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TULARE - 03/01/04 - The 37th annual World Ag Expo, which came to a close February 12, hosted a record number of attendees from around the world with nearly 800 international visitors from 48 countries registering at the Expo's International Business Center (IBC).
 
The Expo - the largest agricultural industry show in the world - was highlighted by a visit from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who told a crowd of visitors that "California's agriculture feeds the world."

Prior to his public comments, the Governor met in closed-door session with a number of agriculture leaders including representatives of the California Farm Bureau Federation, the Western Growers Association, the California Cotton Ginners Association, the California Grape and Tree Fruit Association, the Nisei Farmer's League, the California Citrus Mutual, and Harris Ranch.

Schwarzenegger-appointed Agriculture Secretary, A.G. Kawamura, also participated in the private session.

Kawamura, who spent two days on the World Ag Expo showgrounds, said that there is a "tidal wave of change sweeping across California that is culminating in a renaissance" in agriculture.

"Many people have an old-fashioned misconception about agriculture," Kawamura said, adding that the Governor's administration "is taking action to address that concern."

One new program, he said, is the CPR, or California Performance Review.
The program will invite 150 private business and government leaders to exchange ideas for improvements in the agricultural sector over a six-month period.

Both Kawamura and Schwarzenegger come from farming families - Kawamura's family still farms in Southern California and Schwarzenegger's in his native state of Styria, Austria.

In addition to a particularly large contingent from Mexico, large delegations from Canada, Israel, Vietnam, and a host of other countries visited the World Ag Expo over its three-day run. 

According to a final study produced by Marketech detailing the financial impact of the event, more than $1.2 billion dollars is spread into the regional economy as a result of all that is involved with the show, its visitors and exhibitors.

Contracts for the 2005 World Ag Expo will be mailed in early April. The deadline for returning contracts is May 31. The 2005 show will be held February 8 - 10.

For details and information, call 1-800-999-9186 or 1-559-688-1751 or go to www.farmshow.org. 

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