Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Pummelos Grown in Florida; Continuance Referendum; Extension of Voting Period

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This document extends the voting period for the referendum being 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. The voting period was originally set to close November 9, 2026, and is now being extended through December 1, 2026.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 212 (Wednesday, November 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 4, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69524-69525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22509]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-SC-26-1255]


Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Pummelos Grown in Florida; 
Continuance Referendum; Extension of Voting Period

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Referendum order; amendment to referendum order.

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SUMMARY: This document extends the voting period for the referendum 
being 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. The voting period was originally set to close November 9, 
2026, and is now being extended through December 1, 2026.

DATES: The voting period for the referendum will be extended from 
November 9 through December 1, 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 
December 1, 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 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-905">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-IX/part-905</a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Geller, 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#fba99e999e98989ad5bc9e97979e89bb8e889f9ad59c948d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0e5c6b6c6b6d6d6f20496b62626b7c4e7b7d6a6f20696178">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b48637962787f626a6525456278786e654b7e786f6a256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d093b8a2b9a3a4b9b1befe9eb9a3a3b5be90a5a3b4b1feb7bfa6">[email&#160;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 voting period started October 19 
and will run through December 1, 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.
    A referendum order was published in the Federal Register on 
September 18, 2026 (91 FR 59101). The referendum order specified that 
the voting period would be from October 19 through November 9, 2026. 
USDA has received requests from industry organizations to extend the 
voting period for the referendum, citing the significant production, 
recovery, and business challenges currently facing Florida citrus 
producers and the need for additional time to ensure informed 
participation in the referendum process. To facilitate full producer 
participation in the referendum, USDA is extending the voting period 
from November 9 through December 1, 2026. During this time, USDA will 
continue to mail ballots to eligible voters who request a ballot. All 
ballots received from October 19 through December 1, 2026, will be 
accepted. Voters who have already submitted a ballot do not need to 
take further action.
    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 December 1, 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.

[[Page 69525]]

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

Erin Morris,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-22509 Filed 11-3-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P


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