CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE IS FACING ONE OF THE LARGEST COST INCREASES IN ITS HISTORY.

Lawmakers Need to Hear Your Concerns about SB 54 Before It’s Too Late.

California’s growers, shippers, packers, and food businesses will pay the price for SB 54, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. If lawmakers don’t hear directly from the businesses affected, they’ll never understand the impact these costs will have on farms, jobs, and food prices.

THE COSTS ARE STAGGERING.

Circular Action Alliance (CAA), the organization chosen to implement SB 54, has proposed a budget of $9.3–$17.2 billion over five years, funded entirely through producer fees. Those figures don’t include the billions more businesses may spend redesigning packaging, replacing equipment, and meeting new compliance requirements.

An independent economic analysis estimates SB 54 could cost $56–$78 billion by 2032, increasing grocery costs for the average California family by up to $1,350 per year.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT. 

August 21 is the final day bills can be amended. August 31 is the last day bills can pass. If the Legislature is going to fix SB 54, it must act before these deadlines.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO.

Use the Legislature’s Find Your Representative website twice:

  • Enter your home address to find the legislators who represent you personally.
  • Enter your business address to find the legislators who represent your farm, packing operation or company.

If your home and business are in different districts, you may have four legislators to contact. Please call both their Capitol and district offices and then follow up with an email.

Tell them:

  • You live or operate a business in their district.
  • What your company grows, packs, or ships and how many people you employ.
  • How SB 54 will impact your business, your employees, and the families who buy your products.

Tell them producers need to know:

  • What their fees will be.
  • Whether additional “malus” fees will be imposed on essential produce packaging.
  • Which company in the supply chain is responsible for registering and paying.
  • Why businesses should face fines before these questions are answered.

WE ARE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO PAUSE SB 54 FEES, FINES, AND ENFORCEMENT UNTIL:

  • Producers know what they will be charged.
  • It is clear who must register and pay.
  • Food-safety packaging exclusions are resolved.
  • The unique packaging needs of fresh produce are addressed.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR CALLS TODAY.

Please also contact the Governor and the leaders of both houses:

Afterward, let Western Growers know which offices you contacted and what response you received.

Every call matters. Every email matters. If California agriculture doesn’t speak now, others will make these decisions for us.

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