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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 23-348

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Referendum on Continuation of the Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program

[53 Pa.B. 1513]
[Saturday, March 18, 2023]

 I. The Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program was established under the provisions of the Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act. The Act requires that the Secretary of Agriculture call a referendum of affected producers every five years to determine whether or not a majority of those voting still desire the program. The program was last subjected to a review referendum conducted in 2018. It is now time for another review referendum to determine whether a majority of the vegetable producers desire the program to continue.

 II. Referendum Period: The referendum period shall be from April 3, 2023, until 4 p.m. on May 3, 2023. Completed ballots shall be mailed or hand-delivered to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Market Development, Room 310, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110-9408. Hand-delivered ballots must be received by 4 p.m. on May 3, 2023. Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked no later than May 3, 2023, and received no later than May 15, 2023.

 III. Notice of Referendum: This referendum order and an official ballot shall be mailed no later than March 27, 2023, to all affected producers whose names appear on the list of Pennsylvania vegetable producers maintained in the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture. Additional copies of the same materials shall be made available at the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture.

 IV. Eligible Voters: In order for a vegetable producer to be eligible to vote, the vegetable producer must have done one or more of the following in the growing season running from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022: (a) The vegetable producer grew one (1) or more acres of vegetables within Pennsylvania for the purpose of selling said vegetables; or (b) The vegetable producer grew vegetables in one or more greenhouses located within Pennsylvania from total greenhouse space of 1,000 square feet or more, grew those vegetables for sale, and did not grow those vegetables to be transplanted outdoors; or (c) The vegetable producer grew vegetables within Pennsylvania and sold them for a total of $2,000 or more.

 V. Counting of Ballots: The ballots will be canvassed and counted by a Teller Committee appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The counting of the ballots will begin at 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110. The Secretary will announce the results of the referendum within 30 days following the completion of the referendum period. The results will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and the Harrisburg Patriot-News and disseminated to the news media.

 VI. Reporting Irregularities: Any irregularities or disputes concerning the referendum procedures must be reported in written form to the Secretary of Agriculture not later than seven (7) calendar days from the end of the referendum period.

 VII. Publication: This referendum order shall be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

 VIII. Effective Date: The foregoing order shall be effective immediately.

RUSSELL REDDING, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 23-348. Filed for public inspection March 17, 2023, 9:00 a.m.]


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