Voting is underway to elect two independent grower member and alternate positions and two independent handler member and alternate positions to the Almond Board of California (ABC) board of directors.

The terms for those elected will begin March 1, 2015.

Candidates for the independent grower positions include:

Position one, member (one-year term) - Dave Phippen, Manteca

Position one, alternate - Brad Klump, Escalon

Position three, member (three-year term) - Holly King, Bakersfield

Position three, alternate - Petitioners Di Quaresma of Ripon, Caleb Gervase of Escalon, and Leon Etchepare, Maxwell.

Candidates for the independent handler positions include:

Position two, member (three-year term) - Dexter Long, Ballico                                           

Position two, alternate - Todd Meyer, Chico

Position three, member (one-year term) - Joel Perkins, Coalinga      

Position three, alternate - Dinesh Bajaj, Orland                                

Ballots and instructions were mailed to all independent growers and handlers whose names are on file with the ABC. If an independent grower or handler has not received a ballot, contact the ABC office at 1150 Ninth Street, Suite 1500, Modesto, Calif. 95354.

All completed ballots must be returned and received by the ABC by Feb. 12, 2015 to be counted.

As a governing body for the industry, the ABC Board has five handler and five grower representatives who set policy and recommend budgets in production research, public relations and advertising, nutrition research, statistical reporting, quality control, and food safety.

For more election information, contact Sue Olson at (209) 343-3224.