California Code, Food and Agricultural Code (Formerly Agricultural Code) - FAC § 78706

The first handler of tomatoes being assessed shall deduct the assessment from amounts paid by him or her to the producer, and shall be a trustee of these assessments and assessments required to be paid by the handler until they are paid to the commission at the time and in the manner prescribed by the commission. Failure to collect the assessment from any producer shall not exempt the handler from liability. In addition, failure of a handler to remit the collected producer assessments to the commission shall not relieve the producer of this obligation.