SECRETARY KAWAMURA PROMOTES CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ON GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER’S TRADE MISSION TO MEXICO

MONTERREY, MEXICO, November 08, 2006— California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura is in Mexico this week as part of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s trade mission, November 9-10, 2006. During the trade mission, Secretary Kawamura will promote the state’s agricultural products and address agricultural trade issues relating to market access and pest prevention.

“Our two communities are linked by family ties, travel, commerce and cooperation,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Our neighboring agricultural communities have worked for many years toward common goals such as enhancing our cross-border trade.”

“Mexico is already a significant export market for California agricultural products,” said Secretary Kawamura, “I look forward to helping our producers expand their opportunities by finding new markets and buyers for their products, and by maintaining a high level of cooperation with Mexican officials when it comes to agricultural pests and other issues.”

While in Mexico, Secretary Kawamura will be meeting with Mexican agricultural officials and private companies and touring retail and wholesale operations. Secretary Kawamura will also join agricultural representatives from the rice, wine, strawberry, dairy, tree fruit and pear industries in promoting California agriculture in Mexico. The promotion of California agriculture is vital to increasing exports and expanding market opportunities for California products in Mexico.

During the trade mission, Secretary Kawamura will be available for on-site interviews in Mexico. Secretary Kawamura’s tentative meeting schedule:

Thursday, November 9:  Mexico City Breakfast meeting with Mexican President Vicente Fox, Governor Schwarzenegger and department secretaries; followed by a delegation greeting by President Fox Visit to Chedraui supermarket featuring California products Embassy briefing for delegation Roundtable with Mexican state governors American Chamber of Commerce luncheon; remarks by Governor Schwarzenegger

Friday, November 10:  Monterrey Lunch hosted by Lic. Jose Natividad Gonzalez Paras, Governor of Nuevo Leon Environmental technology trade show; remarks by Governor Schwarzenegger Attend the filming of Chef Lulu’s cooking show “Sabrosas Conversaciones Con Lulu” (“Tasteful Conversations with Lulu”) featuring California-grown agricultural products Visit to HEB supermarket featuring California products

California exported $581 million in agricultural commodities to Mexico in 2005 — up 10 percent from 2004 — making it the fourth largest market for California agricultural exports.  The top five agricultural exports to Mexico are dairy ($263 million), table grapes ($39.7 million), cotton ($39.5 million), processed tomatoes ($35.3 million) and beef ($30.5 million).