Media Advisory

WHAT: Press conference to announce bi-partisan introduction of Assembly Joint Resolution 69 that calls upon the U.S. Congress to pass House Resolution 3242, which would deliver about $180 million in federal funding to help support California’s food safety, security, nutrition and education programs.
 
WHO: California Department of Food & Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura
California Health & Human Services Agency Secretary Kimberly Belshe
California Secretary of Education Richard Riordan
Senate Agriculture & Water Resources Committee Chair Mike Machado
Senate Agriculture & Water Resources Committee Vice Chair Charles Poochigian
Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Barbara Matthews
Assembly Agriculture Committee Vice Chair Abel Maldonado
Assembly Rural Caucus Chair David Cogdill
Assembly Member Simon Salinas
UC Davis Western Institute For Food Safety & Security Director Dr. Jerry Gillespie

WHERE: State Capitol Building, Room 1190

WHEN: Monday, March 15, 2004 at 10 a.m.

WHY: Conversion of California’s farm and ranch lands for nonfarm use has contributed to the state’s increased dependence upon imported food.  About 3.7 million acres (more than 10 percent of total farm land) was lost between 1990 and 2003.  Decreased availability of farm lands has contributed to increased vulnerability to exotic pests and diseases.  About 63,527 shipments of prohibited commodities were intercepted and destroyed or shipped back out-of-state by agricultural inspectors in 2002.

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