California Code
Food and Agricultural Code - FAC
DIVISION 17 - FRUIT, NUT, AND VEGETABLE STANDARDS

CHAPTER 1 - Definitions

Section 42501. - 42501. Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this...

Section 42502. - 42502. “Agent” means broker, commission merchant, auctioneer, solicitor, seller on...

Section 42503. - 42503. “Bulk lot” or “bulk load” of any fresh or...

Section 42504. - 42504. “Byproduct” means any product which is commercially processed, preserved,...

Section 42505. - 42505. “Closed container” means lidded container, as defined in Section...

Section 42506. - 42506. “Container” means any box, crate, lug, chest, basket, carton,...

Section 42507. - 42507. “Cross section” means the section of the fruit or...

Section 42508. - 42508. “Deceptive arrangement” or “deceptive display” of fresh or dried...

Section 42509. - 42509. “Deceptive pack” means any container or subcontainer which has...

Section 42510. - 42510. “Fruits, nuts, or vegetables” means the food product of...

Section 42511. - 42511. “Lidded container” and “closed container” are synonymous and, unless...

Section 42512. - 42512. “Manufacturing” means processing, as defined in Section 42519. (Enacted...

Section 42513. - 42513. “Mature,” except when otherwise specifically defined, means having reached...

Section 42514. - 42514. “Mislabel” means the placing or presence of any false...

Section 42515. - 42515. “Overripe” means having reached an advanced state of maturity...

Section 42516. - 42516. “Pack,” “packing,” or “packed” means the regular compact arrangement...

Section 42517. - 42517. “Placard” means any sign, label, or designation, except an...

Section 42518. - 42518. “Preserving” means processing, as defined in Section 42519. (Enacted...

Section 42519. - 42519. “Processing” means canning, preserving, or fermenting, which materially alters...

Section 42520. - 42520. “Subcontainer” means any container which is being used within...

CHAPTER 2 - General Provisions

ARTICLE 1 - Enforcement

Section 42651. - 42651. The director and the commissioners of each county of...

Section 42652. - 42652. The refusal of any officer who is authorized under...

Section 42653. - 42653. (a) The secretary, through the chief of the branch...

Section 42654. - 42654. The director may maintain state inspection stations at such...

ARTICLE 2 - Regulations

Section 42681. - 42681. The director by regulation may do all of the...

Section 42682. - 42682. The director may, upon a petition of a person...

Section 42683. - 42683. It is the intention of the Legislature that the...

Section 42684. - 42684. (a) It is hereby declared that the establishment and...

Section 42685. - 42685. (a) Upon recommendation of the commissioner and upon making...

ARTICLE 5 - Inspection and Certification by the Director

Section 42761. - 42761. The director may inspect and certify to any marketing...

Section 42762. - 42762. The regulations may include reasonable fees which are to...

Section 42763. - 42763. Any money which is received pursuant to this article...

ARTICLE 6 - Inspection and Certification by a County Commissioner

Section 42791. - 42791. The commissioner of each county and any qualified representative...

Section 42792. - 42792. The certificate shall contain a description of the fruits,...

Section 42792.1. - 42792.1. (a) The board of supervisors of a county with...

Section 42793. - 42793. (a) The board of supervisors of the county may...

Section 42794. - 42794. Any lot of fruits, nuts, or vegetables which bears...

Section 42795. - 42795. (a) The board of supervisors of the county may...

Section 42796. - 42796. (a) This section applies to lots of fruits, nuts,...

ARTICLE 6.5 - Standardization Program

Section 42801. - 42801. Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, the director...

Section 42802. - 42802. The director shall adopt regulations he or she determines...

Section 42803. - 42803. (a) Commencing on January 1, 1997, and until March...

Section 42804. - 42804. (a) On and after March 31, 1997, the secretary...

Section 42805. - 42805. A commodity producer or handler subject to Article 1...

Section 42806. - 42806. (a) The director shall adopt regulations establishing assessment rates...

Section 42807. - 42807. Notwithstanding Section 42806, on January 1, 1997, and thereafter...

Section 42808. - 42808. (a) Every person acting as a handler of commodities...

Section 42809. - 42809. (a) The secretary shall appoint a committee pursuant to...

Section 42810. - 42810. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c),...

Section 42811. - 42811. The members of the committee shall serve without compensation,...

Section 42812. - 42812. The director shall adopt regulations establishing assessment rates set...

Section 42813. - 42813. Except as otherwise provided in Section 42807 with respect...

Section 42815. - 42815. This article shall remain in effect only until January...

ARTICLE 7 - Powers of Enforcing Officers

Section 42821. - 42821. An enforcing officer may enter and inspect any place...

Section 42822. - 42822. An enforcing officer shall cause the prosecution of any...

Section 42823. - 42823. Any enforcing officer may, while enforcing this division, seize...

Section 42824. - 42824. Any prosecution for the violation of any provision of...

Section 42825. - 42825. Any evidence which is taken by an enforcing officer...

ARTICLE 8 - Samples

Section 42851. - 42851. Any sample which is taken pursuant to this division...

Section 42852. - 42852. A written notice of violation, which is issued by...

ARTICLE 9 - Warning Notices and Disposal Orders

Section 42881. - 42881. The enforcing officer may, and if requested by an...

Section 42882. - 42882. The warning notice, the disposal order which directs the...

Section 42883. - 42883. The enforcing officer at the point of destination of...

Section 42884. - 42884. It is unlawful for any person to deliver any...

Section 42885. - 42885. It is unlawful for any person to dispose of...

Section 42886. - 42886. It is unlawful for any person to use or...

ARTICLE 10 - Shippers and Transporters

Section 42911. - 42911. Any person, forwarding company, or common carrier may decline...

Section 42912. - 42912. A carrier which is subject to the jurisdiction of...

ARTICLE 11 - Violations

Section 42941. - 42941. It is unlawful for any person to prepare, pack,...

Section 42942. - 42942. It is unlawful for any person to prepare, pack,...

Section 42943. - 42943. (a) It is unlawful for any person to mislabel...

Section 42944. - 42944. It is unlawful for any person to make any...

Section 42945. - 42945. (a) It is unlawful for any person to remove...

Section 42946. - 42946. Except as otherwise provided, it is unlawful for any...

Section 42947. - 42947. It is unlawful for any person to pack any...

Section 42948. - 42948. (a) It is unlawful for any person to refuse...

Section 42949. - 42949. (a) It is unlawful for any person to alter...

Section 42950. - 42950. It is unlawful for any person to prepare, pack,...

Section 42951. - 42951. (a) It is unlawful for any person to adulterate...

ARTICLE 12 - Criminal Penalties and Procedures

Section 42971. - 42971. (a) Unless otherwise specified, a violation of this division...

ARTICLE 13 - Civil Penalties and Remedies

Section 43001. - 43001. Any person that violates any provision of this division...

Section 43002. - 43002. The director may bring an action to enjoin the...

Section 43003. - 43003. (a) In lieu of civil prosecution, the secretary or...

Section 43004. - 43004. Any action for any civil penalty or other civil...

ARTICLE 14 - Abatement

Section 43031. - 43031. Any lot of fruits, nuts, or vegetables, including its...

Section 43032. - 43032. Any enforcing officer, if he has reason to believe...

Section 43033. - 43033. The officer may affix to any lot so held...

Section 43034. - 43034. The officer by whom any lot of fruits, nuts,...

Section 43035. - 43035. If the person served is not the sole owner...

Section 43036. - 43036. If the lot has not been reconditioned or the...

Section 43037. - 43037. Any notice which is required by this article may...

Section 43038. - 43038. The enforcing officer, with the written consent of all...

Section 43039. - 43039. If the lot which is held is perishable or...

Section 43040. - 43040. If the lot which is held is not perishable...

Section 43041. - 43041. The court may enter judgment ordering that the lot...

ARTICLE 15 - County Fees

Section 43061. - 43061. The board of supervisors of a county may require...

Section 43062. - 43062. Section 43061 does not apply to any of the...

Section 43063. - 43063. “Costs,” as used in this article, means direct costs...

Section 43064. - 43064. It is unlawful for any person to operate as...

Section 43065. - 43065. (a) A fruit and vegetable wholesaler registration issued pursuant...

ARTICLE 16 - California-Grown Seal

Section 43100. - 43100. (a) The terms “California grown,” “California-grown,” and similar terms...

CHAPTER 3 - Exempt Fruits, Nuts, and Vegetables

ARTICLE 4 - Violations

Section 43331. - 43331. It is unlawful for any person to use or...

Section 43332. - 43332. It is unlawful for any person who has been...

Section 43333. - 43333. It is unlawful for any person to sell or...

CHAPTER 4 - Containers

ARTICLE 4.5 - Out-of-State Processing

Section 43571. - 43571. The provisions of this division shall not be construed...

CHAPTER 9 - Avocados

ARTICLE 1 - Container Certification and Fees

Section 44971. - 44971. (a) The handling and marketing of avocados is affected...

Section 44972. - 44972. If the director finds that avocados which are being...

Section 44973. - 44973. It is unlawful for any person, including a grower,...

Section 44974. - 44974. (a) Any violation or threatened violation of any provision...

Section 44975. - 44975. (a) Each handler of avocados shall pay to the...

Section 44976. - 44976. The moneys which are received pursuant to this chapter...

Section 44977. - 44977. The director may adopt such regulations as he determines...

Section 44978. - 44978. The director may enter into an agreement with any...

Section 44979. - 44979. It is unlawful for any person to fail to...

Section 44980. - 44980. Every person who prepares avocados grown in this state...

Section 44980.5. - 44980.5. The director may prescribe a higher frequency of inspection...

Section 44981. - 44981. (a) Inspection to determine maturity of avocados may be...

Section 44982. - 44982. Each handler of avocados shall prepare and retain for...

Section 44983. - 44983. It shall be unlawful for any person to falsify...

Section 44984. - 44984. Any handler, packer, shipper, transporter, or grower of avocados...

Section 44985. - 44985. The director may authorize the issuance and use of,...

Section 44986. - 44986. It is unlawful for any person to do any...

Section 44987. - 44987. In lieu of the certification stamp required under this...

Section 44988. - 44988. (a) The director may promulgate regulations which establish maturity...

ARTICLE 2 - Avocado Inspection Committee

Section 45011. - 45011. There is in the department the Avocado Inspection Committee,...

Section 45012. - 45012. Upon the director’s request, the committee shall submit to...

Section 45013. - 45013. The committee member’s term of office shall be two...

Section 45014. - 45014. The committee shall be advisory to the director, and...

Section 45015. - 45015. (a) In adopting regulations pursuant to this chapter, the...

Section 45016. - 45016. Committee members shall be compensated for all reasonable expenses...

Section 45017. - 45017. (a) The committee may recommend to the director that...

Section 45021. - 45021. (a) The requirements specified in this chapter, including, but...

ARTICLE 3 - Proof of Ownership

Section 45031. - 45031. Every person who is in possession of over 25...

Section 45032. - 45032. (a) Upon probable cause to believe any avocados regulated...

Section 45033. - 45033. A bill of lading, bill of sale, certified farmers...

Section 45034. - 45034. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly falsify...

Section 45035. - 45035. A copy of the proof of ownership record shall...

Section 45036. - 45036. This article does not apply to avocados transported and...

Section 45037. - 45037. Upon probable cause to believe avocados regulated by this...

Section 45038. - 45038. Upon reasonable belief that a person is in unlawful...

Section 45039. - 45039. The director or a peace officer may investigate to...

Section 45040. - 45040. (a) If for any reason the avocados are not...

Section 45041. - 45041. (a) Unless otherwise specified, a violation of this article...

Section 45042. - 45042. This article establishes minimal requirements for the transportation, identification,...

CHAPTER 10 - Organic Foods

Section 46000. - 46000. (a) This chapter and Article 7 (commencing with Section...

Section 46001. - 46001. This chapter shall be interpreted in conjunction with Article...

Section 46002. - 46002. (a) All organic food or product regulations and any...

Section 46003. - 46003. (a) The secretary shall establish an advisory committee, which...

Section 46003.2. - 46003.2. (a) To the extent that funds are available, the...

Section 46003.5. - 46003.5. (a) Following the promulgation of the national materials list...

Section 46004. - 46004. (a) Any person may file a complaint with the...

Section 46004.1. - 46004.1. Unless defined pursuant to the National Organic Program (NOP),...

Section 46005. - 46005. This act shall apply notwithstanding any other provision of...

Section 46006. - 46006. At the request of a county agricultural commissioner, the...

Section 46007. - 46007. (a) Any penalties collected by the secretary and any...

Section 46008. - 46008. (a) Article 14 (commencing with Section 43031) of Chapter...

Section 46009. - 46009. Any person subject to this act that does not...

Section 46010. - 46010. This chapter shall be interpreted in conjunction with Article...

Section 46010.5. - 46010.5. (a) No fee established and collected pursuant to this...

Section 46011. - 46011. This act shall not apply to the term “natural”...

Section 46012. - 46012. Article 14 (commencing with Section 43031) of Chapter 2...

Section 46013. - 46013. Any producer, handler, processor, or registered certification organization subject...

Section 46013.1. - 46013.1. (a) Every person engaged in this state in the...

Section 46013.2. - 46013.2. (a) To the extent feasible, the secretary, in consultation...

Section 46014. - 46014. This chapter also applies to seed, fiber, and horticultural...

Section 46014.1. - 46014.1. (a) Any certification agency that certifies products in this...

Section 46014.2. - 46014.2. (a) All products sold as organic in California shall...

Section 46014.4. - 46014.4. A registered certification agency shall submit to the secretary...

Section 46014.6. - 46014.6. Only products that have been produced and handled in...

Section 46015. - 46015. Materials acceptable in this state are those outlined in...

Section 46016.1. - 46016.1. (a) Any person may file a complaint with the...

Section 46016.2. - 46016.2. (a) Any county agricultural commissioner may, at any time,...

Section 46016.3. - 46016.3. Any person may appeal to the secretary for a...

Section 46016.4. - 46016.4. The appeal shall be submitted to the secretary in...

Section 46016.5. - 46016.5. As provided for in regulations adopted by the NOP,...

Section 46017. - 46017. (a) In lieu of prosecution, the secretary or a...

Section 46018.1. - 46018.1. The secretary and the county agricultural commissioners may conduct...

Section 46018.2. - 46018.2. At the request of a county agricultural commissioner, the...

Section 46020. - 46020. (a) It is unlawful for any person to sell,...

Section 46021. - 46021. (a) It is unlawful for any person to certify...

Section 46022. - 46022. (a) It is unlawful for any person to produce...

Section 46023. - 46023. It is unlawful for any person to forge, falsify,...

Section 46024. - 46024. (a) It is unlawful for any person to advertise,...

Section 46027. - 46027. (a) No food or product may be advertised or...

Section 46028. - 46028. All persons who produce, handle, or retail products that...

Section 46029. - 46029. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any producer,...

CHAPTER 10.5 - Direct Marketing

ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions

Section 47000. - 47000. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following...

Section 47000.5. - 47000.5. The following definitions apply to this chapter, unless otherwise...

Section 47001. - 47001. (a) The secretary may adopt regulations to encourage the...

Section 47002. - 47002. California farmers registered or certified pursuant to this chapter...

Section 47003. - 47003. The secretary may establish qualifications for persons selling products...

ARTICLE 1.5 - Certified Farmers Markets

Section 47004. - 47004. (a) Certified farmers’ markets are California agricultural product point-of-sale...

Section 47005. - 47005. An enforcing officer may enter and inspect any place...

Section 47005.1. - 47005.1. An enforcing officer may inspect all products, containers, and...

Section 47005.2. - 47005.2. An enforcing officer may seize and hold as evidence...

Section 47005.3. - 47005.3. Any evidence that is seized under the authority of...

Section 47005.4. - 47005.4. Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to preclude...

ARTICLE 2 - Certified Farmers Market Advisory Committee

Section 47010. - 47010. (a) The secretary shall establish a committee that shall...

Section 47011. - 47011. The Certified Farmers’ Market Advisory Committee shall be advisory...

Section 47013. - 47013. The members of the committee and any alternate shall...

ARTICLE 3 - Certificates

Section 47020. - 47020. (a) An operator of a certified farmers’ market shall...

Section 47021. - 47021. (a) Every operator of a certified farmers’ market shall...

ARTICLE 3.5 - Violations

Section 47022. - 47022. It is unlawful for any person when operating under...

Section 47022.1. - 47022.1. It is unlawful for any person when operating under...

Section 47022.2. - 47022.2. It is unlawful for any person when operating under...

Section 47022.3. - 47022.3. It is unlawful for any person when operating under...

Section 47022.4. - 47022.4. It is unlawful for any person when operating under...

Section 47022.5. - 47022.5. It is unlawful for any person when operating under...

Section 47022.6. - 47022.6. It is unlawful for any person when operating under...

Section 47022.7. - 47022.7. It is unlawful for any person when operating under...

ARTICLE 4 - Enforcement

Section 47025. - 47025. (a) In lieu of prosecution, but not precluding suspension...

ARTICLE 5 - Other Direct Marketing Outlets and Distributions

Section 47030. - 47030. Field retail stands are producer-owned and operated premises located...

Section 47050. - 47050. Farm stands arefield retail stands, as defined in Section...

ARTICLE 6 - Community-Supported Agriculture

Section 47060. - 47060. For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:...

Section 47061. - 47061. (a) A producer that markets whole produce, shell eggs,...

Section 47062. - 47062. (a) The fee for, or the fee for amendment...

CHAPTER 11 - Navel and Valencia Oranges

Section 48000. - 48000. The handling and marketing of California citrus is affected...

Section 48001. - 48001. (a) There is in the department the California Citrus...

Section 48002. - 48002. (a) In addition to any other assessment, fees, or...

Section 48002.5. - 48002.5. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:...

Section 48003. - 48003. (a) Every person acting as a handler of commodities...

CHAPTER 12 - Office of Farm to Fork

Section 49000. - 49000. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:...

Section 49001. - 49001. There is hereby created in the department the Office...

Section 49002. - 49002. (a) There is hereby created the Farm to Fork...

Section 49003. - 49003. (a) In any fiscal year in which funds are...

CHAPTER 13 - Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program

Section 49010. - 49010. This chapter shall be known, and may be cited,...

Section 49011. - 49011. The Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program is hereby established...

Section 49012. - 49012. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall...

Section 49013. - 49013. (a) The Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Account is hereby...

Section 49014. - 49014. The Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program shall be administered...

Section 49015. - 49015. (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions...

Section 49016. - 49016. The receipt of a grant under either program established...

CHAPTER 14 - Local, Equitable Access to Food Program

Section 49020. - 49020. (a) This chapter shall be known, and may be...

Section 49021. - 49021. Nine months after the Department of Food and Agriculture...