USDA Amends Administrative Requirements for Walnuts Grown in California

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a final rule amending administrative requirements for the marketing order regulating the handling of walnuts grown in California. This action codifies the assessment payment schedule for handler assessments, establishes interest and late payment charges on overdue assessments owed, and modifies existing reporting requirements for walnut receipts.

The Final Rule was published in the Federal Register on Aug., 17, 2026 and becomes effective Sept., 16, 2026.

More information about the marketing order is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) California Walnut webpage.

Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help producers and handlers achieve marketing success by leveraging their own funds to design and execute programs that they would not be able to do individually. AMS provides oversight to fruit, vegetable, and specialty crops marketing orders and agreements to help ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.

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