How the Council Operates
Membership Categories
There are three categories of membership in the council:
There are three categories of membership in the council:
- Open-Pool Members - those council members who seek to get the best possible price for their olives by pooling tonnage.
- Agency Members - producers who have existing contracts or plan to sign term contracts with their processors. Council members with contracts still have protection of the law and the right to negotiate for price as association members.
- Cooperative Members - producers who market their olives through cooperative processors. This category of grower is also important. The added support helps the council both politically and financially. Prices that are negotiated with the independent processors becomes the base price for the cooperative grower.
Freedom to Choose Processor
As a member of the council, the farmer always has the final authority to decide where their olive crop with be delivered and sold.
As a member of the council, the farmer always has the final authority to decide where their olive crop with be delivered and sold.
Membership Fee
All new farmers who join the council require to pay $2.00 per acre if their trees are over five years of age. There is no membership fee for trees five years or less in age.
All new farmers who join the council require to pay $2.00 per acre if their trees are over five years of age. There is no membership fee for trees five years or less in age.
Council Operating Assessment
To operate successfully, the council must have capital. Funding comes from an annual assessment that can never exceed one percent (1%) of the annual base price average. For example, if the 1989 base price for olives averages $600 per ton, the maximum assessment would be $6 per ton. However, over the past 10 years, the assessment has averaged much less. The larger the membership, the smaller the assessment.
The assessment is insignificant when compared to the price increase enjoyed by farmers because of the council's bargaining efforts. Without the council, olive prices would be much less. It is in the best interest of all farmers to keep the council a strong, viable organization.
To operate successfully, the council must have capital. Funding comes from an annual assessment that can never exceed one percent (1%) of the annual base price average. For example, if the 1989 base price for olives averages $600 per ton, the maximum assessment would be $6 per ton. However, over the past 10 years, the assessment has averaged much less. The larger the membership, the smaller the assessment.
The assessment is insignificant when compared to the price increase enjoyed by farmers because of the council's bargaining efforts. Without the council, olive prices would be much less. It is in the best interest of all farmers to keep the council a strong, viable organization.
Board of Directors
Council policy and leadership comes from an elected nine-person board. The board can then appoint a certain number of directors at large. Each director is elected for a two-year term and can serve a maximum of eight consecutive years. All directors are nominated and elected from the council's membership.
Council policy and leadership comes from an elected nine-person board. The board can then appoint a certain number of directors at large. Each director is elected for a two-year term and can serve a maximum of eight consecutive years. All directors are nominated and elected from the council's membership.
Officers
Council officers are elected by the directors with the exception of the president who is elected by and serves are the pleasure of the board.
Council officers are elected by the directors with the exception of the president who is elected by and serves are the pleasure of the board.
Meetings
The board of directors meets once each month to consider policy review financial conditions, discuss industry markets and determine future direction of the council. In addition, once each year the council hosts an annual dinner meeting for its members.
All council members are welcome and encouraged to attend any of the scheduled meetings.
The board of directors meets once each month to consider policy review financial conditions, discuss industry markets and determine future direction of the council. In addition, once each year the council hosts an annual dinner meeting for its members.
All council members are welcome and encouraged to attend any of the scheduled meetings.
About Bargaining
California has a law in the Food and Agriculture Code that enables farmers to legally organize cooperative bargaining associations providing they meet the requirements of the law. When these criteria are met, the State of California will then protect and encourage farmers, through their associations, to negotiate for price and terms of contract even if the farmers have already signed a processor contract. One major requirement of the law is that the council represent a substantial number of the farmers. Since membership is voluntary, the Council must continually contact growers and encourage them to join.
As a "grass roots" organization, the Olive Growers Council is owned, operated, and controlled by a farmer board. All meetings are open and members are encouraged to participate.
With some of the better olive prices in history being paid to the producer, many new acres have been planted. It is imperative that we maintain a strong bargaining position if prices are going to improve for the grower.
When price negotiations are finalized, the prices agreed to between the council and the processors become the base price for the entire industry. Therefore, all olive farmers should belong to and support the council. This is a major objective of the Olive Growers Council - that a majority of producers become members. It is in every olive farmer's economic best interest to support the organization that works to improve olive prices. Only through formal negotiations will the producer receive his fair share of what the market place returns.
As a "grass roots" organization, the Olive Growers Council is owned, operated, and controlled by a farmer board. All meetings are open and members are encouraged to participate.
With some of the better olive prices in history being paid to the producer, many new acres have been planted. It is imperative that we maintain a strong bargaining position if prices are going to improve for the grower.
When price negotiations are finalized, the prices agreed to between the council and the processors become the base price for the entire industry. Therefore, all olive farmers should belong to and support the council. This is a major objective of the Olive Growers Council - that a majority of producers become members. It is in every olive farmer's economic best interest to support the organization that works to improve olive prices. Only through formal negotiations will the producer receive his fair share of what the market place returns.
|
Olive Growers Council of California
|
2565 Alluvial Ave. #152
Clovis, CA 93611 |
P: 559-578-8438
F: 559-456-9099 |