SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2892

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Agriculture & International Trade, March 1, 2002

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

Brief Description:  Selling apples for fresh consumption.

Sponsors:  Representatives Clements, Linville, Grant, Lisk, Armstrong, Mulliken, Chandler, Holmquist, Schoesler, Hatfield and Ogden.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & International Trade:  2/20/02, 3/1/02 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Rasmussen, 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 apple industry requests this legislation to assure that warehouses won't be shipping year old apples as fresh apples when the new crop is available.  This will better assure that product that isn't of sufficient quality is not being sold.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Charles Pomianek, Wenatchee Valley Traffic Assn. (pro); Jim Halstrom, WA State Horticultural Assn. (pro).