Section 283. Powers and duties of the commissioner

The commissioner shall
  have the powers and duties to:
    1. Develop  and  implement  programs  designed  to  facilitate  direct
  marketing.
    2.  Encourage  direct  marketing  through  the cooperative selling and
  buying of farm products or production supplies.
    3. Provide technical or educational assistance to  producers  of  farm
  products  seeking  new  or  improved methods of direct marketing of such
  products.
    4. Provide assistance to wholesale buyers and retail stores seeking to
  purchase farm and food products directly from producers.
    5. Provide assistance to consumer or non-profit organizations  seeking
  to  purchase  or  facilitate the purchase of farm products directly from
  producers.
    6. Publicize and encourage participation by producers and consumers in
  direct marketing programs.
    7. Encourage the direct marketing of food and farm products to  public
  and private agencies within the state.
    8. Encourage the development of direct marketing programs within areas
  of  the  state  which  are  identified as having poor consumer access to
  reasonably priced and high quality farm products.
    9. Conduct conferences, seminars or workshops designed to promote  the
  direct marketing of farm products within the state.
    10. Contract, where necessary, and cooperate with other federal, state
  and  local  governmental, private non-profit agencies, and other private
  business organizations for the development, design and implementation of
  any activities authorized hereunder.
    11.  Establish  a  statewide  advisory  council  which  shall  provide
  information  to  and  advise  the commissioner, as prescribed by him, on
  policy, planning and programs.
    12. Establish regional advisory councils for direct marketing in those
  regions as may be necessary and desirable.
    13. Undertake  any  other  activities  which  he  deems  necessary  to
  accomplish the purposes of this article.
    14.  Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to supplement and give
  full force and effect to the provisions of this article.