H. B. 2499
(By Delegates Beach, Mezzatesta, Michael,
Williams and Burke)
[Introduced February 15, 1995; referred to the
Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section two, article two, chapter
nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to the marketing of
agricultural products; and providing that the commissioner
of agriculture shall promote, establish or conduct markets
or other wholesale or retail outlets at which all
agricultural products shall be grown, raised or produced in
West Virginia.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section two, article two, chapter nineteen of the code
of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. MARKETING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
§19-2-2. Duties and powers of commissioner.
In order to develop and encourage home industry and to
protect and promote the interest of producers and provide
consumers with food products of uniform grade and quality at fair
and reasonable prices, it shall be the duty of the commissioner
and he shall have authority to promote, regulate, coordinate,
establish and conduct a system of marketing agricultural products
in the state of West Virginia. Provided, That the commissioner
shall at all markets subsidized by state appropriations, make
available for sale or distribution, products, produce and any
other merchandise only certified as "made in West Virginia." He
shall assist producers and handlers in the grading,
classification and standardization of agricultural products at
public markets, concentration points, packing, grading and
processing plants and other places where agricultural products
are assembled for distribution.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to restrict offerings at
farmers markets to items made in West Virginia.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.