Acceptance
Acceptance means:
(1) Any act by the consignee signifying acceptance of the shipment, including diversion or unloading;
(2) Any act by the consignee which is inconsistent with the consignor's ownership, but if such act is wrongful against the consignor it is acceptance only if ratified by him; or
(3) Failure of the consignee to give notice of rejection to the consignor within a reasonable time as defined in paragraph (cc) of this section: Provided, That acceptance shall not affect any claim for damages because of failure of the produce to meet the terms of the contract.
(ee) Employ and employment mean any affiliation of any person with the business operations of a licensee, with or without compensation, including ownership or self-employment.
(ff) Responsibly connected means affiliation as individual owner, partner in a partnership, member, manager, officer, director or holder of more than a 10 percent ownership stake in a limited liability company, or officer, director or holder of more than 10 percent of the outstanding stock of a corporation or association.
(gg) Branch or additional business facility, as used in section 3(b) of the Act, means an office or outlet in a location other than that of the principal or main office of a firm, out of which or through which the firm purchases, sells, negotiates contracts, solicits, or handles consignments, or otherwise contracts in perishable agricultural commodities including seasonal, part-time and full-time operations. As used in this paragraph, “branch or additional business facility” includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) Jobbers, wholesalers, distributors—each location through which commodities are bought, sold or otherwise contracted;
(2) Retailers—each outlet through which retail sales of commodities are made and each office which purchases commodities;
(3) Trucker/dealer—a truck is a “branch” office if the driver is authorized to buy, sell or otherwise contract for commodities on behalf of the firm;
(4) Shippers—on-the-ground representatives making purchases, sales or otherwise contracting for commodities;
(5) Brokers—each office conducting contract negotiations including on-the-ground representatives negotiating contracts for commodities;
(6) Processors—each location at which commodities are purchased, sold or contracted to be purchased or sold;
(7) Cooperatives—each operation away from the main office that has responsibility to account for proceeds received from sales of commodities; or
(8) Seasonal/part-time operations—any facility with on-the-ground representatives making purchases, sales, or otherwise contracting for commodities.