FV-236 Producer Referendum (Olives)

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAMS
2202 MONTEREY STREET, SUITE 102B
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93721
__________________________________
OFFICIAL BUSINESS

Jennifer Garcia
Marketing Field Office
USDA AMS F&V
2202 Monterey Street Suite 102B
Fresno CA 93721

REFERENDUM ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE FEDERAL MARKETING ORDER FOR OLIVES
TO: PRODUCERS OF OLIVES
The Secretary of Agriculture is submitting for industry approval a proposed amendment of the Marketing Agreement and Order
regulating the handling of olives grown in California. The proposed amendment will not be made effective unless it is favored
by at least two thirds of the eligible olive producers voting in the referendum, or by producers representing at least two-thirds of
the eligible volume of olives voted in the referendum. xxxxxxxxx xx, through xxxxxxxxx xx 20xx is the voting period.
The proposed amendment would permit handlers to credit expenses for brand advertising of olives against a portion of their
annual assessment obligation. The proposal is based on evidence received in a public hearing held xxxxxxx x and x, 20xx in
Fresno, California.
A Producer=s Referendum Ballot is on the reverse side of this page. Also attached are: (1) Voter Eligibility and Voting
Instructions; (2) Summary of Amendment; (3) a copy of the proposed amendment; and (4) Envelope for returning the ballot--no
postage paid required.
Please vote promptly as ballots with envelopes postmarked later than midnight xxxxxxxx xx, 20xx cannot be counted.
Jennifer Garcia
Referendum Agent

REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number and date on all reproductions.

OMB No. 0581-0178

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAMS

VOTER ELIGIBILITY AND VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
1.

Any PRODUCER (individual, partnership, corporation, association, institution or other business unit) is eligible to vote who produced
olives for market as packaged olives (canned ripe and green olives) during the period xxxxxxx xx, 20xx through xxxxxxx xx, 20xx, and
is currently and olive producer.

2.

An INDIVIDUAL OWNER has only one vote regardless of the number and locations of his/her olive groves, and is any producer who
has sole interest in the olives he/she produces for market as packaged olives.

3.

A PARTNERSHIP has only one vote regardless of the number and locations of the olive groves operated by the partnership. A
partnership is an arrangement between two or more persons wherein each shares in the profits and losses of their operation. Partnerships
include (a) father-son, mother-son or similar joint venture; (b) husband and wife who are operating community property or have joint
interest in the production; and (c) joint ventures whereby two or more parties undertake production of olives for market. (If you are voting
as a partner, sign your name in Item 5 entitled AProducer=s Signature@.)

4.

A LANDLORD may vote his/her share of the production if he/she and the tenant are operating on a share-crop basis. The landlord may
not vote when the tenant is a cash renter.

5.

A TENANT operating on a share-crop basis may vote only his/her share of the production. If the tenant is a cash renter, he/she may vote
his/her entire production.

6.

An OFFICER or EMPLOYEE of a Corporate Producer, producing association, institution, school, or similar business unit may vote if
he/she shows the name and address in Item 5, and completes the certification in Item 6 of the ballot. Evidence of authority to cast the
ballot for the producing entity may be required by an Agent of the Secretary.

7.

A TRUSTEE, EXECUTOR, or ADMINISTRATOR of a producing estate may vote if he/she shows the name and address of the
producing estate in Item 5, and completes the certification in Item 6 of the ballot. Evidence of authority to cast the ballot for a producer
may be required by an Agent of the Secretary.
MAIL THE COMPLETED BALLOT IN THE ENCLOSED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE.
YOUR BALLOT MUST BE ANSWERED COMPLETELY AND POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN xxxxxxxxx x, 20xx, IN
ORDER TO BE COUNTED.

FV-236 (06-07)

Destroy previous editions.

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OMB No. 0581-0178

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAMS
PRODUCER=S REFERENDUM BALLOT
ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF MARKETING ORDER NO. 932 AS AMENDED, REGULATING THE HANDLING
OF OLIVES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA
THIS BALLOT WILL BE HELD CONFIDENTIAL. PLEASE READ THE ATTACHED VOTER ELIGIBILITY AND VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE COMPLETING YOUR BALLOT. YOUR BALLOT ENVELOPE MUST BE POSTMARKED NOT LATER THAN
xxxxxxxx xx, 20xx.
1.

I certify that I am an eligible producer, and during the period xxxxxxxx xx, 20xx through xxxxxxxx xx, 20xx, I produced
_______________ tons of natural condition olives for market as packaged olives on ___________________ acres in California. (NOTE:
If you are farming on a share crop basis, report only that part of the tonnage representing your share.)

2.
If partnership, insert name and mailing address of Partner(s)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Cooperative Affiliation, if any)
4.

DO YOU FAVOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT?
(

) YES

(

) NO

5. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Producer=s Signature ( or Name if item 6 is applicable)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Street or Box No.
City
Zip Code

6.

If this ballot is cast by an OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE of a producer such as a corporation, association, institution, school, or similar
business unit, or by an ADMINISTRATOR, EXECUTOR, or TRUSTEE of a producing estate, the following must be completed:
I certify to the Secretary of Agriculture that I have authority to cast this ballot for the producer named above in Item 5 and
that I will submit evidence of such authority at the request of an Agent of the Secretary.
Signature ___________________________________________ Title or Capacity_____________________________
Mailing Address _________________________________________________________________________________
Street or Box No.
City
Zip Code

NOTE: 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
0581-0178. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 30 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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice)
or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
FV-236 (06-07)

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OMB No. 0581-0178

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAMS
SUMMARY OF AMENDMENT
1.

Authorizes crediting of part of a handler=s assessment obligation for brand advertising expenditures.

2.

Make conforming changes.

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FV-236 (06-07)

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