Notice2025-22570
Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia; Continuance Referendum
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 11, 2025
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible Vidalia onion producers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of Vidalia onions grown in Georgia.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 236 (Thursday, December 11, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 236 (Thursday, December 11, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 57447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22570]
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 236 / Thursday, December 11, 2025 /
Notices
[[Page 57447]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-25-0386]
Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia; 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 Vidalia onion producers to determine whether they favor
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of Vidalia
onions grown in Georgia.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from January 12 through
February 3, 2026. Only current Vidalia onion producers who have grown
onions within the designated production area during the period January
1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, are eligible to vote in this
referendum.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the
office of the referendum agents at 1124 1st Street South, Winter Haven,
FL 33880; telephone: (863) 324-3375; or from the Docket Clerk, Market
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; telephone
(202) 720-8085; or on the internet: <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-IX/part-955">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-IX/part-955</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Delaney Fuhrmeister, Marketing
Specialist, or Christian D. Nissen, Branch Chief, Southeast Region
Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS,
USDA, 1124 1st Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880; telephone: (863)
324-3375; or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7135141d101f14085f370419031c14180205140331040215105f161e07"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c98daca5a8a7acb0e78fbca1bba4aca0babdacbb89bcbaada8e7aea6bf">[email protected]</span></a> or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90d3f8e2f9e3e4f9f1febedef9e3e3f5fed0e5e3f4f1bef7ffe6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="35765d475c46415c545b1b7b5c4646505b75404651541b525a43">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 955, as
amended (7 CFR part 955), 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 Vidalia onion
producers in Georgia. The referendum will be conducted from January 12
through February 3, 2026, among Vidalia onion producers in the
production area. Only current Vidalia onion producers that were engaged
in the production of Vidalia onions during the period of January 1,
2024, through December 31, 2024, 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 will consider termination of the Order
if less than two-thirds of the producers voting in the referendum, or
producers of less than two-thirds of the volume 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 relative benefits
and costs to producers, handlers, and consumers 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.
chapter 35), the ballot materials used in the referendum have been
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and have been
assigned OMB No. 0581-0178, Vegetable and Specialty Crops. It has been
estimated it will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the
approximately 80 Vidalia onion producers to cast a ballot.
Participation is voluntary. Ballots postmarked after February 3, 2026,
will not be included in the vote tabulation.
Delaney Fuhrmeister, Steven Kauffman, and Christian D. Nissen of
the Southeast Region Branch, Specialty Crops 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 et seq.).
Ballots and voting instructions will be sent by U.S. mail, or
through electronic mail, to all Vidalia onion producers of record and
may also be obtained from the referendum agents or their appointees.
(Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.)
Erin Morris,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-22570 Filed 12-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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