Folsom, Ca. – Members of the cultivated blueberry industry are being asked to select representatives to fill state council member and alternate positions on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information Order. Voting begins June 10, 2013 and continues for a five week voting period. Voters are being asked to complete their ballot and send it back to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) to be received no later than by close of business on July 15, 2013.
The USHBC is mailing ballots to blueberry growers in Michigan who received nomination applications earlier this year. Ballots will also be posted on the USHBC website at www.blueberry.org. Those who do not receive a ballot by June 10, 2013 can obtain a copy by contacting the USHBC office at (916) 983-0111 (phone) or (916) 983-9022 (fax).
Votes are being cast for 6 state council member positions. Growers in the state of Michigan will vote for their representative. Election of council members and alternates for Oregon, Georgia, New Jersey, Washington and California will be handled by their individual state blueberry councils and commissions.
Those receiving the most votes for each producer seat will be recommended to the Secretary of Agriculture as council members. Those who earn the second most votes for each position will be recommended as the alternate.
Those who receive the third and fourth most votes will also be reported to the Secretary of Agriculture for consideration. Council members and alternates will serve for a term of three years starting in 2014 and will be allowed to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.
The USHBC has adopted a diversity outreach plan to attempt to achieve a diverse representation on the Council. USHBC programs and meetings are open to all individuals. The USHBC prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of 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.
Producers and importers of highbush blueberries approved the establishment of the USHBC through a referendum conducted by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service in the year 2000. The USHBC program was formally established in August of 2000. The program is funded by an assessment of $12 per ton on domestic highbush (cultivated) blueberries and $12 per ton on fresh and processed imported cultivated blueberries. Market promotion activities funded through the USHBC program began in January of 2002.
Source: U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council