BLU-NBF Blueberry Ballot

Form Approved – OMB No. 0581-0093

U.S. HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY COUNCIL

BLUEBERRY PROMOTION RESEARCH AND INFORMATION ORDER

COUNCIL MEMBER BALLOT – [STATE/REGION] REPRESENTATIVE

The nominees listed on this ballot are seeking the [STATE/REGION] Member seat on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC). As a cultivated blueberry grower in the [STATE/REGION] you are asked to cast your vote for one [STATE/REGION] member, or write in the name of your choice for [state/region] representative in Section #1 of this ballot.

Please complete this ballot and mail it back to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) in the enclosed, self-addressed envelope. Ballots must be received by the USHBC no later than close of business on [DATE]. Ballots received after that date will not be counted.

USHBC MEMBER BALLOT – [STATE/REGION]

Section #1: [STATE/REGION] Producers

[STATE/REGION] Representatives

Producers from the [STATE/REGION] who are producing cultivated blueberries in the state or region are asked to indicate their choice for [state/region] representative here:

Choose one candidate only or provide name of write-in candidate.

[STATE/REGION] REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATES

[ ]

[ ]

[ ] Write-in Candidate:

Print Name: ______________________________________

Section #2 TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL PRODUCERS

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

I certify that I have produced a minimum of 2,000 pounds of cultivated blueberries at the location listed below during the twelve-month period of Month XX, 20xx to Month XX, 20xx:

Signature: ____________________________________________________________

Print Name: ___________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________

City: _______________________ State: ____________ Zip Code: ____________

Phone: ____________________________ E-mail:_____________________________

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Submission of Ballot to USHBC

Once you have completed and signed this ballot please place this ballot in the enclosed, self-addressed envelope and mail it to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. Incomplete ballots, unsigned ballots, or ballots received after Month xx, 20xx, will not be counted.

USHBC Diversity Outreach Policy

The USHBC has adopted a diversity outreach plan to attempt to achieve a diverse representation on the Council. USHBC programs are open to all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, genetic information, parental status, and marital or family status. It is USHBC policy that membership on the Council and its committees reflect the diversity of individuals served by its programs.

To accomplish this objective, the USHBC will strive to attain representation of growers and other industry participants from diverse backgrounds on the Council and USHBC committees. To this end, the USHBC strongly encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to seek nominations to the USHBC and to participate in Council and USHBC committee activities.

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 0581-0093. 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.

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.

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U.S. HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY COUNCIL

BLUEBERRY PROMOTION, RESEARCH and INFORMATION ORDER

COUNCIL MEMBER BALLOT INSTRUCTIONS

The nominees listed on the enclosed ballot are seeking council member positions with the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC). Cultivated (highbush) blueberry growers in [STATE/REGION] are asked to cast their vote for the one candidate they wish to represent their [state/region]. For your reference and assistance in selecting your representative, background statements from the candidates were requested and are included with this packet.

Voting Period

The voting period for [state/region] producer member positions on the USHBC will run from Month xx, 20xx to Month xx, 20xx. In order to be counted, ballots must be received by the USHBC no later than close of business on Month XX, 20XX.

Voter Eligibility

Each person (as defined below) who produced 2,000 pounds or more of cultivated blueberries during the period of January 1, 20XX through December 31, 20XX is eligible to vote in the USHBC Member election.

1. A person means any individual, group of individuals, partnership, corporation, association, cooperative, or any other legal entity.

1. Partnership includes, but is not limited to: (a) a husband and wife who have title to, or leasehold interest in, a blueberry farm as tenants in common, joint tenants, tenants by the entirety, or, under community property laws, as community property, and (b) joint ventures wherein one or more parties to the agreement, informal or otherwise, contributed land and others contributed capital, labor, management, or other services, or any variation of such contributions by two or more parties.

2. Eligible producer means any person who produced 2,000 pounds or more of blueberries (cultivated) in the United States during the representative period who: (a) Owns, or shares the ownership and risk of loss of, the crop; (b) Rents blueberry production facilities and equipment resulting in the ownership of all or a portion of the blueberries produced; (c) Owns blueberry production facilities and equipment but does not manage them and, as compensation, obtains the ownership of a portion of the blueberries produced; or (d) is a party in a landlord-tenant relationship or a divided ownership arrangement involving totally independent entities cooperating only to produce blueberries who share the risk of loss and receive a share of the blueberries produced. No other acquisition of legal title to blueberries shall be deemed to result in persons becoming eligible producers.

3. Blueberries means only cultivated blueberries grown in the United States of genus

Vaccinium Corymbosum and Ashei, including the northern highbush, southern highbush, and rabbit eye varieties and excluding the lowbush (native) blueberry Vaccinium Angustifolium.

USHBC Member Term of Office

USHBC members and alternates will serve for a term of three years starting January 20xx and will be able to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. A USHBC member may serve as an alternate during the years the member is ineligible for a member position.

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VOTING INSTRUCTIONS:

Voting for [STATE/REGION] USHBC Members

Producers from the [state/region] are asked to cast a vote for one nominee as the [state/region] representative on the USHBC. Space is also made available on the ballot for write-in candidates for these [state/region] seats as well. As proved for in the Order, which has established the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, voting for nominees for the remaining [state/region] positions, will be handled by the producer members of those states/regions. Those receiving the most votes for each state producer seat will be designated as the council member. Those receiving the second most votes for each position will be designated as the alternate for that position. The third and fourth top vote getters will also be reported to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture as additional nominees for these positions.

Completing and Submitting the USHBC Election Ballot

Producers are asked to mark their selection of one [state/region] representative, or indicate their write-in candidate, on the official USHBC election ballot enclosed with this packet. Voter signature is also required. Once complete, the ballot is to be sent on to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council office in the self-addressed envelope provided with this ballot. In order to be counted, your ballot must arrive at the USHBC office no later than the close of business on Month XX, 20XX. Faxed ballots will NOT be accepted.

Incomplete ballots, ballots marked with more than one candidate for each position, ballots cast for candidates outside of your [state/region], unsigned ballots, or any ballot received after 5 pm Pacific Time on Month XX, 20XX, will not be accepted.

If you have any questions concerning this USHBC balloting process, please contact the USHBC office at (xxx) xxx-xxxx or contact the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council at the following address:

USHBC

Street

City, State, Zip

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