CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION House Resolution No. 20Introduced by Assembly Members Eggman and Mathis(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry, Flora, and Gray)March 11, 2019 Relative to California Agriculture Day.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTHR 20, as introduced, Eggman. Digest KeyBill TextWHEREAS, March 20, 2019, is designated as California Agriculture Day, a day of celebration to commemorate agricultures importance in our daily lives, its vital role in keeping Californians nourished, and its role in keeping the states economy ranked as the fifth largest in the world; andWHEREAS, The theme of California Agriculture Day 2019 is Centennial Celebration: 100 Years of Agriculture Leadership, in recognition of the past 100 years of agricultural innovation and growth that have made California the top agricultural state in the nation; andWHEREAS, California has been the top agricultural state in the nation for more than 60 consecutive years, producing more than 400 crop and livestock products and accounting for approximately 50 percent of the nations supply of fruits, vegetables, and nuts; andWHEREAS, The inexhaustible efforts of millions of farmworkers throughout Californias history have contributed greatly to the success of Californias agricultural industry; andWHEREAS, Californias agricultural community relies on a vital infrastructure that aids in the exclusion and early detection of plant and animal pests and diseases that impact public health, the environment, and commerce; andWHEREAS, With less than 2 percent of Californias population engaged in farming and agriculture, each agricultural worker today provides for more than 100 other people, compared to just 13 in 1947; andWHEREAS, Todays agricultural industry offers over 300 challenging and rewarding career opportunities, from on-farm cultivation to food science and engineering; andWHEREAS, Over the past seven decades, advances in agricultural production have caused a drop in consumer spending on food products from 22 percent of average household disposable income in 1949 to 11 percent today; andWHEREAS, California is the nations leader in agricultural exports, shipping $20.56 billion of food and agricultural commodities around the world in 2017; andWHEREAS, Californias agricultural industry constantly seeks to incorporate the latest scientific and technological production and marketing techniques to meet changing consumer needs and the demands of complex world markets; andWHEREAS, Public-private partnerships are continually being developed to improve quality and ensure safe handling practices on the farm, in transit, and during processing; andWHEREAS, California consumers say that it is important to them to purchase food items grown in the state and have demonstrated increasing support for farmers markets, community-supported agriculture programs, and Farm to School programs; andWHEREAS, A broad approach to agricultural education is vital to ensure that California agriculture continues to flourish; andWHEREAS, California is estimated to lose 500,000 acres of agricultural land by 2050, including more than 300,000 acres of highly productive irrigated cropland, and the state should therefore continue to engage in conservation efforts to preserve Californias agricultural heritage; andWHEREAS, It is appropriate for all Californians to recognize our farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and others involved in providing such a bounty to our nation and the entire world; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly recognizes and honors all those who work in California agriculture for their dedication and productivity by observing Thursday March 14, 2019, as National Agriculture Day and designating Wednesday, March 20, 2019, as California Agriculture Day; and be it furtherResolved, That Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION House Resolution No. 20Introduced by Assembly Members Eggman and Mathis(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry, Flora, and Gray)March 11, 2019 Relative to California Agriculture Day.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTHR 20, as introduced, Eggman. Digest Key
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION
House Resolution No. 20
Introduced by Assembly Members Eggman and Mathis(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry, Flora, and Gray)March 11, 2019
Introduced by Assembly Members Eggman and Mathis(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry, Flora, and Gray)
March 11, 2019
Relative to California Agriculture Day.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
HR 20, as introduced, Eggman.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, March 20, 2019, is designated as California Agriculture Day, a day of celebration to commemorate agricultures importance in our daily lives, its vital role in keeping Californians nourished, and its role in keeping the states economy ranked as the fifth largest in the world; and
WHEREAS, The theme of California Agriculture Day 2019 is Centennial Celebration: 100 Years of Agriculture Leadership, in recognition of the past 100 years of agricultural innovation and growth that have made California the top agricultural state in the nation; and
WHEREAS, California has been the top agricultural state in the nation for more than 60 consecutive years, producing more than 400 crop and livestock products and accounting for approximately 50 percent of the nations supply of fruits, vegetables, and nuts; and
WHEREAS, The inexhaustible efforts of millions of farmworkers throughout Californias history have contributed greatly to the success of Californias agricultural industry; and
WHEREAS, Californias agricultural community relies on a vital infrastructure that aids in the exclusion and early detection of plant and animal pests and diseases that impact public health, the environment, and commerce; and
WHEREAS, With less than 2 percent of Californias population engaged in farming and agriculture, each agricultural worker today provides for more than 100 other people, compared to just 13 in 1947; and
WHEREAS, Todays agricultural industry offers over 300 challenging and rewarding career opportunities, from on-farm cultivation to food science and engineering; and
WHEREAS, Over the past seven decades, advances in agricultural production have caused a drop in consumer spending on food products from 22 percent of average household disposable income in 1949 to 11 percent today; and
WHEREAS, California is the nations leader in agricultural exports, shipping $20.56 billion of food and agricultural commodities around the world in 2017; and
WHEREAS, Californias agricultural industry constantly seeks to incorporate the latest scientific and technological production and marketing techniques to meet changing consumer needs and the demands of complex world markets; and
WHEREAS, Public-private partnerships are continually being developed to improve quality and ensure safe handling practices on the farm, in transit, and during processing; and
WHEREAS, California consumers say that it is important to them to purchase food items grown in the state and have demonstrated increasing support for farmers markets, community-supported agriculture programs, and Farm to School programs; and
WHEREAS, A broad approach to agricultural education is vital to ensure that California agriculture continues to flourish; and
WHEREAS, California is estimated to lose 500,000 acres of agricultural land by 2050, including more than 300,000 acres of highly productive irrigated cropland, and the state should therefore continue to engage in conservation efforts to preserve Californias agricultural heritage; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate for all Californians to recognize our farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and others involved in providing such a bounty to our nation and the entire world; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly recognizes and honors all those who work in California agriculture for their dedication and productivity by observing Thursday March 14, 2019, as National Agriculture Day and designating Wednesday, March 20, 2019, as California Agriculture Day; and be it further
Resolved, That Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.