(a) The Commissioner of Agriculture may: (1) Issue and administer an apple market order regulating the marketing of apples and (2) suspend the apple market order for one marketing season if he determines that the market order is not necessary to achieve the goals established in subsection (b) of § 22-54q. The commissioner shall administer the estimated budget prepared by the Apple Marketing Board pursuant to § 22-54s and may impose an assessment on apple producers sufficient to cover the costs of such budget.

(b) The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to implement this section and sections 22-54q to 22-54t, inclusive, including the establishment of procedures to conduct a referendum pursuant to subsection (c) of § 22-54q.