow a crop, during any crop year in which a volume regulation is in effect, may choose not to assign their allotment to a handler.
(j) The committee may establish, with the approval of the Secretary, rules and regulations necessary for the implementation and operation of this section.
(a) Leases and sales of cranberry acreage—(1) Total or partial lease of cranberry acreage. When total or partial lease of cranberry acreage occurs, sales history attributable to the acreage being leased shall remain with the lessor.
(2) Total sale of cranberry acreage. When there is a sale of a grower's total cranberry producing acreage, the committee shall transfer all owned acreage and all associated sales history to such acreage to the buyer. The seller and buyer shall file a sales transfer form providing the committee with such information as may be requested so that the buyer will have immediate access to the sales history computation process.
(3) Partial sale of cranberry acreage. When less than the total cranberry producing acreage is sold, sales history associated with that portion of the acreage being sold shall be transferred with the acreage. The seller shall provide the committee with a sales transfer form containing, but not limited to the distribution of acreage and the percentage of sales history, as defined in §929.48(a)(1), attributable to the acreage being sold.
(4) No sale of cranberry acreage shall be recognized unless the committee is notified in writing.
(b) Allotment transfers. During a year of volume regulation, a grower may transfer all or part of his/her allotment to another grower. If a lease is in effect the lessee shall receive allotment from lessor attributable to the acreage leased. Provided, That the transferred allotment shall remain assigned to the same handler and that the transfer shall take place prior to a date to be recommended by the Committee and approved by the Secretary. Transfers of allotment between growers having different handlers may occur with the consent of both handlers.
(c) The committee may establish, with the approval of the Secretary, rules and regulations, as needed, for the implementation and operation of this section.
[70 FR 7642, Feb. 15, 2005]
(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, if the committee deems it advisable to regulate the handling of cranberries in the manner provided in §929.52, it shall so recommend to the Secretary by the following appropriate dates:
(1) An allotment percentage regulation must be recommended by no later than March 1;
(2) A handler withholding program must be recommended by not later than August 31. Such recommendation shall include the free and restricted percentages for the crop year;
(3) If both programs are recommended in the same year, the Committee shall submit with its recommendation an economic analysis to the USDA prior to March 1 of the year in which the programs are recommended.
(b) An exception to the requirement in paragraph (a)(1) of this section may be made in a crop year in which, due to unforeseen circumstances, a producer allotment regulation is deemed necessary subsequent to the March 1 deadline.
(c) In arriving at its recommendations for regulation pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, the committee shall give consideration to current information with respect to the factors affecting the supply of and demand for cranberries during the period when it is proposed that such regulation should be imposed. With each such recommendation for regulation, the committee shall submit to the Secretary the data and information on which such recommendation is based and any other information the Secretary may request.
(a) The Secretary shall regulate, in the manner specified in this section, the handling of cranberries whenever the Secretary finds, from the recommendations and information submitted by the committee, or from other available information, that such regulation will tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act. Such regulation shall limit the total quantity of cranberries which may be handled during any fiscal period by fixing the free and restricted percentages, applied to cranberries acquired by handlers in accordance with §929.54, and/or by establishing an allotment percentage in accordance with §929.49.
(b) The committee shall be informed immediately of any such regulation issued by the Secretary, and the committee shall promptly give notice thereof to handlers.
[70 FR 7643, Feb. 15, 2005]
(a) In the event the committee at any time finds that, by reason of changed conditions, any regulations issued pursuant to §929.52 should be modified, suspended, or terminated, it shall so recommend to the Secretary.
(b) Whenever the Secretary finds, from the recommendations and information submitted by the committee or from other available information, that a regulation should be modified, suspended, or terminated in order to effectuate the declared policy of the act, he shall modify, suspend, or terminate such regulation: Provided, That no such modification shall increase the restricted percentage previously established for the then current fiscal year. If the Secretary finds that a regulation obstructs or does not tend to effectuate the declared policy of the act, he shall suspend or terminate such regulation.
(a) Whenever the Secretary has fixed the free and restricted percentages for any fiscal period, as provided for in §929.52(a), each handler shall withhold from handling a portion of the cranberries acquired during such period. The withheld portion shall be equal to the restricted percentage multiplied by the volume of marketable cranberries acquired. Such withholding requirements shall not apply to any lot of cranberries for which such withholding requirement previously has been met by another handler in accordance with §929.55.
(b) The committee, with the approval of the Secretary, shall prescribe the manner in which, and date or dates during the fiscal period by which, handlers shall have complied with the withholding requirements specified in paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) Withheld cranberries may meet such standards of grade, size, quality, or condition as the committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may prescribe. The Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service may inspect all such cranberries. A certificate of such inspection shall be issued which shall include the name and address of the handler, the number and type of containers in the lot, the location where the lot is stored, identification marks (including lot stamp, if used), and the quantity of cranberries in such lot that meet the prescribed standards. Promptly after inspection and certification, each such handler shall submit to the committee a copy of the certificate of inspection issued with respect to such cranberries.
(d) Any handler who withholds from handling a quantity of cranberries in excess of that required pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section shall have such excess quantity credited toward the next fiscal year's withholding obligation, if any—provided that such credit shall be applicable only if the restricted percentage established pursuant to §929.52 was modified pursuant to §929.53; to the extent such excess was disposed of prior to such modification; and after such handler furnishes the committee with such information as it prescribes regarding such withholding and disposition.
(e) The Committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish rules and regulations necessary and incidental to the administration of this section.
(a) Transfer of cranberries from one handler to another may be made without prior notice to the committee, except during a period when a volume regulation has been established. If such transfer is made between handlers who have packing or processing facilities located within the production area, the assessment and withholding obligations provided under this part shall be assumed by the handler who agrees to meet such obligation. If such transfer is to a handler whose packing or processing facilities are outside of the production area, such assessment and withholding obligation shall be met by the handler residing within the production area.
(b) All handlers shall report all such transfers to the committee on a form provided by the committee four times a year or at other such times as may be recommended by the committee and approved by the Secretary.
(c) The committee may establish, with the approval of the Secretary, rules and regulations necessary for the implementation and operation of this section.
[38 FR 29801, Oct. 29, 1973, as amended at 57 FR 38750, Aug. 27, 1992]
(a) A handler shall make a written request to the committee for the release of all or part of the cranberries that the handler is withholding from handling pursuant to §929.54(a). Each request shall state the quantity of cranberries for which release is requested and shall provide such additional information as the committee may require. Handlers may replace the quantity of withheld cranberries requested for release as provided under either paragraph (b) or (c) of this section.
(b) The handler may contract with another handler for an amount of free cranberries to be converted to restricted cranberries that is equal to the volume of cranberries that the handler wishes to have converted from his own restricted cranberries to free cranberries.
(1) The handlers involved in such an agreement shall provide the committee with such information as may be requested prior to the release of any restricted cranberries.
(2) The committee shall establish guidelines to ensure that all necessary documentation is provided to the committee, including but not limited to, the amount of cranberries being converted and the identities of the handlers assuming the responsibility for withholding and disposing of the free cranberries being converted to restricted cranberries.
(3) Cranberries converted to replace released cranberries may be required to be inspected and meet such standards as may be prescribed for withheld cranberries prior to disposal.
(4) Transactions and agreements negotiated between handlers shall include all costs associated with such transactions including the purchase of the free cranberries to be converted to restricted cranberries and all costs associated with inspection (if applicable) and disposal of such restricted cranberries. No costs shall be incurred by the committee other than for the normal activities associated with the implementation and operation of a volume regulation program.
(5) Free cranberries belonging to one handler and converted to restricted cranberries on the behalf of another handler shall be reported to the committee in such manner as prescribed by the committee.
(c) Except as otherwise directed by the Secretary, as near as practicable to the beginning of the marketing season of each fiscal period with respect to which the marketing policy proposes regulation pursuant to §929.52(a), the committee shall determine the amount per barrel each handler shall deposit with the committee for it to release to him, in accordance with this section, all or part of the cranberries he is withholding; and the committee shall give notice of such amount of deposit to handlers. Such notice shall state the period during which such amount of deposit shall be in effect. Whenever the committee determines that, by reason of changed conditions or other factors, a different amount should therefore be deposited for the release of withheld cranberries, it shall give notice to handlers of the new amount and the effective period thereof. Each determination as to the amount of deposit shall be on the basis of the committee's evaluation of the following factors:
(1) The prices at which growers are selling cranberries to handlers,
(2) The prices at which handlers are selling fresh market cranberries to dealers,
(3) The prices at which cranberries are being sold for processing in products,
(4) The prices at which handlers are selling cranberry concentrate,
(5) The prices the committee has paid to purchase cranberries to replace released cranberries in accordance with this section, and
(6) The costs incurred by growers in producing cranberries.
(7) Each request for release of withheld cranberries shall include, in addition to all other information as may be prescribed by the committee, the quantity of cranberries the release is requested and shall be accompanied by a deposit (a cashier's or certified check made payable to the Cranberry Marketing Committee) in an amount equal to the twenty percent of the amount determined by multiplying the number of barrels stated in the request by the then effective amount per barrel as determined in paragraph (c).
(8) Subsequent deposits equal to, but not less than, the ten percent of the remaining outstanding balance shall be payable to the committee on a monthly basis commencing on January 1, and concluding by no later than August 31 of the fiscal period.
(9) If the committee determines such a release request is properly filled out, is accompanied by the required deposit, and contains a certification that the handler is withholding such cranberries, it shall release to such handler the quantity of cranberries specified in his request.
(d) Funds deposited for the release of withheld cranberries, pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, shall be used by the committee to purchase from handlers unrestricted (free percentage) cranberries in an aggregate amount as nearly equal to, but not in excess of, the total quantity of the released cranberries as it is possible to purchase to replace the released cranberries.
(e) All handlers shall be given an equal opportunity to participate in such purchase of unrestricted (free percentage) cranberries. If a larger quantity is offered than can be purchased, the purchases shall be made at the lowest price possible. If two or more handlers offer unrestricted (free percentage) cranberries at the same price, purchases from such handlers shall be in proportion to the quantity of their respective offerings insofar as such division is practicable. The committee shall dispose of cranberries purchased as restricted cranberries in accordance with §929.57. Any funds received by the committee for cranberries so disposed of, which are in excess of the costs incurred by the committee in making such disposition, will accrue to the committee's general fund.
(f) In the event any portion of the funds deposited with the committee pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section cannot, for reasons beyond the committee's control, be expended to purchase unrestricted (free percentage) cranberries to replace those withheld cranberries requested to be released, such unexpended funds shall, after deducting expenses incurred by the committee, be refunded to the handler who deposited the funds. The handler shall equitably distribute such refund among the growers delivering to such handler.
(g) Inspection for restricted (withheld) cranberries released to a handler is not required.
(h) The committee may establish, with the approval of the Secretary, rules and regulations for the implementation of this section. Such rules and regulations may include, but are not limited to, revisions in the payment schedule specified in paragraphs (c)(7) and (c)(8) of this section.
(a) Except as provided in this section and in §929.56, cranberries withheld from handling may be disposed of only through diversion to such outlets as the committee, with the approval of the Secretary, finds are noncompetitive to outlets for unrestricted (free percentage) cranberries.
(b) The storage and disposition of all cranberries withheld from handling shall be subject to the supervision and accounting control of the committee.
(a) Upon the basis of the recommendation and information submitted by the committee, or from other available information, the Secretary may relieve from any or all requirements pursuant to this part the handling of cranberries in such minimum quantities as the committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may prescribe.
(b) Upon the basis of the recommendation and information submitted by the committee, or from other available information, the Secretary may relieve from any or all requirements pursuant to this part the handling of such forms or types of cranberries as the committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may prescribe. Forms of cranberries could include cranberries intended for fresh sales or organically grown cranberries.
(c) The committee, with the approval of the Secretary, shall prescribe such rules, regulations, and safeguards as it may deem necessary to ensure that cranberries handled under the provisions of this section are handled only as authorized.
[70 FR 7644, Feb. 15, 2005]
(a) Whenever the Secretary establishes an allotment percentage pursuant to §929.52, handlers shall be notified by the committee of such allotment percentage and shall withhold from handling such cranberries in excess of the total of their growers' annual allotments obtained during such period. Such withheld cranberries shall be defined as “excess cranberries” after all unused allotment has been allocated.
(1) Excess cranberries received by a handler shall be made available for inspection by the committee or its representatives from the time they are received until final disposition is completed. Such excess cranberries shall be identified in such manner as the committee may specify in its rules and regulations with the approval of the Secretary.
(2) All matters dealing with handler-held excess cranberries shall be in accordance with such rules and regulations established by the committee, with the approval of the Secretary.
(b) Prior to January 1, or such other date as recommended by the committee and approved by the Secretary, handlers holding excess cranberries shall submit to the committee a written plan outlining procedures for the systematic disposal of such cranberries in the outlets prescribed in §929.61.
(c) Prior to March 1, or such other date as recommended by the committee and approved by the Secretary, all excess cranberries shall be disposed of pursuant to §929.61.
[57 FR 38750, Aug. 27, 1992]
Regulations in effect pursuant to §929.10, §929.41, §929.47, §929.48, §929.49, §929.51, §929.52, or §929.53 or any combination thereof, may be modified, suspended, or terminated to facilitate handling of excess cranberries for the following purposes:
(a) Charitable institutions;
(b) Research and development projects described pursuant to §929.61;
(c) Any nonhuman food use;
(d) Foreign markets, except Canada; and
(e) Other purposes which may be recommended by the committee and approved by the Secretary.
(a) Noncommercial outlets. Excess cranberries may be disposed of in noncommercial outlets that the committee finds, with the approval of the Secretary, meet the requirements outlined in paragraph (c) of this section. Noncommercial outlets include, but are not limited to:
(1) Charitable institutions; and
(2) Research and development projects.
(b) Noncompetitive outlets. Excess cranberries may be sold in outlets that the committee finds, with the approval of the Secretary, are noncompetitive with established markets for regulated cranberries and meet the requirements outlined in paragraph (c) of this section. Noncompetitive outlets include but are not limited to:
(1) Any nonhuman food use; and
(2) Other outlets established by the committee with the approval of the Secretary.
(c) Requirements. The handler disposing of or selling excess cranberries into noncompetitive or noncommercial outlets shall meet the following requirements, as applicable:
(1) Charitable institutions. A statement from the charitable institution shall be submitted to the committee showing the quantity of cranberries received and certifying that the institution will consume the cranberries;
(2) Research and development projects. A report shall be given to the committee describing the project, quantity of cranberries contributed, and date of disposition;
(3) Nonhuman food use. Notification shall be given to the committee at least 48 hours prior to such disposition;
(4) Other outlets established by the committee with the approval of the Secretary. A report shall be given to the committee describing the project, quantity of cranberries contributed, and date of disposition.
(d) The storage and disposition of all excess cranberries withheld from handling shall be subject to the supervision and accounting control of the committee.
(e) The committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish rules and regulations for the implementation and operation of this section.
(a) Grower report. Each grower shall file a report with the committee by January 15 of each crop year, or such other date as determined by the committee, with the approval of the Secretary, indicating the following:
(1) Total acreage harvested and whether owned or leased.
(2) Total commercial cranberry sales in barrels from such acreage.
(3) Amount of acreage either in production, but not harvested or taken out of production and the reason(s) why.
(4) Amount of new or replanted acreage coming into production.
(5) Name of the handler(s) to whom commercial cranberry sales were made.
(6) Such other information as may be needed for implementation and operation of this section.
(b) Inventory. Each handler engaged in the handling of cranberries or cranberry products shall, upon request of the committee, file promptly with the committee a certified report, showing such information as the committee shall specify with respect to any cranberries and cranberry products which were held by them on such date as the committee may designate.
(c) Receipts. Each handler shall, upon request of the committee, file promptly with the committee a certified report as to each quantity of cranberries acquired during such period as may be specified, and the place of production.
(d) Handling reports. Each handler shall, upon request of the committee, file promptly with the committee a certified report as to the quantity of cranberries handled during any designated period or periods.
(e) Withheld and excess cranberries. Each handler shall, upon request of the committee, file promptly with the committee a certified report showing, for such period as the committee may specify, the total quantity of cranberries withheld from handling or held in excess, in accordance with §§929.49 and 929.54, the portion of such withheld or excess cranberries on hand, and the quantity and manner of disposition of any such withheld or excess cranberries disposed of.
(f) Other reports. Upon the request of the committee, with the approval of the Secretary, each handler shall furnish to the committee such other information with respect to the cranberries and cranberry products acquired and disposed of by such person as may be necessary to enable the committee to exercise its powers and perform its duties under this part.
(g) The committee may establish, with the approval of the Secretary, rules and regulations for the implementation and operation of this section.
Each handler shall maintain such records of all cranberries acquired, withheld from handling, handled, and otherwise disposed of as will substantiate the required reports and as may be prescribed by the committee. All such records shall be maintained for not less than three years after the termination of the crop year in which the transactions occurred or for such lesser period as the committee may direct.
[27 FR 8101, Aug. 15, 1962. Redesignated at 57 FR 38750, Aug. 27, 1992]
The committee, through its duly authorized agents, during reasonable business hours, shall have access to any handler's premises where applicable records are maintained for the purpose of assuring compliance and checking and verifying records and reports filed by such handler.
[70 FR 7645, Feb. 15, 2005]
All reports and records furnished or submitted by handlers to the committee and its authorized agents which include data or information constituting a trade secret or disclosing the trade position, financial condition, or business operations of the particular handler from whom received, shall be received by and at all times kept in the custody and under the control of one or more employees of the committee, who shall disclose such information to no person other than the Secretary.
Except as provided in this part, no person shall handle cranberries, the handling of which has been prohibited by the Secretary in accordance with the provisions of this part; and no person shall acquire or handle cranberries except in conformity with the provisions of this part and the regulations issued hereunder.
The members of the committee (including successors and alternates), and any agents, employees, or representatives thereof, shall be subject to removal or suspension by the Secretary at any time. Each and every regulation, decision, determination, or other act of the committee shall be subject to the continuing right of the Secretary to disapprove of the same at any time. Upon such disapproval, the disapproved action of the committee shall be deemed null and void, except as to acts done in reliance thereon or in accordance therewith prior to such disapproval by the Secretary.
The provisions of this part, and of any amendment thereto, shall become effective at such time as the Secretary may declare above his signature and shall continue in force until terminated in one of the ways specified in §929.68.
(b) The Secretary shall terminate or suspend the operation of any or all of the provisions of this part whenever he finds that such provisions do not tend to effectuate the declared policy of the act.
(c) The Secretary shall terminate the provisions of this part whenever he finds by referendum or otherwise that such termination is favored by a majority of the growers: Provided, That such majority has, during the current fiscal year, produced more than 50 percent of the volume of the cranberries which were produced within the production area. Such termination shall become effective on the last day of July subsequent to the announcement thereof by the Secretary.
(d) The Secretary shall conduct a referendum during the month of May 1975 to ascertain whether continuance of this part is favored by the growers as set forth in paragraph (c) of this section. The Secretary shall conduct such a referendum during the month of May of every fourth year thereafter.
(e) The provisions of this part shall, in any event, terminate whenever the provisions of the act authorizing them cease to be effective.
[27 FR 8101, Aug. 15, 1962, as amended at 33 FR 11642, Aug. 16, 1968. Redesignated at 57 FR 38750, Aug. 27, 1992]
(b) The said trustees shall (1) continue in such capacity until discharged by the Secretary; (2) from time to time account for all receipts and disbursements and deliver all property on hand, together with all books and records of the committee and of the trustees, to such persons as the Secretary may direct; and (3) upon the request of the Secretary, execute such assignments or other instruments necessary or appropriate to vest in such person full title and right to all of the funds, property, and claims vested in the committee or the trustees pursuant thereto.
(c) Any person to whom funds, property, or claims have been transferred or delivered, pursuant to this section, shall be subject to the same obligation imposed upon the committee and upon the trustees.
Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Secretary, the termination of this part or of any regulation issued pursuant to this part, or the issuance of any amendment to either thereof, shall not (a) affect or waive any right, duty, obligation, or liability which shall have arisen or which may thereafter arise in connection with any provision of this part or any regulation issued hereunder, or (b) release or extinguish any violation of this part or any regulation issued hereunder, or (c) affect or impair any rights or remedies of the Secretary or of any other person with respect to any such violation.
The Secretary may, by designation in writing, name any officer or employee of the United States, or name any agency or division in the United States Department of Agriculture, to act as his agent or representative in connection with any of the provisions of this part.
No member or alternate member of the committee and no employee or agent of the committee shall be held personally responsible, either individually or jointly with others, in any way whatsoever, to any person for errors in judgment, mistakes, or other acts, either of commission or ommission, as such member, alternate, employee, or agent, except for acts of dishonesty, willful misconduct, or gross negligence.
The requirements of §929.41 Assessments and §929.54 Withholding shall not apply to any handler in a fiscal year during which the handler handles notmore than a total of 300 barrels of cranberries.
[53 FR 12374, Apr. 14, 1988]
The determination pursuant to §929.54 of the quantity of screened cranberries contained in an unscreened lot shall be made in accordance with the following procedure and on the basis of a sample of representative boxes comprising no less than 2 percent of the cranberries in the lot:
(a) The cranberries in the sample are cleaned to remove chaff, and the boxes of cleaned berries are weighed. The weight of the boxes themselves is then deducted to determine the weight of the cleaned berries. The weight of the cleaned berries is divided by the number of boxes in the sample to obtain the net weight of cleaned cranberries per box. The net weight is multiplied by the number of boxes in the lot to obtain the net weight of the berries in the unscreened lot.
(b) The cleaned berries are run through a separator, having a 9⁄32 inch screen, and with the bounce boards in the lowest position.
(c) The berries from the lower three bounce boards are rerun through the separator.
(d) The berries from the upper four bounce boards are thoroughly mixed and a random cupful (approximately 1 pint) is used to determine, from a count of the sound and unsound berries, the percentage of sound berries in the lot.
(e) Such percentage is adjusted by increasing it by 5 percentage points but not to exceed a total of 100 percent. (This increase makes the sample comparable to lots of screened cranberries, as such lots generally contain an average of 5 percent unsound berries.)
(f) The net weight, as determined in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, of the berries in the unscreened lot, is multiplied by the adjusted percentage to obtain the quantity of screened cranberries in the unscreened lot.
[28 FR 11611, Oct. 31, 1963]
(a) Inspection of withheld cranberries shall be limited to any plant, storage facility, or other location, within the production area where facilities suitable to the inspection service are available for sampling, weighing, and inspection of cranberries.
(b) The handler offering any lot of cranberries for inspection shall furnish the necessary labor and pay the costs of moving, weighing, and otherwise making available the sample the inspector chooses for inspection. The size of the sample shall be determined by the inspector. In the case of inspection of a lot of unscreened cranberries, the sample shall be screened by the handler under the supervision of the inspector and the inspection certificate shall show the quantity of cranberries in such lot which meets the requirements established for withheld cranberries pursuant to §929.54(c).
(a) In accordance with §929.61, excess cranberries may be diverted only to the following noncommercial or noncompetitive outlets:
(1) Foreign countries, except Canada.
(2) Charitable institutions.
(3) Any nonhuman food use.
(4) Research and development projects approved by the committee dealing with the development of foreign and domestic markets, including, but not limited to dehydration, radiation, freeze drying, or freezing of cranberries.
(b) [Reserved][
[65 FR 42614, July 11, 2000, as amended at 66 FR 34351, June 27, 2001; 83 FR 46075, Sept. 12, 2018]
(a) Each report required to be filed with the committee pursuant to §§929.6 and 929.48 shall be mailed to the committee office or delivered to that office. If the report is mailed, it shall be deemed filed when postmarked.
(b) Certified reports shall be filed with the committee, on a form provided by the committee, by each handler not later than January 20, May 20, and July 20 of each fiscal period and by September 20 of the succeeding fiscal period showing:
(1) The total quantity of cranberries the handler acquired and the total quantity of cranberries and Vaccinium oxycoccus cranberries the handler handled from the beginning of the reporting period indicated through December 31, April 30, June 30, and August 31, respectively, and
(2) The respective quantities of cranberries and Vaccinium oxycoccus cranberries and cranberry products and Vaccinium oxycoccus cranberry products held by the handler on January 1, May 1, June 30, and August 31 of each fiscal period.
(c) Beginning with crop year 2018-19, the due date for the grower report required under §929.62(a) is changed to March 1.
[53 FR 12374, Apr. 14, 1988, as amended at 61 FR 30498, June 17, 1996; 62 FR 916, Jan. 7, 1997; 75 FR 20516, Apr. 20, 2010; 77 FR 52597, Aug. 30, 2012; 83 FR 46075, Sept. 12, 2018]
The fiscal period specified in §929.6 of this part which began September 1, 1968, and ends on August 31, 1969, is changed to include the period of August 1, through August 31, 1968. Thereafter, the fiscal period will begin on September 1 and end on August 31 of the following year.
[33 FR 16492, Nov. 13, 1968]
During a year of volume regulation, cranberry concentrate and other processed products made from excess or restricted cranberries harvested in that year may be diverted according to the provisions of this part. Any handler disposing of concentrate or other processed products must report the whole-berry equivalent to the Committee so that all excess or restricted cranberries are accounted for and reported per rules and regulations in effect. Table 1-Conversion Table provides a conversion rate for concentrate to barrels of whole berries based on Brix average by production region. Should requests be made to use other processed products for diversion, conversion rates for those products would be provided by the Committee based on information provided by the requesting handler.
Table 1 to §929.107—Conversion Table
Brix average
Concentrate yield for one barrel of cranberries
Oregon 9.8 1.91 gallons 50 Brix concentrate.
Washington 9.3 1.81 gallons 50 Brix concentrate.
New Jersey 8.8 1.72 gallons 50 Brix concentrate.
Wisconsin 8.7 1.70 gallons 50 Brix concentrate.
Massachusetts 8.4 1.64 gallons 50 Brix concentrate.
All others 8.7 1.70 gallons 50 Brix concentrate.
[83 FR 14357, Apr. 4, 2018]
In accordance with §929.57, restricted cranberries may be diverted only to the following noncommercial or noncompetitive outlets:
(a) Foreign countries, except Canada, provided that restricted cranberries diverted under this provision may not be converted into canned, frozen, or dehydrated cranberries or other cranberry products by any commercial process, prior to diversion;
(b) Charitable institutions;
(c) Any nonhuman food use, or;
(d) Research and development projects approved by the Committee dealing with the development of foreign and domestic markets, including, but not limited to dehydration radiation, freeze drying, or freezing of cranberries.
(a) Sales or transfers of cranberry acreage shall be reported by the transferor and transferee to the committee, in writing, on forms provided by the committee. Completed forms shall be sent to the committee office not later than 30 days after the transaction has occurred.
(b) Upon transfer of all or a portion of a growers' acreage, the committee shall be provided with certain information on the forms it will provide to the parties. The transferor and transferee must provide the following information:
(1) Crop records for the acreage involved;
(2) Annual production and sales for each crop year on the acreage involved, either in total, or for each individual parcel; and
(3) Such other information as the committee deems necessary.
(c) Cranberry acreage sold or transferred shall be recognized in connection with the issuance of sales history as follows:
(1) If a grower sells all of the acreage comprising the entity, all prior sales history shall accrue to the purchaser;
(2) If a grower sells only a portion of the acreage comprising the entity from which prior sales have been made, the purchaser and the seller must agree as to the amount of sales history attributed to each portion and shall provide, on a form provided by the committee, sufficient information so that sales are shown separately by crop year. However, the sales history attributed to each portion shall not exceed the total sales history, as determined by the committee, for such acreage at the time of transfer.
(d) During a year of regulation, all transfers of growers' sales histories for partial or total leases of acreage shall be received in the Committee office by close of business on July 31.
[59 FR 36023, July 15, 1994, as amended at 66 FR 34351, June 27, 2001]
Growers may request, and the Committee may grant, a review of determinations made by the Committee pursuant to section 929.48, in accordance with the following procedures:
(a) If a grower is dissatisfied with a determination made by the Committee which affects such grower, the grower may submit to the Committee within 30 days after receipt of the Committee's determination of sales history, a request for a review by an appeals subcommittee composed of two independent and two cooperative representatives, as well as a public member. Such appeals subcommittee shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee. Such grower may forward with the request any pertinent material for consideration of such grower's appeal.
(b) The subcommittee shall review the information submitted by the grower and render a decision within 30 days of receipt of such appeal. The subcommittee shall notify the grower of its decision, accompanied by the reasons for its conclusions and findings.
(c) The grower may further appeal to the Secretary, within 15 days after notification of the subcommittee's findings, if such grower is not satisfied with the appeals subcommittee's decision. The Committee shall forward a file with all pertinent information related to the grower's appeal. The Secretary shall inform the grower and all interested parties of the Secretary's decision. All decisions by the Secretary are final.
[66 FR 34351, June 27, 2001]
(a) It is necessary and appropriate to establish and maintain a reserve in an amount not to exceed approximately one fiscal period's operational expenses to be used in accordance with the provisions of §929.42 of the marketing agreement and this part, and
(b) Assessments collected for each of the fiscal periods ended July 31, 1963; July 31, 1965; July 31, 1966; and July 31, 1967, were in excess of expenses for such periods. The committee is hereby authorized to place excess funds in said reserve.
[28 FR 11052, Oct. 16, 1963, as amended at 32 FR 13253, Sept. 20, 1967. Redesignated at 44 FR 73011, Dec. 17, 1979]
A sales history for each grower shall be computed by the Committee in the following manner when a producer allotment volume regulation is in effect.
(a) For each grower with acreage with 6 or more years of sales history, a new sales history shall be computed using an average of the highest 4 of the most recent 6 years of sales. If the grower has acreage with 5 years of sales history and such acreage was planted more than 6 years ago, a new sales history shall be computed by averaging the highest 4 of the 5 years.
(b) For growers whose acreage has 5 years of sales history and was planted 6 years ago or later, the sales history shall be computed by averaging the highest 4 of the 5 years and shall be adjusted as provided in paragraph (d). For growers whose acreage has 4 years of sales history, the sales history shall be computed by averaging all 4 years and shall be adjusted as provided in paragraph (d). For growers whose acreage has 1 to 3 years of sales history, the sales history shall be computed by dividing the total years sales by 4 and shall be adjusted as provided in paragraph (d).
(c) For growers with acreage with no sales history or for the first harvest of re-planted acres, the sales history will be 75 barrels per acre for acres planted or re-planted 1 year ago and first harvested in the current crop year and 156 barrels per acre for acres planted or re-planted 2 years ago and first harvested in the current crop year.
(d) In addition to the sales history computed in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, additional sales history shall be assigned to growers with acreage planted in the last 6 years. The additional sales histories depending on the date the acreage is planted are shown in Table 1.
Table 1—Additional Sales History Assigned to Acreage
current crop year sales history per acre
6 years ago 49
5 years ago 117
4 years ago 157
3 years ago 183
2 years ago 156
[66 FR 34351, June 27, 2001, as amended at 78 FR 51046, Aug. 20, 2013; 80 FR 37533, July 1, 2015]
(a) If indebtedness is incurred with regard to the acreage to which the cranberries are attributed, and on which a sales history is established, the sales history holder may transfer or assign the sales history solely as security for the loan. During the existence of such indebtedness no further transfer or assignment of sales history by the sales history holder shall be recognized by the committee unless the lender agrees thereto: Provided, That a copy of such loan agreement or assignment shall be filed with the committee before any right expressed therein, with regard to the sales history, shall be recognized by the committee under this paragraph (a).
(b) This regulation shall not in any way be construed to affect the right of the Secretary of Agriculture to amend, modify or terminate this regulation, or the marketing order under which it is issued as provided by law.
[34 FR 705, Jan. 17, 1969, as amended at 59 FR 36023, July 15, 1994]
There shall be a late payment charge of five percent and an interest charge of 11⁄2 percent per month applied to any assessment not received at the committee's office before the end of the month in which such assessment was first invoiced to the handler: Provided, That if an assessment is first invoiced later than the 15th of the month, no late payment or interest charge shall be levied if such assessment is received at the committee office by the end of the following month in which the assessment was first invoiced to the handler.
[60 FR 2, Jan. 3, 1995]
(a) Methods of diversion. Handlers may divert cranberries by disposing of cranberries or cranberry products. Diversion by disposal may take place prior to placing the cranberries into the processing line or after processing. Handlers may also divert cranberries or cranberry products to approved, noncompetitive outlets for withheld fruit. Whole berries or processed products diverted must come from the current crop year. Any information collected of a confidential and/or proprietary nature would be held in confidence pursuant to §929.65.
(1) Diversion through disposal. This type of diversion is to be carried out under the supervision of the Committee, and the cost of such supervision is to be paid by the handler. Handlers shall notify the Committee of their intent to dispose of cranberries or cranberry products using Form CMC-DISP as specified in §929.162(c). Following notification, a Committee inspector will meet with the handler to verify the documentation provided and, when possible, witness the destruction. The Committee inspector may request receipts, visual proof, or any other information needed to support the disposal as reported. Once the verification process has been completed, the Committee inspector will sign the certification section of Form CMC-DISP and return it to the Committee.
(2) Diversion through noncompetitive outlets. To divert cranberries or cranberry products to a noncompetitive outlet, handlers must apply to the Committee using Form CMC-OUT as specified in §929.162(d) prior to each disposal activity of this type. The Committee will review the information and approve or disapprove the diversion request. Once the cranberries or cranberry products are delivered to the approved noncompetitive outlets, the Committee must receive satisfactory documentation of the transaction using Form CMC-CONF as specified in §929.162(e).
(b) Committee notification and handler plan. Any handler intending to divert cranberries or cranberry products pursuant to §929.54 must notify the Committee of such intent and provide a plan by June 1 that shows how the handler intends to meet the restricted percentage obligation. The handler shall submit this plan using Form CMC-JUNE as specified in the reporting requirements under §929.162(a). The handler will have until August 31 to fulfill the plan, by which time the handler shall submit a final report detailing how the restricted percentage obligation was met using Form CMC-AUG as specified in §929.162(b).
(c) Request for review. (1) If a handler is dissatisfied with a determination made by the Committee which affects such handler, the handler may submit to the Committee within 30 days after receipt of the Committee's determination, a request for a review by an appeals subcommittee composed of two independent growers and two cooperative representatives, as well as a public member. The appeals subcommittee shall be appointed by the Committee chairperson. The handler may forward with the request any pertinent materials for consideration of the appeal.
(2) The subcommittee shall review the information submitted by the handler and render a decision within 30 days of receipt of such appeal. The subcommittee shall notify the handler of its decision, accompanied by the reasons for its conclusions and findings.
(3) The handler may further appeal to the Secretary, within 15 days after notification of the subcommittee's findings, if such handler is not satisfied with the appeals subcommittee's decision. The Committee shall forward a file to the Secretary with all pertinent information related to the handler's appeal. The Secretary shall inform the handler and all interested parties of the Secretary's decision. All decisions by the Secretary are final.
[83 FR 32197, July 12, 2018]
If fresh and organically-grown cranberries are exempted from the volume regulation as recommended by the Committee and approved by the Secretary, the following provisions to these exemptions shall apply:
(a) Sales of packed-out cranberries intended for sales to consumers in fresh form shall be exempt from volume regulation provisions. Fresh cranberries are also sold dry in bulk boxes generally weighing less than 30 pounds. Fresh cranberries intended for retail markets are not sold wet. If any such fresh cranberries are diverted into processing outlets, the exemption no longer applies. Growers who intend to handle fresh fruit shall notify the committee of their intent to sell over 300 barrels of fresh fruit.
(b) Sales of organically-grown cranberries are exempt from volume regulation provisions. In order to receive an exemption for organic cranberry sales, such cranberries must be certified as such by a third party organic certifying organization acceptable to the committee.
(c) Handlers shall qualify for the exemptions in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section by filing the amount of packed-out fresh or organic cranberry sales on the grower acquisition form.
(a) Beginning with crop year 2018-19, handlers holding excess cranberries shall submit to the Committee a written plan outlining procedures for the systematic disposal of such cranberries as specified in §929.59(b) by March 1.
(b) Beginning with crop year 2018-19, all excess cranberries shall be diverted as specified in §929.59(c) prior to August 31.
[83 FR 46075, Sept. 12, 2018]
(a) Public member and alternate member candidates shall not represent an agricultural interest and shall not have a financial interest in, or be associated with the production, processing, financing, or marketing of cranberries.
(b) Public member and alternate member candidates should be able to devote sufficient time to attend committee activities regularly and to familiarize themselves with the background and economies of the cranberry industry.
(c) Names of candidates together with evidence of qualification for public membership on the Cranberry Marketing Committee shall be submitted to the committee at its business office.
(d) Questionnaires shall be sent by the committee to those persons submitted as candidates to determine their eligibility and interest in becoming a public member.
(e) The names of persons nominated by the committee for the public member and alternate positions shall be submitted to the Secretary with such information as deemed pertinent by the committee or as requested by the Secretary.
(f) Public members shall serve a two-year term which coincides with the term of office of industry members of the committee.
[44 FR 16884, Mar. 20, 1979, as amended at 53 FR 12374, Apr. 14, 1988]
(a) During the nomination process, each eligible candidate shall indicate if he/she is seeking a position on the Committee as a member or alternate member.
(b) Ballots provided by the Committee shall include the names of those candidates seeking member positions on the Committee and those seeking alternate member positions.
(c) All ballots shall be received by a date designated by the Committee office staff. Votes for member positions and alternate member positions shall be tabulated separately. In districts entitled to one member, the successful candidate shall be the person receiving the highest number of votes as a member or alternate member. In districts entitled to two members, the successful candidates shall be those receiving the highest and second highest number of votes as members or alternate members. Those names shall then be forwarded to the Secretary for selection.
[75 FR 18395, Apr. 12, 2010]
(a) Handler withholding report. Handlers shall submit to the Committee, by June 1, a handler withholding report. The report shall be submitted using Form CMC-JUN and contain the following information:
(1) The name and address of the handler;
(2) The amount of cranberries acquired;
(3) The amount of cranberries withheld by disposal;
(4) The amount of cranberries diverted to noncompetitive outlets;
(5) The form of cranberry products withheld; and
(6) The total withholding obligation.
(b) Handler Withholding Final Report. Handlers shall submit to the Committee, by August 31, a final handler withholding report. The final report shall be submitted using Form CMC-AUG and contain the following information:
(2) The seasonal total of cranberries acquired;
(3) The seasonal total of cranberries withheld by disposal;
(4) The seasonal total of cranberries diverted to noncompetitive outlets;
(5) The form of cranberry products withheld during the season; and
(c) Handler disposal certification. Handlers shall submit to the Committee Form CMC-DISP for each lot of cranberries or cranberry products to be diverted through disposal. The form shall contain the following information:
(1) Name and address of the handler;
(2) Marketable cranberries in whole fruit or processed cranberries converted to whole fruit equivalent disposed of in this lot;
(3) Form of cranberries;
(4) Volume if in processed form;
(5) Lot details;
(6) Disposal site and method; and
(7) Inspector certification of the completion of the disposal.
(d) Handler application for outlets for withheld fruit. Handlers shall submit to the Committee Form CMC-OUT for approval for each lot of cranberries or cranberry products to be diverted to noncompetitive outlets in accordance with §929.57. The form shall contain the following information:
(2) Project type;
(3) Product form;
(4) Quantity of cranberries in whole fruit or processed cranberries converted to whole fruit equivalent diverted;
(5) A description of the project and how the cranberries will be used.
(e) Third-party confirmation of receipt of withheld fruit. Handlers shall submit to the Committee Form CMC-CONF for each diversion to a noncompetitive outlet to verify the receipt of the cranberries or cranberry product by the approved outlet. The form shall contain the following information:
(4) Quantity of cranberries in whole fruit or processed cranberries converted to whole fruit equivalent utilized; and
(5) Confirmation or documentation of receipt from the receiving outlet.
(f) Handler withholding appeal. Handlers may appeal a determination made by the Committee relating to a handler withholding regulation using the appeals process outlined in §929.157(c) and Form CMC-APPL, which shall contain the following information:
(2) Reason for appeal; and
(3) Information in support of appeal.
On and after September 1, 2006, an assessment rate of $.28 per barrel is established for cranberries.
[72 FR 14654, Mar. 29, 2007]
The marketable quantity for the 2000-2001 crop year is set at 5.468 million barrels and the allotment percentage is designated at 85 percent. The marketable quantity may be adjusted to retain the 85 percent allotment percentage if the total industry sales history increases due to established growers receiving additional sales history on acreage with four years sales or less.
[65 FR 42615, July 11, 2000]
The marketable quantity for the 2001-2002 crop year is set at 4.6 million barrels and the allotment percentage is designated at 65 percent. Fresh and organically grown fruit shall be exempt from the volume regulation provisions of this section.
[66 FR 34352, June 27, 2001]
(a) The percentages for cranberries handled by handlers during the crop year beginning on September 1, 2017, which shall be free and restricted, respectively are designated as follows: Free percentage, 85 percent and restricted percentage, 15 percent.
(b) Handlers have the option to process restricted cranberries into dehydrated cranberries or other processed products. Handlers also have the option to divert concentrate or other processed products as provided in §929.107 to account for up to 50 percent of their restriction.
(c) Organically grown fruit shall be exempt from the volume regulation requirements of this section. Small handlers who process less than 125,000 barrels during the 2017-18 fiscal year are exempt from the restriction. Any handlers who do not have carryover inventory at the end of the 2017-18 fiscal year are also exempt.
(a) The marketable quantity for the 2018-19 crop year is set at 7.275 million barrels and the allotment percentage is designated at 75 percent.
(b) Organically grown fruit shall be exempt from the volume regulation requirements of this section. Small handlers who processed less than 125,000 barrels during the 2017-18 fiscal year are exempt from the volume regulation requirements of this section. Any handler who did not have carryover inventory at the end of the 2017-18 fiscal year is also exempt from the volume regulation requirements of this section.
(c) Handlers have the option to process up to 50 percent of the excess cranberries received over their growers' allotments into dehydrated cranberries or other processed products. Handlers utilizing this option shall divert an amount of 2018-19 processed products equivalent to the volume of excess cranberries processed as provided for in §929.107. The remaining volume of excess cranberries must be diverted as whole fruit.