FV-245A Handler Member Nomination Form

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 HANDLER NOMINATION FORM

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

NOMINATION FORM FOR HANDLER MEMBERS AND ALTERNATE HANDLER MEMBERS

TO CALIFORNIA PISTACHIO HANDLERS:

Marketing Order 983 (order) regulates the handling of pistachios grown in California. The order provides authority for pistachio handlers to submit the names of handler candidates to serve on the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (ACP). The ACP is conducting nominations for membership of the 11-member committee. Each member will have an alternate. Two of the members and their alternates are handler members. Of the two handler members, one member shall be elected by handlers based on one vote for each ton of pistachios handled while the other member is elected based on one vote for each handler. The member position for which nominations are currently being accepted is based upon one vote for each handler.

If you are interested in nominating yourself or another individual to serve on the ACP as a handler member or alternate member, please read the following information and submit the completed nomination form to the California Marketing Field Office. 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

HANDLER MEMBERS AND ALTERNATE HANDLER MEMBERS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE ATTACHED NOMINATION FORM

1. Please complete the attached form if you wish to nominate yourself and/or another eligible handler to run for office as a handler member or alternate handler member on the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (ACP). Only handlers, including duly authorized officers or employees of handlers, may participate in the nomination of handler member nominees and their alternates. To qualify as a handler, your handling operation must receive, hull and dry pistachios and/or further prepare pistachios by sorting, sizing, shelling, roasting, cleaning, salting, and/or packaging for marketing in or transporting to any and all markets in the current of interstate or foreign commerce.

2. One handler member (Incumbent- __________) and one alternate handler member position (Incumbent – __________) are open for nomination. This nomination is based upon one vote for each handler. Eligible handlers may submit one candidate to fill each of these positions.

3. The order prescribes that: (a) 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; (b) Only one handler member and one alternate member representing handlers shall be employed by, or affiliated with the same handler; (c) No handler, and all of its affiliated handlers, can be represented by more than one handler member; (d) A cooperative that has as its members one or more other cooperatives that are handlers shall not be considered as a handler for the purpose of nominating. “Affiliation” 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.

4. Once all nomination forms are received, nominees will be notified of their nomination, 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 information statement will be sent to eligible handlers with balloting material.

5. The order specifies that a two-year term of office shall be staggered for elected handler members and alternate handler members serving on the ACP. The eligible handler receiving the highest number of votes by position will be selected as the handler member and the eligible handler receiving the next highest number of votes by position will be selected as the alternate handler member. Each handler member and alternate handler member on the ACP shall be, at the time of selection and during the term of office, a pistachio handler or an officer, employee or agent of the handler.

6. The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status, political beliefs, parental status, or protected genetic information. (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). We request that you be mindful of the USDA’s policy regarding Civil Rights and consider eligible women, minorities and the physically challenged for membership on the Committee.

7. The completed nomination form must be received by the USDA no later than the close of business on _______________, 200__. Submit the form by mail in the envelope provided, fax or hand-deliver 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

HANDLER MEMBERS AND ALTERNATE HANDLER MEMBERS

NOMINATION FORM

(See attached instructions)

HANDLER NOMINATION FOR POSITION 1 - Please nominate one handler for the term July 1, 200__ – June 30, 200__. Nominees for this position will be placed on a ballot and handlers will cast one vote for each handler. Incumbent for the member position is ______________, and incumbent for the alternate member position is _______________.

Name of Handler’s Operation Handler’s

Name of Handler Nominee The Nominee Represents Phone Number

Handler’s Fax Number Handler’s E-mail Address Handler’s Mailing Address

CERTIFICATION:

I certify that my employer or I currently handle pistachios and that I am eligible to nominate the above candidate(s).

Handler 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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