USDA Announces Results of Referendum for the California Raisin Marketing Order

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that producers voted to amend the federal marketing order for raisins grown in California in a referendum conducted Jan. 12-30, 2026. The Raisin Administrative Committee administers the marketing order which authorizes quality regulations and research and promotion programs regulating the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California.

To be accepted, the amendments have to be favored by two-thirds of the producers voting, or by two-thirds of the volume represented.

The following are the amendments voted on by producers and the corresponding results for each:

• Amendment 1 - Reduce committee size from 47 to 21 members and alternates, remove producer district representation and add a non-affiliated producer member seat, eliminate the designated cooperative bargaining association member seat, and lower quorum requirements from 25 to 14.
  • Favored by 76.25% of voting raisin producers, representing 82.66% of the production volume voted in the referendum.
• Amendment 2 - Remove the requirement for separate nominations for independent producers or producers affiliated with small cooperative marketing associations.
  • Favored by 67.50% of voting raisin producers, representing 81.65% of the production volume voted in the referendum.
• Amendment 3 - Remove factor four and part of factor five for establishing marketing policy and add language to clarify the quality of reconditioned raisins.
• Favored by 81.25% of voting raisin producers, representing 91.99% of the production volume voted in the referendum.
• Amendment 4 - Add authority to accept voluntary contributions and add language regarding ownership of intellectual property.
  • Favored by 72.97% of voting raisin producers, representing 87.75% of the production volume voted in the referendum.

More information about the committee is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) California Raisins webpage.

Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help producers and handlers achieve marketing success by leveraging their own funds to design and execute programs that they would not be able to do individually. AMS provides oversight to fruit, vegetable and specialty crops marketing orders and agreements, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.

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