Onions Grown in South Texas; Increased Assessment Rate

This rule increases the assessment rate established for the South Texas Onion Committee (Committee) for the 2002-03 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.05 to $0.085 per 50-pound equivalent of onions handled. The Committee locally administers the marketing order which regulates the handling of onions grown in South Texas. Authorization to assess onion handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The fiscal period began August 1 and ends July 31. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.