A. Nothing in the Agricultural Market Development Act of 1979 shall authorize the department to:
(1) engage in any commercial transaction involving farm or food products as purchaser, seller, broker or dealer; or
(2) acquire or own any farm or food product.
B. In the performance of his duties under the Agricultural Market Development Act of 1979, no official or employee of the department shall discriminate against any farm or food product, or against any producer, processor, distributor or dealer of any such products.