Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that about 30 representatives of foreign embassies located in Washington, D.C., will tour Northern California Sept. 10-14 as part of the annual orientation tour sponsored by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
"International trade plays a critical role in the health and development of the agricultural economy," said FAS Administrator Suzanne Heinen. "Orientation tours not only showcase U.S. farms and their products, but facilitate face-to-face interactions that open and expand opportunities for U.S. producers and enhance global food security."
This program will provide participants with an excellent opportunity to observe the agricultural diversity of California. The state leads the nation in cash receipts (approximately $11 billion) and is the leader in production of almonds, dairy, fruit and nuts, grapes, greenhouses and nursery products, hay, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes and vegetables. It also ranks among the top six states for apples, sweet corn, cotton, food grains, livestock and products, oranges, cattle and calves, chicken eggs, and rice.
The tour's focus will be on agriculture around the Sacramento area. Tour participants will visit the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) where they will meet with officials from the CDFA, USDA's Farm Service Agency and Rural Development. Other site visits include: Blue Diamond Almond Growers; a California Rice Industry rice farm tour; Hilmar Cheese; Clauss Jersey Farms; University of California, Davis; Full Belly organic farm; Sierra Orchards; Yolo Land and Cattle Company; a California Olive Oil Commission tour of Corto Olive; the Culinary Institute of America; and the Robert Mondavi winery in the Napa Valley region.
Tour participants will pay for their own travel, lodging, meals, and tour expenses.
For more information, contact the FAS Foreign Visitors and Protocol office at (202) 720-9860.
Participants include:
Angola
Mr. Bernardo Lourenco, Assistant (Commercial Affairs)
Argentina
Mr. Jose Molina, Minister (Agriculture)
Australia
Dr. Chris Parker, DVM, Minister-Counselor (Agriculture)
Botswana
Mr. Innocent Matengu, Counselor
Canada
Ms. Jeanette Patell, First Secretary (Agriculture and Fisheries)
Chile
Mr. Joaquin Tagle, Attaché (Agriculture)
Egypt
Dr. Safwat El Haddad, Minister and Director (Agriculture)
European Union
Mr. Carlos Alvarez Antolinez (Spanish), Minister-Counselor (Food Safety, Health and Consumer Section)
European Union
Mr. Giulio Menato (Italian), First Counselor, (Agriculture)
Fiji
Mr. Ray Baleikasavu, First Secretary
France
Mr. Christophe Malvezin, Counselor (Agriculture)
France
Dr. Catherine Rogy, DVM, Deputy Agricultural Counselor
(Economic, Trade and Treasury Department)
Germany
Dr. Thomas Schmidt, Minister Counselor, (Food, Agriculture & Consumer Protection)
Ghana
Mr. Ebanezer Padi Adjirackor, Minister (Commercial)
Indonesia
Dr. Achmad Rachman, Attaché (Agriculture)
Ireland
Dr. John Dardis, First Secretary (Agriculture and Food)
Japan
Mr. Katsuhiro Saka, Counselor (Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)
Kenya
Mr. James M. Kiiru, Attaché (Agriculture and Commercial)
Korea
Mr. Kyeong-Kyu Kim, Agricultural Counselor
Mexico
Mr. Carlos Vazquez, Dean of the Foreign Agricultural Attachés in D.C.,Minister-Counselor (Agriculture)
Mozambique
Ms. Ana Maria Alberto, Counselor, (Commercial)
Norway
Mr. Lars P. Henie, Minister-Counselor, (Economic Section)
Pakistan
Mr. Azmat Ali Ranjha, Minister (Trade)
Philippines
Dr. Josyline C. Javelosa, Attaché (Agriculture)
Rwanda
Mr. Bonny P. Musefano, Attaché (Commercial)
South Africa
Ms. Vangile Titi-Msumza, Minister-Counselor (Agriculture)
Sweden
Mr. Lennart Killander Larsson, Counselor (Trade and Economics)
Thailand
Dr. Adisorn Promthep, Minister (Agriculture)
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Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service
