Article 1. Declaration And General Provisions of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 12.6. >> Article 1.

The production of grape rootstock constitutes an important industry of this state that not only provides substantial and necessary revenues for the state and employment for its citizens, but also furnishes essential food vital to the public health and welfare.

The maintenance of the grape rootstock industry of California is necessary to assure the consuming public of a continuous supply of good fruit for the table, raisins, and wine grapes, and establishes consistent and needed levels of income for those engaged in the industry.

The successes that the grape rootstock industry has enjoyed have come in part through a commitment to industry funded research, which has led to significant improvements in the quality and variety of the grapes and grape products available to consumers. The establishment of the commission is intended to enhance this research effort and move the grape rootstock industry toward its potential, resulting in increased consumer value and enhanced grower returns.

The production and marketing of grape rootstock produced in this state is hereby declared to be affected with a 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 commission, or by any individual commission board member in accordance with this chapter or with 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 that Part 2), or any statutory or common law against monopolies or combinations in restraint of trade.

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

It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination that members of the commission are intended to represent and further the interest of the particular agricultural 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 agricultural industry concerned is tantamount to, and constitutes, the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103 of the Government Code.

A commission form of administration created by this chapter is designed to provide those engaged in the production and marketing of grape rootstock the opportunity to avail themselves of the benefits of collective action in the broad field of grape rootstock research necessary to achieve the purposes stated herein.