The USDA is reopening the voting period for the for pecan producers in the US to determine whether growers favor continuing the marketing order regulating the handling of pecans in the southern pecan producing states in the US.
The original voting period for pecan producers was from June 7 through June 28, 2021. However, the USDA has received requests from the pecan industry to extend the voting period because not all eligible producers have received ballots.
The USDA has received the request and has extended the voting period from June 29th through July 23, 2021. The additional time will allow for any eligible pecan producers to receive ballots and cast their vote concerning the pecan marketing order.
The marketing order has been in existence since 2016 and has had a rocky start. In the first year of the marketing order board member Dan Zedan of Navarro Pecan Company was caught attempting to use American pecan growers dollars to market pecans from Mexico causing a big upset in the industry and shining a light on the Mexican pecan imports coming into the US, being marketed on the backs of American growers while prices for both American and Mexican pecans hit decade lows.
Despite the malicious actions of Navarro Pecan, the American Pecan Council and its board members have not been deterred and have made serious progress for the pecan industry. The work of the APC in partnership with marketing powerhouse Weber Shandwick has moved the demand needle from stagnant to positive territory. A recent audit of the APC shows just how effective the marketing order has been, see article here ,by supporting the price of pecans by $0.24 per pound above what the price would have been over the past five years with out the marketing order. The report goes on to say that even more benefit could be derived for growers if more monies were paid into the marketing order.
The issue of Mexican pecan imports is also being addressed by the newly formed American Pecan Promotion Board. After the whistleblower incident with the APC board member caught attempting to use American dollars to promote Mexican pecans, growers went to work to address the issue. The newly formed American Pecan Promotion Board was formed to allow assessment of imported pecans as well as American pecans. The new assessments should increase available marketing and research dollars as well as help level the playing field for American producers.
If you are an eligible voter and have not received a ballot, be sure to contact the proper agents listed below:
Abigail Campos, Marketing Specialist,
or Christian D. Nissen, Regional
Director, Southeast Marketing Field
Office, Marketing Order and Agreement
Division, Specialty Crops Program,
AMS, USDA, 1124 First Street South,
Winter Haven, FL 33880; Telephone:
(863) 324–3375, Fax: (863) 291–8614, or
Email: Abigail.Campos@usda.gov or
