October 27, 1994 Contact: Jennifer McNulty (408/459-2495)

CONFERENCE ON NOVEMBER 12 SPOTLIGHTS AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA CRUZ, CA--A daylong conference titled "Community and Agriculture--Understanding the Concerns of a Changing Region," on Saturday, November 12, will address the pressures facing agriculture in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties.

Central Coast agriculture generates food and jobs and preserves open space, but the growing urban population is threatening the viability of agriculture in the region. The conference is designed to bring together key players in the community to learn about resource and land-use conflicts and to discuss the preservation of agriculture.

The conference, which is open to the public, will be held in the Henry Mello Theater of Watsonville High School, 250 East Beach Street, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Liz Scott Graham, California field representative for the Central Valley Project of American Farmland Trust, will deliver the keynote address at 9:10 a.m. (See attached agenda for detailed schedule information.) Admission is $10, including a catered lunch, or $5 for those who bring their own lunch.

The conference is sponsored by the Agriculture and Community Project (AgComm) of the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at the University of California, Santa Cruz. AgComm is an applied research project that examines the status of agriculture in the Monterey Bay region and the effects of policy, development, and environmental pressures on the industry.

AgComm is also a member of the California Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture (CASA), a collaboration of seven nonprofit organizations and three UC programs. With assistance from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, CASA's mission is to encourage sustainable food and agricultural systems in California.

To register or for more information, call (408) 459-3524.

(This release is also available on UC NewsWire, the University of California's electronic news service. To access by modem, dial 1- 209-244-6971.)

AGENDA

Community and Agriculture: Understanding the Concerns of a Changing Region Saturday, November 12, 1994

8:30 a.m. Check-in.

9:00 a.m. Opening remarks.

9:10 a.m. Keynote address by Liz Scott Graham, California field representative for the Central Valley Project of American Farmland Trust.

9:30 a.m. Panel discussion by Monterey Bay Area farmers, who will discuss how they address urban-growth issues in the region.

10:30 a.m. Question and answer session with panel.

11:00 a.m. Break.

11:15 a.m. Tools and techniques: Speakers will discuss some of the strategies being used to preserve agriculture at the urban edge. Topics will include policy and planning issues, public education, outreach, and housing.

12:15 p.m. Lunch: A catered lunch using fresh produce donated by local farmers will be provided for those who sign up in advance; conference participants are welcome to bring their own lunch.

1:15 p.m. Workshop: Participants will be organized into small groups by county to focus on county-specific concerns related to agricultural preservation.

2:30 p.m. Closing session: Workshop participants will share their conclusions.

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