FV-244 Handler & Alternate Member Nomination Ballot

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

OMB No. 0581-0215

BALLOT FOR ELECTION OF
HANDLER MEMBER AND ALTERNATE HANDLER MEMBER
Pistachio handlers recently had the opportunity to nominate eligible candidates for the Position
handler membership on the
Administrative Committee for Pistachios (Committee) for the two-year term of office ending on June 30, 20___ (Position 1 each handler entity is entitled to one vote; Position 2 - each handler entity is entitled to cast one vote respectively for each ton of
assessed weight of pistachios processed by that handler during the two production years preceding the production year in which
the nominations are made). Handlers are now being asked to vote for the candidates of their choice. Enclosed are voting
instructions, eligibility requirements and a ballot. Please read the voting directions carefully and submit your completed and
signed ballot in the enclosed envelope. To be valid, the completed ballot must be signed, and postmarked, faxed, or hand
delivered to the Administrative Committee for Pistachios office in Fresno, California, by
, 20
.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING ENCLOSED BALLOT
1.

VOTING PERIOD:

, 20

through :

2.

VOTER ELIGIBILITY: A pistachio handler eligible to vote is any business entity currently engaged in the handling
of pistachios within the states of California, Arizona and New Mexico.

3.

There is one handler member and one alternate handler member position to be filled on the Committee. For the
Position 1 handler member and alternate handler member position, each handler entity is entitled one vote. For the
Position 2 handler member, each handler entity is entitled to one vote respectively for each ton of assessed weight of
pistachios processed by that handler during the two production years preceding the current production year. This
year the voting is for the Position
member. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes by position will
be the handler member and the candidate receiving the second highest number of votes will be the alternate handler
member.

4.

As you cast your ballot, keep in mind that the two handler member and alternate handler member positions must be
represented by handlers that are not affiliated with each other. Only one member and one alternate representing
handlers shall be employed by, or affiliated with the same handler and/or producer.

a.

“Affiliated” 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.

b.

“Proprietary capacity” means the capacity or interest of a producer or handler that, either directly or through one or
more intermediaries, is a property owner together with all the appurtenant rights of an owner including the right to
vote the interest in that capacity as an individual, a shareholder, member of a cooperative, partner, trustee or in any
other capacity with respect to any other business unit.

5.

In the spaces provided, print your name, address, tax id number, e-mail address, and telephone number.

6.

Certify that you are eligible to cast a ballot by signing and dating the ballot.

7.

The completed ballot must be postmarked or hand-delivered no later than:

8.

The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities. Please see the bottom of page 3 for more
details. 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.

9.

If you have any questions, please contact the Administrative Committee for Pistachios: 4938 E. Yale Avenue, Suite
102, Fresno, California 93727; Telephone (559) 255-6480; Fax (559) 255-6485.

FV-244 (Rev. 05/2014. Destroy previous editions.)

, 20

, 20___.

Page 1 of 3

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 PROGRAM

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE FOR PISTACHIOS
MARKETING ORDER 983
HANDLER MEMBER AND ALTERNATE HANDLER MEMBER BALLOT
HANDLER POSITION

BALLOT

Because the order prescribes that each handler member will have an alternate handler member on the Committee,
the candidate receiving the highest number of votes will be seated as a member, and the candidate receiving the
second highest number of votes will be seated as the alternate handler member.
(Statement for Position 1 year)

This year, each handler entity is entitled to one vote.

(Statement for Position 2 year) This

year, each handler entity is entitled to one vote for each ton of assessed weight of
pistachios processed by that handler during the 20__/20__and 20__/20__ production years. Volume for voting
purposes will be determined based upon handler reports provided to the Committee.
Mark the box for the candidate of your choice. Vote for one candidate only. If you do not to wish to vote for any
of the candidates, you may write-in your candidate of choice in the appropriate space.

List of Candidates for Position

Handler:

Candidate

Candidate

Write-in Candidate

SIGNATURE AND CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED ON REVERSE OF BALLOT

FV-244 (Rev. 05/2014. Destroy previous editions.)

Page 2 of 3

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

OMB No. 0581-0215

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
Please indicate the following:
 Individual

 Trust

 Partnership*

 Corporation

Tax ID Number:

*If partnership, list general partners
(CERTIFICATION FOR POSITION 1 YEAR) I certify that I or my employer currently handles pistachios.
(CERTIFICATION FOR POSITION 2 YEAR) I certify that I or my employer currently handles pistachios. I
understand that I or my employer is entitled to one vote for each ton of assessed weight of pistachios processed
during the 20__/20__ and 20__/20__ production years, and that volume for voting purposes will be determined
based upon handler reports provided to the Committee.
If I am casting a ballot on behalf of my employer, I certify that I have such authority to do so.

Handler’s Name (please print)

Title (if voting on behalf of a corporation, estate or trust)

Phone Number

Print Name

Signature

Date

Address

To be valid, the completed ballot must be signed, and postmarked, faxed, or hand delivered to the
Administrative Committee for Pistachios office in Fresno, California, by
, 20
.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE FOR PISTACHIOS
4938 East Yale Avenue, Suite 102
Fresno, CA 93727
TEL: (559) 255-6480 FAX: (559) 255-6485

The following statements are made in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (U.S.C. 552a) and the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as
amended. The authority for requesting the information to be supplied on this form is the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, Secs. 119, 48 Stat. 31, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 601-674). Furnishing the requested information is necessary for the administration of the marketing order
program. Submission of the Tax Identification Number (TIN) is mandatory, and will be used to validate ballots and determine affiliation or entity
identity. Please note that ballots will not become invalid if a TIN is not disclosed.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are 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 require to complete this
information collection is estimated to average 5 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.

FV-244 (Rev. 05/2014. Destroy previous editions.)

Page 3 of 3