Food and agriculture: omnibus bill.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide detailed information on how public notification about new walnut standards will occur.

Food and Agriculture: Omnibus Bill

This bill changes how reports about processing strawberries are shared online and allows the California Walnut Commission to recommend walnut quality standards and labeling rules, which must be adopted by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture following specific procedures.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to post a report on processing strawberries online instead of sending it to the Legislature.
• Allows the California Walnut Commission to suggest walnut quality standards and labeling requirements to the Secretary.
• Gives the Secretary permission to adopt these suggested standards and labels, following certain procedures specified in the California Marketing Act of 1937.
• Prohibits the Secretary from implementing new walnut standards until the next marketing season starts after they are adopted.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Department of Food and Agriculture
• The California Walnut Commission
• Walnut producers and handlers

Terms To Know

California Marketing Act of 1937

A law that sets rules for selling goods in California.

Marketing season

The time when a particular crop is sold and marketed.

Limits and Unknowns

• It does not specify how the public will be informed about new walnut standards.
• Details on enforcement or penalties are not provided in this summary.

Official Summary Text

AB 2685, as amended, Committee on Agriculture.
Marketing laws: processing strawberries.
Food and agriculture: omnibus bill.
Existing
(1) Existing
law requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to prepare and file with the Legislature a written report on the marketing of processing strawberries, as specified.
This bill would require the secretary to make the report publicly available on the Department of Food and Agriculture’s internet website, rather than file the report with the Legislature.
(2) Existing law provides that the production and handling of walnuts constitute an important industry and establishes the California Walnut Commission in state government to, among other things, promote the sale of walnuts by brand and generic advertising and other promotional means and educate and instruct the wholesale and retail trade in domestic and foreign markets with respect to proper methods of handling walnuts. Existing law, the California Marketing Act of 1937, governs the marketing of commodities in this state.
This bill would authorize the commission to recommend to the secretary the adoption of walnut quality standards and product labeling requirements. The bill would authorize the secretary to adopt these quality standards and product labeling requirements recommended by the commission, and would require the secretary, if the secretary adopts these quality standards and product labeling
requirements, to act in accordance with the procedures specified in the California Marketing Act of 1937, unless otherwise provided. The bill would prohibit the secretary from implementing any adopted quality standards or labeling requirements until the beginning of the marketing season next succeeding the date of adoption. The bill would authorize the commission to engage in any activity related to walnuts that is authorized pursuant to the California Marketing Act of 1937 and would require the commission, if it engages in such an activity, to act in accordance with the procedures specified in that act, unless otherwise provided. The bill would prohibit the commission from engaging in such an activity until the beginning of the marketing season next succeeding the date on which the commission publicly announces its intent to engage in the activity. The bill would require the commission to serve as the advisory body to the secretary on these matters.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF