Apr 29, 2014

Michigan carrot producers support marketing program

Michigan carrot producers have voted to continue the Michigan Carrot Industry Development Program, according to Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Director Jamie Clover Adams.

Clover Adams said the program will continue for an additional five years, ending July 7, 2019. The current assessment is two cents per master of fresh carrots and a maximum of 40 cents per ton of processing carrots.

A total of nine ballots were cast in the referendum. Seven producers voted yes, representing 66,390,280 pounds and two producers voted no, representing 10,406,630 pounds. For the program to have been renewed, more than 50 percent of the producer votes cast, representing more than 50 percent of the total unit of measure represented on the cast ballots, must have approved it.

According to a news release, the Michigan Carrot Industry Development Program was designed to improve the economic position of the state’s carrot producers by supporting and creating greater marketing opportunities through crop and market information, advertising, promotion and appropriate research.

The program was established in September 1998, with assessment collection beginning in July 1999. By law, it must be resubmitted for grower approval every five years.