CDFA Finalizes Proposition 12 Regulations—What Lies Ahead?

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has finalized the Proposition 12 implementation rules, which can be found here. The finalized regulations are similar to the second modified text, which was released in June of this year. 

According to an FAQ on CDFA's website, Proposition 12 is a "ballot initiative passed in 2018 by California voters that prohibits confining farm animals (egg-laying hens, veal calves and breeding pigs) in a cruel manner and prohibits the sale of products (eggs, veal meat and pork meat) from farm animals confined in a cruel manner into California commerce."

The law mandates minimum housing space requirements for breeding pigs, veal calves, and egg-laying hens and was originally set to begin on January 1, 2022. However, a ruling earlier this year delayed Proposition 12 for 180 days after the final rules went into effect...

New Cold Storage Facility in SoCal Lands Safe Quality Foods Certification

West Coast Cold Storage, a Southern California-based food-grade warehousing service provider, attained Safe Quality Foods (SQF) certification for their new state-of-the-art facility.

The woman-owned facility boasts 124,000 Sq. Ft. of space and wrapped up the SQF auditing processing within six months of starting operations. The facility garnered a 97 out of 100 in its first audit.

The certification was administered by the Food Marketing Institute and recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), the company shared in a press release...

Smithfield Foods to Close Vernon, CA Facility; Reduce Hog Production in Western Region

Smithfield Foods, Inc. today announced that it will cease all harvest and processing operations in Vernon, California in early 2023 and, at the same time, align its hog production system by reducing its sow herd in its Western region. The company will decrease its sow herd in Utah and is exploring strategic options to exit its farms in Arizona and California. Smithfield harvests only company-owned hogs in Vernon. Smithfield will service customers in California with its Farmer John brand and other brands and...

The Save Mart Companies Announces Acquisition by Kingswood Capital Management

Today, The Save Mart Companies announced that Kingswood Capital Management LP ("Kingswood") has acquired the company. Kingswood is an operationally-focused private equity firm based in Los Angeles, with significant experience in the retail sector. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Modesto, California, The Save Mart Companies is committed to sourcing a wide variety of local products across approximately 200 stores and serves communities throughout California and Northern Nevada. The company operates stores under the banners of Save Mart, Lucky California, and FoodMaxx. In addition to...

US Foods To Open Pair of CHEF’STORE Locations in California, Virginia

US Foods will open a pair of its US Foods CHEF’STORE locations in Visalia, Calif., and Lynchburg, Va.

CHEF’STORE was described as a “one-stop-shop for restaurant operators, food industry professionals, community groups and at-home chefs to quickly stock up, replenish, or fill in ingredients and supplies in a variety of sizes and offerings” by US Foods.

The new stores will feature a wide-selection of restaurant-quality products at wholesale prices including resh meat, produce, dairy and deli items as well as frozen seafood...

Plant-Based Next Meats From Japan Continues Rapid Growth With California Expansion

Founded in 2017 by entrepreneurs Ryo Shirai and Hideyuki Sasaki to help the world to eat healthier and lessen traditional agriculture's impact on the environment, Next Meats premiered its cutting-edge products, which include the world's first plant-based short rib and skirt steak, in Japan in 2020 after years of research and development.

Japanese specialty market Tokyo Central is the first grocer in California to offer three Next Meats products — Next Short Rib, Next Skirt Steak, and Next Beef Bowl — at six locations in Southern California and...

REPORTER: Hog, Veal, And Egg Producers Brace For The Start of Proposition 12

December 27, 2021

This article was originally featured in the Winter 2022 Edition of Urner Barry's Reporter magazine.

California’s Proposition 12 has generated widespread controversy and pushback among those involved in the egg and meat trades. A state ballot initiative passed by California voters in 2018, the second phase of the law is set to begin on January 1, 2022.

Under the law, veal calf producers are required to provide their animals with at least 43 square feet of usable floor space per calf...