The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the free and restricted percentages of tart cherries grown in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, tart cherry growers during the 2023-24 crop year. A final rule was published in the Federal Register on Aug. 12, 2024, with an effective date of Sept. 11, 2024.
This action sets 94% as the free percentage, which is the proportion of the crop that may ship to any market. It also sets 6% as the restricted percentage, the proportion that must be held in reserve, diverted in the orchard or at the processing plant or used in secondary markets. More information about the marketing order regulating the handling of tart cherries is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) webpage for 930 Tart Cherries .
Information about federal marketing orders is available on the Marketing Order and Agreements webpage or by contacting the Market Development Division at (202) 720-8085.
Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help producers and handlers achieve marketing success by leveraging their own funds to design and execute programs that they would not be able to do individually. AMS provides oversight to fruit vegetable and specialty crops marketing orders to ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
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