California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 31

Introduced by Assembly Members Perea and Gallagher

(Principal coauthors: Senators Cannella and Galgiani)

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Cooper, Dodd, Eggman, Grove, Quirk, and Salas)

(Coauthors: Senators Allen, Anderson, Bates, Berryhill, Block, Fuller, Gaines, Hall, Hernandez, Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Huff, Jackson, Lara, Leno, Leyva, Liu, McGuire, Mendoza, Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nguyen, Nielsen, Pan, Roth, Stone, Vidak, Wieckowski, and Wolk)

February 24, 2015

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 31—Relative to California Agriculture Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 31, as introduced, Perea. California Agriculture Day.

This measure would recognize and honor the men and women of California agriculture for their dedication and productivity by observing March 18, 2015, as National Agriculture Day, and designating March 18, 2015, as California Agriculture Day.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, March 18, 2015, is designated as California
Agriculture Day, a day of celebration to commemorate agriculture’s
importance in our daily lives, its vital role in keeping Californians
nourished, and its role in keeping the state’s economy ranked as
the eighth largest in the world; and

WHEREAS, The 2015 theme of California Agriculture Day is
“California Breaking New Ground” in recognition of the diversity
and significance of California agriculture, which is constantly
developing new and innovative technologies; and

WHEREAS, For more than 60 consecutive years, California
has been the number one agricultural state in the nation, producing
more than 400 crop and livestock products and accounting for
approximately 50 percent of the nation’s supply of fruits,
vegetables, and nuts; and

WHEREAS, The inexhaustible efforts of millions of
farmworkers have contributed greatly to the success of the
agricultural industry; and

WHEREAS, California’s agricultural community relies on a
vital infrastructure that aids in the exclusion and early detection
of plant and animal pests and diseases that impact public health,
the environment, and commerce; and

WHEREAS, With less than 1 percent of California’s population
engaged in farming and agriculture, each agricultural worker today
provides for more than 100 other people, compared to just 13 in
1947; and

WHEREAS, Today’s agricultural industry offers over 300
challenging and rewarding career opportunities, from on-farm
cultivation to food science and engineering; and

WHEREAS, Over the past seven decades, advances in
agricultural production have resulted in a drop in consumer
spending on food products from 23 percent of disposable income
in 1947 to approximately 10 percent today; and

WHEREAS, California is the nation’s leader in agricultural
exports, shipping more than 16 billion dollars worth of food and
agricultural commodities around the world in 2011; and

WHEREAS, California’s agricultural industry constantly seeks
to incorporate the latest scientific and technological production
and marketing techniques to meet the demands of changing
consumer needs and complex world markets; and

WHEREAS, Public-private partnerships are continually being
developed to improve quality and ensure safe handling practices
on the farm, in transit, and during processing; and

WHEREAS, California consumers say that it is important to
them to purchase foods grown in California, California consumers
say that “California grown” is more important to them today than
it was in years past, and, in the last decade, California consumers
have increased support of farmers’ markets, community-supported
agricultural programs, and farm-to-school programs; and

WHEREAS, A broad approach to agricultural education is vital
to ensure that California agriculture continues to flourish; and

WHEREAS, California is estimated to lose 500,000 acres of
agricultural land by 2050 and more than 300,000 acres of it will
have been highly productive irrigated cropland, and thus California
should continue to work for conservation to preserve California’s
agricultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate for all Californians to recognize
our farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and others involved in
providing such a bounty to our nation and the entire world; now,
therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes and honors
the men and women of California agriculture for their dedication
and productivity by observing March 18, 2015, as National
Agriculture Day, and designating Wednesday, March 18, 2015,
as California Agriculture Day; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.