---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 6002"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "6002"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/6002"
units:
  - "Chapter 89 — Pecan Promotion and Research"
---

# §6002. Definitions


As used in this chapter—

- (1) **Board—** The term “Board” means the [Pecan](#16) Marketing Board established in [section 6005(b) of this title](/usc/7/6005.md?p=b).
- (2) **Commerce—** The term “commerce” means interstate, foreign, or intrastate commerce.
- (3) **Conflict of interest—** The term “conflict of interest” means a situation in which a [member](#15) has a direct or indirect financial interest in a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, joint venture, or other business entity dealing directly or indirectly with the [Board](#1).
- (4) **Consumer information—** The term “consumer information” means information and programs that will assist consumers and other [persons](#17) in making evaluations and decisions regarding the purchase, preparation, and use of [pecans](#16).
- (5) **Department—** The term “Department” means the Department of Agriculture.
- (6) **District—** The term “district” means a geographical area of the [United States](#26), as determined by the [Board](#1) and approved by the [Secretary](#21), in which there is produced approximately one-fourth of the volume of [pecans](#16) produced in the [United States](#26).
- (7) **First handler—** The term “first handler” means the first [person](#17) who buys or takes possession of [pecans](#16) from a [grower](#8) for marketing. If a [grower](#8) [markets](/usc/7/198.md?p=1) [pecans](#16) directly to consumers, such [grower](#8) shall be considered the first handler with respect to [pecans](#16) grown by such [grower](#8).
- (8) **Grower—** The term “grower” means any [person](#17) engaged in the production and sale of [pecans](#16) in the [United States](#26) who owns, or who shares the ownership and risk of loss of, such [pecans](#16).
- (9) **Grower-sheller—** The term “grower-sheller” means a [person](#17) who—
  - (A) [shells](#22) [pecans](#16), or has [pecans](#16) shelled for such [person](#17), in the [United States](#26); and
  - (B) during the immediately previous year, grew 50 percent or more of the [pecans](#16) such [person](#17) shelled or had shelled for such [person](#17).
- (10) **Handle—** The term “handle” means receipt of [in-shell pecans](#13) by a [sheller](#24) or [first handler](#7), including [pecans](#16) produced by such [sheller](#24) or [first handler](#7).
- (11) **Importer—** The term “importer” means any [person](#17) who imports [pecans](#16) from outside of the [United States](#26) for sale in the [United States](#26).
- (12) **Industry information—** The term “industry information” means information and programs that will lead to the development of new [markets](/usc/7/198.md?p=1) and marketing strategies, increased efficiency, and activities to enhance the image of the [pecan](#16) industry.
- (13) **In-shell pecan—** The term “in-shell pecan” means a [pecan](#16) that has a [shell](#22) that has not been removed.
- (14) **To market—** The term “to market” means to sell or offer to dispose of [pecans](#16) in any channel of [commerce](#2).
- (15) **Member—** The term “member” means a member of the [Board](#1).
- (16) **Pecan—** The term “pecan” means the nut of the pecan tree carya illinoensis.
- (17) **Person—** The term “person” means any individual, group of individuals, partnership, corporation, association, cooperative, or any other entity.
- (18) **Plan—** The term “plan” means a plan issued under [section 6003 of this title](/usc/7/6003.md).
- (19) **Promotion—** The term “promotion” means any action taken by the [Board](#1), pursuant to this chapter, to present a favorable image of [pecans](#16) to the public with the express intent of improving the competitive position of [pecans](#16) in the marketplace and stimulating sales of [pecans](#16), including paid advertising.
- (20) **Research—** The term “research” means any type of test, study, or analysis designed to advance the image, desirability, usage, marketability, production, product development, or quality of [pecans](#16).
- (21) **Secretary—** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
- (22) **Shell—** The term “shell” means to remove the shell from an [in-shell pecan](#13).
- (23) **Shelled pecan—** The term “shelled pecan” means a [pecan](#16) kernel, or portion of a kernel, after the [pecan](#16) [shell](#22) has been removed.
- (24) **Sheller—** The term “sheller” means any [person](#17) who—
  - (A) [shells](#22) [pecans](#16) or has [pecans](#16) shelled for the account of such [person](#17); and
  - (B) during the immediately previous year, purchased more than 50 percent of the [pecans](#16) such [person](#17) shelled or had shelled for such account.
- (25) **State—** The term “State” means any of the several States, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
- (26) **United States—** The term “United States” means collectively the several [States](#25), the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–624, title XIX, § 1907, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3839; Pub. L. 102–237, title VIII, § 802(1), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1882.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Par. (22). Pub. L. 102–237 substituted “in-shell” for “inshell”.