Release No. 090-15

Contact:

Hakim Fobia (202) 690-0488

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2015 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold three public hearings on a proposed federal marketing order for pecans grown in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.

A request for a public hearing on the proposed program was submitted by the American Pecan Board, the proponent group representing growers and handlers throughout the proposed fifteen-state production area. The proposed order would authorize data collection, research and promotion activities, and grade, size, quality, pack and container regulation. If implemented, an administrative council of 17 grower and handler representatives, including designated representation for small businesses, would be established. The program would be financed with assessments collected from handlers handling pecans grown within the proposed production area.

The hearings are open to the public and scheduled to begin at each location at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 5:00 p.m. (local time), or any other time as determined by the presiding administrative law judge. This excludes potential hearing sessions on July 22 and 25, which would conclude at 12:00 p.m. The hearing dates and locations are:

Las Cruces, N.M.:

July 20 - 21, 2015

New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum

Rio Hondo Room and Auditorium

4100 Dripping Springs Rd.

Las Cruces, N.M. 88011

If an additional session is necessary, the hearing will continue on July 22.

Richardson, Texas:

July 23-24, 2015

Hilton Double Tree

Azalea Room

1981 North Central Expressway

Richardson, Texas 75080

If an additional session is necessary, the hearing will continue on July 25.

Tifton, Ga.:

July 27- 29, 2015

Hilton Garden Inn

Magnolia Room

201 Boo Dr.

Tifton, Ga. 31793

If an additional session is necessary, the hearing will continue on July 30.

The proposal and the hearing notice will be published in the July 2, 2015, Federal Register. Copies may be obtained from Melissa Schmaedick, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Rulemaking Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Program, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA, Post Office Box 952, Moab, UT 84532, telephone: (202) 557-4783, fax: (435) 259-1502; or Michelle P. Sharrow, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Rulemaking Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; telephone: (202) 720-2491, fax: (202) 720-8938. An electronic version of this news release can be obtained via the internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/newsrel.html.

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.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).