STATE BOARD OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE TO HOST FORUM ON CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL ON MAY 1 IN SACRAMENTO

SACRAMENTO, April 27, 2012 – The California State Board of Food and Agriculture is scheduled to address high-speed rail and the agricultural sector at its upcoming meeting on May 1, 2012. The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 'N' Street - Main Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814.

"Governor Brown continues to remind us that we are a state of innovators and inventors,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “As Californians, we benefit today from the vision and investments in infrastructure made by the generations who came before us. Any upgrade to our aging infrastructure will have some controversy. We owe it to our state's future to carefully evaluate high speed rail and figure out how to make it work for California."

The board meeting will allow the opportunity for the agricultural community to provide public comments, listen to presentations by various stakeholders, and understand the opportunities and challenges high-speed rail has within the Central Valley.

Scheduled speakers include: Tom Richards, Vice Chairperson, California High-Speed Rail Authority; Supervisor Doug Verboon, Kings County Board of Supervisors; Ted Harris, California Strategies LLC; Peter Weber, California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley; and Edward Thompson, Jr., American Farmland Trust.

Public comments concerning the issue are scheduled to begin at approximately 1:30 p.m. and participation is welcomed.

"California's farmers and ranchers need to be involved in discussions concerning high-speed rail," said President Craig McNamara, California State Board of Food and Agriculture.  "The California High-Speed Rail Authority has taken proactive steps in engaging the agricultural community, which is greatly appreciated.”

The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and the CDFA secretary on agricultural issues and consumer needs.  The state board conducts forums that bring together local, state and federal government officials, agricultural representative and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.

Follow the board on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/Cafood_agboard

-30-

CDFA Protects!