10/30/09 - Leighton Petition Filed with CDFA
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (October 29, 2009) - The CDFA has verified CCFC's analysis that enough qualified signatures of producers have been collected on a petition to move ahead with a hearing to determine if a referendum regarding the continuation, termination or suspension of the California Cut Flower Commission is warranted.
On October 2, 2009 the CCFC received notice from CDFA that it had received a letter dated September 28, 2009 from attorney Brian Leighton demanding a hearing to "determine whether or not to conduct a referendum." Included in Mr. Leighton's letter were the signed petitions of 33 growers from throughout California. A 34th petition was filed days later.
Based on CCFC's staff's analysis, 20 of the 34 petitions were determined to be eligible "producers" of cut flowers according to CCFC state statute (77918 (a)). These 20 producers meet the threshold defined in California Food and Ag Code 78002(b), which requires that the Secretary hold a hearing to determine if a referendum for the Commission is warranted if indeed the petition signatures represent "... not less than 20% of the producers who produce not less than 20% of the gross dollar value of flowers in the immediately preceding marketing year..." .
On Tuesday October 27, CDFA ratified the Commission's staff's analysis that the 20%/20% threshold found in California Food and Ag Code 78002(b) had been met by the petitioning producers and the process of organizing a hearing was begun. The hearing will provide growers and petitioners an opportunity to give testimony on the operation of the Commission and its efforts to "effectuate its declared purposes." A date and location for this hearing have not been determined.
A copy of the original petition can be found on the CDFA website by clicking here: Leighton Petition. Additionally, a copy of the Commission's analysis and letter to CDFA can be found by clicking here: CCFC Letter of Analysis to CDFA
For more information, please contact Kasey Cronquist, Executive Director/Ambassador, California Cut Flower Commission at 805-696-5000 or kcronquist@ccfc.org