Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 658 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OREGON POTATO COMMISSION
Oregon Administrative Rules
Chapter 647 — Department of Agriculture
Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission
General Overview
Chapter 647 establishes and governs the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission (OPVC). The rules cover how the Commission operates, how assessments are collected, reporting requirements, commissioner qualifications, public records procedures, and compensation.
The Commission administers programs funded by assessments on certain processed vegetable crops grown in Oregon.
Division 1 — Procedural Rules
Establishes the Commission’s rulemaking procedures.
Requires advance public notice before adopting, amending, or repealing rules.
Adopts the Attorney General’s Model Rules of Procedure under Oregon administrative law.
Provides definitions used throughout the chapter, including:
Commission
Producer
Handler
First Purchaser
Processed vegetables
“Processed” vegetables include those prepared for canning, freezing, drying, dehydrating, or pickling.
Fresh-market vegetables are excluded.
Division 10 — Reporting and Payment of Assessments
Establishes mandatory assessments on specific processed vegetable crops grown in Oregon.
Assessments are deducted by the first purchaser from payments made to producers.
Crops subject to assessment include:
Beans (excluding dry beans)
Sweet corn for processing
Table beets
Carrots
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Fixed assessment rates are set on a per-ton basis for each crop.
First purchasers must:
Deduct assessments from producer payments
Submit reports to the Commission
Remit assessment funds by required deadlines
Rules include provisions for enforcement and penalties for noncompliance.
Division 12 — Personal Service Contracts
Establishes procedures for screening, selecting, and awarding personal service contracts.
Requires competitive procurement when applicable.
Defines methods for solicitation, evaluation, and negotiation of contracts.
Division 15 — Commission Composition and Governance
The Commission consists of nine members appointed by the Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Members serve three-year terms.
Membership requirements:
A majority must be producers
Limited number of handlers
One public member with no direct financial interest allowed
Producers and handlers must have a history of paying or collecting assessments.
Rules address:
Qualifications
Term limits
Vacancies
Removal from office
Division 20 — Public Records
Establishes procedures for responding to public records requests.
Requests must be made in writing and reasonably describe the records sought.
Implements Oregon public records law as applied to the Commission.
Identifies how fees, timelines, and exemptions are handled.
Division 40 — Commissioner Compensation and Reimbursement
Allows per diem compensation for commissioners who are not full-time public employees.
Compensation is limited and subject to available funds.
Commissioners may be reimbursed for approved travel and official expenses.
Written claims are required for payment.
Authority
These rules are adopted under Oregon statutes governing:
Commodity commissions
Agricultural marketing programs
Administrative procedure
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