Avocado Rulings

Seeing as how I really like avocados (mmm, guacamole) and really dislike the state of Florida (2000 election, Florida gators beating UCLA in the championships), Florida Lime & Avocado Growers, Inc. v. Paul, Director, Dept. of Agriculture of California has become my new favorite Constitional Law case. I also found out in class today that my professor also loves this case, he's from Southern California too.

In a nutshell, this case eventually reached the Supreme Court after some Florida farmers were mad that California wouldn't take their avocados. California's Agricultural Code prohibits the sale of avocados with less than 8% oil content. Florida did not think that this was fair, because they had met the federal guidelines necessary to sell avocados. They did not believe that California should be allowed to impose higher standards.

The court shot down Florida saying that California and Federal laws did not directly conflict, and upheld's California decision impose different (translate: higher and better) standards. If Florida wanted to sell their avocados to Californians, they could just leave their avocados on the tree longer and reach the goodness that are California avocados.

And if this case wasn't enough excitement for you, check out this LA times article about "A woman's crusade against bar spawns free speech case." Crazy woman, interesting subject. Why do I have the feeling that one day I'm going to be a quirky con law professor telling my students how much I love avocado and crazy lady free speech cases?