Dried Prunes Produced in California; Revising the Regulations Concerning Compensation Rates for Handlers' Services Performed Regarding Reserve Prunes Covered Under the California Dried Prune Marketing Order

This rule revises the regulations concerning compensation rates for handlers' services performed in connection with reserve prunes covered under Marketing Order No. 993 (order). The order regulates the handling of dried prunes produced in California and is administered locally by the Prune Marketing Committee (Committee). This rule will establish a procedure in the administrative rules and regulations which the Committee will follow to compute the level of handler payments for holding reserve prunes during and beyond the crop year of acquisition. These payment rates will reflect current industry costs. The rule also will establish time frames for changing the payment rates, and procedures for informing interested persons of the payment rates and payment procedures. This rule also does not allow for payment of handler services for reserve prunes released through the handler acceptance of diversion certificates if the released prunes have not been stored by the handler.