USHBC Elections 2012 

 Memos:     January 27, 2012 Memo   January 13, 2012 USHBC Memo pdf  January 5, 2012 USHBC Memo pdf   Jan 4, 2012 USHBC Memo  pdf  Dec 19, 2011 USHBC MEMO    pdf    Dec 12, 2011 USDA MEMO pdf

Forms and Information:  Complete Nomination Packet pdf  Nominee Application pdf   Application Instructions pdf   USHBC Summary  pdf

USHBC REGIONAL MEMBER NOMINATONS DUE FEBRUARY 21,  2012

 Regional Member nomination packets were sent by the USHBC to growers in each of the four regions (West, Midwest, Northeast and South) on January 13, 2012.  The nomination packet includes a USHBC Nomination Application Form and instructions, a USHBC Information Sheet and mailing envelope. Nomination packet information is also posted on the USHBC website at www.blueberry.org.  The USHBC regional member nominations are taking place over a five-week period from January 13 to February 17, 2012. Those interested in being considered for USHBC regional member and alternate positions are encouraged to complete their nomination form and submit their form to the USHBC as soon as possible. Nominations received after February 17 will not appear on the final printed USHBC ballot. Those who have not received their nomination packets by this time should contact the USHBC office at (916) 983-0111.

   The USHBC has adopted a diversity outreach plan to attempt to achieve a diverse representation on the Council.  USHBC programs are open to all individuals without regard to 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.

   USHBC regional ballots will be sent to growers in each of the four regions on April 20, 2012.  Ballots will list nominees from the region along with their candidate statement.  Space will be available on the ballot to indicate any write-in candidate as well. Regional Members will assume their USHBC positions starting January 1, 2013 for a three-year term.

USHBC MEMO ON NOMINATIONS of USHBC REGIONAL MEMBERS

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is now seeking nominees to fill Regional Council Member and Alternate positions on the USHBC.  Terms for current USHBC regional members and alternates will expire December 31, 2012. The nomination period for the 2013 to 2015 term begins January 13, 2012 for a 5-week period.  Potential nominees are required to complete a USHBC nomination application and forward their application on to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council office by February 17, 2012.  A nomination packet is enclosed with this mailing (Note: additional applications are available on the USHBC website at www.blueberry.org).

Nominees are being sought for four regional grower member positions.  Eligible producer nominees are those who produced 2,000 pounds or more of cultivated blueberries in the United States during the period of January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. Once the nomination period is closed, a ballot will be prepared listing all regional nominees.  Ballots will be mailed by the USHBC to blueberry growers on April 20, 2012.  The voting period will be open for 35 days and close on May 25, 2012.

Those receiving the most votes for each regional representative 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.  The names of those who receive the third and fourth most votes will be sent on to the Secretary for consideration as well.  Council Members and Alternates will serve for a term of three years starting January 1, 2013 and will be allowed to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. A member who completes two consecutive terms can serve as an alternate during the three-year period they are not eligible for a member position. 

The current USHBC Regional Members concluding their first term of office are:

                        Midwest Region (Region 2)                     Shelly Ann Hartmann (Michigan)

Southern Region (Region 4)                    Keith Mixon (Florida)     

The current USHBC Regional Members concluding their second term of office and therefore not eligible for election as a Member in 2013, but would be allowed to serve as an alternate are:          

                        Western Region (Region 1)                     Verne Gingerich (Oregon)   

                        Northeast Region (Region 3)                   Art Galletta (New Jersey)

The USHBC has adopted a diversity outreach plan to attempt to achieve a diverse representation on the Council.  USHBC programs are open to all individuals without regard to 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.

Please contact the USHBC office at (916) 983-0111 if you have any questions concerning this nomination procedure, or the final balloting process.

USHBC INDUSTRY RELATIONS COMMITTEE SEEKS IMPORTER, EXPORTER AND PUBLIC MEMBER CANDIDATES

January 5, 2012 - The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) will make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture for the USHBC Importer, Exporter and Public Member positions following the Council meeting on March 2, 2012.  The USHBC Industry Relations Committee is seeking nominees to be considered for the USHBC Importer, Exporter and Public Member and Alternate positions on the Council.  Nominees are being sought for the three-year term that begins on January 1, 2012.

The USHBC Industry Relations Committee will present a slate of nominees to the USHBC Executive Committee in late January.  The Council will then make final candidate selections at the USHBC Spring Meeting on March 2, 2012.  At this meeting, the Council will recommend to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture a final candidate for member and alternate, along with two additional candidates for each of these three positions for consideration by the Secretary for final appointment.

Blueberry industry members interested in being considered for the USHBC Importer (1 member position), Exporter (1 member position) or Public Member (1 member position) and Alternate positions are encouraged to contact the USHBC office no later than Friday, January 27, 2012 by phone at (916) 983-0111, or by email to mvillata@ushbc.org. 

U.S. HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY COUNCIL SEEKS NOMINEES FOR REGIONAL MEMBER POSITIONS

January 4, 2012-  The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is seeking nominees to fill Regional Member and Alternate positions.  The nomination period will begin on January 13, 2012. Current USHBC Regional Member and Alternate terms for the Western, Midwest, Northeast and Southern regions will expire on December 31, 2012. 

Potential nominees are required to complete a USHBC nomination application and forward their application on to the USHBC office no later than February 17, 2012.  Nominations are to be received directly from growers in each of the four regions.  Nomination applications will be mailed directly to growers throughout the United States.  Applications are also available on line at the USHBC website www.blueberry.org., or can be requested by contacting the USHBC office by phone at (916) 983-0111 or by fax at (916) 983-9022.  Eligible producer nominees are those who produced 2,000 pounds or more of highbush (cultivated) blueberries in the United States during the period of January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. 

Once the nomination period is closed, a ballot will be prepared for each region listing all nominees for that specific region.  Regional ballots will then be mailed to growers on April 20, 2012.  The voting period will be open for 35 days and close on May 25, 2012. 

 Those receiving the most votes for each producer seat will be recommended to the Secretary of Agriculture as Regional Council Members.  Those who earn the second most votes for each position will be recommended as the Regional Alternate.  The names of those who receive the third and fourth most votes will be sent on to the Secretary for consideration as well.  Council Members and Alternates will serve a term of three years beginning January 1, 2013.  Members can serve for 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 are open to all individuals without regard to 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.  Results of this referendum, announced on July 13, 2000, showed that 68% of those who voted favored implementation of the Blueberry Promotion, Research and Information Order.  Those who voted in favor represented 73% of the volume of cultivated blueberries represented in the referendum. 

As required every five years by the USDA, a continuation referendum on the USHBC was conducted in 2006 with the Council receiving a strong endorsement from the industry.  Results from the 2006 referendum show that 87% of those who voted favored continuation of the order.  Those who voted in favor represented 94% of the volume of cultivated blueberries represented in the referendum.

A second continuation referendum was conducted in 2011 with the Council again receiving a strong endorsement from the industry.  Results from the 2011 referendum show that 88% of those who voted favored continuation of the order.  Those who voted in favor represented 98% of the volume of cultivated blueberries represented in the referendum.

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.   

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF REGIONAL MEMBERS

December 19, 2011 - Current terms for USHBC Regional Members, as well as USHBC Importer, Exporter and Public Member, will close at the end of 2012. Nominations will be taking place over the next few months to fill these seven positions on the Council. Nomination packets for USHBC Regional Member positions will be sent by the USHBC to growers in each of the four regions (West, Midwest, Northeast and South) this January. Included in the nomination packet will be a USHBC Nomination Application Form and instructions, a USHBC Information Sheet and mailing envelope. Nomination packet information will also be posted on the USHBC website at www.blueberry.org.