SECRETARY KAWAMURA TO TOUR PORT OF OAKLAND WITH U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION COMMISSIONER

Protection of U.S. Agricultural Resources From Foreign Pests Topic of Visit Federal-State Partnerships Emphasized

OAKLAND – California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary A. G. Kawamura.will tour the Port of Oakland with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner W. Ralph Basham. Commissioner Basham will highlight CBP’s vital role in the protection of U.S. agricultural resources.  The CBP Agriculture Specialist and the CBP Officer at U.S. ports of entry and international mail facilities target, detect, intercept, and thereby prevent the entry of potential agriculture threats.  Each year, CBP Agriculture Specialists intercept tens of thousands of “actionable pests” – those identified through scientific risk assessment and study as being dangerous to the health and safety of U.S. agricultural resources.  Secretary Kawamura and Commissioner Basham will emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts between federal and state agriculture inspections to safeguard agriculture, natural resources, and California’s and our nation’s economy.

Event: Informal media availability following the tour
    
Date:  July 30, 2007

Time:    Noon (12:00 pm PDT)

Location:  Bobac C.F.S. Corporation
                  300 A Avenue
                  Alameda, CA  94501
                  (TV Note: Warehouse lighting conditions; crew may want to bring additional flood lights)
    
Participants:  Secretary A.G. Kawamura
                       California Department of Food and Agriculture
                       Commissioner W. Ralph Basham
                       U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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