Federal government lifts kiwifruit quality controls after California producer vote
The USDA announced the suspension of California's kiwifruit marketing order effective December 31, 2026, ending mandatory quality and packaging requirements following a referendum where growers opposed continuing the order. The suspension will also allow imported kiwifruit to enter U.S. markets without meeting previous import restrictions.
The USDA's decision stems from a referendum conducted by the Agricultural Marketing Service between mid-May and early June 2026, in which California kiwifruit growers voted against maintaining the existing marketing order framework. The suspension takes effect at the end of 2026, giving handlers a transition period before quality standards and packaging requirements cease to be mandatory. Simultaneously, the regulatory barriers that previously restricted imported kiwifruit from entering the domestic market will be eliminated, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics within the sector.
The USDA plans to formalize this suspension through a proposed rule that will include a 60-day public comment period before permanently terminating the California kiwifruit marketing order. This regulatory change will also remove import requirements from the Code of Federal Regulations, creating uniform treatment between domestically produced and foreign kiwifruit in the American marketplace.
The suspension could affect domestic kiwifruit producers by removing quality standardization protections that may have provided competitive advantages against imports. Consumers may face increased variety and potentially lower prices, though product consistency could become more variable. Retailers may encounter supply chain adjustments as imported fruit enters without previous restrictions. The change reflects industry preference for reduced regulatory oversight, though the long-term market impacts—both positive and negative—remain uncertain and may depend on international pricing and quality factors.