Avocados: sale or donation by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.

Existing law requires every person who is in possession of over 25 pounds of avocados that are produced in the state to possess a record of proof of ownership of the avocados, among other requirements related to avocados. Existing law, upon reasonable belief that a person is in unlawful possession of avocados, authorizes the Secretary of Food and Agriculture or any peace officer to seize the avocados and turn the avocados over to the custody of the secretary, as specified. Existing law requires the avocados to be released to the owner, or owner's agent, if the lawful owner is located. If for any reason the avocados are not released to the rightful owner after being in the custody of the secretary for 48 hours or, in the case of highly perishable avocados, a shorter period of time that the secretary deems necessary, existing law authorizes the secretary to either sell the avocados or donate the avocados to a nonprofit charitable organization, as provided. This bill would extend the above-described custody period from 48 hours to 72 hours. The bill would additionally authorize the secretary to donate these avocados to an on-campus food pantry serving students enrolled in an institution of public postsecondary education.