Supreme Court Takes up Dispute Over California Raisins

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court is taking up an appeal from California raisin producers who object to a government program that aims to stabilize prices by regulating the raisin market.

The justices said Friday they will consider whether the program violates the Constitution’s protection against the taking of private property without compensation.

The farmers complain that a Depression-era law unfairly prevents them from selling their entire crop on the open market if the government determines it would lead to a glut of raisins that would drive prices down.

A federal appeals court sided with the government, finding that the farmers benefited from the market stabilization rates and did not lose the entire value of their crop under the program.

The high court will hear arguments in the spring.