Vidalia Onions Grown in Georgia; Fiscal Period Change

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule changing the fiscal period under the Vidalia onion marketing order (order) to January 1-December 31 from September 16-September 15. It also extends the current fiscal period which began September 16, 1998, through December 31, 1999. The order is administered locally by the Vidalia Onion Committee (Committee), which recommends its program expenses on a fiscal period basis. An assessment rate, levied on fresh Vidalia onion shipments, is established to pay those expenses. When the former fiscal period was established, it coincided with the Vidalia onion marketing season which ran from April through June. Due largely to the use of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage, Vidalia onions are now shipped through the fall. This action will continue to make the fiscal period consistent with the current marketing season.