STATE BOARD OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE MEETING SET FOR OCTOBER

SACRAMENTO – California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary William (Bill) J. Lyons, Jr. has announced that the next meeting for the California State Board of Food and Agriculture is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in the Central Valley Auditorium at the California Environmental Protection Agency Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California. The topics before the board will include a presentation on the complexities of the food system by Dr. David Lighthall, Research Director for the Relational Culture Institute, a Fresno firm that specializes in educational, leadership and organizational issues. Also, public relations executive Kerry Tucker, of the San Diego firm Nuffer, Smith and Tucker, will give a presentation on the challenges facing agriculture in the future. In addition, there will be a departmental update on the weed and vertebrate program within the Division of Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services.

 The State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and the Secretary of Food and Agriculture on agricultural issues and consumer needs. The board hosts forums that bring 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 academic systems.  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 general public.  For more information on the state board or CDFA, please contact the department’s public affairs office at (916) 654-0462 or Karen Manor, Executive Director of the State Board of Food and Agriculture, at (916) 654-0433.

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