According to The Packer, the Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain stated that while the law only applies to strawberries, it "could be applied to other commodities such as citrus, tomatoes, and seafood." Strain also stated that a "commission within the Baton Rouge-based Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry and the Louisiana Strawberry Marketing Board would develop the rules with legislative oversight, possibly by September."
The Louisiana state agriculture department stated that "89 growers in 2009 produced 870,475 flats from 397 acres with a $17.4 million value. According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, a preliminary value of California's 2009 fresh strawberry crop is $1.58 billion; Florida's is $313.6 million."
Some groups have raised concerns over difficulties with state labeling laws for packinghouses.
For the full text of LA House Bill 430, click here.
To read the Businessweek story, click here.
To read The Packer story, click here.
Posted: 06/23/2010
