National Processed Raspberry Council

National Processed Raspberry Council

"Red Razz" logo of the National Processed Raspberry Council
Location	1796 Front St. Lynden, WA 98264-1714
Coordinates	48.939441°N 122.474427°W / 48.939441; -122.474427
Chairperson	John S. Clark
Vice Chairperson	Ravinder S. Dhaliwal
Executive Director	Thomas Krugman
Budget	$2.7 million (in October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016)
Website	www.redrazz.org

The National Processed Raspberry Council is a U.S. organization that promotes and researches processed raspberries. It is part of a commodity checkoff program 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"^[1] The basic core of the council's work centers on research and promotion.^[2][3]

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 commodity checkoff program.^[4] The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service conducted a referendum among affected raspberry growers and importers in June 2011.^[4] Support for the raspberry checkoff program was around 88 percent in that referendum.^[4][5]

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.^[5] The delay was due to the backlash surrounding the attempted implementation of a similar rule regarding Christmas trees in November 2011.^[5] The proposed Christmas tree checkoff created political controversy when it was characterized as a tax in the media.^[5] The Washington Red Raspberry Commission expected the program to be implemented in November 2011.^[6] After several months of delay the rule establishing the checkoff program was finally implemented in May 2012.^[6][4]

Funding

The council is funded through a fee assessed on producers and importers of raspberries for processing.^[4] The fee is $.01 per pound of raspberries produced or imported.^[5] Producers and importers are exempted from the assessment if they produce or import less than 20,000 pounds of the crop.^[5]

References

1. "Our Story", National Processed Raspberry Council, official site, accessed November 19, 2014.
2. "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.
3. Martin, Greg. "National Processed Raspberry Council," radio transcript, via aginfo.net, Fruit Grower Report, May 14, 2013, accessed November 19, 2014.
4. "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.
5. Perkowski, Mateusz. "Tax anger stalls proposed checkoffs", Capital Press, April 6, 2012, accessed November 19, 2014.
6. "Perkowski, Mateusz. USDA OKs raspberry checkoff", Capital Press, May 10, 2012, accessed November 19, 2014.

External links

• National Processed Raspberry Council: official site
• Processed Raspberries Research and Promotion Order