The Legislature finds that the marketing of agricultural commodities produced in the State is crucial to the maintenance and expansion of the agricultural industry, to the preservation of rural life in the State and to the economic well-being of all of the State’s people. There exists a need to provide the necessary market information to enable Maine farmers to make wise short-term and long-term production decisions; to establish standards for proper storage, packing and grading of agricultural products; and to create adequate enforceable programs for quality assurance as well as for the effective coordination of promotion and advertising efforts. In order to ensure that these responsibilities are fulfilled, the Legislature finds it necessary to provide state assistance to agricultural marketing and promotion. [PL 2005, c. 512, §4 (AMD).]