Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Agriculture & Ecology Committee

HB 2892

Brief Description:  Selling apples for fresh consumption.

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

Brief Summary of Bill

$Prohibits the sale of certain containers of apples to retailers or wholesalers for resale to the public for fresh consumption.

Hearing Date:  2/7/02

Staff:  Kenneth Hirst (786‑7105).

Background:

State law requires the Director of Agriculture to establish standards and grades for apples, apricots, Italian prunes, peaches, sweet cherries, pears, potatoes and asparagus and allows the Director to establish them for other fruits and vegetables.  (Chapter 15.17 RCW and RCW 15.17.050) It is unlawful to sell any fruits or vegetables as meeting the standards set by the Director unless they do meet the standards.  (RCW 15.17.210.)

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.  (RCW 15.30.060.)

Summary of Bill:

After October 1st of each calendar year, it is unlawful for a person to sell containers of apples that contain apples harvested in a prior calendar year.  This prohibition applies to sales of such containers to a retailer or wholesaler for the purpose of resale to the public for fresh consumption.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 5, 2002.

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