HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2181

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Agriculture & Ecology

Title:  An act relating to controlled atmosphere storage.

Brief Description:  Storing fruits or vegetables in controlled atmosphere storage.

Sponsors:  Representatives Clements and G. Chandler.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  3/2/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Reduces the minimum length of time certain apples must be stored in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage to be classified as having been stored in CA storage.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives G. Chandler, Republican Co-Chair; Linville, Democratic Co-Chair; Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Koster, Republican Vice Chair; Anderson; B. Chandler; Delvin; Fortunato; Grant; Reardon; Schoesler; Stensen; Sump and Wood.

Staff:  Kenneth Hirst (786-7105).

Background:

To be classified as having been stored in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage, fruits or vegetables must be stored under conditions that 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, minimums for these standards are set by statute.

The minimum length of time that Gala and Jonagold apples must be retained in CA storage is 45 days; the minimum length of time for all other apples is 90 days.

Summary of Bill:

The minimum length of time is reduced during which apples other than Gala and Jonagold apples must be retained in CA storage to be classified as having been stored in controlled atmosphere storage.  That length of time is reduced to 60 days (from 90 days).

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is an important subject for the apple industry.  The bill should move forward in the legislative process while discussions continue.

Testimony Against:  None. 

Testified:  Representative G. Chandler.