On May 13, 2014, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors adopted a nut theft ordinance to assist with the issue of nuts being stolen from orchards and illegally sold. Photo by Fernando Espí from Pixabay

YOLO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Yolo County Agricultural Commissioner Humberto Izquierdo recently announced that the nut buying period began Aug. 1 and will run through next April 1, in accordance with the county’s nut theft ordinance.

On May 13, 2014, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors adopted a nut theft ordinance to assist with the issue of nuts being stolen from orchards and illegally sold.

The declaration of the nut buying period and related Proof of Ownership requirements assists the department in enforcing the ordinance through compliance checks at places where nuts are sold.

During this period, individuals in possession of unprocessed “nuts” (almonds, walnuts and/or pistachios) shall be required to show a proof of ownership.

Under probable cause, the agricultural commissioner or any peace officer can inspect the commodity and request that Proof of Ownership be provided containing the name, address, telephone number and signature of the seller and buyer; the vehicle license plate number of the seller; the driver’s license number of the seller; the weight of the “nut” commodity purchased; the date and time of the transaction; the variety and condition of the “nut” commodity and specific identification of the source of the commodity being sold.

If the seller is the grower of the commodity, this shall mean the address at which the commodity was grown. If the seller is not the grower of the commodity, this shall mean the name, address and phone number of the person from whom that seller obtained the “nut” commodity, and if known, the address where the commodity was grown.

The Proof of Ownership shall be retained with the nut commodity to which it pertains while the commodity is in any person’s possession.

Forms can be obtained from the Yolo County Agriculture Department, located at 120 West Main Street, Suite D., Woodland, or at the Yolo County Farm Bureau, located at 69 W. Kentucky Ave. in Woodland.