Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this article:

(a) “Carton” means a unit equivalent to 40 pounds of citrus fruit.

(b) “Citrus” means “citrous” and any plants of the genera Citrus, Fortunella, Poncirus, and all hybrids having one or more of such as parents.

(c) “Citrus disease” includes any infectious, transmissible, or contagious disease or vector infesting citrus trees.

(d) “Committee” means the California Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee.

(e) “Department” means the Department of Food and Agriculture.

(f) “Districts,” except as otherwise provided in Section 5914, consist of the following geographical areas:

(1) The Southern District consists of all growing areas in San Bernardino County and all other areas to the south, west, and east of San Bernardino County that are not included in any other district.

(2) The Coastal District consists of all growing areas in the Counties of Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

(3) The Kern District consists of all growing areas in Kern County.

(4) The Tulare District consists of all growing areas in Tulare County.

(5) The Northern District consists of all growing areas in Fresno County and all other areas to the north that are not included in any other district.

(g) “Handler” means a person or entity who receives citrus fruit from a producer and who prepares the citrus fruit for fresh market.

(h) “Marketing season” begins October 1 of each year and ends September 30 of the next year.

(i) “Person” means a producer, handler, or any other entity that holds title to citrus fruit subject to assessment pursuant to this article.

(j) “Producer” means any person in this state who is a grower of citrus fruit, but does not include a citrus nursery.

(k) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.

(l) “Specific to citrus” means of exclusive or principal concern to citrus as opposed to other commodities.

(m) “Technical Advisory Committee” means the committee in existence at the effective date of this article, or its successor, that is responsible for developing and approving the citrus tristeza virus effective plan for the Central California Tristeza Eradication Agency.

(Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 426, Sec. 1. (AB 281) Effective October 11, 2009. Conditionally inoperative as provided in Section 5927.)