Raisins Produced From Grapes Grown in California; Increase in Assessment Rate

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule which increased the assessment rate established under the Federal marketing order for California raisins (order) from $5.00 to $8.50 per ton for raisins acquired by handlers for the 1998-99 and subsequent crop years. The order regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California and is administered locally by the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee). Authorization to assess raisin handlers enables the Committee to incur expenses that are reasonable and necessary to administer the program. The crop year runs from August 1 through July 31. The 1998-99 crop is smaller than initially estimated. Further, for this crop year, volume regulation has only been applied to one minor varietal type of raisin. As a result, some expenses paid by assessments have increased. The $5.00 per ton assessment rate would not have generated enough revenue to cover expenses. The $8.50 per ton assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.