Release No. 221-14

Contact:

Hakim Fobia (202) 690-0488

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2014 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that Florida avocado producers will vote from Jan. 12-27, 2015, on whether to continue their federal marketing order.

The marketing order requires that a continuance referendum be held every six years. To be eligible to vote, producers must have produced avocados within the designated production area in Florida for the fresh market during the period April 1, 2013, through March 31, 2014.

USDA would consider continuing the order if two-thirds of the producers that cast votes, or growers representing two-thirds of the volume of Florida avocados in the referendum, cast ballots in favor of continuance. Notice of the referendum was published in the Dec. 1, 2014, Federal Register.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will mail ballots and voting instructions to all producers of record. Eligible producers not receiving ballots may request them from Christian D. Nissen, Regional Director; USDA AMS FV Southeast Marketing Field Office, 1124 1st St. S., Winter Haven, FL 33880; phone: (863) 324-3375; fax (863) 291-8614.

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

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