Cranberries Grown in States of Massachusetts, et al.; Increased Assessment Rate

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule which increased the assessment rate established for the Cranberry Marketing Committee (Committee) for the 1999-2000 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.04 to $0.06 per barrel of cranberries acquired by handlers. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of cranberries grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York. Authorization to assess cranberry handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal period began September 1, 1999, and ended August 31, 2000. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.