The department, upon its own motion, may, or upon the verified complaint of any interested party and within 30 days of the filing of that complaint, shall, commence to investigate, examine, or inspect any of the following:
(a) A transaction that involves the failure of the processor to make payment for any farm product within the time that is specified for payment in the contract of sale and purchase between the producer and the processor, in accordance with the terms of the contract or in accordance with this chapter.
(b) A transaction that involves the failure of a processor who contracts to harvest a producer’s crop to fulfill the terms of the contract.
(c) A charge that a processor may be insolvent or in an unsound financial condition.
(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 696, Sec. 34. Effective January 1, 1998.)