Decision Follows Public Comment Period and Congressional Notification; Final Rule Published in Federal Register

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially terminated Marketing Order No. 929, which governed the handling of cranberries produced in states such as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island, New York.

This decision follows an administrative suspension in October 2023, when the USDA halted the Cranberry Marketing Committee’s authority to collect assessments and reports from handlers after a continuance referendum failed to demonstrate producer support.

The proposal for termination was made public in the Federal Register on December 7, 2023, initiating a 60-day public comment period that concluded on February 5, 2024. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) received five comments during this period. Upon reviewing these comments, the USDA concluded that ending the order was appropriate.

Following the requirement to notify Congress at least 60 days before terminating a federal marketing order, the USDA informed Congress of its decision on April 11, 2024. The final rule, which includes a public comment analysis, was subsequently published in the Federal Register on July 12, 2024.

Marketing orders, authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, are industry-driven programs designed to assist producers and handlers in achieving marketing success through collective efforts funded by the industry itself. These programs are overseen by the AMS to ensure fiscal responsibility and program integrity.