SB 5816
In CommitteeSenate
Sale of juice grapes
Concerning the sale of juice grapes.
- Introduced (completed)
- 2Committee (current stage)
- 3Floor Vote (not started)
- 4Opposite Chamber (not started)
- 5Governor (not started)
- 6Signed (not started)
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill adds juice grapes to Washington’s existing agricultural contract negotiation law, ensuring they are treated like pears, sweet corn, and potatoes in formal price- and term-negotiation processes. It requires timely, structured negotiations between grape producers and handlers before harvest, with oversight by the Department of Agriculture.
- Adds juice grapes to the list of 'qualified commodities' covered by the state's agricultural contract negotiation law (previously only pears, sweet corn, and potatoes).
- Requires 60 days before harvest to begin formal negotiations for juice grapes (similar to pears), with negotiations concluding within 30 days after harvest.
- Clarifies that juice grapes are defined as grapes intended for nonfermented juice products (e.g., juice, concentrate), distinguishing them from wine or table grapes.
- Expands the definition of 'negotiating unit' to include juice grape producers, allowing them to form associations that negotiate on their behalf.
- Requires handlers and processors to engage in 'serious, fair, and reasonable' negotiations on price, terms, and other conditions—without requiring disclosure of proprietary business or financial records.
Who is affected
- Juice grape producers — Grape growers who produce grapes specifically for juice (not wine or table use) gain formal inclusion in the state's agricultural contract negotiation process, giving them a structured way to negotiate fair pricing and terms with buyers.
- Juice grape processors and handlers — Juice grape processors and handlers must now participate in formal, time-bound negotiations with producer associations before planting or harvesting, rather than setting terms unilaterally.
- Agricultural producer associations — Producer associations that represent juice grape growers can now serve as exclusive negotiation agents for their members, giving them legal standing in contract negotiations.
- Washington State Department of Agriculture — The Washington State Department of Agriculture gains authority to oversee and approve negotiation units and ensure compliance with the negotiation process.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
By formally defining juice grapes and including them in the negotiation framework, the bill helps protect small and mid-sized juice grape growers from being priced out by large processors — especially important in central Washington where juice grapes are a major crop but historically lacked formal bargaining rights.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2, new subsection (7) and RCW 15.83.010(7)The 60-day pre-harvest negotiation window and requirement for 'serious, fair, and reasonable' engagement may reduce coercive or ad hoc pricing tactics by handlers, giving producers more time to plan and avoid last-minute financial shocks.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2, amended RCW 15.83.010(8) — timing and 'serious, fair, and reasonable' negotiation standardFormal recognition of producer associations strengthens grassroots organizing capacity, enabling small growers to pool resources and expertise — a key step toward equitable market power in an increasingly consolidated processing sector.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2, new 'accredited association of producers' definition and expanded 'negotiating unit' authorityBrings juice grapes under the same statutory protections as pears and potatoes, addressing a long-standing gap in Washington’s agricultural law — particularly beneficial for Yakima and Franklin counties where juice grapes dominate production.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2, RCW 15.83.010(3) — inclusion of juice grapes in 'agricultural products'The bill’s minimal fiscal impact avoids diverting funds from other public services — meaning no trade-off in education, healthcare, or infrastructure funding.
Local GovernmentRef: Fiscal Impact section
Potential Concerns (5)
Juice grape producers gain formal inclusion in a structured negotiation process, allowing them to form associations and negotiate collectively — which may improve price transparency and reduce unilateral pricing by handlers, potentially increasing grower income and stability.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2, new subsection (7) and amended RCW 15.83.010(6), (7), (8)The requirement for timely, structured negotiations may reduce opportunistic behavior by handlers (e.g., last-minute price cuts), improving predictability and reducing contract disputes — benefiting small- and medium-sized juice grape producers who lack bargaining power.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2, amended RCW 15.83.010(8) and timing requirements (60 days before harvest, 30 days after)Producer associations gain legal standing to negotiate on behalf of members, lowering coordination costs and enabling collective bargaining — especially helpful for small-scale or part-time juice grape growers who cannot negotiate individually.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2, new definition of 'negotiating unit' and 'accredited association of producers'Expanding 'qualified commodities' to include juice grapes aligns their regulatory treatment with other perishable crops (e.g., pears), reducing regulatory arbitrage and potentially leveling the playing field across commodity groups.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2, amended RCW 15.83.010(3) and (10)Minimal fiscal impact on the state — only minor administrative costs for the Department of Agriculture to support the expanded negotiation process — meaning no significant tax burden shift or service reduction for local governments or taxpayers.
Local GovernmentRef: Fiscal Impact section and Sec. 2, Department of Agriculture oversight role
Who Is Most Affected
- Juice grape producersPositive Impact
Small- and mid-sized juice grape growers (often family farms in central WA) stand to benefit significantly — they gain formal negotiation rights, improved price transparency, and collective bargaining power previously unavailable. This may increase income stability and reduce dependency on single buyers.
- Juice grape processors and handlersMixed Impact
Large juice processors and handlers (e.g., Welch’s, Ocean Spray, Glaab LP) face new regulatory constraints: they must engage in time-bound, structured negotiations rather than setting unilateral terms. While this may increase compliance costs and reduce short-term pricing flexibility, it could also reduce contract disputes and improve long-term supply reliability.
- Agricultural producer associationsPositive Impact
Producer associations (e.g., Washington Juice Grape Growers Association) gain legal authority to negotiate on behalf of members, increasing their institutional role and potential influence — but also requiring new administrative capacity and legal oversight to maintain fairness and transparency.
- Washington State Department of AgricultureMixed Impact
The Department of Agriculture gains expanded oversight responsibilities, but the fiscal impact is minimal — requiring only modest staffing or procedural adjustments. This reinforces the agency’s role as a neutral arbiter in agricultural markets without significant budgetary strain.
- Juice consumersMixed Impact
Consumers may see modest price stability for juice products (e.g., apple-grape blends, concentrate) due to reduced processor pricing power — but no evidence suggests significant price changes; any effect is likely indirect and small.
Sponsors
- Senator Torres(Republican)District 15Primary