Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Office of Communications
404-656-3689
Georgia Blueberry Growers to Vote on Continuation of Assessment
Georgia blueberry growers can vote on the continuation of the Georgia Commission Blueberry Marketing Order which allows for assessment of blueberries produced in Georgia. Balloting for the continuation of the market order is set for March 1 - 30, 2021.
Growers who annually produce and market 2000 pounds or more of blueberries are eligible to vote. The current assessment amount is set at $5.00 per ton.
When growers receive the ballot, they should vote and return the addressed envelope by March 30, 2021. They must also sign and fill out the back of the envelope to certify they are a qualified Georgia blueberry producer for the ballot to be counted.
A favorable vote of 66, that is a percentage of two-thirds of the returned eligible ballots are required for the continuation of the market order.
The Georgia Blueberry Commission was created by the Georgia Legislature at the request of Georgia blueberry growers in 2008. Funds received by the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Blueberries are used for research, education and promotion of Georgia blueberries. Some of the research funded includes projects on Spotted Winged Drosophila, fruit quality, nutrition traits of varieties, development of varieties, disease management and federal trade import investigation.
If a grower does not receive a ballot, please contact:
Andy Harrison
Manager, Commodity Commissions
Georgia Department of Agriculture
Andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov
(404) 710-1196