Notice2026-18587
Avocados Grown in South Florida; 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
September 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible Florida avocado growers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of avocados grown in South Florida.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57855-57856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18587]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-26-1156]
Avocados Grown in South Florida; Continuance Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Referendum order.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among
eligible Florida avocado growers to determine whether they favor
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of avocados
grown in South Florida.
[[Page 57856]]
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from September 21 through
October 13, 2026. Only current Florida avocado growers who have grown
avocados for market within the marketing order's production area during
the period of April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, are eligible to
vote in this referendum. Ballots delivered to AMS via U.S. mail or
electronic ballot must show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time on October 13, 2026, to be included in the vote
tabulation.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the
Southeast Region Branch, Market Development Division, Specialty Crops
Program, AMS, USDA, 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-915">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-IX/part-915</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Kauffman, 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#5003243526353e7e1b312536363d313e10252334317e373f26"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d380a7b6a5b6bdfd98b2a6b5b5beb2bd93a6a0b7b2fdb4bca5">[email protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9fdcf7edf6ecebf6fef1b1d1f6ececfaf1dfeaecfbfeb1f8f0e9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2e6d465c475d5a474f400060475d5d4b406e5b5d4a4f00494158">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 915, as
amended (7 CFR part 915) (the Order), and the applicable provisions of
the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C.
601-674) (the Act), it is hereby directed that a referendum be
conducted to ascertain whether continuance of the Order is favored by
Florida avocado growers. The referendum will be conducted from
September 21 through October 13, 2026, among Florida avocado growers in
the Order's production area. Only current Florida avocado growers that
were engaged in the production of avocados for market during the period
of April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, may participate in the
continuance referendum.
USDA has determined that continuance referenda are an effective
means for determining whether growers favor the continuation of
marketing order programs. In accordance with Sec. 915.64(d), USDA must
conduct a referendum every six years. USDA would consider termination
of the Order if continuance is not favored by at least two-thirds of
the producers voting in the referendum, or at least two-thirds of the
volume represented in the referendum. 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 growers, 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. 0581-0189, Fruit Crops. It has been estimated that it
will take an average of 20 minutes for each of the approximately 200
South Florida avocado growers to cast a ballot. Participation is
voluntary. Ballots delivered to AMS via U.S. mail or electronic ballot
must show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on
October 13, 2026, to be included in the vote tabulation.
Steven Kauffman, Delaney Fuhrmeister, Rebecca Geller, Jennie
Varela, 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 Florida avocado growers 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. 2026-18587 Filed 9-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 11, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.