MEDIA PORTRAYAL OF AGRICULTURE TO BE FEATURED AT NEXT MEETING OF CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

SACRAMENTO, August 21, 2001-Secretary William (Bill) J. Lyons, Jr. announces that the next meeting of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture is scheduled for August 29, 2001 at 1:00 p.m. The location for the August meeting will be the CDFA Auditorium, Room 127, 1220 “N” Street, Sacramento. The meeting’s focus will be an analysis of how agriculture is portrayed on television. Representatives from the programs The Full Bloom Show, California Country and California Heartland will be participating.

The State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the Governor and the Secretary of Food and Agriculture on agricultural issues and consumer needs. In the past, the Board has hosted forums that brought together local, state, and federal government officials, agricultural representatives and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture. The Board’s fifteen members are appointed by the Governor, and are selected to represent a broad range of agricultural commodities, geographical regions, and both the University of California and the California State University. Members serve four-year terms without pay. There are no term limits and appointments do not require Senate confirmation.

All State Board of Food and Agriculture meetings are open to the media and the public. For more information about the State Board, please contact CDFA’s Office of Public Affairs at 916/654-0462 or Vanessa S. Arellano, Executive Director of the State Board of Food and Agriculture at 916/653-7643 or visit www.cdfa.ca.gov/programs.

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FLEX YOUR POWER. To meet California’s energy challenge, CDFA urges businesses and consumers to conserve. For a list of simple ways that you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our Web site @www.cdfa.ca.gov.