44971. (a) The handling and marketing of avocados is affected with the public interest. The provisions of this chapter are enacted for the protection of the avocado industry and for the purposes of protecting the health, peace, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state. (b) Avocados produced in this state which are being prepared […]
44972. If the director finds that avocados which are being prepared for market conform to the applicable standards, he shall so indicate by an official stamp placed on each flat, carton, or any other container by, or under the supervision of, the inspector, stating that the applicable standards have been complied with on the date […]
44973. It is unlawful for any person, including a grower, packer, handler, or retailer to pack, handle, or sell any lot of avocados which are not in compliance with maturity and quality standards established through regulations of the director. (Repealed (by Sec. 4) and added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 141, Sec. 3. Effective March 31, […]
44974. (a) Any violation or threatened violation of any provision of this chapter or regulations of the director established pursuant to this chapter is unlawful and shall constitute grounds for injunctive relief and the imposition of civil penalties of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation. This […]
44975. (a) Each handler of avocados shall pay to the director an inspection and certification fee each month. The fee shall be based on the number of pounds certified as determined by the director. However, in no event shall the fee be greater than twenty-five cents ($0.25) per hundredweight of pounds prepared for market. The number […]
44976. The moneys which are received pursuant to this chapter shall be used only for the administration and enforcement of this chapter, including, but not limited to, payments to the county agricultural commissioners and to institutions of scientific research for improving the inspection and certification methods required by this chapter. (Amended by Stats. 1988, Ch. […]
44977. The director may adopt such regulations as he determines are reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. (Added by renumbering Section 44976 by Stats. 1982, Ch. 141, Sec. 8. Effective March 31, 1982.)
44978. The director may enter into an agreement with any county agricultural commissioner for assistance in the enforcement of this chapter. (Added by renumbering Section 44977 by Stats. 1982, Ch. 141, Sec. 9. Effective March 31, 1982.)
44979. It is unlawful for any person to fail to comply with the provisions of this chapter and the regulations of the director adopted pursuant thereto. (Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 141, Sec. 10. Effective March 31, 1982.)
44980. Every person who prepares avocados grown in this state for market shall report to the director, prior to this preparation, the date and time these avocados will be prepared for market. Avocados and their containers shall be made available for inspection and certification at the time of preparation for market. (Added by Stats. 1982, […]
44980.5. The director may prescribe a higher frequency of inspection or surveillance of a person or firm handling or packing avocados for sale, if the director determines either that repeated violations of this chapter have occurred, or has probable cause to believe that a violation is about to occur or has occurred. The director may […]
44981. (a) Inspection to determine maturity of avocados may be performed prior to preparation for market, either at roadside by the orchard or enroute to or at the first point of packing. The results shall serve as a cause for placing all or any sizes of the avocados under a disposal order for testing after grading […]
44982. Each handler of avocados shall prepare and retain for two years up-to-date records of daily transactions. These records shall contain, but not be limited to, the amount of avocados received, shipped, packed, transported, dumped, and on hand at the end of each day. Amounts for each transaction shall be kept by variety in pounds, […]
44983. It shall be unlawful for any person to falsify or cause to be falsified the record or information required to be kept pursuant to Section 44982. (Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 141, Sec. 14. Effective March 31, 1982.)
44984. Any handler, packer, shipper, transporter, or grower of avocados who is required to keep records pursuant to Section 44982, shall allow the director or his or her authorized agent to examine or inspect these records during normal business hours and any other time when avocados are being packed or otherwise handled in a manner […]
44985. The director may authorize the issuance and use of, or revocation of, a certification stamp as provided for under this chapter. (Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 141, Sec. 16. Effective March 31, 1982.)
44986. It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following: (a) Use a certification stamp for certifying containers or lots of avocados for other than containers previously inspected by the director’s authorized agent and designated to be stamped. (b) Use the stamp at any time or in any manner other than provided in this […]
44987. In lieu of the certification stamp required under this chapter, the director may authorize issuance of a permit to any person or firm engaged in preparing avocados for market on an intermittent basis, or any other person on an emergency basis. The permit shall have an assigned number, and the containers of avocados for […]
44988. (a) The director may promulgate regulations which establish maturity standards governing the time at which avocados may be harvested. The regulations shall include minimum maturity requirements for the various varieties of avocados produced. The standards may be established in the form of a variable maturity range, which shall include a system for determination of avocado […]
