Bipartisan Legislation To Ensure Hass Avocado Quality

Press Release

Bipartisan Legislation To Ensure Hass Avocado Quality

Today Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) and Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced the Hass Avocado Quality Assurance Act. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) also introduced a companion bill today in the Senate. The legislation would protect consumer interests and facilitate competition by ensuring that imported Hass avocados meet the same fruit maturity requirement that is currently imposed on California-grown Hass avocados under state law.

The vast majority of all domestically produced Hass avocados for the U.S. commercial market are grown in the State of California. California avocados are inspected by the State Department of Food and Agriculture to ensure compliance with minimum maturity and size and weight requirements set forth in State regulation. Currently, this critical quality standard is not applicable to imported avocados. As a result, immature imported avocados are being sold to consumers in the United States.

The lack of a uniform maturity requirement for imported avocados negatively impacts demand for all Hass avocados because immature avocados are unpalatable, and consumers who purchase and consume immature avocados are more likely to cease buying all avocados. The Hass Avocado Quality Assurance Act seeks to address this inequity by mandating minimum maturity standards for all Hass avocado imports. Such legislation will make certain a consistently high quality supply of Hass avocados that will benefit California's avocado growers and consumers throughout the United States.

"I am pleased to be introducing this common sense legislation that will protect the interests of avocado consumers and growers," said Rep. Capps. "This bill will ensure that consumers have access to the highest quality Hass avocados and it will also level the playing field by promoting fair competition among domestic and international Hass avocado growers. This is a win-win situation for avocado consumers and growers and I hope that this bill moves quickly through the legislative process."

"I am proud that California produces the highest quality avocados in the world," said Rep. Issa. "Consumers expect a high quality avocado when they see the name ‘Hass' and Congress needs to ensure that immature and low-quality imports don't harm this sought after variety."

Senator Boxer said, "Imported avocados should be held to the same quality standards as those produced in California to ensure consistent quality. This bill promotes accountability for all avocado farmers at home and abroad, and American consumers will benefit as a result."

The Hass Avocado Quality Assurance Act enjoys strong support from California avocado growers, including the California Avocado Commission.

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