Everett Griner talks about what the pecan marketing order will do for pecan growers in today’s Agri View.
Download Pecan Marketing Order
Pecan growers now have a Pecan Marketing order to promote pecans around the world. Like all commodity marketing orders pecan growers will pay an assessment which will be used to support and promote pecans around the world. It should result in higher prices for growers everywhere. It will promote research for growers in all fifteen states where they are produced. In spite of the fact that in shell and shelled nut exports have been on the rise since 2011 there are a lot of places that don’t even know what a pecan is. Including some places here in the United States. In fact, research has been declining in recent years. China is the best export market, but efforts are being made to build those markets in India, Turkey and other countries. Best of all, people right here in America will learn more about pecans.
That’s Agri View for today. I’m Everett Griner.
From: USDA Agriculture Marketing Service
USDA Announces New Pecan Marketing Order
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced today a new Federal Marketing Order and Agreement regulating the handling for pecans grown in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. A final rule implementing the program will be published in the Aug. 4, 2016, Federal Register.
The order authorizes the pecan industry, subject to AMS oversight, to collect industry data, conduct research and promotion activities, recommend grade, quality and size regulation, as well as pack and container regulation. The program will be financed by assessments on handlers of pecans grown in the production area. A Council of nine growers, six shellers, one accumulator, and one public member, as well as alternate members for each will administer the program.
USDA is conducting extensive outreach to the pecan industry on the procedures to nominate the first Council. The Secretary of Agriculture will make final selection and appointment of Council members.
The majority of eligible pecan growers (77 percent by vote and 88 percent by volume) voted to establish a pecan marketing order in a referendum held in March 2016. The majority of eligible pecan handlers (85 percent by volume) indicated their support during the June 2016 handler marketing agreement sign-up period.
Marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help fruit, vegetable, dairy and specialty crop producers and handlers establish and maintain orderly marketing conditions.