NOVEMBER MEETING SET FOR CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

SACRAMENTO, Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - A.G. Kawamura, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), has announced the next meeting of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. The session will explore California’s changing demographics & growth patterns and their impact on agriculture.  The board will meet at the Center for Land Based Learning, a nationally recognized teaching facility located at 5265 Putah Creek Rd, Winters, CA 95694, on November 29, 2006, starting at 9:00 a.m.

An expert panel will address topics such as: positive and negative examples of urban edge issues; what causes friction at the agriculture/urban interface; how does the agriculture industry communicate about itself to the world around it; conservation easements; buffer zones; green payments; sustainable agriculture; and a global perspective of farming on the edge of urban development.

Addressing the board will be nationally recognized experts including: Michael Teitz, Senior Researcher for the Public Policy Institute of CA; Carol Whiteside, President of the Great Valley Center; Michael Ableman, Executive Director for the Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens; Howard Yana-Shapiro, Director of Plant Science and External Research for Mars Incorporated; Rich Collins, President of California Vegetable Specialties; and Michael Dimock, Executive Director for Vivid Picture.

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and the secretary of food and agriculture of findings as they impact agriculture and consumer needs. The board conducts forums that bring together local, state, and federal government officials, agricultural representatives, and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.

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 California State Board of Food and Agriculture, at (916) 657-3231.