The National Processed Raspberry Council is a U.S. organization that promotes and researches processed raspberries. It is part of a

commodity checkoff program In the United States, a commodity checkoff program promotes and provides research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands. It collects funds through a checkoff mechanism that is ...

overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Purpose

The National Processed Raspberry Council's self-stated mission is to "conduct nutrition research on the health and wellness benefits of raspberries and to promote the consumption of processed raspberries based on research results"Our Story
, ''National Processed Raspberry Council'', official site, accessed November 19, 2014. The basic core of the council's work centers on research and promotion.Secretary Vilsack Names First Processed Raspberry Council Representatives
, press release, '' United States Department of Agriculture'', Agricultural Marketing Service, April 12, 2013, accessed November 19, 2014.Martin, Greg.
National Processed Raspberry Council
" radio transcript, via aginfo.net, ''Fruit Grower Report'', May 14, 2013, accessed November 19, 2014.

History

The Washington Red Raspberry Commission initially approached the U.S. Department of Agriculture about establishing a national research and promotion program, better known as a

.Processed Raspberries Research and Promotion Order
, Research and Promotion Programs, ''United States Department of Agriculture'', Agricultural Marketing Service, last modified June 25, 2013, accessed November 19, 2014. The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service conducted a referendum among affected raspberry growers and importers in June 2011. Support for the raspberry checkoff program was around 88 percent in that referendum. As the rule establishing the checkoff program - the Processed Raspberries Research and Promotion Order - was being finalized the USDA put a temporary hold on its implementation.Perkowski, Mateusz.
Tax anger stalls proposed checkoffs
, ''

Capital Press ''The Capital Press'' is a weekly agricultural newspaper covering the West Coast of the United States, and published in Salem, Oregon. The newspaper covers farming, ranching and agriculture industries in the Pacific Northwest. The newspaper is ow ...

'', April 6, 2012, accessed November 19, 2014. The delay was due to the backlash surrounding the attempted implementation of a similar rule regarding Christmas trees in November 2011. The proposed Christmas tree checkoff created political controversy when it was characterized as a tax in the media. The Washington Red Raspberry Commission expected the program to be implemented in November 2011."Perkowski, Mateusz
USDA OKs raspberry checkoff
, ''Capital Press'', May 10, 2012, accessed November 19, 2014. After several months of delay the rule establishing the checkoff program was finally implemented in May 2012.

Funding

The council is funded through a fee assessed on producers and importers of raspberries for processing. The fee is $.01 per pound of raspberries produced or imported. Producers and importers are exempted from the assessment if they produce or import less than 20,000 pounds of the crop.

References

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External links

National Processed Raspberry Council
official site
Processed Raspberries Research and Promotion Order
Agricultural organizations based in the United States Commodity checkoff programs Food industry trade groups Raspberry