The Georgia Vegetable Commission is pleased to announce the passage of a vegetable marketing order. The marketing order passed with an 80% margin of favor.
Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association President Bill Brim of Tifton, Georgia issued the following statement:
“The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association offer our congratulations to the Georgia Vegetable Commission on achieving this outstanding 80% vote margin to pass the vegetable marketing order. These election results show a strong positive vote of confidence in Georgia’s vegetable industry by our growers. GFVGA is pleased we were able to provide assistance to the Vegetable Commission to educate and encourage our growers to vote in support of this very important referendum. We believe the funds generated from this marketing order will be a key to help Georgia continue our leadership role in the vegetable industry.â€
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 26, 2008
For information contact: Charles Hall, GFVGA Executive Director, 706-845-8200
Jackie Sosby, Ga. Dept. of Agriculture, 404-656-3689
Georgia Growers Pass Vegetable Marketing Order
The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Vegetables announced today the vegetable marketing order put forward to Georgia growers passed by an 80 percent margin.
“We are extremely pleased with the results of this vote. Our Georgia growers have voiced a strong show of support for their industry by passing this marketing order,†said Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin.
The marketing order accesses growers with 50 acres or more of combined annual production of squash, cabbage, leafy greens, cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn, beans, cantaloupes at one cent per marketing unit. It is estimated the marketing order will generate $250,000 to $400,000 in funds from the assessment on vegetables grown in Georgia. Under Georgia law these funds can only be used for commodity promotion, education or research.
According to Bo Herndon of Lyons, Georgia, Chairman of the Commission, he and the four other members of the commission have committed that at least 75 percent of the funds collected from this Order will be used for vegetable research.
“As we held meetings around the state, our growers wanted to see these funds used for research and solve some of the problems we have on the farm. We believe addressing these problems will provide the greatest amount of help to the producer,†Herndon said.
The marketing order is effective as of April 1, 2008. Growers will be receiving information in the mail.