Eligible pecan growers to vote on federal marketing order July 6 to Aug. 3
Eligible pecan growers can vote July 6 to Aug. 3 on whether the federal pecan marketing order should continue under USDA oversight.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a continuance referendum for the Federal Marketing Order for Pecans from July 6 through Aug. 3, giving eligible growers an opportunity to vote on whether the marketing order should remain in effect.
The referendum, required every five years, applies to pecans grown in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.
Eligible growers must have either produced an average of 50,000 pounds or more of inshell pecans from Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2025, or own at least 30 acres of pecan orchards within the production area.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will mail ballots and voting instructions to eligible growers of record. Electronic voting also will be available. Ballots submitted by mail or electronically must show proof of delivery by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Aug. 3 to be counted.
Growers who believe they are eligible but have not received a ballot by July 14 should contact Jennie M. Varela, marketing specialist with USDA AMS, at Jennie.Varela@usda.gov or (863) 324-3375.
USDA is required to conduct the referendum every five years. The marketing order will be considered for termination if fewer than two-thirds of growers voting and fewer than two-thirds of the production volume represented in the referendum support its continuation. USDA also will consider other information related to the operation and effectiveness of the marketing order before making a final determination.