BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1597
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   March 26, 2014
          REVISED

                          ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
                           Susan Talamantes Eggman, Chair
              AB 1597 (Assembly Agriculture Committee) - As Introduced:   
                                  February 4, 2014 
           
          SUBJECT  :   Fruit, nut, and vegetable standards.

           SUMMARY  :   This bill extends the sunset for fruit and vegetable  
          standardization to January 1, 2020.  

           EXISTING LAW:   California Department of Food and Agricultural  
          (CDFA) is authorized to create standardization programs for  
          fruits, nuts, and vegetable, and implement them through industry  
          funds.  This requires regulations necessary to carry out this  
          program, including but not limited to, assessment rates and  
          payment procedures.  These statutory authorizations will sunset  
          on January 1, 2020.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown.

           COMMENTS :   The purpose of the state's standardization programs  
          are to remove from the channels of trade, fruits, nuts, and  
          vegetables, not complying to minimum standards for quality,  
          size, maturity, consistency in packaging, labeling and packing.   
          This protects the consumers from having products that are not  
          mature in the marketplace or that could have animal or packing  
          damage, causing the product to prematurely rot or spoil.  This  
          is funded by a container fee assessed per container and  
          established by CDFA through regulation.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          California Citrus Mutual
          Western Growers Association

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916)  








                                                                  AB 1597
                                                                  Page  2

          319-2084