Notice2026-19174
Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Pummelos Grown in 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 18, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible Florida citrus producers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos produced in Florida.
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 180 (Friday, September 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 59101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19174]
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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 180 / Friday, September 18, 2026 /
Notices
[[Page 59101]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-26-1255]
Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Pummelos Grown in Florida;
Continuance Referendum
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Referendum order.
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SUMMARY: This document directs that a referendum be conducted among
eligible Florida citrus producers to determine whether they favor
continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of oranges,
grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos produced in Florida.
DATES: The referendum will be conducted from October 19 through
November 9, 2026. Only current Florida citrus producers within the
production area that produced oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, or
pummelos for the fresh market during the period of August 1, 2025,
through July 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 November 9, 2026,
to be included in the vote tabulation.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the marketing order may be obtained from the
office of the referendum agents at 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-905">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-IX/part-905</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennie M. Varela, 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#440e212a2a2d216a12253621282504313720256a232b32"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7339161d1d1a165d251201161f1233060017125d141c05">[email protected]</span></a> or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b1f2d9c3d8c2c5d8d0df9fffd8c2c2d4dff1c4c2d5d09fd6dec7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6023081209131409010e4e2e091313050e20151304014e070f16">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Marketing Order No. 905, as
amended (7 CFR part 905; 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
fresh citrus producers. The referendum will be conducted from October
19 through November 9, 2026, among Florida fresh citrus producers in
the Order's production area. Only current Florida citrus producers
engaged in the production of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, or
pummelos for the fresh market during the period of August 1, 2025,
through July 31, 2026, 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. In accordance with Sec. 905.83(c), USDA must
conduct a referendum every six years. USDA would consider termination
of the Order if less than two-thirds of the producers voting in the
referendum, and less than two-thirds of the citrus volume represented
in the referendum, vote in favor of 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. 0581-0189, Fruit Crops. It has been estimated it will
take an average of 20 minutes for each of the approximately 200 citrus
producers 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 November 9, 2026,
to be included in the vote tabulation.
Delaney Fuhrmeister, Rebecca Geller, Steven Kauffman, Christian
Nissen, and Jennie Varela of the Southeast Region Branch, Market
Development Division, 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 part
900.400 et seq.).
Ballots and voting instructions will be sent by U.S. mail or
through electronic mail to all Florida citrus 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. 2026-19174 Filed 9-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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