Cherry Assessments

Cherry Assessment. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Last year the apple and pear growers in the state passed a special project assessment. Stone fruit and cherry growers declined it. Jim McFerson with the Washington tree Fruit Research Commission says it will come up again.

McFERSON: The state fruit commission board recommended that we rerun the assessment some time ago but they wanted us to do a couple of things. That is we need to emphasis that this project is about expanding research and extension. WSU has been cut about 50% of its budget the past 5-6 years. But we’re not backfilling positions. WSU has maintained their commitment. It’s to expand capacity.

He says the Research Commission board has approved rerunning the assessment.

McFERSON: We have worked with the WDSA, who will conduct the referendum. You’re going to receive ballots and they must be returned around mid-January. There will be a three week period where you can fill out your ballot and return it.

McFerson says that of course this assessment will be only for stone fruit and cherries.

McFERSON: In this case the referendum is limited to 8 years or until $5-million dollars is collected, whatever comes first. If we hit $5-million in 4 years, it stops. If we go out to 8 years and we haven’t hit $5-million, it stops. This is an assessment that’s time limited and amount limited. it’s not going to go on forever. That’s what you are voting on. The assessment rate is going to be $4 a ton for cherries, $1 a ton for stone fruit.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.