Associated Press - November 26, 2009 3:15 PM ET

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon state officials say crabbers and seafood processors have agreed on a price for the Dungeness crab season that begins Tuesday.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture says the price could be ratified as soon as Friday by Director Katy Coba.

That means the season can begin as scheduled on Dec. 1, and Oregonians can look forward to their annual holiday crab feast.

The department says that, weather permitting, fresh crab may start showing up at seafood counters by next Thursday.

Under state law, the department is allowed to supervise the bargaining between crab marketing associations and seafood processors.

The department says in a statement that this year's "to-the-boat" price is $1.75 a pound.

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