Article 1. Declaration And General Provisions of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 1.

Avocados produced in this state constitute one of the state' s principal tree fruit crops. The avocado industry in this state is expanding. The industry constitutes an important source of jobs for many people in the state, a high proportion of whom are from underprivileged and historically deprived segments of the population.

Opportunity exists for continued growth and expansion of the industry, by creating new markets. The success of an expansion program is uniquely dependent upon effective advertising, promotion, and collection and dissemination of public information, since the creation of new markets is essentially a matter of educating and informing people of the use, nutritional value, and availability of avocados.

The establishment of a commission is imperative for the efficient development and management of a national and international advertising program which will ensure that the California avocado industry can compete successfully in the marketplace and increase revenues to avocado producers.

The production and marketing of avocados produced in this state is hereby declared to be affected with public interest. The provisions of this chapter are 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.

The commission form of administration created by this chapter is uniquely situated to provide those engaged in the production of avocados the opportunity to avail themselves of the benefits of collective action in the broad fields of advertising; promotion; production, nutrition, and marketing research; quality and maturity standards; the collection and dissemination of crop volume and related statistics; and public education.

No action taken by the commission, or by any person in accordance with this chapter or with rules or 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.