USDA Extends Voting Period for Florida Citrus Marketing Order Continuance Referendum

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the voting period for a referendum among eligible Florida citrus producers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos produced in Florida. The voting period was originally set to close Nov. 9, 2026, and is now being extended through Dec. 1, 2026.

During the current referendum voting period, USDA received requests from industry organizations to extend the voting period, citing significant production, recovery, and business challenges currently facing Florida citrus producers and the need for additional time to ensure informed participation in the referendum. To better enable producer participation, USDA is extending the voting period to Dec. 1, 2026. During this time, USDA will continue to mail ballots to eligible voters who request one. All ballots received from Oct. 19 through December 1, 2026, will be accepted. Voters who have already submitted a ballot do not need to take further action. To be eligible to vote, producers within the production area must have produced citrus during the period of Aug. 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026.

USDA would consider termination of the marketing order if less than two-thirds of the producers voting in the referendum, and less than two-thirds of the citrus volume represented in the referendum, vote in favor of continuance. Notice of the extension of the referendum voting period was published in the Federal Register on Nov. 4, 2026.

The initial notice of the referendum was published in the Federal Register on Sept. 18, 2026. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) mailed ballots and voting instructions to all producers of record. Producers also have the option to vote by electronic ballot. Eligible producers who have not received a ballot should contact Rebecca Geller at [email protected] or (863) 324-3375. Requests for a ballot may also be mailed to USDA, AMS, 1124 1st Street South, Winter Haven, Fla. 33880.

More information about the marketing order is available on the AMS Florida Citrus 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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