Tomatoes Grown in Florida; Assessment Rate

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting as a final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule establishing an assessment rate for the Florida Tomato Committee (Committee) under Marketing Order No. 966 for the 1996-97 and subsequent fiscal periods. The Committee is responsible for local administration of the marketing order which regulates the handling of tomatoes grown in Florida. Authorization to assess Florida tomato handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program.