Posts By: Melissa Koshlaychuk
CDFA Now Accepting Applications for California State Organic Products Advisory Committee
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is currently accepting applications for its California State Organic Products Advisory Committee (COPAC). Current openings include, but are not limited to, farmers and processors. The current COPAC includes WG members. Time Commitments The committee meets three times a year: January, May and September. The January meeting is being…
Examining SB 54’s Timeline in the Wake of Gov. Newsom’s Pause
California agriculture has long been a powerhouse of innovation—delivering scientific and technological breakthroughs that have transformed not only how we grow food, but also how we think about sustainability, efficiency and resilience. There’s an old saying: “If you get too good at something, you’ll be asked to do more of it.” Well, California ag, you were too good. You solved hard…
WG Submits Comments on SB 54 Final Draft Regulations
On Oct. 7, 2025, Western Growers submitted comments on CalRecycle's latest SB 54 “Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act” Final Draft Regulations. You can find the comment letter here. In addition to submitting our own comments, WG signed on to two coalition letters: CA Chamber of Commerce and Agricultural Council of California. These three letters combined…
The SB 54 Carnival Comes to Town with Mandatory Roller Coasters
Senate Bill 54, known as the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, was signed into law in 2022 with the goal of drastically reducing single-use plastic waste in California. The law imposes sweeping requirements on producers to ensure that by 2032, 100 percent of packaging in the state is recyclable or compostable, with a mandated 25 percent reduction in…
Gov. Newsom Sends SB 54 Single-Use Plastic Recycling Regulation Back to Drawing Board
On March 7, 2025, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered CalRecycle to pull back its final SB 54 regulation and restart the one-year regulatory process. This comes after a lengthy and uphill battle for Western Growers (WG) and other industry leaders to ensure produce safety, protect agricultural businesses and keep fresh food affordable. In Gov. Newsom’s announcement, he said that the draft regulation…
California Legislation is Back with a New Two-Year Session
Sometimes when I think of new beginnings, I am haunted by the game of Sorry!, where I have gotten so close to winning, only to have my last piece sent back to the start. I’d like to say I took those losses with no hard feelings. New two-year sessions certainly evoke a sense of fresh starts with new legislators bringing with them the potential for new perspectives and approaches. On Dec. 2,…