FV-287 929-Cranberries Amendatory Processor Referendum Ballot

REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number and date on all reproductions. OMB No. 0581-0189

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM

TO: Cranberry Handlers

FROM: ________________________________, Agent of the Secretary of Agriculture

SUBJECT: Referendum Instructions - Cranberry Marketing Order No. 929

I. REFERENDUM PERIOD

___________________________, 20___ through ___________________________, 20___ is the referendum period during which handlers may vote for or against proposed amendments to the Marketing Order regulating the handling of cranberries grown in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Long Island in the State of New York. All votable issues have been included in this Ballot.

II. INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING -- YOUR BALLOT MUST SUPPLY:

1. Your vote. Mark in the block of your choice.

2. The number of barrels of cranberries handles or processed during the 20___ crop year.

3. Your signature and address. If voting for a corporation, estate, or producer, show its name and your title. Enclosed is an envelope for returning the Ballot. No postage is required.

III. PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE

1. Any person who canned, froze, or dehydrated cranberries within the production area during the 20___ crop year (September 1, 20___ through August 31, 20___) is a handler of cranberries.

2. A business unit (partnership, corporation, association, estate, or firm) may cast only one vote; however, each separate entity is entitled to one vote.

Agent of the Secretary

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM

OFFICIAL PROCESSOR BALLOT

This Ballot MUST be signed and postmarked by _______________________________, 20___ to be counted in this referendum.

1. I hereby certify that I am a handler of cranberries, and that, during the crop year from September 1, 20___, through August 31, 20___, ______________ barrels of fresh cranberries produced within the production area were canned, frozen, or dehydrated by said handler.

2. Name of Handler:

*By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________

(signature)

Name

Address

City, State, Zip Code

* If the vote is cast on behalf of a corporation, estate, partnership, or cooperative, my signature certifies that I have the authority to take such action.

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 0581-0189. 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.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM

REFERENDUM QUESTIONS

A “YES” vote means you favor the change. A “NO” vote means you oppose the change.

YES	NO	Note: Where referenced, “Committee” means the Cranberry Marketing Committee.
( )	( )	1. Do you favor adding authority for the Committee to conduct production research and development projects? (§929.45)
( )	( )	2. Do you favor adding authority for a method whereby annual allotments are calculated on the basis of sales histories and adding provisions regarding excess cranberries? (§§ 929.10, 929.13, 929.15, 929.48, 929.49, 929.50, 929.52, 929.59, 929.60, and 929.61)
( )	( )	3. Do you favor limiting Committee member tenure to three consecutive two-year terms? (§ 929.21)
( )	( )	4. Do you favor requiring handlers to pay assessments on the weight of cranberries acquired rather than on the weight of cranberries handled? (§ 929.41)
( )	( )	5. Do you favor adding a definition for the term “barrel?”(§ 929.17)

Minor conforming, editorial, and nonsubstantive modifications of the order language included in the Secretary’s Decision have not been specifically described in the five referendum questions presented for voting, but will be incorporated in the Order as appropriate.

FV-287 (Rev. 9/13. Destroy previous editions.)