Schwarzenegger makes surprise visit at California Ag Day
Schwarzenegger makes surprise visit at California Ag Day
SACRAMENTO, CA " California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger surprised the crowd gathered on the Capitol?s west steps on Tuesday, March 15, dropping by to lend his thanks and encouragement to the men and women of California?s agricultural community.
He took a moment away from his day?s work inside the Capitol to enjoy the California sun and the festivities, honoring the important role of agriculture in people?s daily lives.
Hosted by the California Women for Agriculture and the California Department of Food & Agriculture, the event visited by Mr. Schwarzenegger focused on nutrition, education and food safety.
The event featured the first Capitol Cook-Off competition between four teams of California high school students using California-grown products, along with the skills they have learned in their home economics and technology studies. The curriculum includes instruction in food science, dietetics, nutrition and foodservice. Participating schools were Cesar Chavez High School in Delano, Wilcox High School in Santa Clara, Mt. Diablo High School in Concord and Pleasant Valley High School in Chico.
The festivities also featured 35 booths distributing samples of California commodities and information about the many challenges facing agriculture.
?Ag Day is a time of celebration for California agriculture," said CWA First Vice President Mary Ann Graf. "It provides a great opportunity to show our fellow Californians how farmers and ranchers contribute to our quality of life. The event gave us a chance to educate the public about the challenges facing agriculture in the Golden State."
The conversion of California?s farm and ranch lands into non-farm uses threatens to increase the state?s dependence upon imported food. About 3.7 million acres of land in farms were lost between 1990 and 2003. The increased imports have increased California agriculture?s vulnerability to exotic pests and diseases that can be transported along with imported fruits, vegetables and other commodities.
?The quality, quantity and variety of the food supply provided by California agriculture are unmatched anywhere in the world," said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. "Agriculture is a resource worth protecting, whether the threat is a new disease, an invasive pest or simply the gradual loss of our prized farmland to urbanizing communities."
The Ag Day festivities were part of National Agriculture Week, which ran through March 19.
He took a moment away from his day?s work inside the Capitol to enjoy the California sun and the festivities, honoring the important role of agriculture in people?s daily lives.
Hosted by the California Women for Agriculture and the California Department of Food & Agriculture, the event visited by Mr. Schwarzenegger focused on nutrition, education and food safety.
The event featured the first Capitol Cook-Off competition between four teams of California high school students using California-grown products, along with the skills they have learned in their home economics and technology studies. The curriculum includes instruction in food science, dietetics, nutrition and foodservice. Participating schools were Cesar Chavez High School in Delano, Wilcox High School in Santa Clara, Mt. Diablo High School in Concord and Pleasant Valley High School in Chico.
The festivities also featured 35 booths distributing samples of California commodities and information about the many challenges facing agriculture.
?Ag Day is a time of celebration for California agriculture," said CWA First Vice President Mary Ann Graf. "It provides a great opportunity to show our fellow Californians how farmers and ranchers contribute to our quality of life. The event gave us a chance to educate the public about the challenges facing agriculture in the Golden State."
The conversion of California?s farm and ranch lands into non-farm uses threatens to increase the state?s dependence upon imported food. About 3.7 million acres of land in farms were lost between 1990 and 2003. The increased imports have increased California agriculture?s vulnerability to exotic pests and diseases that can be transported along with imported fruits, vegetables and other commodities.
?The quality, quantity and variety of the food supply provided by California agriculture are unmatched anywhere in the world," said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. "Agriculture is a resource worth protecting, whether the threat is a new disease, an invasive pest or simply the gradual loss of our prized farmland to urbanizing communities."
The Ag Day festivities were part of National Agriculture Week, which ran through March 19.
