Mar 21, 2024

Michigan carrots growers to vote on future of program

Michigan’s carrot producers will be voting on whether to continue the Carrot Industry Development Program.

Voting in the referendum conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will be from April 1-12. Ballots will be mailed to carrot producers on March 25. Growers are eligible to vote if they produced and sold carrots for human consumption valued at more than $1,000 in any one of the last three years.

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 and promotion and appropriate research. By law, it must be resubmitted for grower approval every five years. Currently, the assessment is 20 cents per master pack of fresh carrots and 45 cents per ton of processing carrots.

For the program to be renewed, more than 50% of the producer votes cast, representing more than 50% of the total unit of measure represented on the cast ballots, must approve it.

For the purpose of this referendum, each producer is entitled to one vote representing a single firm, individual proprietorship, corporation, company, association, partnership or a husband-wife or family ownership. All ballots must be filled out completely, signed and postmarked by April 12 and should be sent to MDARD, Executive Office, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909.

Eligible producers with questions, or those not receiving a ballot, should call MDARD at 800-292-3939.