Walnuts Grown in California; Decreased Assessment Rate

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule which decreased the assessment rate established for the Walnut Marketing Board (Board) for the 2002-03 and subsequent marketing years from $0.0124 to $0.0120 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts. The decreased assessment rate should generate sufficient income to meet the Board's 2002-03 anticipated expenses of $2,970,000. The lower assessment rate is due to a reduced budget that is about 5 percent less than last year's budget. The Board locally administers the marketing order (order) which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California. 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.