April 18, 2008

LANSING - Michigan apple producers have voted to continue the Michigan Apple Advertising and Promotion Program, according to Don Koivisto, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA).

The Michigan Apple Advertising and Promotion Program was designed to improve the economic position of Michigan apple growers by developing advertising, promotion, and publicity programs to create new markets for apples and/or apple products and to carry on market development and research. The program was last approved in 2003, and by law, must be renewed every five years.

The program would continue for an additional five years, beginning September 1, 2008 and ending August 31, 2013.

A total of 172 valid ballots were cast in the referendum. To determine continuation of the Michigan Apple Advertising and Promotion Program for an additional five years, 147 producers voted yes (85 percent), representing 4,215,429 hundredweight of apples (91 percent) and 25 producers voted no (15 percent), representing 399,894 hundredweight of apples (9 percent).

For the program to be renewed or the amendment passed, more than 50 percent of the producer votes cast, representing more than 50 percent of the total number of bushels represented on the cast ballots, must have approved it.