[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 42 (Thursday, April 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION FOR OLIVE CROPS

                                 ______
                                 

                         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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