Any marketing order or major amendment to it which directly affects processors that are engaged in the operation of canning of fresh fruits or vegetables or canning or packing of dried fruits shall not be made effective by the director unless and until the director finds one of the following has occurred:

(a) The marketing order or amendment to it has been assented to in writing by the processors that are engaged in the marketing activity which is regulated by the marketing order or amendment to it that processed not less than 65 percent of the volume of the commodity which is processed within the area defined in the marketing order or amendment to it and by 65 percent of the number of the processors that are engaged in the marketing activity which is regulated by the marketing order or amendment to it.

(b) It has been approved by processors in a referendum among processors that are directly affected. The director may make the finding pursuant to this subdivision if the valid votes cast in the referendum represent not less that 40 percent of the total number of processors of the commodity of record with the department, and if the processors that cast ballots in the referendum in favor of the marketing order or amendment to it represent not less than 65 percent of the total number of processors that cast ballots in the referendum and processed not less than 51 percent of the total quantity of the commodity which was marketed in the next preceding marketing season, or the current marketing season if the harvest and delivery of the commodity to processors is complete, by all of the processors that cast ballots in the referendum, or if the processors that cast ballots in the referendum in favor of the marketing order or amendment represent not less than 51 percent of the total number of processors that cast ballots in the referendum and processed not less than 65 percent of the total quantity of the commodity which was marketed in the next preceding marketing season or the current marketing season if the harvest and delivery of the commodity to processors is complete, by all of the processors who cast ballots in the referendum. The quantity of the commodity processed by the processor may be stated on the referendum ballot returned by each processor or may be obtained by requiring processors to report that volume pursuant to Section 58775.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 677, Sec. 8.)