SC-44 Tart Cherry Processor Ballot

REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number and date on all reproductions. OMB No. 0581-0177

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM

SOUTHEAST MARKETING FIELD OFFICE

1124-1^st STREET SOUTH

WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA 33880

_______________________________, 20___

TART CHERRY PROCESSOR BALLOT

TO TART CHERRY PROCESSORS:

USDA is holding a referendum to consider:

The Secretary of Agriculture announced his decision to provide tart cherry producers with an opportunity to vote on ___________. The ____________ will only be enacted if it is favored by at least two-thirds of the producers voting in this referendum, or it is favored by producers representing at least two-thirds of the tart cherry volume.

A Processor Referendum Ballot is attached. Also attached are:

(1) Voting Instructions and Rules Governing Producer Eligibility to Vote;

(2) News Release concerning the Referendum;

3. An addressed envelope for returning the ballot - no postage is required.

The referendum voting period is from 20, to , 20 .

Please vote promptly and mail your ballot in the addressed envelope.

Ballots postmarked after , 20 ___ , cannot be opened or counted.

Each ballot is held in strict confidence.

___________________

Referendum Agent

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 0581-0177. 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.

PROCESSOR'S REFERENDUM BALLOT

Marketing Order No. 930:

Tart Cherries Produced in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania,

Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin

This referendum is being held to determine producer and processor support for __________________________ under Marketing Order No. 930, regulating the handling of tart cherries produced in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. Please read the attached VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AND RULES GOVERNING PROCESSOR ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE before completing this ballot. Additional ballots may be obtained by contacting the Southeast Marketing Field Office at (863) 324-3375.

1. Are you in favor of

________________________________________________________________________

Indicate your vote by marking “X” in the appropriate block:

Yes No

PROCESSOR ELIGIBILITY STATEMENT

1. I hereby certify that I am currently a processor of tart cherries, and that during the representative period from , 20 , through , 20 , this organization processed by canning or freezing for market (do not include cherries that were processed in any other form) pounds of tart cherries that were produced in the designated production area.

___________________

Processor's Signature* (or Organizational name if Item IV applies) Telephone #

___________________

Street or P.O. Box City State ZIP Code

3. If partnership, insert name(s) of partner(s)

___________________________________________________________________________

4. If this ballot is cast by an officer or employee of a corporation or institution, school or college or by an administrator, executor or trustee of a producing estate, the following must be completed:

___________________________________________________________________________

Name of Processor (corp., estate, et.) Signature Title

___________________________________________________________________________Street or P. O. Box City State ZIP Code

*Your signature certifies that you have the authority to take such action and will submit supplementary evidence of such authority at the request of an agent of the Secretary of Agriculture.

The information provided in this ballot is required to determine voter eligibility and vote of tart cherry producers. Falsification of information on this government document may result in a fine or imprisonment, or both (18 U.S.C. 1001).

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

RULES GOVERNING PROCESSOR ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE

1. VOTING PERIOD: , 20 through , 20 .

2. PRODUCTION AREA: The entire States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.

3. TART CHERRIES: all tart cherry varieties grown in the production area are classified as Prunus cerasus, Prunus cerasus by Prunus avium, or Prunus cerasus by Prunus fruticosa.

4. PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE: Any business entity currently engaged in the commercial freezing or canning of tart cherries produced in the designated area during the representative period of ___________, 20 , through , 20 , is entitled to cast one ballot.

Each separate business unit, partnership, LLC, family enterprise, corporation, association, estate, or firm that is a member of the cooperative association is entitled to one vote. Proxy voting is not authorized.

5. HOW TO VOTE:

1. Indicate your vote by placing an “X” in the appropriate box.

2. Certify you are currently a processor of tart cherries and indicate your inventory in pounds. Include the quantity of tart cherries purchased from producers in the designed area and used for processing.

3. PRINT or type the information (name, address, telephone number, etc.) requested. All information much be provided to ensure validity of the Ballot. Sign the ballot. Unsigned or incomplete ballots cannot be counted.

4. If the processor is a partnership, fill in the names of all partners.

Return ballots to: United States Department of Agriculture, Southeast Marketing Field Office,

1124-1^st Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33884. Please mail completed ballot in the attached envelope. Ballots postmarked after , 20 , will be considered invalid.

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.

SC-44 (Exp. X/XXXX) Destroy previous versions.