FEBRUARY MEETING SET FOR STATE BOARD OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

SACRAMENTO – California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura has announced that the next meeting for the California State Board of Food and Agriculture is scheduled for February 24, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at CDFA’s Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, 3294 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, California. 

The topics before the board include a briefing by the Chuck Bell, a conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Mr. Bell will offer information on the Conservation Security Program.  Additionally, the board will tour the CDFA Plant Pest Diagnostics Center and the Center for Analytical Chemistry.

The State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and the secretary 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 Johnson, executive director of the State Board of Food and Agriculture, at (916) 654-1020.

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