Proposed Rule2026-09500
Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order; 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
May 13, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
This notice directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible producers and importers of highbush blueberries to determine whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding the National highbush blueberry research and promotion program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 26949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09500]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 92 / Wednesday, May 13, 2026 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 26949]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR Part 1218
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-26-0001]
Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Continuance
Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service.
ACTION: Notification of referendum.
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SUMMARY: This notice directs that a referendum be conducted among
eligible producers and importers of highbush blueberries to determine
whether they favor continuance of the Agricultural Marketing Service's
(AMS) regulations regarding the National highbush blueberry research
and promotion program.
DATES: This referendum will be conducted by express mail and electronic
ballot from July 13, 2026, through July 24, 2026. Ballots delivered to
AMS via express mail or electronic ballot must show proof of delivery
by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 24, 2026, to be
included in the vote tabulation. Eligible persons will receive a ballot
through the mail and may cast it either through express mail or
electronic ballot. To be eligible to vote, blueberry producers and
importers must have produced or imported 2,000 pounds or more of
highbush blueberries during January 1 through December 31, 2025, and
must currently be subject to assessment under the Blueberry Promotion,
Research, and Information Order (Order).
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information
Order (Order) may be obtained from: Referendum Agent, Market
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250-
0244; by telephone: (202) 720-8085; or by contacting Jeanette Palmer at
(202) 720-5976 or via electronic mail at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a9e3ccc8c7ccddddcc87f9c8c5c4ccdbe9dcdacdc887cec6df"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="602a05010e051414054e30010c0d051220151304014e070f16">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette Palmer, Marketing Specialist,
or Alexandra Caryl, Branch Chief, mid-Atlantic Region Branch, Market
Development Division, Specialty Crops Program; telephone: (202) 720-
5976; or electronic mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#713b14101f140505145f21101d1c140331040215105f161e07"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c18ba4a0afa4b5b5a4ef91a0adaca4b381b4b2a5a0efa6aeb7">[email protected]</span></a> or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e9a8858c9188878d9b88c7aa889b9085a99c9a8d88c78e869f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b3f2dfd6cbd2ddd7c1d29df0d2c1cadff3c6c0d7d29dd4dcc5">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Commodity Promotion,
Research and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411-7425) (Act), it is
hereby directed that a referendum be conducted to ascertain whether
continuance of the Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order
(7 CFR part 1218) (the Order) is favored by a majority of eligible
producers and importers of highbush blueberries.
The representative period for establishing voter eligibility is
January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. Persons who produced or
imported 2,000 pounds or more of highbush blueberries are eligible to
vote. Persons who received an exemption from assessments for the entire
representative period are ineligible to vote. USDA will conduct the
referendum by express mail and electronic ballot from July 13, 2026,
through July 24, 2026. Further details will be provided in the ballot
instructions.
Section 518 of the Act authorizes continuance referenda. Under
Sec. 1218.71(b) of the Order, USDA must conduct a referendum every
five years, at the request of 10 percent or more of the number of
producers and importers eligible to vote in a referendum, or at any
time as determined by the Secretary. The last referendum was held in
2021; therefore, a referendum must be held in 2026 to comply with the
Order.
USDA would continue the Order if it is favored by a majority of the
producers and importers voting in the referendum who also represent a
majority of the volume of blueberries represented in the referendum
who, during the representative period, have been engaged in the
production or importation of blueberries. If not favored, USDA would
comply with the suspension and termination procedures at Sec. 1218.74.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the referendum ballot has been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB No. 0581-0093.
Approximately 1,400 persons will be eligible to vote in the referendum.
It will take an average of 15 minutes for each voter to read the
instructions and complete the ballot.
Referendum Order
Jeanette Palmer, Marketing Specialist; Victoria M. Carpenter,
Marketing Specialist; and Alexandra Caryl, Branch Chief (Market
Development Division, SCP, AMS, USDA, Stop 0244, Room 1406-S, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0244) are designated as
the referendum agents to conduct this referendum. The referendum
procedures at 7 CFR 1218.100 through 1218.107, which were issued
pursuant to the Act, shall be used to conduct the referendum.
The referendum agents will express mail ballots and voting
instructions to all known, eligible producers and importers prior to
the first day of the voting period. Any eligible producer or importer
who does not receive a ballot should contact the referendum agent no
later than three days before the end of the voting period. Ballots
delivered via express mail or electronic ballot must show proof of
delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 24, 2026.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411-7425; 7 U.S.C. 7401.
Erin Morris,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-09500 Filed 5-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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