Upon certification of the commission, the secretary shall do the following:
(a)
Contact all producers in each district by mail or call meetings of producers in each district for the purpose of nominating and electing persons to the commission. All producers on the secretary’s list shall be given written notice of any election meetings at least 10 days prior to the meeting date. To be eligible for election to the commission, producer nominees must present to the secretary a nomination petition with the signatures of at least three eligible producers from the district from which the nominee is seeking election.
(b)
Contact all handlers by mail or by calling a meeting for the purpose of nominating and electing persons to the commission. All handlers on the secretary’s list shall be given written notice of any election meetings at least 10 days prior to the meeting date. To be eligible for election to the commission, handler nominees must present to the secretary a nomination petition with the signatures of at least two eligible handlers who are engaged in the same type of handler activity as the handler seeking nomination.