California State Seal

News Release

California Department of Food and Agriculture

Media Contact: Steve Lyle, Office of Public Affairs, (916) 654-0462, steve.lyle@cdfa.ca.gov

California Department of Food and Agriculture
Release #01-092

BLOCK GRANT LISTENING SESSION TOMORROW IN SALINAS

CDFA Secretary William (Bill) J. Lyons, Jr. Scheduled to Attend


SACRAMENTO, October 24, 2001-Agricultural producers from throughout the Central Coast are invited to participate in a listening session tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the Richard Nutter Agricultural Center in Salinas. The topic of the meeting will be a $64 million federal block grant. CDFA is seeking input on the best uses for the funds.

At the listening session, CDFA and county agricultural commissioners will briefly describe the scope of the program and then solicit comments from members of the audience. All ideas that assist the bottom line of specialty crop producers will be considered.

Comments on the block grant program will also be accepted in writing through November 1, 2001. Please submit comments to CDFA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, 1220 N Street, Suite 428, Sacramento, CA 95814. For additional information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at (916) 654-0462.

Specialty Crop Block Grant Listening Session Schedule
(remaining dates)
October 25, 2001 9 a.m. Salinas Richard Nutter Agricultural Center, Salinas
October 29, 2001 9 a.m. El Centro Mid-Winter Fiesta Fairgrounds, El Centro
October 31, 2001 9 a.m. Sacramento CDFA Auditorium, 1220 N Street, Sacramento


-30-



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.


CDFA Protects
Follow CDFA News on Twitter and Facebook
California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Public Affairs
1220 N St., Ste. 214, Sacramento, CA 95814
916-654-0462, www.cdfa.ca.gov