Assessment Rates for Specified Marketing Orders

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting as a final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule that established assessment rates for Marketing Order Nos. 927 and 931 for the 1996-97 and subsequent fiscal periods. The Winter Pear Control Committee and the Northwest Fresh Bartlett Marketing Committee (Committees) are responsible for local administration of the marketing orders which regulate the handling of winter pears grown in Oregon, Washington, and California and fresh Bartlett pears grown in Oregon and Washington. Authorization to assess winter pear and fresh Bartlett pear handlers enables the Committees to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the programs.