(a) Within 30 days after the election of an Agricultural Commodity Advisory Board by the producers of a particular commodity, the Advisory Board shall meet and formulate a development order establishing a program to assist such functions as education, research, production and market development relating to such commodity or commodities and establishing fees to be paid by producers to finance the proposed activities.

(b) The Secretary, with the advice and consent of the Advisory Board, shall hold a public hearing or public hearings on the proposed development order in an area or areas and at a time or times affording reasonable opportunities to producers to attend. The Advisory Board together with the Secretary shall determine after such hearings whether or not the development order shall be amended, modified or supplemented. If changes or additions of substance are made, the Advisory Board and the Secretary shall hold like public hearings on the amended or supplemented development order.

(c) Following the hearing, or hearings, the Advisory Board and Secretary shall conduct a referendum on the proposed final development order. At least 14 days’ notice of the time and places of such referendum shall be published in a legal newspaper of general circulation in each county affected. In addition, direct written notice thereof shall likewise be given to each county extension office in any county involved in the referendum. Such notice shall include details of the development order to afford all producers access to complete information about the development order. The development order shall become effective if it is approved by a majority of those voting in the referendum, and such order shall be applicable only to those producers of the subject commodity within the area of the State organized pursuant to this chapter. Upon completion of the referendum, the Secretary shall make findings and issue an appropriate order based on said findings.

62 Del. Laws, c. 176, § 1.