 How the Council Operates
Membership Categories
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 final authority to decide where his
olive crop will be delivered and sold.
Membership fee
All new farmers who join the council are required to pay $2.00 per acre if their trees are
over 5 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 per cent (10/,) 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 increases 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 for 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 at 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.
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