Feb 16, 2022Washington potatoes marketing order officially terminated
The USDA has officially terminated a marketing order for Washington state potatoes that had been suspended since 2014.
The marketing order, which regulated the handling of Washington state-grown potatoes, was established 1949. In 2014, with input from the state’s potato committee, determined the order’s purpose was being fulfilled by the Washington State Potato Committee and the accompanying expenses was not necessary.
The proposed rule for the termination was published in the Federal Register on Sept. 7, 2021, and provided a 60-day comment period for interested parties to comment, which ended Nov. 8, 2021. AMS received two comments in support of termination, and none opposed.
The final rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on Feb. 15, 2022, and will be effective on March 2, 2022.
USDA informed Congress of the termination on Dec. 2, 2021, in compliance with the requirement to notify Congress at least 60 days before terminating a federal marketing order. With its last financial audit complete, committee members agreed to contribute the remaining budget to the Washington State Potato Commission. AMS will coordinate with committee staff to secure outstanding marketing order records.
Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help 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. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight to marketing order committees and handling regulations for vegetable and specialty crops to ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
