SC-224 (989) Producers Referendum Ballot (CA Raisins)

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

OMB No. 0581-0178

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
SPECIALTY CROPS PROGRAM
PRODUCER REFERENDUM BALLOT ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
OF MARKETING ORDER NO. 989, AS AMENDED, REGULATING THE HANDLING OF
RAISINS PRODUCED FROM GRAPES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA
THIS BALLOT WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING VOTER ELIGIBILITY AND
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE COMPLETING THIS BALLOT. YOUR BALLOT ENVELOPE MUST BE
POSTMARKED BY ___________________, 20___ TO BE VALID.

1. I hereby certify that I am an eligible producer of grapes for sun-drying or dehydration into raisins, and
during the period from _______, 20__ through ________, 20__, I produced: _________________________
tons (dried weight) of raisins for market. This tonnage was produced from
____________________________ acres. (NOTE: If you are farming on a share-crop basis, report only that
part of the tonnage representing your share.)
2. Please indicate the following about the business entity for which you are voting:
□ Individual
□ Trust
□ Partnership
□ Corporation
If a partnership, insert name and mailing address of partner(s): _______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
•

Is your business entity a voting a member of the Raisin Bargaining Association?

□ Yes

□ No

•

Is your business entity a voting a member of Sun-Maid Growers of California?

□ Yes

□ No

•

Did the entity deliver raisins for cash to Sun-Maid during the representative period?
□ Yes □ No
What was the tonnage delivered to Sun-Maid as a cash grower during that period? ___________________ tons

Cast your vote for each of the following eight questions.
(Indicate your vote by placing an “X” in one of the boxes below for each of the proposed amendments).
1.

DO YOU FAVOR REDUCING COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP SIZE FROM 47 TO 21 MEMBERS AND
ALTERNATES, REMOVING PRODUCER DISTRICT REPRESENTATION AND ADDING AN UNAFFILIATED
PRODUCER MEMBER SEAT, REMOVING THE DESIGNATED BARGAINING ASSOCIATION SEAT, AND
LOWERING QUORUM REQUIREMENTS FROM 25 TO 14?
□ Yes □ No

2.

DO YOU FAVOR ELIMINATING THE REQUIREMENT FOR SEPARATE NOMINATIONS FOR INDEPENDENT
PRODUCERS OR PRODUCERS AFFILIATED WITH SMALL COOPERATIVE MARKETING ASSOCIATIONS?
□ Yes
□ No
DO YOU FAVOR UPDATING THE MARKETING POLICY TO REMOVE FACTOR NUMBER 4 “AN
ESTIMATED DESIRABLE CARRYOUT AT THE END OF THE CROP YEAR” AND THE LAST PART OF
FACTOR NUMBER 5 “CONSIDERING THE ESTIMATED WORLD RAISIN SUPPLY AND DEMAND
SITUATION,” AND ADDING LANGUAGE TO CLARIFY RECONDITIONED RAISINS, INSPECTED AND
CERTIFIED AS MEETING MINIMUM GRADE AND QUALITY, ARE STANDARD RAISINS ELIGIBLE FOR
COMMERCIAL DISPOSITION AS NATURAL CONDITION RAISINS OR PACKED RAISINS IN NORMAL
OUTLETS?
□ Yes
□ No

3.

Voting continued on the back of this page.

Please remember to sign this ballot to make your vote count!
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 0581-0178. 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.

SC-224 (Exp. 4/30/2027) Destroy previous editions.

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

4.

OMB No. 0581-0178

DO YOU FAVOR ESTABLISHING THE AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND
AUTHORITY REGARDING THE OWNERSHIP OF, AND RIGHTS TO, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND THE
COLLECTION OF RENTS/ROYALTIES FROM THE SAME?
□ Yes
□ No

__________________________________________ (______)_____________ ___________________________________
Producer/Grower Name
Telephone Number
Email Address

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________
*Authorized Signature (Producer/Grower or Authorized Officer) Title (Producer/Grower or Authorized Officer)
Your Signature Validates Your Vote – please sign.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address of Authorized Signatory (incl. Street , City, State, and Zip Code)

*A producer/grower may sign this ballot on behalf of himself. If this ballot is cast by an authorized officer or
employee of a producer, such as a corporation, association, institution, school, or similar business unit, or as an
administrator, executor, or trustee of a producing estate, the authorized signature is certifying to the Secretary of
Agriculture that they have authority to cast this Ballot for the producer named above and will submit evidence of
such authority at the request of an Agent of the Secretary of Agriculture.

This ballot must be completed fully and postmarked
by ___________, 20__ to be valid.

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. 1-19, 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.
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-224 (Exp. 4/30/2027) Destroy previous editions.