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News
Schafer Name Members to Mushroom Council [ October 16, 2008, News Release]
USDA Approves Mushroom Program Assessment Increase [ October 19, 2007, News Release]
Connor Name Members to Mushroom Council [ October 18, 2007, News Release]
Section 610 Review
Mushroom Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Order; Section 610 Review. Docket Number: FV-06-0218. [ Notice]
History
The Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order (Order) [7 CFR Part 1209] is authorized by the Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1990 (Act) [7 U.S.C. 6101-6112], which was signed into law on November 28, 1990. After notice and comment rulemaking, and a referendum among producers and importers, the Order became effective on January 8, 1993. In a continuance referendum held in February-March 1998, continuance of the program was favored by 80 percent of the producers and importers who voted and those producers and importers represented 70 percent of the mushrooms produced and imported by those voting in the referendum.
Major Provisions
The Council collects assessments on fresh market mushrooms produced in or imported into the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Producers and importers who produce or import, on average, over 500,000 pounds of mushrooms annually are assessed. First handlers collect the assessment from producers and remit the assessment to the Mushroom Council (Council). The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs) collects the assessment on imported mushrooms. As of January 1, 2008, the assessment rate is 0.005 cents per pound.
For calendar year 2008, the Council’s budget for its research and promotion program is $3.9 million. Expenditures will be about $3.8 million. The Council expects to receive about $3.4 million in assessments on domestic mushrooms and $425,304 on imported mushrooms. The Council reimburses the federal government for the cost of administering the program.
Board Structure
There are nine members on the Council. The United States is divided into four production regions for the purpose of nominating members to the Council. Each region with average annual production of 35 million pounds or more is entitled to one member on the Council. Each region is entitled to additional Council members based on additional annual production. The volume of imports reached 35 million pounds in 2003 and a separate region was established for importers.
The Council has two full-time employees located in Dublin, California.
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