ARTICLE 12. Assent to Marketing Orders [58991. - 59000.]

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC 12.

in effect

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 58991. Section 58991.

A marketing order or major amendment to it, which directly affects handlers, that is issued pursuant to this chapter, shall not become effective unless and until the director finds one of the following has occurred: (a) It has been assented to in writing by not less than 65 percent of the handlers that are engaged, within the area specified in the marketing order or amendment to it, in the handling of the commodity which is regulated by the marketing order. (b) It has been assented to in writing by handlers that handle not less than 65 percent of the volume of the commodity which is regulated by the marketing order. (c) It has been approved by handlers in a referendum among handlers that are directly affected. The director may make the finding pursuant to this subdivision if the valid votes cast in the referendum represent not less than 40 percent of the total number of handlers of the commodity of record with the department, and if the handlers that cast ballots in the referendum in favor of the marketing order or amendment to it represent not less than 65 percent of the total number of handlers that cast ballots in the referendum and handled not less than 51 percent of the total quantity of the commodity which was marketed in the next preceding marketing season, or the current marketing season if the harvest and delivery of the commodity to handlers is complete, by all of the handlers that cast ballots in the referendum, or if the handlers that cast ballots in the referendum in favor of the marketing order or amendment represent not less than 51 percent of the total number of handlers that cast ballots in the referendum and handled not less than 65 percent of the total quantity of the commodity which was handled in the next preceding marketing season, or the current marketing season if the harvest and delivery of the commodity to handlers is complete, by all of the handlers who cast ballots in the referendum. The quantity of the commodity handled by the handler may be stated on the referendum ballot returned by each handler or may be obtained by requiring handlers to report that volume pursuant to Section 58775.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 58992. Section 58992.

Any marketing order or major amendment to it which directly affects processors that are engaged in the operation of canning of fresh fruits or vegetables or canning or packing of dried fruits shall not be made effective by the director unless and until the director finds one of the following has occurred: (a) The marketing order or amendment to it has been assented to in writing by the processors that are engaged in the marketing activity which is regulated by the marketing order or amendment to it that processed not less than 65 percent of the volume of the commodity which is processed within the area defined in the marketing order or amendment to it and by 65 percent of the number of the processors that are engaged in the marketing activity which is regulated by the marketing order or amendment to it. (b) It has been approved by processors in a referendum among processors that are directly affected. The director may make the finding pursuant to this subdivision if the valid votes cast in the referendum represent not less that 40 percent of the total number of processors of the commodity of record with the department, and if the processors that cast ballots in the referendum in favor of the marketing order or amendment to it represent not less than 65 percent of the total number of processors that cast ballots in the referendum and processed not less than 51 percent of the total quantity of the commodity which was marketed in the next preceding marketing season, or the current marketing season if the harvest and delivery of the commodity to processors is complete, by all of the processors that cast ballots in the referendum, or if the processors that cast ballots in the referendum in favor of the marketing order or amendment represent not less than 51 percent of the total number of processors that cast ballots in the referendum and processed not less than 65 percent of the total quantity of the commodity which was marketed in the next preceding marketing season or the current marketing season if the harvest and delivery of the commodity to processors is complete, by all of the processors who cast ballots in the referendum. The quantity of the commodity processed by the processor may be stated on the referendum ballot returned by each processor or may be obtained by requiring processors to report that volume pursuant to Section 58775.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 58993. Section 58993.

No marketing order or major amendment to it, which directly affects producers or producer marketing, that is issued pursuant to this chapter, shall be made effective by the director unless and until the director finds one or more of the following has occurred: (a) It has been assented to in writing by not less than 65 percent of the producers that are engaged, within the area specified in the marketing order or amendment to it, in the production for market, or engaged in the producer marketing, of not less than 51 percent of the commodity which is specified in the marketing order or the amendment to the marketing order in commercial quantities. (b) It has been assented to in writing by producers that produce not less than 65 percent of the volume of the commodity and by 51 percent of the total number of producers that are so engaged. (c) It has been approved by producers in a referendum among producers that are directly affected. The director may make the finding if the valid votes cast in the referendum represent not less than 40 percent of the total number of producers of the commodity of record with the department, and if the producers that cast ballots in the referendum in favor of the marketing order or amendment to it represent not less than 65 percent of the total number of producers that cast ballots in the referendum and marketed not less than 51 percent of the total quantity of the commodity which was marketed in the next preceding marketing season, or the current marketing season if the harvest and delivery of the commodity to handlers is complete, by all of the producers that cast ballots in the referendum or if the producers that cast ballots in the referendum in favor of the marketing order or amendment represent not less than 51 percent of the total number of producers that cast ballots in the referendum and marketed not less than 65 percent of the total quantity of the commodity which was marketed in the next preceding marketing season, or the current marketing season if the harvest and delivery of the commodity to handlers is complete, by all of the producers who cast ballots in the referendum. The quantity of the commodity delivered by the producer may be stated on the referendum ballot returned by each producer or may be obtained by requiring handlers to report that volume pursuant to Section 58775.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 58994. Section 58994.

If any marketing order or any major amendment to any marketing order is issued by the director for the approval of producers, handlers, or processors, the director shall determine whether the approval shall be by written assents or by referendum.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 58995. Section 58995.

If the director determines that it should be by referendum, the director shall establish a referendum period not to exceed 30 days. If the director determines that the referendum period so established does not provide sufficient time for the balloting, the director may extend the referendum period not more than 15 additional days. At the close of the referendum period, the director shall count and tabulate the ballots filed during the referendum period.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 58996. Section 58996.

If from the tabulation the director finds that the number of producers that voted in the referendum and that the number of producers that voted in favor of the marketing order or amendment to the marketing order are sufficient for him to make the finding that producers that are directly affected have approved the marketing order or amendment, the director may make the marketing order or amendment to the marketing order effective.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 58997. Section 58997.

If the director finds from the tabulation of such referendum that the number of producers that voted in favor of such marketing order or amendment to the marketing order is not sufficient for him to make the finding that producers that are directly affected have approved the marketing order or amendment to it, he shall not make the marketing order or amendment effective.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 58998. Section 58998.

The director may prescribe such additional procedures as may be necessary to conduct the referendum.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 58999. Section 58999.

In finding whether the marketing order or major amendment to it is assented to in writing or approved or favored by producers pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the director shall consider the approval of any nonprofit agricultural cooperative marketing association, which is authorized by its members so to assent, as being the assent, approval, or favor of the producers that are members of, or stockholders in, that nonprofit agricultural cooperative marketing association.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 59000. Section 59000.

Any producer that sells a growing crop to be harvested and marketed by another person is entitled to assent to, or vote in a referendum, if both of the following requirements are complied with: (a) At the time of sale of such growing crop the producer retains the exclusive right so to assent or to so vote. (b) The quantity of such growing crop can be determined to the satisfaction of the director.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026