USDA to Conduct Vote for the Blueberry Research and Promotion Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced it will conduct a referendum among eligible domestic producers and importers of highbush blueberries July 14-24, 2026, to decide whether to continue their research and promotion order.

USDA would continue the blueberry program if continuance is favored by a majority of producers and importers voting in the referendum, who also represent a majority of the volume of blueberries represented in the referendum. To vote in the referendum, producers and importers must have produced or imported 2,000 pounds or more of highbush blueberries during the representative period Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025, paid assessments during that period, and must currently be producers or importers subject to assessment under the program.

AMS will conduct the referendum by express mail and electronic ballot. AMS staff will express mail ballots and voting instructions to all known eligible producers and importers of highbush blueberries before the voting period. Any eligible producer or importer who does not receive a ballot by July 13, 2026, should contact referendum agent Jeanette Palmer at (202) 720-5976 or email [email protected]. Completed ballots delivered to AMS via express mail or electronic means must be delivered no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 24, 2026.

The Blueberry Referendum notice was published in the Federal Register on May 13, 2026. More information about the research and promotion program is available on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council web page.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 21 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.

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