Letter to Massachusetts' Independent Cranberry Growers

John Decas
Member, Cranberry Marketing Committee 

8/13/02 On August 26, I will be representing Massachusetts Independents at the CMC summer meeting.  I am your representative because Massachusetts Independents voted to place my name in nomination. 

I wish to thank those of you who took the time to get involved in the selection process.  A range of growers under contract to all Massachusetts Independent handlers participated in this process. 

I take this responsibility seriously, and will act in accordance with your best interests and in accordance with your wishes. 

The only way I can live up to this pledge is to take appropriate steps that will assure you that your voice and opinions will be given my full attention.  In this regard I will do the following: 

1.      Report to you following all CMC meetings on important issues acted upon, an analysis of CMC data as it relates to existing inventories and surplus projections, and my observations on the direction the CMC is taking on important issues, such as volume regulation, promotional activities, etc.

2.      Hold occasional meetings with Massachusetts Independents to give you a chance to ask questions and state your views on CMC activities.

3.      On the volatile issue of volume regulations, I will seek your opinion whenever this issue arises.  I will act in accordance with grower mandate after we have a full opportunity to discuss and debate this issue amongst ourselves.  This should be a grower decision and not a handler decision.  My view is that any volume regulation hurts or helps Massachusetts Independent growers and Massachusetts Independent handlers alike.

4.      Will be available to any Independent grower or group of growers any time they seek an opportunity to ask questions or express an opinion. 

It will be my purpose to make you the most informed group of growers of our industry regarding the CMO.  In return, I expect your input on important issues.  Most US growers do not feel they are adequately represented on the CMC. 

Massachusetts Independents represent 62% of all Independent growers in the US.  There are more Independent growers in Massachusetts than in all other states combined.  Our presence is compelling, and our influence should be as well.  Nothing should be shoved down our throats because we are perceived to be weak.  We will be informed, we will be strong, and we will be heard.  At the same time, we need to make our contribution sensibly for the common good of the industry. 

At the outset, I will proceed as follows: 

A.     Get off to a positive start with fellow CMC members.  Make every effort to understand their views, while making sure that they understand that Massachusetts growers expect full consideration of their concerns.

B.     Vote against any volume regulation that may be proposed at the August meeting.  The growers have spoken on this issue for 2002.

C.     Work with the Committee to get the domestic promotional program started successfully.  I believe that this is an excellent project undertaken by the CMC and that it has grower support.  It must, however, be administrated in a manner that will result in the growth of our industry sooner rather than later.  I see this as an effort in which the public members (member and alternate) can play an active role.

D.     Help continue the coordination between the CMC and the Cranberry Institute.  Health-related issues are an important element to cranberry promotion.  These entities must continue to work together to maximize the benefits of identifying and promoting the health benefits of cranberries.  We have only begun to understand the value of promoting the cranberry as the healthy berry. 

In conclusion, let me state that we must all work to eliminate unfairness from the CMO if we are to conduct a marketing order that is good for the industry.  Nothing the CMC does should favor one state or district over another, some handlers over other handlers, or one group of growers over another group of growers. 

If the proposed amendments are structured properly by the USDA for the grower referendum, existing conditions can be changed to eliminate unfairness as it exists in the present form of the CMO. 

I will work toward making fairness the guiding principal of the CMC.  I look forward to working in cooperation with all of my fellow members.

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