Release No.: 201-14

Contact:

Hakim Fobia (202) 690-0488

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2014 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that south Texas onion producers will vote from Nov. 3 - 17, 2014, 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 onions within the designated production area in Texas during the period Aug. 1, 2012, through July 31, 2013.

This is the second referendum being conducted this year for the South Texas Onion Marketing Order. During the tabulation of the May 2014 referendum ballots, USDA learned that the producer list used to mail the ballots was not accurate. As a result, USDA is conducting this second referendum using an updated producer list to ensure that all eligible producers have an opportunity to vote on whether to continue the marketing order.

USDA would consider continuing the marketing order if two-thirds of the growers, or growers representing two-thirds of the volume of Texas onions in the referendum, vote in favor of continuance. Notice of the referendum will be published in the Oct. 29, 2014, Federal Register.

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 First Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880; phone: (863) 324-3375; fax (863) 325-8793.