MEETING OF STATE BOARD OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SET FOR FEBRUARY 22, 2006

SACRAMENTO – California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary A.G. Kawamura has announced that the next meeting for the California State Board of Food and Agriculture is scheduled for Wednesday, February 22, 2006.  The meeting will be held at the San Luis Mendota Water Authority, 842 6th Street, Los Banos, CA 93635.  The scheduled topic before the board is water, including infrastructure and levee restoration.  This month, the board will also tour various water facilities and infrastructures in the Central Valley on Tuesday, February 21st. 

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 has 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 California 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 Helen Lopez, Executive Director of the State Board of Food and Agriculture at (916) 657-3231.

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