(a)
There is hereby levied and imposed upon all iceberg lettuce harvested and marketed in each fiscal year, an assessment to be paid by the handlers of the lettuce and fixed by not less than 10 of the 14 handler members of the commission at the amount determined by these commissioners as reasonably necessary to pay all obligations incurred, or expected to be incurred, in accordance with this chapter and as reasonably necessary to carry out the objects and purposes of this chapter.
(b)
The assessment shall not exceed two and one-half cents ($0.025) per standard carton of packed iceberg lettuce or five cents per hundred pounds ($0.05 per cwt.) of iceberg lettuce prepared for market or equivalent basis.
(c)
A fee greater than the amount provided for in subdivision (b) may not be charged unless and until a greater fee is approved by handlers, as defined in Section 66532, under the procedures in Section 66601.
(d)
There shall be exempt from the assessments all shipments of 150 pounds or less of iceberg lettuce sold or shipped by a handler directly to the consumer.