Fresno County Municipal Code Ch. 8.10 Mandatory Cantaloupe Inspection Certification

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Editor's note— This chapter, previously numbered 10.54, was renumbered 8.10 by Ord. 07-015.

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, transport, or ship, or have in his or her possession for sale, transportation or shipment of twenty-five pounds or more of cantaloupe unless the agricultural commissioner of the county of Fresno has been notified no less than twenty-four hours in advance of the intent to harvest/pack and/or harvest/pack any cantaloupe; and the commissioner has issued a certificate of inspection showing that such cantaloupe complies with the provisions of the California Cantaloupe Program as adopted by the California Cantaloupe Board and the minimum standards of Division 17 of the Food and Agriculture Code of the state of California. The commissioner shall also be notified no less than twenty-four hours in advance of completion of harvest in any field.

(Ord. 07-015, § 1; Ord. 88-005, § 1)

The agricultural commissioner may certify compliance with the provisions of the California Cantaloupe Program as adopted by the California Cantaloupe Board and the minimum standards of Division 17 of the Food and Agriculture Code by means of an inspection/certification certificate containing a description of the produce, the quantity of the lot, identifying marks on the containers, identification of location or vehicle, and any other facts necessary to readily identify the lot.

(Ord. 07-015, § 1; Ord. 88-005, § 1)

In lieu of issuing the certificate described in Section 8.10.020, the agricultural commissioner may certify compliance by means of a county certification stamp or device.

A. Such certification stamp or device shall be fixed to each containers of cantaloupe, a bill of lading, invoice, or other documents which shall show a description of the produce of the lot, the quantity, identifying marks on the containers, identification of location or vehicle, and any other facts necessary to readily identify the lot. Such bill of lading, invoice or other document shall accompany each lot or load during transportation.

B. The agricultural commissioner may issue the county certification stamp or device, or may authorize its use by a grower, shipper, packer or other financially interested person. Such person shall maintain records of shipments which shall inform when the stamp or device was used and the number of containers in each lot or load represented as being so certified. Such records shall be presented upon demand of the commissioner or the Director of Food and Agriculture of the state of California.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person authorized to use a county certification stamp or device to do any of the following:

1. Alter such stamp or device;

2. Use such stamp or device to represent any lot or load of produce which is not in compliance with this division;

3. Use such stamp or device in a manner other than provided in this section.

D. The agricultural commissioner shall revoke or suspend the right of any person to use any certification stamp or device when such person violates any provision of this section.

E. It shall be unlawful for any person whose right to use any certification stamp or device has been revoked or suspended to refuse to surrender to the commissioner, upon demand, any unused stamps or device issued to such person.

(Ord. 07-015, § 1; Ord. 88-005, § 1)

The duties to be performed under this chapter by the agricultural commissioner may be performed by the agency or agencies annually designated by the California Cantaloupe Board. The name and address of the agency or agencies so designated shall be available at the office of the agricultural commissioner.

(Ord. 07-015, § 1; Ord. 89-014, § 1)