Walnuts Grown in California; Increased Assessment Rate

This rule increases the assessment rate established for the Walnut Marketing Board (Board) for the 2000-01 and subsequent marketing years from $0.0118 to $0.0134 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts. The $0.0016 increase is necessary because this year's estimate of assessable walnuts is about 13 percent less than last year's estimate. The Board locally administers the Federal marketing order which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California (order). Authorization to assess walnut handlers enables the Board to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The marketing year runs from August 1 through July 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.