AB 2685: Food and agriculture: omnibus bill.

(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.