SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6777

As Passed Senate, February 14, 2002

Title:  An act relating to selling apples for fresh consumption.

Brief Description:  Selling apples for fresh consumption.

Sponsors:  Senators Parlette and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & International Trade:  2/8/02 [DP].

Passed Senate:  2/14/02, 45-2.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Snyder, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff:  Bob Lee (786‑7404)

Background:  The fruit and vegetable inspection program establishes uniform grades and standards.  The stated purpose of the program is to protect the national and international reputation of fruit and vegetable products grown and shipped from this state and to protect consumers from the sale of inferior and misrepresented fruits and vegetables.

Under current law, it is unlawful to sell fruits or vegetables as meeting standards unless they in fact do so.  It is unlawful for any person to ship or transport any lot of fruits and vegetables without an inspection certificate.

Containers of fruits and vegetables that are packed are marked with the proper grade.  A container is defined as any container or sub-container used to prepackage any fruit or vegetable.  It does not include a container used by a retailer to package fruits or vegetables sold from a bulk display to a consumer.

Summary of Bill:  After October 1 of any calendar year, it is unlawful to sell containers of apples containing apples harvested in a prior calendar year to any retailer or wholesaler for the purpose of resale to the public for fresh consumption.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The goal is to better assure the quality of apples and to prevent the sale of mushy apples to wholesalers and retailers.  Controlled atmospheric storage is able to slow the metabolic rate of apples.  But when they come out of storage, the conversion of starch to sugar occurs rapidly in aged apples that have been held in storage from the prior season.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Allen Robison, WA Growers Clearinghouse, Robison Orchards Inc.; Jerry Van Winkle, WA Growers Clearinghouse, Van Winkle Orchard; Gary Holwegner, apple grower.