Produce industry crowds Monterey forum ahead of California EPR deadline

More than 40 produce industry professionals met in Monterey on Oct. 9 to discuss California’s SB 54 packaging law, registration deadlines and ways to reduce extended producer responsibility fees. The forum came as producers face a Jan. 1, 2027 registration cutoff and growing pressure to document compliance and cut plastic use.

Why it matters: - California’s SB 54 packaging law is moving from planning to enforcement, and produce companies now face registration, fee and compliance decisions that can affect access to the state market. - Forum panelists said program costs will be spread across fewer producers than expected, which could increase the financial burden on registered companies. - Producers are also being pushed to cut packaging material, since source reduction can lower EPR exposure.

What happened: - Recirculated held its second EPR in Produce Forum in Monterey on Friday, Oct. 9. - More than 40 industry professionals attended, including representatives from major produce companies and members of Western Growers, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, the California Fresh Fruit Association and Measure to Improve. - Patrick Owens, chief principal consultant for sustainable supply chain transition at Recirculated, moderated the panel. - Abby Taylor-Silva of Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP, and Todd Somers of Emerald Packaging joined the panel. - Attendees focused on how EPR will work, what it will cost and how to reduce fees.

The details: - Producers that are not registered by Jan. 1, 2027, may not sell, offer for sale or distribute covered materials in California. - Panelists said about 3,400 producers have registered so far, versus roughly 5,700 expected when the regulation was finalized. - Panelists said the first source-reduction target is a 10% cut in plastic from the 2023 baseline. - Panelists said current plans show little reduction so far. - Forum speakers advised producers to keep detailed records, especially on field-pack questions. - Forum speakers also advised producers to submit any categorical exclusion notification before the end of the year. - The Circular Action Alliance budget includes education and reuse funding that flows through counties and local jurisdictions. - Panelists said no pending litigation has paused SB 54. - Panelists said the law is likely to be revisited, but growers should follow the law as written today and stay engaged with the state. - After the panel, attendees joined a Solutions Reception with providers offering packaging and logistics services aimed at lowering EPR-related material use. - The participating providers were Green Spider Reusable Pallet Wraps, PLA Solutions, WP Innova and forum sponsor Marrad. - Their offerings include reusable pallet wrap that replaces single-use stretch film, coreless pre-stretched film that uses less plastic, pallet lifecycle and reverse logistics services, and sustainable materials management for large distribution centers. - Recirculated said the event was for informational purposes only and was not legal advice. - Recirculated said statements from panelists reflected their individual perspectives and were not legal, regulatory or compliance guidance. - The release said statistics and projections cited during the forum were not independently verified. - The release said SB 54 regulations, registration requirements, fee structures and compliance deadlines are subject to change. - Producers were encouraged to consult qualified legal counsel on their specific obligations under California law. - Recirculated describes itself as a vendor-neutral partner for circular supply chain transformation focused on reusable packaging solutions and compliance strategies. - The company listed Contact@Recirculated.com as its media contact. - The release included a LinkedIn link for Marrad: Marrad on LinkedIn

Between the lines: - The forum shows the produce industry is still trying to translate California’s EPR rules into day-to-day operations. - The gap between expected and actual registrations suggests the compliance pool may be smaller than regulators anticipated, which could intensify cost concerns. - The focus on documentation and field-pack questions signals that administrative proof may matter as much as packaging changes. - The reception with solution providers suggests companies are looking for immediate operational fixes, not just policy guidance.

What’s next: - Recirculated will continue with a monthly Ask the Experts series featuring forum panelists. - The company said a working group will launch in 2027. - Recirculated is also planning a third forum. - Recirculated will attend the Western Growers 100th Annual Meeting from Nov. 8 to 11, 2026, at the Grand Wailea in Maui. - The company said attendees can connect with its team there.

The bottom line: - California’s Jan. 1 registration deadline is now a near-term test for produce companies weighing compliance costs, packaging changes and market access.