The U.S. Department of Agriculture has lowered the assessment rate established for the Orlando-based Florida Tomato Committee.
In the March 8 Federal Register, the USDA announced that the assessment had been lowered from $.0375 to $.0275 per 25-pound carton of tomatoes, beginning in the 2009-10 season.
The assessment was lowered to match the committee’s proposed 2009-10 budget, which has been reduced from the previous season.
The cuts were made in the committee’s education and promotion budget.
Under the new assessment, the committee is expected to raise about $1.4 million. Half of that will be used for educational and promotional purposes.
The other half will be divided among salaries, research and retirement funding.