Release No. 008-15

Contact:

Hakim Fobia (202) 690-0488

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2015 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has scheduled a referendum for eligible first handlers and importers of honey or honey products. The referendum is scheduled for April 13, 2015, through April 24, 2015.

The referendum will allow eligible first handlers and importers to vote on whether to continue the Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Program. The program was developed by first handlers and importers to finance an effective and coordinated program of generic promotion, consumer information and related research designed to maintain and expand markets for honey and honey products.

The program will be continued if it is favored by a majority of the first handlers and importers voting in the referendum and the majority of the volume voted in the referendum. To vote in this referendum, first handlers and importers must have handled or imported 250,000 pounds or more of honey or honey products during the representative period from Jan.1, 2014, through Dec.31, 2014, and must currently be a first handler or importer of honey or honey products subject to assessment.

The referendum will be conducted by mail by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Ballots and voting instructions will be mailed to all known eligible first handlers and importers of honey or honey products prior to the first day of the voting period. Any eligible first handler or importer who does not receive a ballot by April 13, 2015, should contact referendum agent Patricia Petrella.

For additional information, contact the Promotion and Economics Division, Fruit and Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Room 1406-S, Stop 0244, Washington, D.C. 20250-0244; telephone (202) 720-9915, or facsimile (202) 205-2800.

Notice of the referendum was published in the Feb. 12, 2105, Federal Register.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, were authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966, when Congress passed the Cotton Research and Promotion Act. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards. They empower agricultural industries, including the honey and honey products industry, to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.

For more information about research and promotion programs, visit www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion. For information about the Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Program, please contact Patricia Petrella by phone: (301) 334-2891, or email: patricia.petrella@ams.usda.gov.

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