Organic products sector: Organic Transition Pilot Program.

Existing law requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to promote and protect the agricultural industry of the state. Existing law requires the department to ensure the inclusion of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, as defined, in the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of food and agriculture laws, regulations, and policies and programs. This bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2024, to develop and oversee, for a period of 5 years, the Organic Transition Pilot Program in order to support the economic viability of farmers and ranchers, prioritizing limited resource, as defined, and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, by providing incentives, including, but not limited to, grants, research, technical assistance, and educational materials and outreach, to those farmers or ranchers who intend to transition land to organic certification pursuant to federal law, as specified. The bill would require the department to first provide incentives to socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher applicants, then, if there are moneys available, to limited resource farmer or rancher applicants, and lastly, if there are moneys available, to remaining farmer or rancher applicants. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter until a report has been submitted that covers the conclusion of the pilot program, to submit to the Legislature, and post on the department's internet website, a report on the outcome of the pilot program. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2032. Existing law establishes the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. This bill would require the office, on or before July 1, 2024, to conduct a comprehensive statewide market analysis of the total economic impacts of California's organic products sector and to post that market analysis on its internet website, as specified.