05/05/1998 03:07 PM Senate L&C

                                                                               
       CSHJR 65(L&C) - CLASSIFY WILD SALMON AS ORGANIC FOOD                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN LEMAN called the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee                  
meeting to order at 3:07 p.m., and brought HJR 65 before the                   
committee.                                                                     
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BILL HUDSON, prime sponsor of HJR 65, said Alaska is            
in probably one of the most competitive marketing efforts that it              
has ever been in marketing its vast quantity of salmon.  HJR 65                
requests supporting the congressional delegation in getting into               
the arena as they develop standards for organic foods, which is a              
major new market that is growing at the rate of 20 percent a year.             
The resolution urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture to give                
careful consideration to include Alaska wild salmon on its list of             
organic foods.                                                                 
                                                                               
SENATOR KELLY asked if there was any opposition to the resolution.             
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON replied there was none that he knew of.                  
                                                                               
There being no further testimony on HJR 65, CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked               
for the pleasure of the committee.                                             
                                                                               
SENATOR MACKIE moved CSHJR 65(L&C) and the accompanying zero fiscal            
note be passed out of committee with individual recommendations.               
Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.