National Honey Checkoff Program Ruled Constitutional Honey Promotion Programs to Continue

National Honey Checkoff Program Ruled Constitutional Honey Promotion Programs to Continue

LONGMONT, Colo., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The national honey checkoff program was recently ruled as constitutional by U.S. Department of Agriculture Administrative Law Judge Jill S. Clifton, whose decision supported the National Honey Board and denied petitioners' claims.

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"This ruling is great news for honey producers and the honey industry," said National Honey Board Chairman Lee Heine, a Wisconsin honey producer. "We need to continue conducting the many successful and innovative honey market development and research programs funded through checkoff dollars."

The honey checkoff program was launched in 1987 based on the Honey Research, Promotion and Consumer Information Act and Order to help maintain and increase demand for honey through research, marketing and promotion programs. The checkoff program assesses one cent per pound on domestic and foreign honey. In several referendums conducted since 1987, U.S. honey producers and importers have voted to continue the program.

In 2001, eight honey producers filed a petition, which objected to paying the honey checkoff assessments and stated that the assessments violated their First Amendment freedom of speech rights.

In May of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the national beef checkoff program was constitutional, overturning lower court decisions. In addition, the national watermelon checkoff program was recently ruled as constitutional.

The National Honey Board, through its staff in Longmont, Colo., conducts research, advertising and promotion programs to help maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets for honey. The Board's work, funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey, is designed to expand the awareness and use of honey by consumers, the foodservice industry and food manufacturers.

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Source: National Honey Board

CONTACT: Bruce Boynton, Chief Executive Officer, or Lisa Jager, Industry
Services Director, +1-303-776-2337, both of the National Honey Board

Web site: http://www.nhb.org/

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Profile: Agriculture