SC-225B (989) 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 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 CERTIFICATION AND VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE COMPLETING THIS BALLOT. YOUR BALLOT ENVELOPE MUST BE POSTMARKED BY
___________________, 20___ TO BE VALID.

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 ___________ producers who: (a) are members of, stockholders in, and producers 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 ______, 20__
through _____, 20__; and (c) during this same period so produced for market the following quantity of raisins2:
_________________ tons.
DOES ______________________________________ COOPERATIVE FAVOR THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE OF THE ORDER REGULATING THE
HANDLING OF RAISINS PRODUCED FROM GRAPES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA?

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
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

3.

4.

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-225B (Exp. 4/30/2027) Destroy previous editions.

REPRODUCE LOCALLY. Include form number on all reproductions.

OMB No. 0581-0178

____________________________________________________ Cooperative

____________________________________________________
Signature of Authorized Agent

____________________________________________________
Title/Official Capacity

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

If not previously provided, include the Cooperative Association’s resolution, which was adopted by the Board of Directors
authorizing the casting of this Ballot.

1

If not previously provided, a list, in alphabetical order, containing the names and addresses, and the weight of raisins delivered,
from August 1, XXXX through July 31, XXXX, to the Cooperative Association by each such producer has been forwarded to the
USDA’s Specialty Crops Programs, California Marketing Field Office, under separate cover.
2

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. 601674). 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-225B (Exp. 4/30/2027) Destroy previous editions.