Proposed increase in fees for California date handlers under federal marketing order

The Agriculture Department’s Agricultural Marketing Service is proposing to raise the assessment rate for domestic dates produced or packed in Riverside County, California. Under a proposed rule published today, handlers would pay $0.25 per hundredweight of dates handled, up from the current rate of $0.05 per hundredweight.

Why it matters: This rule affects the cost of doing business for date handlers in Riverside County. While the per-unit increase is small, it directly impacts handler margins and could influence final prices if costs are passed down the supply chain. The action is primarily administrative, aimed at maintaining the financial stability of the local marketing order program rather than changing market dynamics or regulations on production methods.

Who it affects

• Date handlers in Riverside County, California, who pay assessments based on volume handled

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This is a proposed rule from the Agricultural Marketing Service within the Agriculture Department; readers should check the full Federal Register document for detailed regulatory text before relying on this summary.

Agency: Agriculture Department, Agricultural Marketing Service
Source: Federal Register — read the official document