Washington state sweet cherry growers have voted to continue their federal marketing order at a recent referedum, which takes place once every six years.
During the referendum, 92 per cent of eligible growers who voted, representing 82 per cent of the participating volume, favoured continuing the marketing order. The vote passes if two-thirds of the growers voting, or growers who produce two-thirds of the volume of sweet cherries represented in the referendum, vote to continue the order.
'The industry’s favourable vote shows that they find value in the marketing order and the opportunities it provides in expanding the sweet cherry market and helping local growers thrive,' said Robert Keeney, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) acting administrator.
Marketing orders and marketing agreements are designed to help stabilise market conditions for fruits, vegetables and specialty crops. The programmes allow farmers to work collectively to solve marketing problems.
Industries voluntarily enter into these programmes and choose to have federal oversight of certain aspects of their operations. AMS oversees the programs to ensure that marketing orders and agreements operate in the public interest and within legal bounds.
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