916.22—Nomination.
(a) Initial members.
Nominations for each of the initial members, together with nominations for the initial alternate members for each position, may be submitted to the Secretary by the committee responsible for promulgation of this part. Such nominations may be made by means of group meetings of the growers concerned in each district. Such nominations, if made, shall be filed with the Secretary no later than the effective date of this part. In the event nominations for initial members and alternate members of the committee are not filed pursuant to, and within the time specified in, this section, the Secretary may select such initial members and alternate members without regard to nominations, but selections shall be on the basis of the representation provided in § 916.20.
(b) Successor members.
(1)
The committee shall appoint a nominating committee, which will hold or cause to be held, not later than January 31 of each odd numbered year, a nomination procedure or a meeting or meetings of growers in each district for the purpose of designating nominees for successor members and alternate members of the committee. Meetings may be supervised by the nominating committee that shall prescribe such procedure as shall be reasonable and fair to all persons concerned. After the nomination procedure or meetings have concluded, the nominating committee by February 15 will verify consent to place the nominee's name on the ballot and will cause a ballot listing all of the nominees for a given district to be mailed to all growers within the district. Members and their alternates will be chosen based on a descending ranking of votes received. Once ballots have been tabulated, the Nectarine Administrative Committee will announce to the growers the nominees that have been selected and recommended to the Secretary.
(2)
Nominations may only be by growers, or by duly authorized employees. At meetings, only growers who are present at such nomination meetings may participate in the nomination of nominees for members and their alternates. All known growers will then receive a ballot for the nominees in the district in which they produce and are entitled to vote accordingly. A grower who produces in multiple districts is allowed to vote only in one district, and may exchange his/her ballot for that of the nominees in another district provided the grower is producing in the district for which he/she wants to participate. Employees of such grower shall be eligible for membership as principal or alternate to fill only one position on the committee.
(3)
A particular grower, including authorized employees of such grower, shall be eligible for membership as principal or alternate to fill only one position on the committee.