SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2181

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

   Agriculture & Rural Economic Development, March 24, 1999

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 & Rural Economic Development:  3/24/99 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; T. Sheldon, Vice Chair; Gardner, Honeyford, Morton and Stevens.

Staff:  Bob Lee (786-7405)

Background:  To be classified as having been stored in controlled atmosphere 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 controlled atmosphere storage is 45 days; the minimum length of time for all other apples is 90 days.

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

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Shortening the time period that apples must be held in controlled atmosphere storage will provide consumers with higher quality apples.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Jim Clements, prime sponsor; Jim Halstrom, WA State Horticultural Assn.