- U.S. Blueberry Producers Approve National Program
Managing Editor
The new organization, which is tentatively called the U.S.A. Blueberry Council (USABC), was approved by 67.8% of those voting in the referendum representing 73.2% of the volume of cultivated blueberries in the vote. The referendum was conducted March 13 through April 14 by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Any current producer or importer of 2,000 pounds or more of cultivated blueberries during 1999 was eligible to vote.
“We were very pleased to see the turnout on the vote, which was a very positive endorsement for the program,” said Mark Villata, executive director of the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), the organization that currently handles generic promotion for its members. “I think the industry is real enthusiastic about this new program and excited about seeing what we can do.”
A series of procedural moves must take place before USABC is up and running. First, the final order must be published in the Federal Register, which is likely to occur in late August. Nominations for the USABC board will then take place.
The board will consist of nine members, five of whom will represent each of the top five producing states. In states where a blueberry commission is in place, that body will handle the USABC board election process. The USDA-AMS and NABC will conduct elections in the other states.
In all, producers will nominate board members from each of the top five states, and one member from each region (West, Midwest, Northeast and South). Board members will then be selected by the Secretary of Agriculture. Once this group of nine board members is seated, it will nominate names for the remaining four positions, who will represent handlers, importers, exporters and the public.
“This is only my timeline, but from what we’ve discussed with the USDA, we should have the board assignments completed by December. Hopefully by January, we will have our first board meeting in Washington, D.C,” said Villata.
This new board will have two immediate tasks – decide who will conduct the day-to-day operations of the program and set up an assessment and collection schedule. NABC will be considered as one of the groups that could administer the program, and “we hope that happens,” said Villata. In the meantime, it will continue operating from its El Dorado Hills, Calif. headquarters and continue its marketing activities until the new program is up and running.
The program will be funded by an assessment of $12 per ton of domestic cultivated blueberries and $12 per ton of fresh and processed imported cultivated berries. The assessment will be collected beginning in the 2001 growing season, according to AMS.
The program is the second to be established under the Commodity Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1996, joining a peanut program that was implemented in 1999.
“The cultivated blueberry industry has realized that a mandatory national promotion program is a valuable marketing tool,” said Kathleen L. Merrigan, AMS administrator. “Industry members will fund their self-help program to increase market efficiency, develop new markets and marketing strategies, and enhance the image of cultivated blueberries in the United States and abroad. We will work with them to help them meet their goals,” Merrigan said.
One of the issues the new board will have to finalize is the official name of the program itself. Since the referendum was announced, USDA has heard concerns about possible confusion caused by the fact that native blueberries are not included in this program. Soon after the new program becomes effective, the Secretary of Agriculture will issue a proposed rule to seek comments on changing the title of the program to make sure it covers only cultivated blueberries, their producers and importers.
The Fruit Growers News website offers a sampling of articles and features from each month. Subscribe to get all the news offered in The Fruit Growers News delivered right to you home!
Permission is granted for reprinting material, except for commercial or advertising purposes, provided The Fruit Growers News is given full credit.
- Copyright 2000 Great American Publishing, Inc.
- The Fruit Growers News
- 343 South Union Street - PO Box 128 - Sparta, MI 49345
- Phone 616-887-9008 - Fax 616-887-2666 - email
- All Rights Reserved
- The Fruit Growers News