Walnuts Grown in California; Decreased Assessment Rate

This rule decreases the assessment rate established for the Walnut Marketing Board (Board) for the 2001-02 and subsequent marketing years from $0.0134 to $0.0124 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts. The $0.0010 decrease is necessary because this year's estimate of assessable walnuts is about 17 percent more 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.