Tart cherry growers and processors voted to continue their marketing order program, the Cherry Industry Administrative Board, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on July 15.
In a referendum held March 30 through April 20, 62.7 percent of voting tart cherry growers and 69.6 percent of voting tart cherry processors favored continuance of the marketing order program. The votes represented 75.3 percent of production volume and 65.6 percent of processed volume, according to the release.
For the marketing order to continue, a majority of growers and processors voting, or growers and processors representing a majority of the industry’s volume, must vote in favor of continuance, according to the release.
CIAB administers the marketing order, which authorizes quality regulations, volume control and research and promotion programs for tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. The tart cherry industry votes on renewing the marketing order every six years. •
