It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, transport, or ship, or have in his or her possession for sale, transportation or shipment 25 pounds or more of cantaloupe unless the Agricultural Commissioner of the County of Merced has been notified no less than 24 hours in advance of the intent to harvest and/or pack any cantaloupe and unless the Agricultural Commissioner has issued a Certificate of Inspection showing that such cantaloupe complies with the provisions and standards 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. In addition, the Agricultural Commissioner shall be notified no less than 24 hours in advance of completion of harvest in any cantaloupe field.
(Ord. 1258, 1988)
The Agricultural Commissioner may certify compliance with the provisions and standards of the California Cantaloupe Program as adopted by the California Cantaloupe Board and the minimum standards of Division 17 of the Food and Agricultural Code by means of an inspection/certification certificate which shall contain a description of the produce inspected, 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. 1258, 1988)
In lieu of issuing the certificate described in §§ 42791 and 42792 of the Food and Agricultural Code, the Agricultural Commissioner may certify compliance by means of a County certification stamp or device.
A. 
Such certification stamp or device shall be affixed to each container of cantaloupe, a bill of lading, invoice, or other documents which shall show a description of the produce of the log, 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 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 the provisions and standards 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;
(3) 
Use such stamp or device in a manner other than provided in this chapter.
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 chapter.
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. 1258, 1988)
The duties to be performed under this chapter by the Agricultural Commissioner may be performed by the agency or agencies 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. 1303, 1989)
The fees herein provided for shall be paid to the County of Merced through the office of the Agricultural Commissioner, the same being due and payable on the first day of the month following the month in which the inspection was performed and shall be delinquent on the tenth day of said following month. Any owner, shipper or other interested person whose account shall become delinquent may, at the discretion of the Agricultural Commissioner, be required to pay said fees at the time of issuance of the certificates.
(Ord. 1258, 1988)
The enactment of this section shall not constitute a bar to the prosecution and punishment of any act already committed in violation of any ordinance of the county of Merced. No action or proceeding commenced before this section takes effect, and no right accrued, is affected by this section, but all procedure thereafter taken shall conform to the provisions of this section so far as possible.
(Ord. 1258, 1988)