Sweet Cherries Grown in Designated Counties in Washington; Order Amending Marketing Agreement and Order No. 923

This final rule amends the marketing agreement and order (order) for Washington sweet cherries. The amendments were submitted by the Washington Cherry Marketing Committee (Committee), the agency responsible for local administration of the order. The changes will: Increase the production area to cover the area in the State of Washington east of the Cascade Mountain Range and allow for special purpose shipments of cherries to packing operations outside the production area; Increase representation on the Committee by adding an additional handler member; Provide for late payment and interest charges on delinquent assessments; Authorize establishment of container marking requirements; and Allow prospective Committee members and alternates to qualify for membership by filing a written acceptance of willingness to serve prior to selection. These changes were favored by sweet cherry growers in a mail referendum and will improve the operation and functioning of the Washington sweet cherry marketing order program. Proposed amendments to establish tenure requirements for Committee members and to require that continuance referenda be conducted every 6 years were not favored by sweet cherry growers in the mail referendum and are not being implemented.