Fresh Prunes Grown in Designated Counties in Washington and Umatilla County, OR; Decreased Assessment Rate

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule which decreases the assessment rate established for the Washington-Oregon Fresh Prune Marketing Committee (Committee) for the 2001-2002 and subsequent fiscal periods from $1.50 to $1.00 per ton of fresh prunes handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of fresh prunes grown in designated counties in Washington and Umatilla County, Oregon. Authorization to assess fresh prune handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal period began April 1 and ends March 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.