Problem Scenario: Bruce Church, Inc.

Bruce Church, Inc., is a company engaged in extensive commercial farming in Arizona and California. A provision of the Arizona Fruit and Vegetable Standardization Act requires that all cantaloupes grown in Arizona $"$be packed in regular compact arrangement in closed standard containers approved by the supervisor." Arizona, through its agent Pike, issued an order prohibiting Bruce Church from transporting uncrated cantaloupes from its ranch in Parker, AZ$,$ to nearby Blythe, CA$,$ for packing and processing.

It would take many months and $$200,000$ for Bruce Church to construct a processing plant in Parker. Further, Bruce Church had $$700,000$ worth of cantaloupes ready for transportation. Bruce Church filed suit in federal district court challenging the constitutionality of the Arizona statutory provision on shipping cantaloupes. The court issued an injunction against the enforcement of the act on the grounds that it was an undue hardship on interstate commerce.

Will the regulation withstand Commerce Clause scrutiny? $[$Pike v Bruch Church, Inc., $397$ U$.$S$.137(1970)]$

Writing Prompts for the Bruce Church, Inc. Problem

Describe the important aspects of the Commerce Clause.

Discuss what aspects of the case relate to the Commerce Clause.

Evaluate whether you think the facts of the case fall under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Clause.

What parts of the case do fall under the Commerce Clause and which do not.