California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 224

Introduced by Assembly Member Gordon

February 4, 2013

An act to amend Section 47000 of, and to add Article 6 (commencing with Section 47060) to Chapter 10.5 of Division 17 of, the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to agricultural products.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 224, as introduced, Gordon. Agricultural products: direct marketing: community-supported agriculture.

Existing law encourages the Department of Food and Agriculture to assist producers in organizing certified farmers’ markets, field retail stands, farm stands, and other forms of direct marketing by providing technical advice on marketing methods and in complying with the regulation that affects direct marketing programs.

This bill would also encourage the department to assist in organizing community-supported agriculture. The bill would define “California-grown box program,” “community-supported agriculture program,” “single-farm community-supported agriculture,” and “multifarm community-supported agriculture.”

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 47000 of the Food and Agricultural Code
is amended to read:

47000.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following
with regard to the direct marketing of agricultural products:

(a) Direct marketing of agricultural products benefits the
agricultural community and the consumer by, among other things,
providing an alternative method for growers to sell their products
while benefiting the consumer by supplying quality produce at
reasonable prices.

(b) Direct marketing is a good public relations tool for the
agricultural industry that brings the farmer face-to-face with
consumers.

(c) The marketing potential of a wide variety of
California-produced agricultural products should be maximized.

(d) Farm stands allow farmers to sell fresh produce and eggs
grown on their farm as well as other food products made with
ingredients produced on or near the farm, thus enhancing their
income and the local economy.

(e) The department should maintain a direct marketing program
and the industry should continue to encourage the sale of
California-grown fresh produce.

(f) It is the intent of the state to promote the consumption of
California-grown produce and to promote access to
California-produced agricultural products. Restaurants and
nonprofit organizations can provide assistance in bringing
California-grown products to all Californians.

(g) A regulatory scheme should be developed that provides the
flexibility that will make direct marketing a viable marketing
system.

(h) The department should assist producers in organizing
certified farmers’ markets, field retail stands, farm stands,
begin insert community end insert begin insert -supported agriculture, end insert and other forms of direct
marketing by providing technical advice on marketing methods
and in complying with the regulations that affect direct marketing
programs.

(i) The department is encouraged to establish an ad hoc advisory
committee to assist the department in establishing regulations
affecting direct marketing of products and to advise the secretary
in all matters pertaining to direct marketing.

SEC. 2.  

Article 6 (commencing with Section 47060) is added
to Chapter 10.5 of Division 17 of the Food and Agricultural Code,
to read:

 

Article 6.  Community-Supported Agriculture

 

47060.  

For purposes of this article, the following definitions
shall apply:

(a) “California-grown box program” means a program under
which a person or entity directly purchases and aggregates only
from certified California direct marketing producers agricultural
products or products of certified California direct marketing
producers that have been processed in California in accordance
with all applicable laws, and delivers those products to a
membership or subscriber group of California consumers or end
users who have paid for the products before they are shipped or
transported for delivery.

(b) “Community-supported agriculture program” means a
program under which a certified California direct marketing
producer, or a group of certified California direct marketing
producers, grow food for a group of California consumer
shareholders or subscribers who pledge, or contract to buy on a
prepayment basis, a portion of the future crop, animal production,
or both, of a certified California direct marketing producer, or a
group of certified California direct marketing producers.

(c) “Single-farm community-supported agriculture” means all
delivered farm products originate from the farm of one certified
California direct marketing producer.

(d) “Multifarm community-supported agriculture” means a
group of certified California direct marketing producers who
declare their association at the time of their annual certification
and all delivered farm products originate from one or more of the
farms of the group of certified California direct marketing
producers.