FV-245 Nomination Form for Producer Members and Alternate Produ

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

Fruit and Vegetable Programs

California Marketing Field Office

2202 Monterey St. Suite 102B

Fresno, CA 93721

ADMINISTRATIVE

COMMITTEE FOR

PISTACHIOS

OFFICIAL NOMINATION MATERIAL

FIRST CLASS

PISTACHIO PRODUCER NOMINATION MATERIAL

REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number and date on all reproductions. OMB No. 0581-0215

NOMINATION FORM FOR PRODUCER MEMBERS AND ALTERNATE PRODUCER MEMBERS

TO CALIFORNIA PISTACHIO PRODUCERS:

Marketing Order 983 (order), regulating the handling of pistachios grown in California became effective on August 1, 2005. Subsequently, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is conducting the nomination process for membership on the 11-member Administrative Committee for Pistachios (ACP) for the seats that expire on June 30, 200__. The ACP consists of eight producer members, two handler members, one public member and each member’s alternate. Of the eight producer members, four are producer members and their respective alternates from District 1 (Southern California), three are producer members and their respective alternates from District 2 (Central California) and one is a producer member and his/her respective alternate from District 3 (Northern California). The order provides authority for pistachio producers in each of the three districts to submit the names of candidates for nomination for membership on the ACP. If you are interested in nominating yourself or another producer to serve on the ACP, please read the following information, and submit the completed nomination form in the enclosed envelope. The completed nomination form must be postmarked, faxed or hand-delivered no later than , 200 .

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REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number and date on all reproductions. OMB No. 0581-0215

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE FOR PISTACHIOS

PRODUCER MEMBERS AND ALTERNATE PRODUCER MEMBERS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE ATTACHED NOMINATION FORM

1. Please complete the attached form if you wish to nominate yourself or another eligible producer to run for office on the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (ACP) for the seat that expires on June 30, 200_. List the name of your nominee and accompanying information in the spaces provided on the form. Only producers, including duly authorized officers or employees of producers may participate in the nomination of candidates for producer members and their alternates. If you produce pistachios in more than one district, you may nominate a candidate from only one district of your choice. If you are both a producer and a handler of pistachios, you may participate in both producer and handler nominations.

2 The order prescribes that: Not more than two members and not more than two alternate members shall be persons employed by, or affiliated with producers or handlers that are affiliated with the same handler and/or producer. Affiliation is defined as: normally appears as "affiliate of", or "affiliated with", and means a person such as a producer or handler who is: a producer or handler that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, owns or controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with the producer or handler specified; or a producer or handler that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is connected in a proprietary capacity, or shares the ownership or control of the specified producer or handler with one or more other producers or handlers. As used in this part, the term “control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under the common control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a handler or a producer, whether through voting securities, membership in a cooperative, by contract or otherwise.

3. Once all nomination forms are received, nominees will be notified; requested to complete a confidential qualification and acceptance statement; and provided an opportunity to submit a short biographical statement, not to exceed one-half page in length. The short biographical statement will be sent to eligible handlers with balloting material.

4. The order specifies that a two-year term of office shall be staggered for elected producer members and their alternates. For this nomination, producer members whose terms expire June 30, 200_ are being replaced. The eligible producer(s) receiving the highest number of votes by position will be recommended to the USDA as the producer member(s). Those eligible nominees receiving the next highest number of votes by position will be recommended to the USDA as alternate producer members. Each producer member and alternate producer member on the ACP shall be, at the time of selection and during the term of office, a pistachio producer, or an officer or an employee of a producer.

5. The completed nomination form must be received by the USDA no later than the close of business on

________, 200_. Submit the form in the envelope provided by mailing, faxing or hand-delivering to: CAMFO-USDA-AMS-F&V, 2202 Monterey Street, Suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721, Fax (559) 487-5906.

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REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number and date on all reproductions. OMB No. 0581-0215

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAMS

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE FOR PISTACHIOS

PRODUCER MEMBERS AND ALTERNATE PRODUCER MEMBERS NOMINATION FORM

(See attached instructions)

You may nominate yourself or another candidate for membership on the Administrative Committee for Pistachios. You may nominate only one candidate for one district in which you produce or your candidate produces pistachios.

DISTRICT 1 (SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA) – Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Tulare, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Name of Producer Member Nominee Phone Number Fax Number Mailing Address

E-mail Address

DISTRICT 2 (CENTRAL CALIFORNIA) - Fresno, Kings, Madera and Merced counties. You may nominate three producers and their respective alternates.

Name of Producer Member Nominee Phone Number Fax Number Mailing Address

E-mail Address

DISTRICT 3 (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA) – Consists of all counties in California where pistachios are produced that are not included in Districts 1 and 2. You may nominate three producers and their respective alternates.

Name of Producer Member Nominee Phone Number Fax Number Mailing Address

E-mail Address

CERTIFICATION:

I certify that my employer or I currently produce pistachios for market in District _________________ indicated above.

(1, 2 or 3)

(You may nominate a candidate in only one district.)

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Producer’s Name Address Telephone Number

________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signature Print Name Date

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0215. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 20 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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