Definitions — Us Code Code § 2302

Us Code Code § 2302 — Definitions. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 2302. Definitions

In this chapter:

(1) Agricultural products

The term "agricultural products" shall not include cotton or tobacco or their products.

(2)(2) 1 Association of producers

(A) In general

The term "association of producers" means any association of producers of agricultural products engaged in marketing, bargaining, shipping, or processing as defined in section 1141j(a) of title 12, or in section 291 of this title.

(B) Inclusion

The term "association of producers" includes an organization whose membership is exclusively limited to agricultural producers and dedicated to promoting the common interest and general welfare of producers of agricultural products.

(3)(3) 1 Handler

(A) In general

The term "handler" means any person engaged in the business or practice of (i) acquiring agricultural products from producers or associations of producers for processing or sale; or (ii) grading, packaging, handling, storing, or processing agricultural products received from producers or associations of producers; or (iii) contracting or negotiating contracts or other arrangements, written or oral, with or on behalf of producers or associations of producers with respect to the production or marketing of any agricultural product; or (iv) acting as an agent or broker for a handler in the performance of any function or act specified in clause (i), (ii), or (iii).

(B) Exclusion

The term "handler" does not include a person, other than a packer (as defined in section 191 of this title), that provides custom feeding services for a producer.

(4) Producer

The term "producer" means a person engaged in the production of agricultural products as a farmer, planter, rancher, dairyman, fruit, vegetable, or nut grower.

(Pub. L. 90–288, §3, Apr. 16, 1968, 82 Stat. 94; Pub. L. 110–234, title XI, §11003, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1354; Pub. L. 110–246, §4(a), title XI, §11003, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2116.)


Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–246, §11003, in introductory provisions, substituted "In this chapter:" for "When used in this chapter—", redesignated subsecs. (e), (c), (a), and (b) as pars. (1) to (4), respectively, inserted par. headings, in pars. (2) and (3), inserted duplicate par. designations, designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), and added subpar. (B), in par. (3), redesignated cls. (1) to (4) as (i) to (iv), respectively, in cl. (iv), substituted "clause (i), (ii), or (iii)" for "clause (1), (2), or (3) of this paragraph", and struck out subsec. (d) which read as follows: "The term 'person' includes individuals, partnerships, corporations, and associations."


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title.

1 So in original.

About This Section

7 U.S.C. § 2302 is part of Title 7 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

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Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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