SECTIONS 77701-77710 - California Statutes

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE

SECTION 77701-77710

77701. The inability of the date industry to maintain or expand
present markets for dates may result in unnecessary economic waste.

77702. The production and marketing of dates constitutes an
important industry that provides substantial and necessary revenues
for the state and employment for its citizens.

77703. The maintenance of the date industry in California is
necessary to assure the public of a continuous supply of this vital
product and the maintenance of needed levels of income for those
engaged in the marketing of dates.

77704. Opportunity exists for continued growth and expansion of the
industry by creating new markets in major portions of this country
and abroad. The success of the expansion program is uniquely
dependent upon effective advertising, promotion, and research since
the creation of new markets is essentially a matter of educating and
informing people of the use, nutritional value, and availability of
the commodity. The expansion of the date industry also provides an
important source of jobs for many people in this state, and serves to
ensure the preservation of an agrarian society.

77705. The successes that the date industry has enjoyed have come
in part through a commitment to industry funded research that has led
to significant improvements in the quality and variety of the dates
available to consumers. It has also led to dates being a better
consumer value. The establishment of the commission will continue and
enhance this research effort and move the date industry toward its
potential, resulting in increased consumer value and enhanced grower
returns.

77706. The production and marketing of dates in this state is
hereby declared to be affected with the public interest. This chapter
is enacted in the exercise of the police power of this state for the
purposes of protecting the health, peace, safety, and general
welfare of the people of this state.

77707. It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative
determination that commission members and alternates are intended to
represent and further the interest of a particular industry concerned
and that this representation and furtherance is intended to serve
the public interest. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that with
respect to persons who are elected or appointed to the commission,
the particular industry concerned is tantamount to, and constitutes
the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103 of the
Government Code.

77708. This chapter shall be liberally construed. If any provision
of this chapter or application thereof to any person or circumstances
is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or
applications of the chapter that can be given effect without the
invalid provision or application, and to this end, the provisions of
this chapter are severable.

77709. A commission form of administration created by this chapter
is uniquely situated to provide those engaged in the marketing of
dates the opportunity to avail themselves of the benefits of
collective action in the broad fields of development, maintenance,
and expansion of markets; advertising and promotion; and research
necessary to achieve the purposes stated herein.

77710. No action taken by the commission, or by any individual in
accordance with this chapter or with the rules and regulations
adopted under this chapter, is a violation of the so-called
Cartwright Act (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 16700) of Part 2
of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), the Unfair
Practices Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 17000) of Part 2 of
Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), or any statutory
or common law against monopolies or combinations in restraint of
trade.