U.S. Cranberry Marketing Order Vote

WASHINGTON - May 4/07 - SNS -- Cranberry growers in 10 states will vote on whether to continue their federal cranberry marketing order.

The USDA will organize a May 17 to 31 vote for growers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Long Island, N.Y..

The order requires that continuance referenda be held during the month of May every four years. To be eligible to vote, growers must have grown cranberries within the production area during the period Sept. 1, 2005, through Aug. 31, 2006. Termination would be considered if less than a majority of growers, by number or volume, favor continuance.

AMS will mail ballots and voting instructions to all growers of record. Eligible growers not receiving ballots may request them from Kenneth G. Johnson, DC Marketing Field Office, 4700 River Road, Unit 155, Riverdale, Maryland 20737; by calling (301) 734-5245 or faxing: (301) 734-5275.