Raisins Produced From Grapes Grown In California; Increase in Desirable Carryout Used to Compute Trade Demand

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule that increased the desirable carryout used to compute the yearly trade demand for raisins covered under the Federal marketing order for California raisins. The order regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California and is administered locally by the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee). Trade demand is computed based on a formula specified in the order, and is used to determine volume regulation percentages for each crop year, if necessary. Desirable carryout, one factor in this formula, is the amount of tonnage from the prior crop year needed during the first part of the next crop year to meet market needs, before new crop raisins are available for shipment. This rule continues to increase the desirable carryout from 2 to 2\1/2\ months of prior year's shipments. This increase allows for a higher free tonnage percentage which makes more raisins available to handlers for immediate use early in the season.