OpEd:                       

Growers Right to Vote

By Gregory Gitter
 President, Wisconsin Cranberry Cooperative 

6/10/02 --- On June 4, 2002  I had the opportunity to testify at the USDA Amendment Hearings at the Mead Inn located in Wisconsin Rapids.  Our cooperative proposed (4) amendments: 929.22 Nomination , 929.23 Selection, 929.61 & 929.104 Outlets for Excess Cranberries. 

The purpose of our proposals on 929.22 Nomination and 929.23 Selection is to give every cooperative grower the right to vote by mail ballot using the same procedure utilized by independent growers in the nomination process. A similar proposal was made by attorney Stephen Lacey representing Cliffstar and Clement- Pappas companies. 

Another similar proposal was made by Mary Brazeau Brown, an Ocean Spray grower on this voting issue.  Mary’s proposal is very straightforward and insures the right to vote for all growers regardless of handler affiliation. After a careful review of all these similar proposals, I believe that “all growers” should support Mary Brazeau Brown's proposal as a means to nominate members to the Cranberry Marketing Committee. 

I believe that Mary’s proposal is the strongest proposal for the following reasons:    

A)  With all growers allowed to vote by mail ballot, this  eliminates the Cooperatives vs. independents argument on voting procedures. 

B)  All growing regions will be represented by (2) committee members. The three  districts will be: Eastern  states, Midwest states, Western states  for a total of (6) committee members. This proposal will eliminate the fighting between states as they maneuver to gain additional committee seats. 

C) The last two positions will be filled by (1) public member, and (1) member by any handler with over 51% of production area crop.  If no handler has over 51% of the production area crop, then a member-at-large will be voted on by all growers. 

D) This proposal eliminates handler involvement in the nomination process.

E)  A significant  cost savings will occur with this proposal with the reduction of  voting members from (13) as proposed by the CMC, to a more manageable  number of (8) voting members. 

I am confident that growers from all three Districts will be successful in nominating candidates that will  represent the “ best interests” of all  1,311 U.S. growers. I truly believe that our  USDA officials in Washington, D.C.  will support this  growers right to vote proposal, based on grower input.  Growers interested in supporting this Growers Right to Vote proposal should contact :

                                         Hearing Clerk, Agricultural Marketing Service

                                         Docket No. AO-341-A6; FV02-929-1

                                         United States Department of Agriculture

                                         Room 1081-S

                                         Washington, D.C. 20250-9200

                                          Fax # 202-720-9776

Proposals for 929.61 & 929.104, Outlets for Excess Cranberries are intended to increase marketing opportunities in developing foreign markets by better communicating which countries are considered non-competitive outlets by the CMC.

During the hearings on June 4, 2002  Mr. Farrimond  stated the CMC did in fact have a list of  foreign countries currently receiving cranberry  shipments. A formal request has been made to the CMC  to release this information for use in developing new foreign markets for cranberry products. 

I am urging  all growers to  contact the USDA and voice your opinion on these very important proposals, I believe that we the “growers” will be successful in implementing   positive changes within the cranberry industry in the near future.                                                                                                                     

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