The newly formed California Agave Alliance announces the launch of its website, a resource hub dedicated to educating Californians about AB 2606—a law that will regulate the state’s growing agave industry by establishing the California Agave Commission. The bill, which took effect on January 1, 2025, is now facing growing backlash from a diverse set of agave farmers and industry stakeholders who say their voices were excluded during the legislative process. Agave growers, processors and distillers still have an opportunity to cast a vote either for or against the establishment of the California Agave Commission.
Undue Burden on the Small & Underrepresented The California Agave Commission, if established, will act as an arm of the state government. It will have the authority to levy mandatory annual assessments and onerous reporting on all agave growers, processors and distillers. Penalties and civil action may be directed at anyone who does not comply. Many small-scale farmers, processors and distillers are concerned that these new regulations will create a disproportionate burden on smaller operations while favoring large-scale, corporate producers and the industrial methods they employ. AB 2606 focuses mainly on agave cultivation for alcoholic beverages, thus largely ignoring agave’s myriad other agricultural, pharmaceutical, and climate-solution uses. It also does not acknowledge the historical or cultural significance of agave for native communities in Latin America or California.
A Commission Conceived Without Community Input AB 2606 was initiated and advanced with a consequential lack of communication and outreach to those who will be affected. Without conveying essential and timely preliminary information, the agave community had little to no opportunity for input or opposing views before the bill passed through the state legislature. Now that AB2606 will become law, a growing independent cohort of industry stakeholders are taking action to educate and involve the greater community.
Growing Resistance Among Small Farmers Many farmers who are pioneering agave cultivation in California now fear that AB 2606 will stifle their ability to thrive due to its one-size-fits-all approach which risks limiting biodiversity, innovation, and climate-friendly farming solutions. Processors and distillers are concerned that undue regulatory burdens will increase their costs as well as choke the experimental and small-batch endeavors necessary to further realize the full potential of agave as a new and lucrative alternative crop for California farmers with a wide range of potential uses.
California Agave Alliance A newly formed grassroots campaign started by small farmers and allies as a direct response to the lack of transparency and community involvement that mired the conception of AB 2606. It aims to educate growers, processors and distillers with information on what a potential agave commission would involve, how it would affect their livelihoods, and what agency they still have in shaping the future of the industry.
Where’s The Story? The California agave industry is at a crossroads. So far, the media’s focus has been on a handful of large-scale farmers in the Central Valley, depicting a portrait of the California agave that is largely monolithic and unopposed, yet there are so many other stories to be told. The California Agave Alliance is a growing community of groundbreakers drawn to agave for many different reasons and representing a range of demographics across the state. Their personal stories, motivations, and advocacy offer the media numerous angles to work with. This is an opportunity to both bring attention to how AB 2606 has the potential to upend the still-nascent agave industry and to highlight the diverse and interesting stories that underpin the agave community across California.
The new website A comprehensive resource for this community, providing tools for taking action against the present version of AB 2606. It includes education materials, such as fact sheets on the impacts of the bill, a survey where agave growers can provide their feedback of concerns for AB2606, and advocacy materials to help agave growers and the general public understand the potential impacts of the bill and get involved in opposing it.
Town Hall Zoom Meeting on California Agave Industry’s Development
Friday, February 28, 2025, 4pm – 7pm PST
https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/8428425831
Visit the website to learn more and take action:
https://californiaagavealliance.com/
About California Agave Alliance
The California Agave Alliance is a collective of small agave growers, industry professionals, and independent advocates working together to oppose AB 2606 and ensure fair representation for all stakeholders in California’s agave industry. The Alliance seeks to protect the cultural, economic, and environmental future of agave in the state.
