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- Written by: California Department of Agriculture
Funding allocated under the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program will help California trade organizations and companies match industry funds with federal government funds to expand international markets for California products.
“International trade is vital to California agriculture,” said California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “This funding will assist in opening foreign markets, reducing trade barriers and increasing consumer purchases of California grown products around the world.”
California is the largest agricultural producer and exporter in the nation with more than $36.6 billion in agricultural production and $10.9 billion in exports.
On average, California farmers export an estimated 28 percent of the products they produce.
Leading export markets for California include: Canada ($2.2 billion); the European Union ($2.1 billion); Japan ($957 million); and China/Hong Kong ($638 million). Top export products in 2007 included: almonds ($ 1.8 billion); dairy and products ($963 million); wine ($815 million); table grapes ($553 million); and cotton ($505 million).
California trade organizations that received USDA program allocations included:
Blue Diamond Growers/Almond Board of California, $2,869,947;
California Agricultural Export Council, $1,120,951;
California Asparagus Commission, $138,313;
California Cherry Advisory Board, $701,732;
California Cling Peach Advisory Board, $163,267;
California Fresh Tomato Growers/Florida Tomato Committee, $121,743;
California Kiwifruit Commission, $289,770;
California Pear Advisory Board, $479,327;
California Pistachio Export Council/Cal-Pure Pistachios Inc., $950,000;
California Dried Plum Board, $3,499,819;
California Strawberry Commission, $618,693;
California Table Grape Commission, $3,648,818;
California Tree Fruit Agreement, $2,375,233;
California Walnut Commission $4,604,059;
Raisin Administrative Committee, $2,905,258;
Sunkist Growers Inc., $2,137,619;
Wine Institute, $7,171,958.
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- Written by: Editor
H.R. 4085 will offer a significant tax credit to solar manufacturers, which will stimulate job creation here in the United States. Representatives Dave Camp (R-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Patrick Tiberi (R-OH) are original cosponsors of the bill.
“Solar energy creates more jobs per megawatt of energy than any other source of energy. Currently, only 5 percent of solar products are produced within the United States,” said Congressman Thompson. “This bill would add incentives for companies to produce these products domestically and create good jobs. In these troubled economic times, we need to do all that we can to add jobs and move towards energy independence.”
“The bill we have introduced today will help grow the solar industry and help create much needed jobs for the American people,” said Congressman Camp. “This is exactly the jobs-creating program we need to focus on, and with such high unemployment rates around the country, this sort of manufacturing is just what states like Michigan need.”
“This bill would provide important incentives to American manufacturers,” said Congressman Tiberi. “I believe these incentives would help companies transition to the manufacturing of tomorrow, help bring good jobs to Ohio and across the entire country, and help make us a leader in the production of new technologies.”
“In Texas especially, we have no shortage of sun. Boosting green energy grows green jobs here at home and makes clean energy affordable for more Americans,” said Congressman Doggett.
Congressman Thompson successfully included provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that provide for temporary tax credits for solar manufacturers through the end of 2010.
This bill extends the provisions of ARRA so that manufactures have a dependable incentive to drive long-term job growth and investment.
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- Written by: Editor
The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Live Oak Senior Center, 12502 Foothill Blvd., Clearlake Oaks.
This month they will serve appetizers and a gourmet meal for $10 per person. Everyone is welcome to attend.
This month has a western theme – wear your hats and boots and come have some fun.
For information call 707-998-9563.
Brown issues warning to major retailers caught selling children's products containing excessive lead
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- Written by: California Attorney General's Office
"Private testing uncovered a number of products designed for children that contain dangerous and illegal levels of lead," Brown said. "These products must be removed from store shelves at once to protect our kids from toxic lead exposure."
Children are particularly susceptible to the risks of lead exposure, which can damage the nervous system and other organs. Children are exposed by ingesting the lead when they put the products in their mouths, handle them and then touch their mouths, or transfer the lead from the products to food.
According to California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, any children's product that contains more than 300 parts per million (ppm) of lead is considered a hazardous substance and therefore illegal to sell in the state. The following products were found to contain excessive levels of lead:
– Kids Poncho sold by Walmart, 677 ppm;
– MSY Faded Glory Rebecca Shoes sold by Walmart, 1331 ppm;
– Reversible Croco Belt sold by Target, 4270 ppm;
– Dora the Explorer Activity Tote sold by TJ Maxx, 2348 ppm;
– Paula Fuschia Open-Toed Shoes sold by Sears, 3957 ppm;
– Disney Fairies Silvermist's Water Lily Necklace sold by Walgreens, 22000 ppm;
– Barbie Bike Flair Accessory Kit sold by Tuesday Morning, 6196 ppm.
Brown has also requested that the companies provide his office with results from any of their own tests conducted on the products and report how they plan to ensure that other items do not contain toxic quantities of lead.
Brown has reported the findings to the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, which could order a recall of the products.
In 2008, Brown's office reached a settlement with several major toy companies over excessive levels of lead in their products. The settlement allocated $548,000 in funding for consumer safety groups to monitor lead levels in consumer goods and to provide outreach about product recalls. The Center for Environmental Health discovered the current violations with a grant from the Public Health Trust, which administers the settlement fund.
"Based on our testing, it appears there are fewer problem toys on store shelves this year. But parents should know that some children's products still contain high levels of lead," said Michael Green, Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Health. "After all the attention to lead-tainted toys, manufacturers and retailers still need to do more to keep lead out of our kids' hands."
A sample copy of the letter follows:
November 13, 2009
Dear Retailer:
We just received a report about a children's product purchased in your store in Richmond, California that contains illegal levels of lead. The lead levels reported exceed the limits in the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act ("CPSIA"). Furthermore, selling the product without a proper warning likely violates California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, commonly known as "Proposition 65." We are writing to ask that you stop selling the product immediately and take other corrective action as needed.
The children's product is a Cherokee brand reversible "Croco" belt, Style 1139915TG, purchased at your store in Richmond on September 27, 2009. The SKU is 492020800102. Our internal reference number is PHT 082. Please use it in communications with our office about this. We have enclosed photographs of the product.
The item was purchased by an investigator for the Center for Environmental Health, using a grant from a fund administered by the Public Health Institute. The fund was established through a Proposition 65 settlement between our office and several companies over lead in toys. (People v. Mattel et al., Alameda County Super. Ct., Civ. No. RG 07-356892.) After screening the product for lead, the Center for Environmental Health sent a sample to a federally-approved laboratory for further testing. The test results, which are enclosed, indicate 4,270 parts per million ("ppm") lead in the black artificial leather on the front surface of the belt. This exceeds federal lead limits, which deem a children's product with more than 300 ppm lead in an accessible component a "banned hazardous substance." It also appears to violate Proposition 65, which requires a clear and reasonable warning prior to exposing persons to known carcinogens and reproductive toxins, including lead. (Cal. Health & Saf. Code, § 25249.6; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 27, § 27001.)
Lead is a toxic metal that damages the nervous system and other organs. Even at low levels of exposure, lead can impact brain development in children. Based on what appears to be violations of federal and state law, you should stop selling the product immediately. Additionally, please send us any test results you have and any representations from the manufacturer or supplier about the lead content in the product. Please contact us immediately so we can discuss what further actions your company intends to take.
Sincerely,
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Attorney General