§421-20  Associations are not in restraintof trade.  (a)  No association complying with the terms hereof shall bedeemed to be a conspiracy or a combination in restraint of trade, or an illegalmonopoly; or be deemed to have been formed for the purpose of lesseningcompetition or fixing prices arbitrarily, nor shall the contracts between theassociation and its members, or any agreements authorized in this chapter, beconstrued as an unlawful restraint of trade, or as part of a conspiracy orcombination to accomplish an improper or illegal purpose or act. (b)  Anassociation may acquire, exchange, interpret, and disseminate to its members,to other cooperative associations, and otherwise, past, present, andprospective crop, market, statistical, economic, and other similar informationrelating to the business of the association, either directly or through anagent created or selected by it or by the other associations acting inconjunction with it.

(c)  An association may advise its members inrespect to the adjustment of their current and prospective production ofagricultural commodities or products and its relation to the prospective volumeof consumption, selling prices, and existing or potential surplus, to the endthat every market may be served from the most convenient productive areas undera program of orderly marketing that will assure adequate supplies without undueenhancement of prices or the accumulation of any undue surplus. [L 1949, c 234,pt of §1; RL 1955, §176-21; HRS §421-20; am L 2001, c 129, §63]

 

Cross References

 

  Restraint of trade exemption, see §480‑11.