FV-225B Cooperative Association Ballot (CA Raisins)

REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number on all reproductions. OMB No. 0581-0178

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION BALLOT

AMENDMENT OF MARKETING ORDER NO. 989, REGULATING

THE HANDLING OF RAISINS PRODUCED FROM GRAPES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA

I certify that I am an officer or employee of, and have been authorized by, ______________________________ Cooperative to furnish the following information and cast this Ballot on behalf of ________________________ Cooperative.¹ There are ____________________________(# of growers) who: (a) are members of, stockholders in, and growers under contract with _________________________________ Cooperative; (b) are now engaged in the State of California in the growing of raisins produced from grapes grown in California for market, and also were so engaged during the period of August 1, 2014 through July 31, 2015; and (c) during this same period so produced for market the following quantity of raisins²: _____________________________ tons, on _____________________________ acres.

DOES ______________________________________ COOPERATIVE

(Please indicate your vote by placing an “X” in one of the boxes below for each proposed amendment.)

FAVOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE AUTHORITY FOR THE RAISIN ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE TO BORROW MONEY FROM A COMMERICAL LENDING INSTITUTION? □ Yes □ No

FAVOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE AUTHORITY FOR THE RAISIN ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE TO ESTABILISH A MONETARY RESERVE EQUAL TO ONE YEAR’S OPERATIONAL BUDGETED EXPENSES AS AVERAGED OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS? □ Yes □ No

____________________________________________________ Cooperative

____________________________________________________

Signature of Authorized Agent

____________________________________________________

Title/Official Capacity

This ballot must be completed fully and returned

by March 1, 2016 to be valid.

¹ Include the Cooperative Association’s resolution, which was adopted by the Board of Directors authorizing the casting of this Ballot.

² A list of the co-op grower membership, in alphabetical order, containing the names and addresses, the weight in tons of raisins delivered, plus the corresponding acreage for this tonnage, from August 1, 2014 through July 31, 2015, has been forwarded to the USDA’s Specialty Crops Program, California Marketing Field Office, under separate cover.

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 OMB 0581-0178. 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.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

FV-225B (Rev. 01/2016) Destroy previous editions.