Hearings Announced on Proposed Marketing Agreement for Leafy Green Vegetables
September 4, 2009The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is conducting a series of public hearings to consider a proposed marketing agreement under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 to cover the handling of leafy green vegetables and products in the United States. The proposed agreement would authorize the development and implementation of production and handling regulations (metrics). Such metrics would reflect good agricultural practices, good handling practices, and good manufacturing practices. The proposal would be voluntary, in that only handlers who sign the marketing agreement would be subject to the requirements of the marketing agreement. Signatory handlers could only handle leafy green vegetables or products from the production area or imported that meet the requirements of the program. The program would be financed by assessments on first handlers of leafy green vegetables for the fresh market and would be administered by a twenty-three member committee, the majority of whom would be growers and handlers nominated by the industry and appointed by the Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The hearing dates are as follows:
- September 22 through 24, 2009, Monterey, California.
- Hyatt Regency Monterey, 1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey, California, (831) 372-1234. USDA will produce an on-demand video recording of the September 22-24, 2009, hearing sessions. The on-demand video recordings will be available for viewing by interested parties beginning September 23, 2009, on the AMS Web site.
- September 30 through October 1, 2009, Jacksonville, Florida.
- Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk, 1515 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, Florida, (904) 396-5100.
- October 6, 2009, Columbus, Ohio.
- Greater Columbus Convention Center, Room D130, 400 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio, (614) 827-2500.
- October 8, 2009, Denver, Colorado.
- Denver Airport Marriot at Gateway Park, 16455 East 40th Circle, Aurora, Colorado, (303) 371-4333.
- October 14 and 15, 2009, Yuma, Arizona.
- Yuma Civic Center, Yuma Room, 1440 Desert Hills Drive, Yuma, Arizona, (928) 373-5040.
- October 20, 2009, in Syracuse, New York.
- Renaissance Syracuse Hotel, 701 East Genesee Street, Syracuse, New York, (315) 479-7000.
- October 22, 2009, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Charlotte Marriott Executive Park, 5700 Westpark Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina, (704) 527-9650.
All hearing sessions are scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude at 5 p.m., or any other time as determined by the presiding administrative law judge.
For further information, contact Antoinette Carter, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or E-mail: Antoinette.Carter@ams.usda.gov; or Melissa Schmaedick, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Northwest Marketing Field Office, AMS, USDA, 1220 SW Third Avenue, Room 385, Portland, OR 97204; Telephone: (503) 326-2724, Fax: (503) 326-7440, or Email: Melissa.Schmaedick@ams.usda.gov.
Small businesses may request information on this proceeding by contacting Jay Guerber, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or E-mail: Jay.Guerber@ams.usda.gov.
