California grapes

The California Table Grape Commission (CTGC) has welcomed the US Supreme Court's decision to uphold a ruling that the commission does not violate growers' constitutional rights.

The US Supreme Court yesterday (October 5) rejected a First Amendment challenge to the CTGC when it declined to review a lower-court ruling in the commission's favour, marking the end of a 14-year federal lawsuit brought by a group of growers against the CTGC.

In 1996, California grape grower Delano Farms filed a law suit claiming the state law creating the grape commission violated free speech rights in regard to mandatory assessments for advertising.

In 2008, a District Court declared that the law establishing the California Table Grape Commission does not violate the First Amendment. In 2009 the US Appeals Court upheld its ruling.

But the plaintiffs asked the US Supreme Court to review this decision. The US Supreme Court's refusal yesterday (October 5) was hailed by the commission as a 'welcome relief'.

'Since 1967, the majority of California's fresh grape farmers have looked to the commission to help increase demand for their product,' said CTGC president Kathleen Nave in a press release. 'Every five years they have voted to continue working together, through the commission, because it makes a difference. This case has been a cloud over their efforts and it is a welcome relief to finally have it end in their favour.'

The CTGC was created by the California legislature in 1967 to increase worldwide demand for fresh California grapes through a variety of research and promotional programmes.

The First Amendment to the US Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights prohibiting the making of any law that infringes on or impedes certain freedoms, such as the freedom of speech.