Apply by Mail

1. To Request for Organic Exemption for Blueberries, the applicant has to approach the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. Contact details are mentioned in “Office Locations & Contacts” of this page. Or use the following given Contact Link
2. An application form is available at the following Link
3. The applicant has to fill-in the details in the form.
4. Applicant should make sure to carry all the documents that are mentioned under the “Required Documents” section of this page (Both photocopies and originals).
5. Mail the application to the address on the application.
6. Mailing address is mentioned in “Office Locations & Contacts” of this page.
7. To be considered for exemption from U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) assessment under this rule, the blueberry producer or importer must fill out and sign the "Organic Operation Exemption Request Form," which is enclosed, and submit it to the USHBC office.
8. This application is a signed declaration that the applicant meets all of the assessment exemption conditions.
9. As long as the applicant is eligible for exemption, this application must be filed yearly, on or before January 1.
10. If your request is denied, the USHBC will notify you within the same timeframe, along with the reason(s) for denial.
11. If the exception is not granted, you might appeal to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) first.
12. If the outcomes of this appeal are not satisfactory, a second appeal can be filed with the USDA, which will determine the final judgement.
13. Nominees for producer positions are selected by producers in each respective State and/or region. The Council recommends candidates for the other offices.
14. A request for an exemption must be reviewed and approved by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) within 30 days.
15. For Further details contact U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.

• Application form
• Along with the completed assessment exemption form, the applicant must also submit a copy of a valid certificate of organic operation issued under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and the NOP regulations issued under OFPA or under a U.S. equivalency arrangement established under the NOP.
• Each person who receives product from an importer must provide a copy of the organic farm or organic handling operation certificate.

Main office:
U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
Location: 81 Blue Ravine Road, Suite 110
Folsom, California 95630

Mailing Address: U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
1847 Iron Point Road, Suite 100
Folsom, CA 95630
Phone: (916) 983-0111
Contact Link

Field Office:
USDA Field office Service Centre Locator: Link

NOTE:
Click on to the state in map to check the service centre address details.

• Must follow a National Organic Program-approved organic system plan or a US equivalent arrangement established under the National Organic Program (NOP).
• The exemption shall apply to all certified "organic" or "100 percent organic” products of a producer.
• Any producer who has been excused from paying taxes under this part for agricultural goods that do not qualify for an exemption

• For fee details, Please contact U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

• An application form is available at the following Link

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• A request for an exemption must be reviewed and approved by the USHBC within 30 days.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&>
from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the emptags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.gIn the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

• As long as the applicant is eligible for exemption, this application must be filed yearly, on or before January 1.

The information needed to be filled in the application form are listed below:

• Type of Operation
• Applicant’s First and Last Name
• CompanyName
• StreetAddress
• City/State/Zipcode
• Phone
• Fax
• E-mail
• Importer
• Tax ID

• The goal of the programme is to improve the blueberry industry's market position.
• The programme is administered by the United States Highbush Blueberry Council, which is made up of blueberry industry members who are nominated by their peers and appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.

• For more information Link

• Those that produce, handle, market, process, manufacture, feed, or import "organic" and "100 percent organic" products, regardless of whether they are a "split" enterprise, will be free from paying assessments.

Link

More information which might help people.