California Kiwifruit Growers Vote on Federal Marketing Rules Survival
Published Date: 5/11/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
California kiwifruit growers will vote from May 18 to June 8, 2026, on whether to keep the current rules that help manage how kiwifruit is grown and sold. Only growers who produced fresh-market kiwifruit between August 2024 and July 2025 can vote. This vote decides if the marketing order continues, which affects how the industry works and could impact growers’ costs and sales.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Growers Decide Order’s Future
You are a California kiwifruit grower: a vote held May 18 through June 8, 2026, will decide whether the marketing order that regulates handling of California kiwifruit continues. The outcome could affect how the industry operates and could impact growers’ costs and sales.
Continuance Requires Grower and Volume Support
USDA will consider terminating the marketing order if less than 50 percent of the growers voting, and less than 50 percent of the kiwifruit volume represented in the referendum, vote in favor of continuance. USDA also must conduct a continuance referendum every six years under Sec. 920.63(e).
Who Can Vote: 2024–25 Fresh-Market Growers
Only California growers who produced kiwifruit for the fresh market between August 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025, may vote in the continuance referendum that runs May 18 through June 8, 2026. If you did not grow fresh-market kiwifruit in that period, you are not eligible to participate.
Voting Logistics and Participation Details
Ballots will be sent by U.S. mail or email and must show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 8, 2026, to be counted; participation is voluntary. The ballot paperwork has OMB approval (No. 0581-0189), about 142 growers are estimated eligible, and it is estimated to take about 20 minutes per grower to cast a ballot.
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Key Dates
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