§ 967.152 - Reserve for Base Quantities.

(a) Each season for which it recommends establishment of a Marketable Quantity under the provisions of § 967.36, the committee shall consider the need for a reserve for Base Quantities. Such consideration shall be directed to factors related to reserve needs, such as, but not necessarily limited to, the equitable apportionment of Base Quantities of celery among producers; and the need to meet additional demand for celery.

(b) The committee shall recommend to the Secretary, with its considerations and judgments thereon, the amount, if any, of harvested celery, in terms of crates, which should be established in a reserve for Base Quantities for the ensuing season. Such reserve may be calculated as a percentage of the total Marketable Quantity for a season or the then current Base Quantities, or shipments for a previous season or the average of shipments for two or more seasons, or on other similar basis to be determined by the committee with the Secretary's approval.

(c) The reserve, if any, for a particular season shall, for any season after the initial season, be established by the Secretary, pursuant to the committee recommendations or other available information, no later than the date of the establishment of Marketable Quantity.

(d) Applicants for Base Quantities or increases of Base Quantities, who have registered under § 967.151(a), may apply to the committee for a portion of such reserve within such time and on forms prescribed by it. The committee shall consider each application in accordance with § 967.151(b) and the amount of celery needed to meet the Marketable Quantity or revised Marketable Quantity for the season, the historical supply available, and the decline or increase in volume of celery production by other producers; and, if approved thereunder, determine the Base Quantity for each such applicant.

(e) Any balance of the reserve which has not been distributed during a current season shall not carry forward into the following season.