Conner Names Member to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council [October 18, 2007 News Release]

Producers and Importers Vote to Continue Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information Order [October 5, 2006, News Release] [October 10, 2006, Notice]

Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Amendment No. 2 to Change the Name of the U.S.A. Cultivated Blueberry Council and Increase Membership; Correction. Docket Number: FV-06-0125; FV-03-701. [December 26, 2006, Notice]

The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) submitted a proposal to AMS for a national research and promotion program covering domestic and imported cultivated blueberries on December 2, 1998. The program is authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 [7 U.S.C. 7411-7425]. After notice and comment rulemaking, AMS held a referendum from March 13 through April 14, 2000, in which producers and importers of cultivated blueberries approved the Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) [7 CFR Part 1218]. In the referendum, over 67 percent of the voters, who represented over 73 percent of the pounds of cultivated blueberries represented by the voters in the referendum, voted in favor of implementing the program. The program became effective on August 16, 2000, and assessment obligations began on January 1, 2001. The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council’s (Council) initial meeting was held in Denver, Colorado, October 5-6, 2001. A continuance referendum was conducted in August 2006; a majority of those voting voted in favor of continuing the program.

Assessments must be paid on highbush (cultivated) blueberries grown in and imported into the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Producers and importers pay an assessment of $12 per ton. The producer assessment is remitted by first handlers, and the importer assessment is remitted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service. Producers and importers who produce or import less than 2,000 pounds of highbush blueberries annually are exempt from the program. The funds collected are used to conduct generic consumer and industrial market development activities in the United States and abroad.

The Council’s budget for the period from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008, is approximately $4.9 million in total revenue. The revenue is projected as follows: $2 million in assessments from 2007 and $740,621 in funds carried over from 2007. The Council reimburses the federal government for costs incurred in implementing and administering the program.

The Council has the following members: ten producers (one from each of four regions and one from each of the top six producing states); one importer; one exporter from a foreign production area; one handler; and one public member. Each member has an alternate.

The Council contracts with the NABC in Folsom, California, to carry out its projects and to handle administrative tasks.