Article 1. Definitions of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 20. >> Chapter 7. >> Article 1.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this article govern the construction of this chapter.

"Agent" means any person who on behalf of any licensee receives on consignment, contracts for, or solicits for sale on commission, any farm product from a licensee or producer of such product, or who negotiates the consignment or purchase of any farm product on behalf of any licensee.

"Broker" means any person that negotiates the purchase or sale of any farm product. A broker may not, however, handle either the farm product which is involved or the proceeds of a sale.

"Cash" means coin or currency of the United States, and does not include a check or money order.

"Cash buyer" means any person who obtains title to, possession or control of, or buys or agrees to buy any farm product from a licensee or a producer by paying to the seller the full agreed price in cash at the time of obtaining possession or control, or at the time of contracting for title to, or possession or control of any farm product.

"Commission merchant" means any person, as follows:
  (a) Who receives on consignment or solicits any farm product from a licensee or producer of the product.
  (b) Who accepts any farm product in trust from a licensee or the producer of the product for purposes of sale.
  (c) Who sells any farm product on commission.
  (d) Who handles any farm product in any way for the account of or as an agent of the consignor of the product. Any person who accepts a farm product from a licensee or the producer of such product for the purpose of sale or resale is a commission merchant, unless the person has bought, or agreed to buy, the farm product by a contract which designates the price to be paid to the seller.

"Consignor" includes any person that ships or delivers to any commission merchant or dealer any farm product for handling, sale, or resale.

"Dealer" means any person who obtains title to, or possession, control, or delivery of, any farm product from a licensee or producer at a designated price for the purpose of resale, or who buys or agrees to buy any farm product from a licensee or the producer of the farm product at a designated price.

"Established place of business" means any permanent warehouse, building, or structure which is owned in fee or leased, at which the owner or lessee carries on a legitimate permanent business in good faith, and at which a stock of any farm product is stored or kept in quantities which are usually carried and reasonably adequate to meet the requirements of the business. It does not mean any tent, temporary stand, or other temporary structure, or permanent structure which is occupied pursuant to a temporary arrangement.

"Farm product" includes every agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, and vegetable product of the soil, poultry and poultry products, livestock products and livestock not for immediate slaughter, bees and apiary products, hay, dried beans, honey, and cut flowers. It does not, however, include any timber or timber product, flower or agricultural or vegetable seed, any milk product that is subject to the licensing and bonding provisions of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 61801) of Part 3 of Division 21, any aquacultural product, or cattle sold to any person who is bonded under the federal Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 181, et seq.).

"Licensee" means any person licensed under this chapter as a broker, cash buyer, commission merchant, or dealer.

"Producer" means any person that is engaged in the business of growing or producing any farm product.