HB 2773.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Requires that, to provide uniformity in the marketplace and to protect consigners of apples, the existing state standards for grades and packs of apples shall be evaluated.

     Provides that the evaluation must consider the appropriate level of uniformity that will ensure that the apples of a particular variety, grade, and pack sold from one warehouse will be equivalent to the apples of the same variety, grade, and pack sold from other warehouses.

     Provides that, for this purpose, the director shall convene an apple grades and packs committee that is widely recognized within the horticultural industry as representing the interests of the industry to recommend by consensus revisions to the standards that it believes will provide the desired level of uniformity that best serves the interest of apple producers, packers, and consumers.

     Requests that the Washington state horticultural association, the Wenatchee valley traffic association, the Yakima valley growers and shippers association, and the Washington growers clearinghouse association meet with each other to conduct a thorough analysis of the marketing information needs of the industry and provide recommendations to the legislature on how the market information needs can best be addressed.

     Requests that these groups develop a joint report containing those items to improve the availability of market information for which agreement has been attained.

     Requests that these reports shall be completed by December 15, 2003, with a copy to be delivered to the director of the department of agriculture and to the appropriate standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives with jurisdiction over agricultural issues.

     Requires each commission merchant that received apples imported into the United States between January 1, 2002, and November 30, 2002, to report to the department of agriculture by December 15, 2002.  The report shall include the volume of each variety of imported apples that was received by and packed and sold by the commission merchant.

     Requires the department of agriculture to compile the information, in the aggregate, and provide a report to the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the house of representatives by December 31, 2002.