The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that pear producers in Oregon and Washington voted to continue their marketing order program.
In a referendum held May 8-30, 2023, continuance of the marketing order was favored by 99 percent of voting fresh pear producers, representing 97 percent of the production volume voted in the referendum. The marketing order was also favored by 99 percent of Oregon and Washington processed pear producers voting, representing 98 percent of the production volume voted in the referendum. For the marketing order to continue, two-thirds or more of producers voting, or producers representing two-thirds or more of the volume voted needed to vote in favor of continuance.
The marketing order enables the Oregon and Washington pear industry and the Fresh and Processed Pear Committee’s to conduct production and marketing research, and promotional initiatives including paid advertising under USDA’s oversight.
More information about the marketing order regulating the handling of pears grown in Oregon and Washington is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) 927 Oregon and Washington Pears webpage, the Marketing Orders and Agreements webpage or by contacting the Market Development Division at (202) 720-8085.
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. AMS provides oversight to fruit, vegetable, and specialty crop marketing orders and agreements, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
