Article 1. General Provisions of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 18. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 1.

The Legislature hereby declares that the purposes of this chapter are to promote, encourage, aid, and protect the planting and growing of cotton in the State of California; that it believes that these purposes can best be accomplished by restricting within certain areas the planting and growing of but two types of cotton, which are Acala and Pima; that, by this means, it is possible to bring the cotton-growing industry in the state to its highest possible development and to ensure the growing of the most superior varieties of cotton; that the planting of pure seed is essential to the production of more marketable and better grades of cotton and cottonseeds, and for the production of grades of fiber best suited for manufacturing purposes; and that the planting of impure seeds or plants, other than those authorized in these areas, is an economic harm and loss to the planter thereof and an irreparable injury to the adjoining or neighboring growers.

The Legislature also declares that the restriction of the use to which cotton lands and cotton gins may be used, as provided in this chapter, is essential to the highest development of the cotton-growing industry; otherwise the different types of seed will be mixed, crossing will take place in the field, the varieties will be mongrelized and cease to be uniform, the fiber will deteriorate in quality, and the seed will be rendered unfit for planting.

The Legislature declares that the development of varieties or species of cotton which meet the desired quality of Acala or Pima cotton should be encouraged, if reasonable restrictions are imposed to prevent contamination and preserve integrity of the high quality cotton produced within the district.

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

No action taken by the board, nor by an individual in accordance with this chapter or pursuant to the regulations adopted under this chapter, is a violation of the 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 that Part 2), or any statutory or common law against monopolies or combinations in restraint of trade.

The Legislature further declares that all cotton approved by the board for planting in the district is for the benefit of the cotton-growing industry and is not for the exclusive or limited use of any person.