HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB
2561
As Reported By House Committee On:
Agriculture & Rural Development
Title: An act relating to controlled atmosphere storage.
Brief Description: Modifying regulations for controlled atmosphere storage of fruit.
Sponsors: Representatives Rayburn and Roland.
Brief History:
Reported by House Committee on:
Agriculture & Rural Development, January 26, 1994, DPA.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL
DEVELOPMENT
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Kremen, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Schoesler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chappell; Karahalios; Lisk; McMorris and Roland.
Staff: Kenneth Hirst (786-7105).
Background: To be classified as having been stored in controlled atmosphere storage, fruits or vegetables must be stored under conditions which satisfy standards set by the director of the Department of Agriculture for the oxygen content of the sealed atmosphere, temperature, and duration of exposure to such atmosphere and temperature. For apples, certain of these standards are set by statute.
Summary of Amended Bill: Gala and Jonagold apples must be stored in a controlled atmosphere for not less than 45 days, rather than not less than 90 days, to be classified as having been stored in a controlled atmosphere.
Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: The amendment restores the oxygen standard for apples in controlled atmosphere storage to 5 percent.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: (1) Gala and Jonagold apples can lose flavor if they are stored in a controlled atmosphere for 90 days. The 90-day period was set before the development of these varieties of apples. (2) When the current oxygen standard was set, 5 percent was the lowest level that could be maintained practically. The technology has improved since then.
Testimony Against: None.
Witnesses: Frank DeLong, Washington Horticulture Association (in favor).