601.03 Definitions.

601.03 Definitions.

In construing this chapter, where the context permits the word, phrase, or term:

   (1) “Additive” means any foreign substance which, when added to any citrus fruit juice, will change the amount of total soluble solids or anhydrous citric acid therein, or the color or taste thereof, or act as an artificial preservative thereof;

   (2) “Agent” means any person who, on behalf of any citrus fruit dealer, negotiates the consignment, purchase, or sale of citrus fruit, or weighs citrus fruit so that the weight thereof may be used in computing the amount to be paid therefor;

   (3) “Broker” means any person engaged in the business of negotiating the sale or purchase of citrus fruit for others;

   (4) “Canned products” means juices, segments, or sections of citrus fruits sealed in hermetically sealed containers at a concentration of not exceeding 20 degrees Brix and sufficiently processed by heat to ensure preservation of the product, and when regulated by the Department of Citrus, these same products packed in any other manner or in any other type container;

   (5) “Canning plant” means any building, structure, or place where citrus fruit or the juice thereof is canned or prepared for canning at a concentration of not exceeding 20 degrees Brix for market or shipment;

   (6) “Cash buyer” means any person who purchases citrus fruit in this state from the producer for the purpose of resale;

   (7) “Citrus fruit” means all varieties and regulated hybrids of citrus fruit and also means processed citrus products containing 20 percent or more citrus fruit or citrus fruit juice, but, for the purposes of this chapter, shall not mean limes, lemons, marmalade, jellies, preserves, candies, or citrus hybrids for which no specific standards have been established by the Department of Citrus;

   (8) “Citrus fruit dealer” means any consignor, commission merchant, consignment shipper, cash buyer, broker, association, cooperative association, express or gift fruit shipper, or person who in any manner makes or attempts to make money or other thing of value on citrus fruit in any manner whatsoever, other than of growing or producing citrus fruit, but the term shall not include retail establishments whose sales are direct to consumers and not for resale or persons or firms trading solely in citrus futures contracts on a regulated commodity exchange;

   (9) “Citrus producing area” means that part or parts of the state in which citrus fruit is grown or produced;

   (10) “Color-add” or “color-added” means the application or use of any coloring matter to any citrus fruit;

   (11) “Coloring matter” means any dye, or any liquid or concentrate or material containing a dye or materials which react to form a dye, used or intended to be used for the purpose of enhancing the color of citrus fruit by the addition of artificial color to the peel thereof; provided that said term shall not include any process or treatment of fruit which merely brings out or accelerates the natural color of the fruit;

   (12) “Coloring room” means any room or place where citrus fruit is placed, with or without the use of heat or any gas, for the purpose of bringing out the natural color of the fruit;

   (13) “Commission” means the Florida Citrus Commission as head of the Department of Citrus;

   (14) “Department of Agriculture” means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services of the State of Florida;

   (15) “Commission merchant” means any person engaged in the business of receiving any citrus fruit for sale on commission for or on behalf of another;

   (16) “Concentrated products” means:

   (a) Frozen citrus fruit juice frozen at a concentration of exceeding 20 degrees Brix and kept at a sufficiently freezing temperature to ensure preservation of the product; and

   (b) Citrus fruit juice sealed in hermetically sealed containers at a concentration of exceeding 20 degrees Brix and sufficiently processed by heat to ensure preservation of the product;

   (17) “Concentrating plant” means any building, structure, or place where citrus fruit is canned, frozen, or prepared for canning or freezing at a concentration of more than 20 degrees Brix for market or shipment;

   (18) “Consignment shipper” means any person who contracts with the producer of citrus fruit for the marketing thereof for the sole account and risk of such producer and who agrees to pay such producer the net proceeds derived from such sale;

   (19) “Consignor” means any person, other than a producer, who ships or delivers to any commission merchant or dealer any citrus fruit for handling, sale, or resale;

   (20) “Express or gift fruit shipper” means any person having an established place of business who ships or delivers for transportation in any manner, citrus fruit to a consumer and not for the purpose of resale;

   (21) “Fresh fruit juice distributor” means any person extracting and preparing for market or shipment any citrus fruit juice in fresh form;

   (22) “Grapefruit” means the fruit Citrus paradisi Macf., commonly called grapefruit and shall include white, red, and pink meated varieties;

   (23) “Handler” means any person engaged within this state in the business of distributing citrus fruit in the primary channel of trade or any person engaged as a processor in the business of processing citrus fruit;

   (24) “Manufacturer” means any person who shall manufacture, sell or offer for sale, or license or offer for license for use any coloring matter, or any soaps, oils, waxes, gases, gas-forming material, or other similar compositions, or the component parts thereof on or in the processing of citrus fruits;

   (25) “Oranges” means the fruit Citrus sinensis Osbeck, commonly called sweet oranges;

   (26) “Packinghouse” means any building, structure, or place where citrus fruit is packed or otherwise prepared for market or shipment in fresh form;

   (27) “Person” means any natural person, partnership, association, corporation, trust, estate, or other legal entity;

   (28) “Primary channel of trade” means that fruit shall be deemed to have been delivered into the primary channel of trade when it is sold or delivered for shipment in fresh form, or when it is received and accepted at a canning, concentrating, or processing plant for canning, concentrating, or processing;

   (29) “Producer” means any person growing or producing citrus in this state for market;

   (30) “Ship” or “shipping” means to move or cause citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof to be moved in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce by rail, truck, boat, or airplane, or any other means;

   (31) “Shipper” means any person engaged in shipping, or causing to be shipped, citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce, whether as owner, agent, or otherwise;

   (32) “Shipping season” means that period of time beginning August 1 of one year and ending July 31 of the following year;

   (33) “Standard packed box” means 13/5 bushels of citrus fruit, whether in bulk or containers;

   (34) “Tangerines” means the fruit Citrus reticulata Blanco, commonly called tangerines;

   (35) “Lemons” including “rough” lemons means the acid lemons of Citrus limon, including the varieties eureka, genoa, wheatley, amerfo, belair, and villafranca of the Eureka group; varieties bonnie brae, kennedy, lisbon, messer, messina, and sicily of the Lisbon group; varieties meyer, cuban, ponderosa, and rough of the Anomalous group; varieties dorshapo and millsweet of the Sweet Lemon group, and other varieties not included above such as everbearing, palestine sweet, perrine, and spheriola;

   (36) “Sour oranges” “sour” or “bitter” oranges means the fruit of Citrus aurantium L. and contains several subspecies. Among the most important are varieties african, brazilian, rubidoux, and standard of the Normal group; varieties daidai, goleta, bouquet of the Aberrant group; variety chinooto of the Myrtifolia group; and varieties bittersweet and paraguay of the Bittersweet group;

   (37) “Citrus hybrids” means but shall not be limited to hybrids between or among sour orange (C. aurantium), pummelo (C. grandis), lemon (C. limon), lime (C. aurantifolia), citron (C. medica), grapefruit (C. paradisi), tangerine or mandarin orange (C. reticulata), sweet orange (C. sinensis), tangelo (C. reticulata x C. paradisi or C. grandis), tangor (C. reticulata x C. sinensis), kumquat (Fortunella, species), trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata), and varieties of these species;

   (38) “Processor” means any person engaged within this state in the business of canning, concentrating, or otherwise processing citrus fruit for market other than for shipment in fresh fruit form.

History. s. 3, ch. 25149, 1949; ss. 1-5, ch. 26492, 1951; s. 2, ch. 29757, 1955; ss. 1-8, ch. 57-28; s. 1, ch. 59-12; s. 1, ch. 59-16; ss. 1-3, ch. 59-20; ss. 1, 2, ch. 61-91; s. 1, ch. 63-71; s. 1, ch. 65-85; s. 5, ch. 67-220; ss. 14, 29, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 6, ch. 71-185; ss. 1-3, 22, ch. 71-186; s. 256, ch. 71-377; s. 1, ch. 73-13; s. 1, ch. 76-8.