§ 490-020. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE

(1)

The Board declares and finds as follows:

(a)

Agricultural theft has become a major problem in Sutter County and in the State of California;

(b)

Currently, 34,012 acres of walnuts exist in Sutter County;

(c)

Walnuts in Sutter County have a value in excess of one hundred forty-three million six hundred twenty thousand dollars ($143,620,000.00);

(d)

Walnuts are especially vulnerable to theft because of the manner in which they are harvested;

(e)

The theft of walnuts affects the agricultural viability of Sutter County, results in considerable economic loss and, therefore, constitutes a threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Sutter County.

(2)

The Board declares that the purpose of this ordinance is to establish requirements regarding the transportation and identification of walnut crops, including establishing a walnut buying period. It is the purpose and intent of this Chapter to establish a means of verifying ownership of specified agricultural commodities in order to prevent and deter theft of these commodities and to provide a means for local enforcement of law and regulations pertaining to the purchase and sale of these commodities.