Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this article govern the construction of this chapter.

“Wheat” means any variety of wheat produced in this state.

“Books and records” means books, records, contracts, documents, memoranda, papers, correspondence, or other written data pertaining to matters relating to the activities subject to the provisions of this chapter.

“Commission” means the California Wheat Commission.

“Commissioner” means any member of the commission.

“Director” means the Director of Food and Agriculture.

“Districts” shall consist of the following:

part of Imperial County lying north of Keystone Road.

The number of districts and boundaries of any district may be changed by a two-thirds vote of the commission, as long as proper notice is provided to all persons subject to this chapter and the action of the commission is concurred in by the secretary, to ensure proper representation by producers. These boundaries need not coincide with county lines.

“Ex officio member” shall be a nonvoting member of the commission.

“Handle” means to engage in the business of a handler as defined in Section 72030.

“Handler” means any person who engages in the operation of selling, marketing, or distributing wheat which he or she has produced, purchased, or acquired from a producer, or which he or she is marketing on behalf of a producer, whether as owner, agent, employee, broker, or otherwise. When the handler is a corporation, all of the directors and officers of the corporation in their capacity as individuals shall be included, and any liability for failure to collect or make payments or assessments of which a corporate handler may be subject pursuant to this chapter shall include identical liability upon each individual director or officer of the corporation.

“Handler” also means any lienholder, secured party or pledgee that is a public agency, public or private, or assignee of a lienholder, secured party or pledgee that is a public agency, who is authorized to gain title to the wheat from the producer through the exercise of specified legal rights, including, but not limited to, a federal nonrecourse loan.

“Marketing research” means any research relating to the sale of wheat.

“Marketing season” or “fiscal year” means the period beginning May 1 of any year and extending through April 30 of the following year.

“Producer” or “grower” means any person who is engaged, within this state, in the business of producing wheat for market during any of the preceding three marketing seasons, and who shall, upon request, provide proof of commodity sale.

“Production research” means any research related to the production and processing of wheat, other than marketing research.