Cranberries Grown in the States of Massachusetts, et al.; Establishment of Marketable Quantity and Allotment Percentage; Reformulation of Sales Histories and Other Modifications Under the Cranberry Marketing Order

This rule establishes a marketable quantity of 4.6 million barrels and an allotment percentage of 65 percent for the 2001-02 cranberry season which begins September 1. The marketable quantity is the total amount of fruit that handlers may purchase from, or handle for, growers during the season. Fresh and organically-grown cranberries are exempt from the volume limitations to facilitate marketing of these products. This final rule also modifies the way growers' sales histories are calculated (including deducting fresh sales), streamlines the sales history appeals procedure, adds a deadline for transfers of sales histories, clarifies the outlets for excess cranberries, and withdraws a proposed reinstatement of the June 1 allotment notification date. These actions are designed to stabilize cranberry market conditions, improve grower returns, provide for a more equitable allocation of the marketable quantity among growers, and improve the administration of the cranberry producer allotment program.