Act means Public Act No. 10, 73d Congress (May 12, 1933), as amended, and as reenacted and amended by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (48 Stat. 31, as amended, 68 Stat. 906, 1047; 7 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

Board means the Cherry Industry Administrative Board established pursuant to § 930.20.

Cherries means all tart/sour cherry varieties grown in the production area classified botanically as Prunus cerasas, or hybrids of Prunus cerasas by Prunus avium, or Prunus cerasas by Prunus fruticosa.

Crop year means the 12-month period beginning on July 1 of any year and ending on June 30 of the following year, or such other period as the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish.

Department or USDA means the United States Department of Agriculture.

District means one of the subdivisions of the production area described in § 930.20(c), or such other subdivisions as may be established pursuant to § 930.21, or any subdivision added pursuant to § 930.52.

Fiscal period is synonymous with fiscal year and means the 12-month period beginning on July 1 of any year and ending on June 30 of the following year, or such other period as the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish: Provided, that the initial fiscal period shall begin on the effective date of this part.

Free market tonnage percentage cherries means that proportion of cherries handled in a crop year which are free to be marketed in normal commercial outlets in that crop year under any volume regulation established pursuant to § 930.50 or § 930.51 and, in the absence of a restricted percentage being established for a crop year pursuant to § 930.50 or § 930.51, means all cherries received by handlers in that crop year.

Grower is synonymous with producer and means any person who produces cherries to be marketed in canned, frozen, or other processed form and who has a proprietary interest therein: Provided that, the term grower shall not include a person who produces cherries to be marketed exclusively for the fresh market in an unpitted condition.

Handle means the process to brine, can, concentrate, freeze, dehydrate, pit, press or puree cherries, or in any other way convert cherries commercially into a processed product, or divert cherries pursuant to § 930.59, or to otherwise place cherries into the current of commerce within the production area or from the area to points outside thereof: Provided, That the term handle shall not include:

(a) The brining, canning, concentrating, freezing, dehydration, pitting, pressing or the converting, in any other way, of cherries into a processed product for home use and not for resale.

(b) The transportation within the production area of cherries from the orchard where grown to a processing facility located within such area for preparation for market.

(c) The delivery of such cherries to such processing facility for such preparation.

(d) The sale or transportation of cherries by a grower to a handler of record within the production area.

(e) The sale of cherries in the fresh market in an unpitted condition.

Handler means any person who first handles cherries or causes cherries to be handled for his or her own account.

Person means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, or any other business unit.

Primary inventory reserve means that portion of handled cherries that are placed into handlers' inventories in accordance with any restricted percentage established pursuant to § 930.50 or § 930.51.

Production area means the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

Restricted percentage cherries means that proportion of cherries handled in a crop year which must be either placed into handlers' inventories in accordance with § 930.55 or § 930.57 or otherwise diverted in accordance with § 930.59 and thereby withheld from marketing in normal commercial outlets under any volume regulation established pursuant to § 930.50 or § 930.51.

Sales constituency means a common marketing organization or brokerage firm or individual representing a group of handlers and growers. An organization which receives consignments of cherries and does not direct where the consigned cherries are sold is not a sales constituency.

Secondary inventory reserve means any portion of handled cherries voluntarily placed into inventory by a handler under § 930.57.

Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, or any officer or employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to whom authority has heretofore been delegated, or to whom authority may hereafter be delegated, to act in the Secretary's stead.

(a) There is hereby established a Cherry Industry Administrative Board, the membership of which shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section. The number of Board members may vary, depending upon the production levels of the districts. All but one of these members shall be qualified growers and handlers selected pursuant to this part, each of whom shall have an alternate having the same qualifications as the member for whom the person is an alternate. One member of the Board shall be a public member who, along with his or her alternate, shall be elected by the Board from the general public.

(b) District representation on the Board shall be based upon the previous three-year average production in the district and shall be established as follows:

(1) Up to and including 10 million pounds shall have 1 member;

(2) Greater than 10 and up to and including 40 million pounds shall have 2 members;

(3) Greater than 40 and up to and including 80 million pounds shall have 3 members; and

(4) Greater than 80 million pounds shall have 4 members; and

(5) Allocation of the seats in each district shall be as follows but subject to the provisions of paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) of this section:

(c) Upon the adoption of this part, the production area shall be divided into the following described subdivisions for purposes of this section:

(d) The ratio of grower to handler representation in districts with three members shall alternate each time the term of a Board member from the representative group having two seats expires. During the initial period of the order, the ratio shall be as designated in paragraph (b) of this section.

(e) Board members from districts with one seat may be either grower or handler members and will be nominated and elected as outlined in § 930.23.

(f) If the 3-year average production of a district changes so that a different number of seats should be allocated to the district, then the Board will be reestablished by the Secretary, and such seats will be filled according to the applicable provisions of this part. Each district's 3-year average production shall be recalculated annually as soon as possible after each season's final production figures are known.

(g) In order to achieve a fair and balanced representation on the Board, and to prevent any one sales constituency from gaining control of the Board, not more than one Board member may be from, or affiliated with, a single sales constituency in those districts having more than one seat on the Board; Provided, That this prohibition shall not apply in a district where such a conflict cannot be avoided. There is no prohibition on the number of Board members from differing districts that may be elected from a single sales constituency which may have operations in more than one district. However, as provided in § 930.23, a handler or grower may only nominate Board members and vote in one district.

(h) Subject to the approval of the Secretary, the Board shall at its first meeting and annually thereafter elect from among any of its members a chairperson and a vice-chairperson and may elect other appropriate officers.

(i) The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish rules and regulation's necessary and incidental to the administration of this section.

Districts, subdivisions of districts, and the distribution of representation among growers and handlers within a respective district or subdivision thereof, or among the subdivision of districts, may be reestablished by the Secretary, subject to the provisions of § 930.23, based upon recommendations by the Board. In recommending any such changes, the Board shall consider:

(a) The relative importance of producing areas;

(b) Relative production;

(c) The geographic locations of producing areas as they would affect the efficiency of administration of this part;

(d) Shifts in cherry production within the districts and the production area;

(e) Changes in the proportion and role of growers and handlers within the districts; and

(f) Other relevant factors.

The term of office of each member and alternate member of the Board shall be for three fiscal years: Provided that, of the nine initial members and alternates from the combination of Districts 1, 2 and 3, one-third of such initial members and alternates shall serve only one fiscal year, one-third of such members and alternates shall serve only two fiscal years, one-third of such members and alternates shall serve three fiscal years; and one-half of the initial members and alternates from Districts 4 and 7 shall serve only one fiscal year, and one-half of such initial members and alternates shall serve two fiscal years (determination of which of the initial members and their alternates shall serve for 1 fiscal year, 2 fiscal years, or 3 fiscal years, in both instances, shall be by lot). Members and alternate members shall serve in such capacity for the portion of the term of office for which they are selected and have qualified until their respective successors are selected, have qualified and are appointed. The consecutive terms of office of grower, handler and public members and alternate members shall be limited to two 3-year terms, excluding any initial term lasting less than 3 years. The term of office of a member and alternate member for the same seat shall be the same. If this part becomes effective on a date such that the initial fiscal period is less than six months in duration, then the tolling of time for purposes of this subsection shall not begin until the beginning of the first 12-month fiscal period.

(a) Forms and ballots. Nomination and election of initial and successor members and alternate members of the Board shall be conducted through petition forms and election ballots distributed to all eligible growers and handlers via the U.S. Postal Service or other means, as determined by the Secretary. Similar petition forms and election ballots shall be used for both members and alternate members and any requirements for election of a member shall apply to the election of an alternate.

(b) Nomination. (1) In order for the name of a grower nominee to appear on an election ballot, the nominee's name must be submitted with a petition form, to be supplied by the Secretary or the Board, which, except in District 8, contains at least five signatures of growers, other than the nominee, from the nominee's district who are eligible to vote in the referendum. Grower petition forms in District 8 must be signed by only two growers, other than the nominee, from the nominee's district.

(2) In order for the name of a handler nominee to appear on an election ballot, the nominee's name must be submitted with a petition form, to be supplied by the Secretary or the Board, which contains the signature of one or more handler(s), other than the nominee, from the nominee's district who is or are eligible to vote in the election and that handle(s) a combined total of no less than five percent (5%) of the average production, as that term is used § 930.20, handled in the district. Provided, that this requirement shall not apply if its application would result in a sales constituency conflict as provided in § 930.20(g). The requirement that the petition form be signed by a handler other than the nominee shall not apply in any district where fewer than two handlers are eligible to vote.

(3) Only growers, including duly authorized officers or employees of growers, who are eligible to serve as grower members of the Board shall participate in the nomination of grower members and alternate grower members of the Board. No grower shall participate in the submission of nominees in more than one district during any fiscal period. If a grower produces cherries in more than one district, that grower may select in which district he or she wishes to participate in the nominations and election process and shall notify the Secretary or the Board of such selection. A grower may not participate in the nomination process in one district and the election process in a second district in the same election cycle.

(4) Only handlers, including duly authorized officers or employees of handlers, who are eligible to serve as handler members of the Board shall participate in the nomination of handler members and alternate handler members of the Board. No handler shall participate in the selection of nominees in more than one district during any fiscal period. If a handler handles cherries in more than one district, that handler may select in which district he or she wishes to participate in the nominations and election process and shall notify the Secretary or the Board of such selection. A handler may not participate in the nominations process in one district and the elections process in a second district in the same election cycle. If a person is a grower and a grower-handler only because some or all of his or her cherries were custom packed, but he or she does not own or lease and operate a processing facility, such person may vote only as a grower.

(5) In districts entitled to only one Board member, both growers and handlers may be nominated for the district's Board seat. Grower and handler nominations must follow the petition procedures outlined in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section.

(6) All eligible growers and handlers in all districts may submit the names of the nominees for the public member and alternate public member of the Board.

(7) After the appointment of the initial Board, the Secretary or the Board shall announce at least 180 days in advance when a Board member's term is expiring and shall solicit nominations for that position in the manner described in this section. Nominations for such position should be submitted to the Secretary or the Board not less than 120 days prior to the expiration of such term.

(c) Election. (1) After receiving nominations, the Secretary or the Board shall distribute ballots via the U.S. Postal Service or other means, as determined by the Secretary, to all eligible growers and handlers containing the names of the nominees by district for the respective seats on the Board, excluding the public voting member seat. The ballots will clearly indicate that growers and handlers may only rank or otherwise vote for nominees in their own district.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, only growers, including duly authorized officers or employees of growers, who are eligible to serve as grower members of the Board shall participate in the election of grower members and alternate grower members of the Board. No grower shall participate in the election of Board members in more than one district during any fiscal period. If a grower produces cherries in more than one district, the grower must vote in the same district in which he or she chose to participate in the nominations process under paragraph (b)(3) of this section. However, if the grower did not participate in the nominations process, he or she may select in which district he or she wishes to vote and shall notify the Secretary or the Board of such selection.

(3)(i) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(4) of this section, only handlers, including duly authorized officers or employees of handlers, who are eligible to serve as handler members of the Board shall participate in the election of handler members and alternate handler members of the Board. No handler shall participate in the election of Board members in more than one district during any fiscal period. If a handler does handle cherries in more than one district, he or she must vote in the same district in which the handler elected to participate in the nominations process under paragraph (b)(4) of this section. However, if a handler did not participate in the nominations process, that handler may select in which district he or she chooses to vote and shall notify the Secretary or the Board of such selection. If a person is a grower and a grower-handler only because some or all of his or her cherries were custom packed, but he or she does not own or lease and operate a processing facility, such person may vote only as a grower.

(ii) To be seated as a handler representative in any district, the successful candidate must receive the support of handler(s) that handled a combined total of no less than five percent (5%), of the average production, as that term is used in § 930.20, handled in the district; Provided, that this paragraph shall not apply if its application would result in a sales constituency conflict as provided in § 930.20(g).

(4) In districts entitled to only one Board member, growers and handlers may vote for either the grower or handler nominee(s) for the single seat allocated to those districts.

(d) The members of the Board appointed by the Secretary pursuant to § 930.24 shall, at the first meeting and whenever necessary thereafter, by at least a two-thirds vote of the entire Board, select individuals to serve as the public member and alternate public member of the Board from the list of nominees received from growers and handlers pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section or from other persons nominated by the Board. The persons selected shall be subject to appointment by the Secretary under § 930.24.

(e) The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish rules and regulations necessary and incidental to the administration of this section.

The selection of nominees made pursuant to elections conducted under § 930.23(c) shall be submitted to the Secretary in a format which indicates the nominees by district, with the nominee receiving the highest number of votes at the top and the number of votes received being clearly indicated. The Secretary shall appoint from those nominees or from other qualified individuals, the grower and handler members of the Board and an alternate for each such member on the basis of the representation provided for in § 930.20 or as provided for in any reapportionment or reestablishment undertaken pursuant to § 930.21. The public member and alternate public member are nominated by the Board pursuant to § 930.23(d) and shall also be subject to appointment by the Secretary. The Secretary shall appoint from nominees by the Board or from other qualified individuals the public member and the alternate public member.

If nominations are not made within the time and in the manner prescribed in § 930.23, the Secretary may, without regard to nominations, select the members and alternate members of the Board on the basis of the representation provided for in § 930.20 or as provided for in any reapportionment or reestablishment undertaken pursuant to § 930.21.

Each person to be appointed by the Secretary as a member or as an alternate member of the Board shall, prior to such appointment, qualify by advising the Secretary that he/she agrees to serve in the position for which nominated for selection.

To fill any vacancy occasioned by the failure of any person appointed as a member or as an alternate member of the Board to qualify, or in the event of the death, removal, resignation, or disqualification of any member or alternate member of the Board, a successor for the unexpired term of such member or alternate member of the Board shall be appointed by the Secretary from the most recent list of nominations for the Board made by growers and handlers, from nominations made by the Board, or from other qualified individuals. Any nominations made by the Board to fill a vacancy must be received by the Secretary within 90 days of the effective date of the vacancy. Board members wishing to resign from the Board must do so in writing to the Secretary.

An alternate member of the Board, during the absence of the member for whom that member serves as an alternate, shall act in the place and stead of such member and perform such other duties as assigned. However, if a member is in attendance at a meeting of the Board, an alternate member may not act in the place and stead of such member. In the event a member and his or her alternate are absent from a meeting of the Board, such member may designate, in writing and prior to the meeting, another alternate to act in his or her place: Provided, that such alternate represents the same group (grower or handler) as the member. In the event of the death, removal, resignation or disqualification of a member, the alternate shall act for the member until a successor is appointed and has qualified.

(a) Each grower member and each grower alternate member of the Board shall be a grower, or an officer or employee of a grower, in the district for which nominated or appointed.

(b) Each handler member and each handler alternate member of the Board shall be a handler, or an officer or employee of a handler, who owns, or leases, and operates a cherry processing facility in the district for which nominated or appointed.

(c) The public member and alternate public member of the Board shall be prohibited from having any financial interest in the cherry industry and shall possess such additional qualifications as may be established by regulation.

The Board shall have the following powers:

(a) To administer this part in accordance with its terms and provisions;

(b) To make rules and regulations to effectuate the terms and provisions of this part;

(c) To receive, investigate, and report to the Secretary complaints of violations of this part; and

(d) To recommend to the Secretary amendments to this part.

The Board shall have, among others, the following duties:

(a) To select such officers, including a chairperson and vice-chairperson, as may be necessary, and to define the duties of such officers and the duties of the chairperson and the vice-chairperson;

(b) To employ or contract with such persons or agents as the Board deems necessary and to determine the duties and compensation of such persons or agents;

(c) To select such committees and subcommittees as may be necessary;

(d) To adopt bylaws and to adopt such rules for the conduct of its business as it may deem advisable;

(e) To submit to the Secretary a budget for each fiscal period, prior to the beginning of such period, including a report explaining the items appearing therein and a recommendation as to the rates of assessments for such period;

(f) To keep minutes, books, and records which will reflect all of the acts and transactions of the Board and which shall be subject to examination by the Secretary;

(g) To prepare periodic statements of the financial operations of the Board and to make copies of each statement available to growers and handlers for examination at the office of the Board;

(h) To cause its financial statements to be audited by a certified public accountant at least once each fiscal year and at such times as the Secretary may request. Such audit shall include an examination of the receipt of assessments and the disbursement of all funds. The Board shall provide the Secretary with a copy of all audits and shall make copies of such audits, after the removal of any confidential individual grower or handler information that may be contained in them, available to growers and handlers for examination at the offices of the Board;

(i) To act as intermediary between the Secretary and any grower or handler with respect to the operations of this part;

(j) To investigate and assemble data on the growing, handling, and marketing conditions with respect to cherries;

(k) To apprise the Secretary of all Board meetings in a timely manner;

(l) To submit to the Secretary such available information as the Secretary may request;

(m) To investigate compliance with the provisions of this part;

(n) To develop and submit an annual marketing policy for approval by the Secretary containing the optimum supply of cherries for the crop year established pursuant to § 930.50 and recommending such action(s) necessary to achieve such optimum supply;

(o) To implement volume regulations established under § 930.50 and issued by the Secretary under § 930.51, including the release of any inventory reserves;

(p) To provide thorough communication to growers and handlers regarding the activities of the Board and to respond to industry inquiries about Board activities;

(q) To oversee the collection of assessments levied under this part;

(r) To enter into contracts or agreements with such persons and organizations as the Board may approve for the development and conduct of activities, including research and promotion activities, authorized under this part or for the provision of services required by this part and for the payment of the cost thereof with funds collected through assessments pursuant to § 930.41 and income from such assessments. Contracts or agreements for any plan or project shall provide that:

(1) The contractors shall develop and submit to the Board a plan or project together with a budget(s) which shall show the estimated cost to be incurred for such plan or project;

(2) Any contract or agreement for a plan or project and any plan or project adopted by the Board shall only become effective upon approval by the Secretary; and

(3) Every such contracting party shall keep accurate records of all of its transactions and make periodic reports to the Board of activities conducted and an accounting for funds received and expended, and such other reports as the Secretary or the Board may require. The Secretary or employees of the Board may audit periodically the records of the contracting party;

(s) Pending disbursement consistent with its budget, to invest, with the approval of the Secretary, and in accordance with applicable Departmental policies, funds collected through assessments authorized under § 930.41 and income from such assessments;

(t) To establish standards or grade requirements for cherries for frozen and canned cherry products, subject to the approval of the Secretary;

(u) To borrow such funds, subject to the approval of the Secretary and not to exceed the expected expenses of one fiscal year, as are necessary for administering its responsibilities and obligations under this part; and

(v) To establish, with the approval of the Secretary, such rules and procedures relative to administration of this subpart as may be consistent with the provisions contained in this subpart and as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Act and the efficient administration of this subpart.

(a) Two-thirds of the members of the Board, including alternates acting for absent members, shall constitute a quorum. For any action of the Board to pass, at least two-thirds of the entire Board must vote in support of such action.

(b) The Board may provide through its own rules and regulations, subject to approval by the Secretary, for simultaneous meetings of groups of its members assembled at different locations and for votes to be conducted by telephone or other means of communication. Votes so cast shall be promptly confirmed in writing.

(c) All meetings of the Board are open to the public, although the Board may hold portions of meetings in executive session for the consideration of certain business. The Board will establish, with the approval of the Secretary, a means of advanced notification of growers and handlers of Board meetings.

Except for the public member and alternate public member who shall receive such compensation as the Board may establish and the Secretary may approve, the members of the Board, and alternates when acting as members, shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses, as approved by the Board, incurred by them in the performance of their duties under this part. The Board at its discretion may request the attendance of one or more alternates at any or all meetings, notwithstanding the expected or actual presence of the respective member(s), and may pay the expenses of such alternates.

The Board is authorized to incur such expenses as the Secretary finds are reasonable and likely to be incurred for its maintenance and functioning and to enable it to exercise its powers and perform its duties in accordance with the provisions of this part. The funds to cover such expenses shall be acquired by the levying of assessments as provided in § 930.41.

(a) An assessment may be levied upon handlers annually under this part to cover the administrative costs of the Board, costs of inspection, and any research, development and promotion activities initiated by the Board under § 930.48.

(b) Each part of an assessment intended to cover the costs of each activity in paragraph (a) of this section, must be identified and approved by the Board and the Secretary, and any notification or other statement regarding assessments provided to handlers must contain such information.

(c) As a pro rata share of the administrative, inspection, research, development, and promotion expenses which the Secretary finds reasonable and likely to be incurred by the Board during a fiscal period, each handler shall pay to the Board assessments on all cherries handled, as the handler thereof, during such period: Provided, a handler shall be exempt from any assessment only on the tonnage of handled cherries that either are diverted by destruction at the handler's facilities according to § 930.59 or are cherries represented by grower diversion certificates issued pursuant to § 930.58(b) and acquired by handlers as described in § 930.59.

(d) The Secretary, after consideration of the recommendation of the Board, shall fix the rate of assessment to be paid by each handler during the fiscal period in an amount designed to secure sufficient funds to cover the expenses which may be approved and incurred during such period or subsequent period as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. At any time during or after the fiscal period, the Secretary may increase the rate of assessment in order to secure sufficient funds to cover any later finding by the Secretary relative to the expenses which may be incurred. Such increase shall be applied to all cherries handled during the applicable fiscal period. In order to provide funds for the administration of the provisions of this part during the first part of a fiscal period before sufficient operating income is available from assessments, the Board may accept the payment of assessments in advance, and may borrow money for such purposes.

(e) Assessments not paid within a time prescribed by the Board may be made subject to interest or late payment charges, or both. The period of time, rate of interest, and late payment charge will be as recommended by the Board and approved by the Secretary: Provided, That when interest or late payment charges are in effect, they shall be applied to all assessments not paid within the prescribed period of time.

(f) Assessments shall be calculated on the basis of pounds of cherries handled. The established assessment rate may be uniform, or may vary dependent on the product the cherries are used to manufacture. In recommending annual assessment rates, the Board shall consider:

(1) The differences in the number of pounds of cherries utilized for various cherry products; and

(2) The relative market values of such cherry products.

(g) The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish rules and regulations necessary and incidental to the administration of this section.

(a) If, at the end of a fiscal period, the assessments collected are in excess of expenses incurred, the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may carry over all or any portion of such excess into subsequent fiscal periods as a reserve. Such reserve funds may be used to cover any expenses authorized by this part, and to cover necessary expenses of liquidation in the event of termination of this part. If any such excess is not retained in a reserve, it shall be refunded proportionately to the handlers from whom the excess was collected. Without an additional reserve level approved by the Secretary, the amount held in reserve may not exceed approximately one year's operational expenses. Upon termination of this part, any funds not required to defray the necessary expenses of liquidation shall be disposed of in such a manner as the Secretary may determine to be appropriate: Provided, That to the extent practicable, such funds shall be returned pro rata to the persons from whom such funds were collected.

(b) All funds received by the Board pursuant to the provisions of this part shall be used solely for the purpose specified in this part and shall be accounted for in the manner provided in this part. The Secretary may at any time require the Board and its members to account for all receipts and disbursements.

(a) Quality standards. The Board may establish, with the approval of the Secretary, such minimum quality and inspection requirements applicable to cherries as will contribute to orderly marketing or be in the public interest. If such requirements are adopted, no handler shall process cherries into manufactured products or sell manufactured products in the current of commerce unless such cherries and/or such cherries used in the manufacture of products meet the applicable requirements as evidenced by certification acceptable to the Board. The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish rules and regulations necessary and incidental to the administration of this section.

(b) Inspection and certification. Whenever the handling of any cherries requires inspection pursuant to this part, each handler who handles cherries shall cause such cherries to be inspected by the appropriate division of USDA, and certified by it as meeting the applicable requirements of such regulation: Provided, That inspection and certification shall be required for cherries which previously have been so inspected and certified only if such cherries have been regraded, resorted, repackaged, or in any other way further prepared for market. Promptly after inspection and certification, each such handler shall submit, or cause to be submitted, to the Board a copy of the certificate of inspection issued with respect to such cherries.

The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish or provide for the establishment of production and processing research, market research and development, and/or promotional activities, including paid advertising, designed to assist, improve or promote the efficient production and processing, marketing, distribution, and consumption of cherries subject to this part. The expense of such projects shall be paid from funds collected pursuant to this part and the income from such funds.

(a) Optimum supply. On or about July 1 of each crop year, the Board shall hold a meeting to review sales data, inventory data, current crop forecasts and market conditions in order to establish an optimum supply level for the crop year. The optimum supply volume shall be calculated as 100 percent of the average sales of the prior three years reduced by average sales that represent dispositions of exempt cherries and restricted percentage cherries qualifying for diversion credit for the same three years, unless the Board determines that it is necessary to recommend otherwise with respect to sales of exempt and restricted percentage cherries, to which shall be added a desirable carry-out inventory not to exceed 20 million pounds or such other amount as the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish. This optimum supply volume shall be announced by the Board in accordance with paragraph (h) of this section.

(b) Preliminary percentages. On or about July 1 of each crop year, the Board shall establish a preliminary free market tonnage percentage which shall be calculated as follows: from the optimum supply computed in paragraph (a) of this section, the Board shall deduct the carry-in inventory to determine the tonnage requirements (adjusted to a raw fruit equivalent) for the current crop year which will be subtracted from the current year USDA crop forecast or by an average of such other crop estimates the Board votes to use. If the resulting number is positive, this would represent the estimated overproduction which would be the restricted tonnage. This restricted tonnage would then be divided by the sum of the crop forecast(s) for the regulated districts to obtain a preliminary restricted percentage, rounded to the nearest whole number, for the regulated districts. If subtracting the current crop year requirement, computed in the first sentence from the current crop forecast, results in a negative number, the Board shall establish a preliminary free market tonnage percentage of 100 percent with a preliminary restricted percentage of zero. The Board shall announce these preliminary percentages in accordance with paragraph (h) of this section.

(c) Interim percentages. Between July 1 and September 15 of each crop year, the Board may modify the preliminary free market tonnage and restricted percentages to adjust to the actual pack occurring in the industry. The Board shall announce any interim percentages in accordance with paragraph (h) of this section.

(d) Final percentages. No later than September 15 of each crop year, the Board shall review the most current information available including, but not limited to, processed production and grower diversions of cherries during the current crop year. The Board shall make such adjustments as are necessary between free and restricted tonnage to achieve the optimum supply and recommend such final free market tonnage and restricted percentages to the Secretary and announce them in accordance with paragraph (h) of this section. The difference between any final free market tonnage percentage designated by the Secretary and 100 percent shall be the final restricted percentage. With its recommendation, the Board shall report on its consideration of the factors in paragraph (e) of this section.

(e) Factors. When computing preliminary and interim percentages, or determining final percentages for recommendation to the Secretary, the Board shall give consideration to the following factors:

(1) The estimated total production of cherries;

(2) The estimated size of the crop to be handled;

(3) The expected general quality of such cherry production;

(4) The expected carryover as of July 1 of canned and frozen cherries and other cherry products;

(5) The expected demand conditions for cherries in different market segments;

(6) Supplies of competing commodities;

(7) An analysis of economic factors having a bearing on the marketing of cherries;

(8) The estimated tonnage held by handlers in primary or secondary inventory reserves;

(9) Any estimated release of primary or secondary inventory reserve cherries during the crop year; and

(10) The quantity of grower-diverted cherries during the crop year.

(f) Modification. In the event the Board subsequently deems it advisable to modify its marketing policy, because of national emergency, crop failure, or other major change in economic conditions, it shall hold a meeting for that purpose, and file a report thereof with the Secretary within 5 days (exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) after the holding of such meeting, which report shall show the Board's recommended modification and the basis therefor.

(g) Additional tonnage to sell as free tonnage. In addition, the Board, in years when restricted percentages are established, shall make available tonnage equivalent to an additional 10 percent, if available, of the average sales of the prior 3 years, as defined in paragraph (a) of this section, for market expansion.

(h) Publicity. The Board shall promptly give reasonable publicity to growers and handlers of each meeting to consider a marketing policy or any modification thereof, and each such meeting shall be open to them and to the public. Similar publicity shall be given to growers and handlers of each marketing policy report or modification thereof, filed with the Secretary and of the Secretary's action thereon. Copies of all marketing policy reports shall be maintained in the office of the Board, where they shall be made available for examination. The Board shall notify handlers, and give reasonable publicity to growers, of its computation of the optimum supply, preliminary percentages, and interim percentages and shall notify handlers of the Secretary's action on final percentages by registered or certified mail.

(i) Restricted percentages. Restricted percentage requirements established under paragraphs (b), (c), or (d) of this section may be fulfilled by handlers by either establishing an inventory reserve in accordance with § 930.55 or § 930.57 or by diversion of product in accordance with § 930.59. In years where required, the Board shall establish a maximum percentage of the restricted quantity which may be established as a primary inventory reserve such that the total primary inventory reserve does not exceed 50-million pounds; Provided, That such 50-million-pound quantity may be changed upon recommendation of the Board and approval of the Secretary. Any such change shall be recommended by the Board on or before September 30 of any crop year to become effective for the following crop year, and the quantity may be changed no more than one time per crop year. Handlers will be permitted to divert (at plant or with grower diversion certificates) as much of the restricted percentage requirement as they deem appropriate, but may not establish a primary inventory reserve in excess of the percentage established by the Board for restricted cherries. In the event handlers wish to establish inventory reserve in excess of this amount, they may do so, in which case it will be classified as a secondary inventory reserve and will be regulated accordingly.

(j) Inventory Reserve Release. In years when inventory reserve cherries are available and when the expected availability of cherries from the current crop plus expected carryin inventory does not fulfill the optimum supply, the Board shall release not later than November 1st of the current crop year such volume from the inventory reserve as will satisfy the optimum supply.

(k) The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish rules and regulations necessary and incidental to the administration of this section.

(a) Whenever the Secretary finds, from the recommendation and supporting information supplied by the Board, that to designate final free market tonnage and restricted percentages for any cherries acquired by handlers during the crop year will tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act, the Secretary shall designate such percentages. Such regulation designating such percentage shall fix the free market tonnage and restricted percentages, totaling 100 percent, which shall be applied in accordance with this section, §§ 930.55, 930.57 and 930.59 to cherries grown in regulated districts, as determined under § 930.52, and handled during such fiscal period.

(b) The Board shall be informed immediately of any such regulation issued by the Secretary, and the Board shall promptly give notice thereof to handlers.

(c) That portion of a handler's cherries that are restricted percentage cherries is the product of the restricted percentage imposed under paragraph (a) of this section multiplied by the tonnage of cherries, originating in a regulated district, handled, including those diverted according to § 930.59, by that handler in that fiscal year.

(d) The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, shall develop rules and regulations which shall provide guidelines for handlers in complying with any restricted tonnage requirements, including, but not limited to, a grace period of at least 30 days to segregate and appropriately document any tonnage they wish to place in the inventory reserve and to assemble any applicable diversion certificates.

(a) The districts in which handlers shall be subject to any volume regulations implemented in accordance with this part shall be those districts in which the average annual production of cherries over the prior 3 years has exceeded 6 million pounds. Handlers shall become subject to volume regulation implemented in accordance with this part in the crop year that follows any 3-year period in which the 6-million pound average production requirement is exceeded in that district.

(b) Handlers in districts which are not subject to volume regulation would only be so regulated to the extent that they handled cherries which were grown in a district subject to regulation as specified in paragraph (a) of this section. In such a case, the handler must place in inventory reserve pursuant to § 930.55 or § 930.57 or divert pursuant to § 930.59 the required restricted percentage of the crop originating in the regulated district.

(c) Handlers in districts not meeting the production requirement described in paragraph (a) of this section in a given year would not be subject to volume regulation in the next crop year.

(d) Any district producing a crop which is less than 50 percent of the average annual processed production in that district in the previous five years would be exempt from any volume regulation if, in that year, a restricted percentage is established.

(e) The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish rules and regulations necessary and incidental to the administration of this section.

(a) In the event the Board at any time finds that, by reason of changed conditions, any regulations issued pursuant to § 930.44 or § 930.51 should be modified, suspended, or terminated, it shall so recommend to the Secretary.

(b) Whenever the Secretary finds, from the recommendations and information submitted by the Board or from other available information, that a regulation issued pursuant to § 930.44 or § 930.51 should be modified, suspended or terminated with respect to any or all shipments of cherries in order to effectuate the declared policy of the Act, the Secretary shall modify, suspend, or terminate such regulation.

Cherries that are placed in inventory reserve pursuant to the requirements of § 930.50, § 930.51, § 930.55, or § 930.57 shall not be used or disposed of by any handler or any other person except as provided in § 930.50 or in paragraphs (a), (b), or (c) of this section.

(a) If the Board determines that the total available supplies for use in commercial outlets are less than the amount needed to meet the demand in such outlets, the Board may recommend to the Secretary that a portion or all of the primary and/or secondary inventory reserve cherries be released for such use.

(b) The Board may recommend to the Secretary that a portion or all of the primary and/or secondary inventory reserve cherries be released for sale in certain designated markets. Such designated markets may be defined in terms of the use or form of the cherries.

(c) Cherries in the primary and/or secondary inventory reserve may be used at any time for uses exempt from regulation under § 930.62.

(d) Should the volume of cherries held in the primary inventory reserves and, subsequently, the secondary inventory reserves reach a minimum amount, which level will be established by the Secretary upon recommendation from the Board, the products held in the respective reserves shall be released from the reserves and made available to the handlers as free tonnage.

(a) Whenever the Secretary has fixed the free market tonnage and restricted percentages for any fiscal period, as provided for in § 930.51(a), each handler in a regulated district shall place in his or her primary inventory reserve for such period, at such time, and in such manner, as the Board may prescribe, or otherwise divert, according to § 930.59, a portion of the cherries acquired during such period.

(b) The form of the cherries, frozen, canned in any form, dried, or concentrated juice, placed in the primary inventory reserve is at the option of the handler. The product(s) placed by the handler in the primary inventory reserve must have been produced in either the current or the preceding two crop years. Except as may be limited by § 930.50(i) or as may be permitted pursuant to §§ 930.59 and 930.62, such inventory reserve portion shall be equal to the sum of the products obtained by multiplying the weight or volume of the cherries in each lot of cherries acquired during the fiscal period by the then effective restricted percentage fixed by the Secretary; Provided, That in converting cherries in each lot to the form chosen by the handler, the inventory reserve obligations shall be adjusted in accordance with uniform rules adopted by the Board in terms of raw fruit equivalent.

(c) Inventory reserve cherries shall meet such standards of grade, quality, or condition as the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish. All such cherries shall be inspected by USDA. A certificate of such inspection shall be issued which shall show, among other things, the name and address of the handler, the number and type of containers in the lot, the grade of the product, the location where the lot is stored, identification marks (can codes or lot stamp), and a certification that the cherries meet the prescribed standards. Promptly after inspection and certification, each such handler shall submit, or cause to be submitted, to the Board, at the place designated by the Board, a copy of the certificate of inspection issued with respect to such cherries.

(d) Handlers shall be compensated for inspection costs incurred on cherries placed in the primary inventory reserve. All reporting of cherries placed in, rotated in and out, or released from an inventory reserve shall be in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Board, with the approval of the Secretary. The Board could, with the approval of the Secretary, also limit the number of inspections of reserve cherries being rotated into inventory reserves for which the Board would be financially liable.

(e) Except as provided in § 930.54, handlers may not sell inventory reserve cherries prior to their official release by the Board. Handlers may rotate cherries in their inventory reserves with prior notification to the Board. All cherries rotated into the inventory reserve must meet the applicable inspection requirements.

Any handler may, upon notification to the Board, arrange to hold inventory reserve, of his or her own production or which was purchased, on the premises of another handler or in an approved commercial storage facility in the same manner as though the inventory reserve were on the handler's own premises.

(a) In the event the inventory reserve established under § 930.55 of this part is at its maximum volume, and the Board has announced, in accordance with § 930.50, that volume regulation will be necessary to maintain an orderly supply of quality cherries for the market, handlers in a regulated district may elect to place in a secondary inventory reserve all or a portion of the cherries the volume regulation would otherwise require them to divert in accordance with § 930.59.

(b) Should any handler in a regulated district exercise his or her right to establish a secondary inventory reserve under paragraph (a) of this section, all costs of maintaining that reserve, as well as inspection costs, will be the responsibility of the individual handler.

(c) The secondary inventory reserve shall be established in accordance with §§ 930.55 (b) and (c) and such other rules and regulations which the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish.

(d) The Board shall retain control over the release of any cherries from the secondary inventory reserve. No cherries may be released from the secondary reserve until all cherries in any primary inventory reserve established under § 930.55 have been released. Any release of the secondary inventory reserve shall be in accordance with the annual marketing policy and with § 930.54.

(a) In general. Any grower may voluntarily elect to divert, in accordance with the provisions of this section, all or a portion of the cherries which otherwise, upon delivery to a handler, would become restricted percentage cherries. Upon such diversion and compliance with the provisions of this section, the Board shall issue to the diverting grower a grower diversion certificate which such grower may deliver to a handler. Any grower diversions completed in accordance with this section, but which are undertaken in districts subsequently exempted by the Board from volume regulation under § 930.52(d), shall qualify for diversion credit.

(b) Eligible diversion. Grower diversion certificates shall be issued to growers only if the cherries are diverted in accordance with the following terms and conditions or such other terms and conditions that the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish. Diversion may take such of the following forms which the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may designate: uses exempt under § 930.62; nonhuman food uses; or other uses, including diversion by leaving such cherries unharvested.

(c) Application/mapping. The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, shall develop rules and regulations providing for the diversion of cherries by growers. Such regulations may include, among other things:

(1) The form and content of applications and agreements relating to the diversion, including provisions for supervision and compensation; and

(2) Provisions for mapping areas in which cherries will be left unharvested.

(d) Diversion certificate. If the Board approves the application it shall so notify the applicant and conduct such supervision of the applicant's diversion of cherries as may be necessary to assure that the cherries have been diverted. After the diversion has been accomplished, the Board shall issue to the diverting grower a diversion certificate stating the weight of cherries diverted. Where diversion is carried out by leaving the cherries unharvested, the Board shall estimate the weight of cherries diverted on the basis of such uniform rule prescribed in rules and regulations as the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may recommend to implement this section.

(a) In general. Handlers handling cherries harvested in a regulated district may fulfill any restricted percentage requirement in full or in part by acquiring diversion certificates or by voluntarily diverting cherries or cherry products in a program approved by the Board, rather than placing cherries in an inventory reserve. Upon voluntary diversion and compliance with the provisions of this section, the Board shall issue to the diverting handler a handler diversion certificate which shall satisfy any restricted percentage or diversion requirement to the extent of the Board or Department inspected weight of the cherries diverted.

(b) Eligible diversion. Handler diversion certificates shall be issued to handlers only if the cherries are diverted in accordance with the following terms and conditions or such other terms and conditions that the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish. Such diversion may take place in any form which the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may designate. Tart cherry juice and juice concentrate may receive diversion credit but only if diverted in forms approved under the terms of this section. Such forms may include, but are not limited to:

(1) Contribution to a Board-approved food bank or other approved charitable organization;

(2) Use for new product and new market development;

(3) Export to designated destinations; or

(4) Other uses or disposition, including destruction of the cherries at the handler's facilities.

(c) Notification. The handler electing to divert cherries through means authorized under this section shall first notify the Board of such election. Such notification shall describe in detail the manner in which the handler proposes to divert cherries including, if the diversion is to be by means of destruction of the cherries, a detailed description of the means of destruction and ultimate disposition of the cherries. It shall also contain an agreement that the proposed diversion is to be carried out under the supervision of the Board and that the cost of such supervision is to be paid by the handler. Uniform fees for such supervision may be established by the Board, pursuant to rules and regulations approved by the Secretary.

(d) Diversion certificate. The Board shall conduct such supervision of the handler's diversion of cherries under paragraph (c) of this section as may be necessary to assure that the cherries are diverted as authorized. After the diversion has been completed, the Board shall issue to the diverting handler a handler diversion certificate indicating the weight of cherries which may be used to offset any restricted percentage requirement.

(e) Transfer of certificates. Within such restrictions as may be prescribed in rules and regulations, including but not limited to procedures for transfer of diversion credit and limitations on the type of certification eligible for transfer, a handler who acquires diversion certificates representing diverted cherries during any crop year may transfer such certificates to another handler or handlers. The Board must be notified in writing whenever such transfers take place during a crop year.

(f) The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish rules and regulations necessary and incidental to the administration of this section.

(a) Inventory reserve ownership. The inventory reserve shall be the sole responsibility of the handlers who place products into the inventory reserve. A handler's equity in the primary inventory reserve may be transferred to another person upon notification to the Board.

(b) Agreements with growers. Individual handlers are encouraged to have written agreements with growers who deliver their cherries to the handler as to how any restricted percentage cherries delivered to the handler will be handled and what share, if any, the grower will have in the eventual sale of any inventory reserve cherries.

(c) Rulemaking authority. The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may adopt rules and regulations necessary and incidental to the administration of this section.

Each handler handling cherries from a regulated district that is subject to volume regulations shall be compensated by the Board for inspection relating to the primary inventory reserve as the Board may deem to be appropriate. The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish such rules and regulations as are necessary and incidental to the administration of this section.

(a) The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may exempt from the provisions of § 930.41, § 930.44, § 940.51, § 930.53, or § 930.55 through § 930.57 cherries for designated uses. Such uses may include, but are not limited to:

(1) New product and new market development;

(2) Export to designated destinations;

(3) Experimental purposes; or

(4) For any other use designated by the Board, including cherries processed into products for markets for which less than 5 percent of the preceding 5-year average production of cherries were utilized.

(b) The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, shall prescribe such rules, regulations, and safeguards as it may deem necessary to ensure that cherries handled under the provisions of this section are handled only as authorized.

(c) Diversion certificates shall not be issued for cherries which are used for exempt purposes; Provided, that growers engaging in such activities under the authority of § 930.58 shall be issued diversion certificates for such activities.

(a) Bonding. The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may require handlers to secure bonds on deferred inventory reserve tonnage. Handlers may, in order to comply with the requirements of §§ 930.50 and 930.51 and regulations issued thereunder, secure bonds on restricted percentage cherries to temporarily defer the date that inventory reserve cherries must be held to any date requested by the handler. This date shall be not later than 60 days prior to the end of that crop year. Such deferment shall be conditioned upon the voluntary execution and delivery by the handler to the Board of a written undertaking within thirty (30) days after the Secretary announces the final restricted percentage under § 930.51. Such written undertaking shall be secured by a bond or bonds with a surety or sureties acceptable to the Board that on or prior to the acceptable deferred date the handler will have fully satisfied the restricted percentage amount required by § 930.51.

(b) Rulemaking authority. The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may adopt rules and regulations necessary and incidental to the administration of this section.

(a) Weekly production, monthly sales, and inventory data. Each handler shall, upon request of the Board, file promptly with the Board, reports showing weekly production data; monthly sales and inventory data; and such other information, including the volume of any cherries placed in or released from a primary or secondary inventory reserve or diverted, as the Board shall specify with respect to any cherries handled by the handler. Such information may be provided to the Board members in summary or aggregated form only without any reference to the individual sources of the information.

(b) Other reports. Upon the request of the Board, with the approval of the Secretary, each handler shall furnish to the Board such other information with respect to the cherries acquired, handled, stored and disposed of by such handler as may be necessary to enable the Board to exercise its powers and perform its duties under this part.

(c) Protection of proprietary information. Under no circumstances shall any information or reports be made available to the Board members, or to any person designated by the Board or by the Secretary, which will reveal the proprietary information of an individual handler.

Each handler shall maintain such records of all cherries acquired, handled, stored or sold, or otherwise disposed of as will substantiate the required reports and as may be prescribed by the Board. All such records shall be maintained for not less than two years after the termination of the fiscal year in which the transactions occurred or for such lesser period as the Board may direct with the approval of the Secretary.

For the purpose of assuring compliance and checking and verifying the reports filed by handlers, the Secretary and the Board, through its duly authorized agents, shall have access to any premises where applicable records are maintained, where cherries are received, stored, or handled, and, at any time during reasonable business hours, shall be permitted to inspect such handlers premises and any and all records of such handlers with respect to matters within the purview of this part.

All reports and records furnished or submitted by handlers to the Board and its authorized agents which include data or information constituting a trade secret or disclosing trade position, financial condition, or business operations of the particular handler from whom received, shall be received by and at all times kept in the custody and under the control of one or more employees of the Board or its agent, who shall disclose such information to no person other than the Secretary.

Except as provided in this part, no person may handle cherries, the handling of which has been prohibited by the Secretary under this part, and no person shall handle cherries except in conformity with the provisions of this part and the regulations issued hereunder. No person may handle any cherries for which a diversion certificate has been issued other than as provided in §§ 930.58(b) and 930.59(b).

Members of the Board (including successors and alternates), and any agents, employees, or representatives thereof, shall be subject to removal or suspension by the Secretary at any time. Each regulation, decision, determination, or other act of the Board shall be subject to the Secretary's disapproval at any time. Upon such disapproval, the disapproved action of the Board shall be deemed null and void, except as to acts done in reliance thereon or in accordance therewith prior to such disapproval by the Secretary.

The provisions of this part, and of any amendment thereto, shall become effective at such time as the Secretary may declare, and shall continue in force until terminated, or suspended.

(a) The Secretary may, at any time, terminate any or all of the provisions of this part by giving at least 1 day's notice by means of a press notice or in any other manner in which the Secretary may determine.

(b) The Secretary shall terminate or suspend the operation of any or all of the provisions of this part whenever the Secretary finds that such provisions do not tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act.

(c) The Secretary shall terminate the provisions of this part whenever the Secretary finds by referendum or otherwise that such termination is favored by a majority of the growers and processors: Provided, That such majority has, during the current fiscal year, produced or canned and frozen more than 50 percent of the volume of the cherries which were produced or processed within the production area. Such termination shall become effective on the last day of June subsequent to the announcement thereof by the Secretary.

(d) The Secretary shall conduct a referendum within the month of March of every sixth year after the effective date of this part to ascertain whether continuation of this part is favored by the growers and processors. The Secretary may terminate the provisions of this part at the end of any fiscal period in which the Secretary has found that continuance is not favored by a majority of growers and processors who, during a representative period determined by the Secretary, have been engaged in the production or processing of tart cherries in the production area. Such termination shall be announced on or before the end of the fiscal period.

(e) The provisions of this part shall, in any event, terminate whenever the provisions of the Act authorizing them cease to be in effect.

(a) Upon the termination of the provisions of this part, the then functioning members of the Board shall, for the purpose of liquidating the affairs of the Board, continue as trustees of all the funds and property then in its possession, or under its control, including claims for any funds unpaid or property not delivered at the time of such termination.

(b) The said trustees shall:

(1) continue in such capacity until discharged by the Secretary;

(2) from time to time account for all receipts and disbursements and deliver all property on hand, together with all books and records of the Board and of the trustees, to such person as the Secretary may direct; and

(3) upon the request of the Secretary, execute such assignments or other instruments necessary or appropriate to vest in such person full title and right to all of the funds, property, and claims vested in the Board or in the trustees pursuant to this part.

(c) Any person to whom funds, property, and claims have been transferred or delivered, pursuant to this section, shall be subject to the same obligations imposed upon the Board and upon the trustees.

Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Secretary, the termination of this part or of any regulation issued pursuant to this part, or the issuance of any amendment to either thereof, shall not:

(a) Affect or waive any right, duty, obligation, or liability which shall have risen or which may thereafter arise in connection with any provision of this part or any regulation issued thereunder;

(b) Release or extinguish any violation of this part or any regulation issued thereunder;

(c) Affect or impair any rights or remedies of the Secretary or any other person with respect to any such violation.

The benefits, privileges, and immunities conferred upon any person by virtue of this part shall cease upon its termination, except with respect to acts done under and during the existence of this part.

The Secretary may, by designation in writing, name any officer or employee of the United States, or name any agency or division in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to act as the Secretary's agent or representative in connection with any provisions of this part.

Nothing contained in this part is, or shall be construed to be, in derogation or in modification of the rights of the Secretary or of the United States to exercise any powers granted by the Act or otherwise, or, in accordance with such powers, to act in the premises whenever such action is deemed advisable.

No member or alternate member of the Board and no employee or agent of the Board shall be held personally responsible, either individually or jointly with others, in any way whatsoever, to any person for errors in judgment, mistakes, or other acts, either of commission or omission, as such member, alternate member, employee, or agent, except for acts of dishonesty, willful misconduct, or gross negligence.

If any provision of this part is declared invalid or the applicability thereof to any person, circumstance, or thing is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this part or the applicability thereof to any other person, circumstance, or thing shall not be affected thereby.

Amendments to this subpart may be proposed, from time to time, by the Board or by the Secretary.

(a) In accordance with paragraph (b) of this section, the Board may, for the 1997 crop year, issue diversion certificates to growers, in districts subject to volume regulation (Northwest Michigan, Central Michigan, New York, and Utah) who have voluntarily elected to divert in the orchard all or a portion of their 1997 tart cherry production which otherwise, upon delivery to handlers, would become restricted percentage cherries. Growers may offer the diversion certificate to handlers in lieu of delivering cherries.

(b) Terms and conditions. To be eligible to receive diversion credit, growers voluntarily choosing to divert cherries must meet the following terms and conditions:

(1) In order to receive a certificate, a grower must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Board, that rows or trees which were selected for diversion were not harvested. Trees six years old or younger do not qualify for diversion.

(2) The grower must furnish the Board with a total harvested production amount so the Board can calculate the amount of grower diversion tonnage to be placed on the diversion certificate. The Board will confirm the grower's production amount with information provided by handlers (to which the grower delivers cherries) on Board Form Number Two.

(3) The grower must agree to allow a Board compliance officer to visit the grower's orchard to confirm that diversion has actually taken place.

(c) Calculation of diversion amounts. The weight of cherries diverted and left unharvested shall be calculated by the Board after growers furnish the Board with the necessary information concerning their production. After verification of the volume of cherries diverted, the Board shall calculate the amounts of grower diversion tonnage to be placed on the diversion certificates and issue such certificates to growers. Such amounts shall be determined as follows:

(1) For whole block diversion, the weight of a harvested sample of 5 percent of each diverted block, provided by the grower, will be used to calculate the total volume of diverted cherries to be credited on the diversion certificate. For example, a grower farms 1,000 acres and elects to whole block divert a 200-acre block. If 5 percent of the harvested trees in the block diverted yield 80,000 pounds of cherries, the grower would receive a diversion certificate for 1,600,000 pounds (80,000 pounds divided by 5 percent (.05) yields 1,600,000 pounds). The rest of the block would remain unharvested.

(2) For random row diversion, such estimated volume would be calculated by applying the percentage of the grower's production diverted to the actual average volume per acre of cherries produced and harvested. For example, a grower farms 1,000 acres and elects to divert 20 percent of the harvestable acreage (200 acres). The grower harvests the remaining 800 acres and obtains 6,400,000 pounds of cherries, which represents a yield per acre of 8,000 pounds. Such grower would receive a diversion certificate for 1,600,000 pounds of cherries (8,000 lbs multiplied by the 20 percent of the total acreage diverted; in this instance, 200 acres).

Pursuant to § 930.7, fiscal period shall mean the period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 of each year.

When the production level from a district falls below the thresholds stated in § 930.20(b)(5), members of the specific district will make a recommendation to the Board as to who should be removed from the Board and the Board shall submit a recommendation to the Secretary for approval. If the recommendation is not made by the Board within a reasonable time, the Secretary may select the member and alternate to be removed.