Georgia’s vegetable growers are voting this month on whether to continue the Georgia Vegetable Commission marketing order which allows assessment of one cent per marketing unit of vegetables as described in the current marketing order.
The marketing order applies to producers with at least 50 acres of the total annual production of vegetable crops. These include beans, bell pepper, specialty pepper, broccoli, beets, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, greens, squash, sweet potato and tomatoes.
Funds collected are used for research, education and promotion of these crops. The commission’s policy allows for at least 75% of the money collected to be used towards research projects by the University of Georgia and other research institutions that best serve Georgia farmers. Previously funded areas have focused on whiteflies, fungal disease diagnoses and control, viral diseases, variety development, fumigation and weed control.
The marketing order must be re-approved by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the eligible growers every three years.
Those qualified growers who have not received a ballot in the mail by Feb. 10, please contact Andy Harrison at andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov or call 404-710-1196.