Jul 30, 2013

Vidalia growers to vote on marketing order

USDA recently announced that Vidalia onion producers will vote from Sept. 9 through Sept. 27 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 Vidalia onions within the designated production area in Georgia during the period Jan. 1, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2012.

USDA would consider terminating the marketing order if less than two-thirds of the producers voting in the referendum and producers of less than two-thirds of the volume of Vidalia onions represented in the referendum favor continuance. Notice of the referendum was published in the July 30, 2013, 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, 799 Overlook Drive, Winter Haven, FL 33884; phone: 863-324-3375; fax: 863-325-8793.