The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that walnut producers voted to continue their marketing order program for walnuts grown in California.
In a referendum, 68% of walnut producers voting, who represented 70% of the volume of walnuts produced, were in favor of continuing the program. The referendum occurred Dec. 6-31, 2021 and was conducted by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
The marketing order authorizes the California Walnut Board to regulate quality, research and promotion, and volume control for walnuts grown in California under USDA’s oversight. Authorities under the marketing order support the industry’s effort to thrive in a competitive marketplace.
For the program to continue, two-thirds or more of the producers voting in the referendum, or producers representing the production of two-thirds or more of the volume of walnuts produced, had to vote in favor of continuance. The marketing order requires a continuance referendum be held every six years.
Information about the marketing order available on the AMS Marketing Orders and Agreements webpage or by contacting the Market Development Division at (202) 720-2491.
Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help fruit, vegetable and specialty crop producers and handlers achieve marketing success by leveraging their own funds to design and execute programs that they would not be able to do individually. AMS provides oversight to 29 fruit, vegetable and specialty crop marketing orders and agreements, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
