Michigan carrot producers will have an opportunity to vote on the proposed five-year continuation of the Carrot Industry Development Program, as well as a proposal to increase the maximum assessment cost for processed carrots.

The referendum, conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, will continue until April 12.

MDARD mailed ballots to carrot producers on March 27. Producers are eligible to vote if they produced and sold carrots for human consumption valued at more than $1,000 in any of the past three years.

The Michigan Carrot Industry Development Program was designed to improve the economic position of the state’s carrot producers by supporting and creating greater marketing opportunities through crop and market information, advertising and promotion, and appropriate research.

By law, it must be resubmitted for grower approval every five years. Currently, the assessment is one and one-half cents per master of fresh carrots and forty cents per ton of processing carrots.

For the program to be renewed, and for the proposed increased to be adopted, more than 50% of the producer votes cast — representing more than 50% of the total unit of measure represented on the cast ballots — must approve it.

For the purpose of this referendum, each producer is entitled to one vote representing a single firm, individual proprietorship, corporation, company, association, partnership, or a husband-wife or family ownership.

All ballots must be filled out, signed and postmarked by April 12. Ballots should be sent to MDARD, Executive Office, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909.

Eligible producers with questions or those not receiving a ballot should contact MDARD toll-free at 800-292-3939.

Source: MDARD, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.