As used in ss. 573.101-573.124:(1) “Agricultural commodities” means any and all aquacultural, agricultural, apicultural, horticultural (including floricultural), viticultural, and vegetable products produced in this state or any class, variety, or utilization thereof, either in their natural state or as processed by a producer for the purpose of marketing such product, or by a processor as herein defined, and shall include, but not be limited to, any one, any combination thereof, or all of the agricultural products, livestock and livestock products, poultry and poultry products, timber and timber products, fish and seafood, and the products of the farms, waters, and forests of this state. “Agricultural commodities” includes citrus regulated pursuant to chapter 601 only for the purpose of funding production research and associated activities related to chemical residue; the term does not include citrus with respect to any other citrus-related activity, whether or not that activity is regulated by or described in chapter 601.
(2) “Advertising and sales promotion,” in addition to the ordinarily accepted meaning, means the presentation of facts to and negotiations with the state, federal, and foreign governmental agencies on matters which affect the production and marketing of agricultural commodities.
(3) “Advisory council” means the advisory council or councils established pursuant to s. 573.112. (4) “Container” means a crate, bag, box, basket, carton, package, bulk load, or other unit used in the packaging, transportation, sale, shipment, or any other unit used in the handling of agricultural commodities.
(5) “Department” means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
(6) “Distributor” means any person who engages in the operation of selling, marketing, or distributing, in the primary channel of trade, agricultural commodities which the person has produced, or purchased or acquired from a producer, or is marketing on behalf of a producer, whether as owner, agent, employee, broker, or otherwise, but shall not include a retailer as herein defined.
(7) “Handler” is synonymous with shipper and means any person, except a common or contract carrier of agricultural commodities owned by another person, engaged within this state as a distributor in the business of distributing agricultural commodities in the primary channel of trade.
(8) “Marketing agreement” means an agreement between the department and distributors, producers, handlers, and others engaged in the handling of agricultural commodities, regulating the handling of the commodities.
(9) “Marketing order” means an order issued by the department, prescribing rules governing the distributing, or handling in any manner, of agricultural commodities in the primary channel of trade during any specified period or periods.
(10) “Primary channel of trade” means agricultural commodities shall be deemed and held to be in the primary channel of trade when such commodities are cut, gathered from the ground, or otherwise harvested or prepared for sale in any manner for commercial purposes, but agricultural commodities shall cease to be in the primary channel of trade if they leave intrastate commerce.
(11) “Producer” means any person engaged within this state in a proprietary capacity in the business of producing, or causing to be produced, agricultural commodities for market.
(12) “Retailer” means any person who purchases or acquires any agricultural commodities for resale at retail to the general public, unless such retailer engages in the business of a distributor.
(13) “Seasonal marketing regulations” means marketing regulations, applicable to a particular marketing order or agreement, made effective by the department upon recommendation of the advisory council concerned for the purpose of carrying into effect by administrative order the marketing regulatory authorizations and provisions of the marketing order or agreement as such authorizations or provisions may be applicable to or required by changing economic or marketing conditions and requirements from time to time during each marketing season in which the marketing order or agreement may operate. Seasonal marketing regulations shall not extend beyond the marketing regulatory authorizations specified in the marketing order or agreement concerned.
(14) “To distribute” means to engage in the business of a distributor as herein defined.
(15) “To handle” means to engage in the business of a handler as herein defined.
(16) “To process” means to engage in the business of a processor as herein defined.
(17) “To retail” means to engage in the business of a retailer as herein defined.
(18) “Administrative rules” means rules applicable to a particular marketing order or agreement, issued and made effective by the department upon recommendation of the advisory council concerned, to provide methods and procedures to facilitate the administration and enforcement of the marketing order or agreement. Rules may include, but shall not be limited to, methods and procedures for the purpose of explaining or clarifying the provisions of the marketing order or agreement; providing information to producers and handlers subject to the provisions of the marketing order or agreement; and other similar procedural and explanatory provisions to enable such producers and handlers better to understand the program and their respective obligations thereunder and thereby assist in obtaining cooperation and compliance.
