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“INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION FOR OLIVE CROPS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E509 on April 6, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION FOR OLIVE CROPS
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HON. WILLIAM M. THOMAS
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, April 6, 2000
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing legislation today which will allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue publishing information on the American olive industry. The industry, composed of 1,000 olive growers and the olive processors in California, heartily supports this proposal and urges that we act upon it as soon as possible.
Under federal law, the Department has allowed publication of information on olive crops and inventory for years. These statistics have given farmers, processors and food buyers critical information about the state of the industry. The statistics cover crop outlook, including expected production, inventories and carryover stocks, sales and other matters.
These statistics are important for a variety of reasons. Farmers use them when they bargain collectively with processors to sell a crop. The crop information also helps set assessments growers will pay to support research, marketing and inspection in the industry. The inventory and quality information made available to potential buyers helps create a more efficient market for sales of processed olives.
These figures are important because olives are an ``alternate bearing'' crop--every other year, crop size varies substantially. In some years, the crop will be double what was produced in the year before. When you consider that olive farmers may see crops vary by as much as 100,000 tons, you can see why farmers, processors and food companies would want accurate information about stocks and future supplies.
We need to pass legislation to allow the statistics to be issued because California has seen the number of olive processors fall during the past decade. With only two processors left in the foreseeable future, the Department of Agriculture is unable to publish information as the law is written today. My bill will give the Department the authority to continue releasing information on the industry.
The bill I am introducing offers a simple, targeted solution to the industry's trouble. The bill will permit the Department to release information if both the remaining processors (called ``handlers'' under the law) agree in writing that statistics on their operations may be released. The amendment would apply only to olives.
The bill has the strong support of California and national industry groups. It has been endorsed by the Olive Growers Council, The California Olive Association, the California League of Food Processors and the National Food Processors Association. They hope as do I that Congress will complete action on the bill in the near future.
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