| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Lee Boyer |
| April 4, 2005 | (406) 444-2402 TTY (406) 444-4687 |
Cherry Growers Adopt Research & Marketing Program
HELENA, Mont. — Northwestern Montana cherry growers have voted by a wide margin to create a commodity research and market development program funded by grower fees.
At a hearing held February 28, 2005, at the Yellow Bay Community Center, cherry growers in the Flathead Lake area said cooperative efforts were needed to enable the marketing of Montana cherries, according to Joel Clairmont, deputy director and Agriculture Development Division administrator for the Montana Department of Agriculture.
The size of the fee and decisions regarding projects will be considered by an advisory committee composed of growers.
In 2002, Montana potato growers created such a program under a state law that enables commodity groups to petition the department and vote to establish self-funded research and marketing programs. Cherry growers proposed a program of their own two years ago, but failed to get enough votes to implement the proposal.
For more information about research and marketing
programs, contact Lee Boyer, Rural Development Bureau
chief at (406) 444-2402, or by e-mail at agr@mt.gov.
