Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/53575
CHERRY MARKETING ORDERpasses "I encourage you to reach out to other states to create a broader base that will in turn be more stable." —Ingrid Mohn board of director meeting in December in Cle Elum, Washington. "FAS was con- vinced it was worthy of a gamble because it represents a very small group, which is in vogue under the Obama administra- tion, and the Fruit Commission has a proven management team from carrying out programs for the Northwest Cherry Growers. That put the stone fruit group ahead of other brand-new programs." But she encouraged Fruit Commission board members to work to expand the stone fruit program beyond Washington State. For example, the Northwest Cherry Growers represents cherry production in five states. "When looking on a national scale, Washington's stone fruit industry is a really small group," she said, adding that rumors are that some California stone fruit growers will approach FAS for export promotion money this year. "I encourage you to reach out to other states to create a broader base that will in turn be more stable," Mohn said. Cherries Mohn also shared that the Northwest Cherry Growers received a 9 percent increase in MAP funding for 2012 from the previous year. The cherry promotion group will receive more than $1.3 million for MAP and $60,500 for use in emerging markets. "Most other groups received 6 percent less in 2012 than they did the previous year. But Northwest cherries got 9 percent more," she said, adding that Northwest cherries received their highest ever MAP award for several reasons. The program has a high rating of success, an industry economic impact study shows impressive return on investment, and the recent opening of Western Australia for North- west cherries all worked together to warrant a higher level of funding. FAS program funds used by Northwest Cherry Growers realize a 41-to-1 return on the investment dollar, according to statistics compiled by Northwest Cher- ries. Over the last five years, $5.6 million in MAP and emerging market program funds have returned $230 million in taxes to the state and federal economies. Addi- tionally, the 2011 export sales of North- west cherries, representing more than 31 percent of the total crop, generated a local economic impact of $487 million. Export sales of Northwest cherries reached a new record in 2011, topping $257 million, based on f.o.b. prices. The volume of Northwest cherry exports last year exceeded 5.7 million 20-pound- equivalent boxes • www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER FEBRUARY 1, 2012 9 percent of eligible growers who voted, representing 82 percent of the participating volume, favored continuing the marketing order that was established in 1957. A referendum is required every six years and needs a yes vote of two-thirds of the growers or growers who produce two-thirds of the volume of sweet cherries represented in the referendum in order to pass. W ashington State sweet cherry growers voted to con- tinue the federal marketing order that regulates sweet cherries. During the referendum held in November, 92 In announcing the results in mid-January, Robert Keeney, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said in a news release, "The industry's favorable vote shows that they find value in the mar- keting order and the opportunities it provides in expanding the sweet cherry market and helping local growers thrive." The marketing order authorizes minimum grade, size, maturity, pack, and container regulations as well as mandatory inspection requirements for cherries grown in designated counties. —M. Hansen