[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 7, Volume 8] [Revised as of January 1, 2007] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 7CFR984] [Page 562-563] TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE CHAPTER IX--AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (Marketing Agreements and Orders; Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PART 984_WALNUTS GROWN IN CALIFORNIA--Table of Contents Subpart_Order Regulating Handling Sec. 984.37 Nominations. (a) Nominations on behalf of growers who market their walnuts through cooperative handlers in California shall be submitted on a ballot cast by each such handler for its growers. The vote of each such handler shall be weighted by the kernelweight of the walnuts certified as merchantable during the preceding marketing year for each such handler. The person receiving the highest number of votes for the cooperative grower position shall be the nominee. (b) Nominations on behalf of independent growers in Group 4, whenever such group represents independent growers and Groups 5 and 6, shall be submitted after ballot by such growers pursuant to an announcement by press releases of the Board to the news media in the walnut producing areas. Such releases shall provide pertinent voting information, including the names of candidates and the location where ballots may be obtained. Ballots shall be accompanied by full instructions as to their markings and mailing and shall include the names of incumbents who are willing to continue serving on the Board and such other candidates as may be proposed pursuant to methods established by the Board with the approval of the Secretary. Each grower in Group 4, whenever such group represents independent growers, and Groups 5 and 6, regardless of the number and location of his walnut orchard(s) shall be entitled to cast only one ballot in the nomination and each vote shall be given equal weight. If the independent grower has orchard(s) in both grower districts he shall advise the Board of the district in which he desires to vote. The person receiving the highest number of votes for an independent grower position shall be the nominee. (c) Nominations for all handler members shall be submitted on ballots mailed by the Board to all handlers in their respective groups. All handlers' votes shall be weighted by the kernelweight of walnuts certified as merchantable by each handler during the preceding marketing year. Each independent handler in California may vote for the independent handler member nominees and their alternates. However, no independent handler shall have more than one person on the Board either as member or alternate member. The person receiving the highest number of votes for an independent and cooperative handler member position shall be the nominee for that position. (d) The nine members shall nominate one person as member and one person as alternate for the tenth member position. The tenth member and alternate shall be nominated by not less than 6 [[Page 563]] votes cast by the nine members of the Board. (e) Nominations in the foregoing manner received by the Board shall be reported to the Secretary on or before June 15 of each odd-numbered year, together with a certified summary of the results of the nominations. If the Board fails to report nominations to the Secretary in the manner herein specified by June 15 of each odd-numbered year, the Secretary may select the members without nomination. If nominations for the tenth member are not submitted by August 1 of any such year, the Secretary may select such member without nomination. (f) The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may change these nomination procedures should the Board determine that a revision is necessary. [39 FR 35329, Oct. 1, 1974, as amended at 41 FR 31542, July 29, 1976]