Exemption certificates under § 915.53 shall be issued by the Avocado Administrative Committee pursuant to the following rules and regulations:

(a) The grower must make application for exemption on a form supplied by the committee. A separate application must be made for each variety or classification of avocados and shall contain the following:

(1) Name and address of the applicant, and date of application;

(2) District in which the applicant's grove is located;

(3) Regulation from which exemption is requested;

(4) Variety for which exemption is requested;

(5) Location (by county, highway, rural route, distance from nearest town, etc.) of grove from which avocados are to be shipped pursuant to the requested exemption certificate;

(6) Information as to the average size of such avocados and the reasons why applicant believes he is entitled to an exemption certificate; and

(7) Name of the person who will handle any exempted fruit if different than the applicant.

(b) Upon receipt of an application for exemption certificate, the Avocado Administrative Committee shall check all information furnished by the applicant and shall conduct such investigations concerning the maturity of the applicant's avocados as may be necessary to determine whether the application shall be approved or denied.

(c) Approval of the application shall be evidenced by the issuance to the applicant, by the Manager of the Avocado Administrative Committee on its behalf, of one or more exemption certificates which shall authorize the handling of the quantity of the applicant's avocados which the committee has determined is mature.

(d) If the application is denied, the applicant shall be informed of such denial by written notice stating the reasons therefor.

(a) Any grower who resides outside the production area and desires to be represented in a nomination meeting by a duly authorized agent and to have such grower's vote cast by such agent in the nomination and election of nominees for grower members and alternate members to fill positions on the Avocado Administrative Committee, as provided in § 915.22(b)(2), shall submit to the committee, not later than January 20, a written statement containing the following:

(1) Name of grower;

(2) Mailing address;

(3) Location of each avocado grove (either legal or from established landmarks);

(4) Number of avocado trees owned;

(5) Number of 55-pound units of avocados marketed to date during the current season;

(6) Name of the handler of the fruit marketed;

(7) Authorization, including the name and address, of the person who is to represent said grower at the nomination meeting.

(b) Any grower who has not filed the statement as prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section must be present at the nomination meeting to be eligible to have his vote counted in connection with the nomination and election of nominees.

(c) Any grower who, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, has authorized an agent to cast such grower's vote, may rescind such authorization by appearing at the nomination meeting and exercising his right to vote in person.

(a) Each handler who desires to handle avocados pursuant to the exceptions in § 915.10 shall, prior thereto, register with the committee. Such registration shall be by application for registration filed with the Avocado Administrative Committee on a form, prescribed and furnished by the committee, which shall contain the following information:

(1) Name and address of applicant;

(2) Applicant's principal place(s) of business;

(3) Type of business organization (individual, corporation, partnership, etc.);

(4) If other than an individual, the names and addresses of officers, partners, etc.;

(5) Nature of business (handler, trucker, wholesaler, etc.);

(6) Number of years engaged in avocado business;

(7) Estimated seasonal volume of avocados handled;

(8) Place within production area where the avocados will be prepared for market, and name and address of person responsible for such preparation;

(9) Name and address of three references, one of which shall be a bank;

(10) Certification of accuracy of information furnished; and

(11) An agreement to comply with the provisions of this part.

(b) When the committee receives an application for registration, it shall issue the applicant a certificate of registration, if it determines based upon an investigation that the applicant may be expected to handle avocados in accordance with this part.

(c) If it is determined from the available information that the applicant is not entitled to be registered with the committee, he shall be so informed by written notice stating why the certificate of registration was not issued.

(d) Any certificate of registration issued to a handler pursuant to this section may be canceled by the committee under circumstances which would have justified denial of his application.

(e) The committee shall suspend the certificate of registration issued under this section of any handler who fails to pay assessments or furnish reports as required under this part, and so advise the handler in writing of the suspension and the effective date. The committee shall lift such suspension at such time as the handler pays such assessments and files such reports, and the committee determines that the handler may be expected to handle avocados in the future in accordance with this part.

(a) Minimum quantity. During any one day any handler may handle not to exceed 55 pounds total of avocados exempt from the provisions of §§ 915.41, 915.51, and 915.54, and the regulations issued thereunder: Provided, That such exempted quantity shall not be included as part of a shipment exceeding 55 pounds.

(b) Gift shipments. Any handler may, exempt from the provisions of §§ 915.41, 915.51, and 915.54, and the regulations issued thereunder, handle avocados in individually addressed gift containers not exceeding 20 pounds net weight for use by the addressee other than for resale.

(c) Commercial processing into products. The term commercial processing into products, as used in § 915.55(c), means the manufacture of any avocado product which is preserved by any recognized commercial process, including canning, freezing, dehydrating, drying, the addition of chemical substances, or by fermentation.

(d) Avocados for seed. Any handler may ship avocados to be used for seed purposes exempt from the provisions of §§ 915.41, 915.51, and 915.54, and the regulations issued thereunder: Provided, That such handler shall make application to the committee for an exemption prior to the loading of each shipment and that the receiver of each such shipment shall certify, on a form provided by the committee, that such fruit was used for the intended purpose, and that the residue from the seed separation process will not be allowed to enter fresh channels of trade.

(a) No person shall handle any avocados for commercial processing into products unless prior to such handling such person notifies the Avocado Administrative Committee of the proposed handling and provides the committee with the name of the intended processor. If the intended processor's name is not on the Avocado Administrative Committee's current list of approved manufacturers of avocado products, as prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section, or if on the list is suspended, such person shall furnish the committee, prior to each such handling, with a statement executed by the intended processor that the avocados will be used for the stated purpose only.

(b) Any person who desires to have his name placed on the Avocado Administrative Committee's list of approved manufacturers of avocado products shall, prior to such listing, submit to the Avocado Administrative Committee an application containing the following information:

(1) Name and address of applicant;

(2) Location of the facilities for commercial processing into products;

(3) Proposed type of avocado product or products to be manufactured from avocados and the proposed commercial process of preservation;

(4) Description of facilities for commercial processing into products;

(5) Quantity of avocados used in commercial processing into products during the previous fiscal year and estimate of the quantity of avocados to be similarly processed during the current fiscal year; (6) expected source of avocados for commercial processing into products; (7) method of transporting avocados and unloading point; (8) Avocado Administrative Committee handler certificate of registration number, if any; (9) a statement that the avocados obtained for commercial processing into products will be used for that purpose only and will not be resold or disposed of in fresh fruit channels; and (10) an agreement to submit such reports as are required by the Avocado Administrative Committee with approval of the Secretary.

(c) Upon receipt of an application for such listing, the Avocado Administrative Committee shall make such investigation as it deems appropriate, and if it appears that the applicant may reasonably be expected to use avocados covered by the application in accordance with, and to comply with, the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section, it shall place the person's name on Avocado Administrative Committee's current list of approved manufacturers of avocado products.

(d) If it is determined by the committee from the available information that the applicant is not entitled to such listing he shall be so informed by written notice stating why his application was denied.

(e) Any such listing pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section may be canceled by the committee under circumstances which would have justified denial of this application.

(f) The committee shall suspend the listing of any approved manufacturer who fails to submit reports as prescribed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section. The committee shall advise such manufacturer in writing of the pending suspension and shall specify the time such suspension is to become effective. Upon determination by the committee that the manufacturer has satisfied by such effective time the requirements with respect to the submission of reports the committee shall not make such suspension effective. However, if the suspension is in effect, the committee shall terminate such suspension at such time as it determines that the manufacturer has satisfied the requirements with respect to the submission of reports.

(a) The establishment of a reserve fund at an amount not to exceed approximately 3 fiscal years' operational expenses is appropriate and necessary to the maintenance and functioning of the Avocado Administrative Committee. Such reserve, including funds carried forward from prior fiscal years, shall be used to provide for the maintenance and functioning of the committee in accordance with the provisions of the marketing agreement, as amended, and this part.

(b) Terms used in this section shall have the same meaning as when used in said marketing agreement and order.

(a) Each handler shall file with the Avocado Administrative Committee, on a weekly basis, a report of all avocados received by him. Such report shall be on forms prescribed by the committee and shall include: (1) The name and address of the handler; (2) weekly period covered by the report; (3) district in which the avocados were received; and (4) the quantity of each variety of avocados received. Each such report shall be filed with the committee not later than one week after the close of business of the last day of the period covered by the report.

(b) Each handler registered with the Avocado Administrative Committee shall render a report to the committee of the disposition of each lot of noncertified avocados removed from the premises of his handling facilities during each week in which any avocados are handled subject to the provisions of §§ 915.41, 915.51, and 915.54, or exemptions therefrom pursuant to § 915.53. Such report shall be on forms prescribed by the committee and shall include: (1) The quantity; (2) purpose for which removed; (3) date of removal; and (4) the name of the person or firm to which the avocados were delivered or consigned. Each such report shall be signed by the handler or his authorized representative, shall cover the period Sunday through Saturday, and shall be placed in the mail not later than one week after the close of business of the Saturday ending the period covered by the report.

(c) Each handler shall render a report to the Avocado Administrative Committee of each lot of noncertified avocados received from a district other than that in which his handling facilities are located. Such report shall be on forms prescribed by the committee and shall include: (1) The name of the handler; (2) the quantity of avocados received; (3) date received; (4) name and address of the person from whom the avocados were purchased; (5) the district from which the avocados were transferred; and (6) the district to which the avocados were transferred. Each such report shall cover the period Sunday through Saturday and shall be placed in the mail not later than one week after the close of business of the Saturday ending the period covered by the report.

(d) Each handler shall, at the end of the day's operation, report to the committee the number of containers of avocados sold and delivered in the State of Florida in the following containers: (1) 1/4 Bushel, (2) 1/2 Bushel, and (3) 4/5 Bushel. Upon request by the committee, such reports shall be confirmed in writing on a weekly basis on a form prescribed by the committee.

(e) At the time of inspection, each handler shall provide to the Federal-State Inspection Service the quantity and size of containers being packed and inspected for the fresh avocado market. In addition, each handler shall provide the number of avocados packed per container (count per container).

Each handler shall pay interest of one percent per month on any unpaid assessment balance beginning 30 days after date of billing. Such interest charge is to apply to any unpaid assessments which become due the Avocado Administrative Committee after the effective date of this section.

(a) Public member and alternate member candidates shall not represent an agricultural interest, and shall not have a financial interest in, or be associated with the production, processing, financing, or marketing of avocados.

(b) Public member and alternate member candidates should be able to devote sufficient time to attend committee activities regularly and to familiarize themselves with the background and economics of the avocado industry.

(c) The public member and alternate member shall be a resident of the production area.

(d) The public member and alternate member should be nominated by the Avocado Administrative Committee, and shall serve a one-year term which coincides with the term of the producer and handler members of the committee.