California is the largest agriculture producer in the nation, and as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, the Capital Region is uniquely positioned as an agriculture leader not just nationally, but internationally. In the six counties that comprise our Capital Region, approximately 75 percent of the land is agricultural, forest, or open space. Agriculture commodities produced in the region are valued at almost $2 billion and the overall “Food and Ag” industry generates more than $7.2 billion in direct economic impact for the region.
As a region that grows, produces, packages, distributes and enjoys food, the Metro Chamber has a dedicated committee working to promote policies and projects that help strengthen the region’s food and agriculture industry. Through the efforts of our committee, and our yearly State Legislative Summit and Capitol-to-Capitol programs, the Metro Chamber champions and advances policies at the local, state and federal level that support our food and agricultural industries and help them grow as regional powerhouses.
Our advocacy efforts are concentrated on a myriad of
issues, including:
• strengthening our water supply reliability,
• active support of expanding farm-to-school programs that expose children to careers in agriculture and funding for technical education of in-demand agricultural careers, and
• expanding broadband to bring the latest technology to our region’s farms and rural areas to enhance production by actively managing overall crop health and growth.
We don’t just work hard to advance policies for the industry, we also celebrate the fruits of its labor. It is with that in mind, that we invite you to our annual program celebrating our region’s diverse agriculture producers. At State of Agriculture on August 3, we will take an in-depth look at the agriculture industry through the winemakers’ lens. Join the region’s influential wine industry experts who will share how they navigate an ever-changing future while continuing to treasure the romance of their craft.
If you’d like to be a part of our year-round efforts to advance the industry, join our committee! If you would like to learn from leaders in the wine industry, taste some local wine and meet a new friend, join us at State of Agriculture! Either way, we look forward to celebrating our rich agriculture footprint with you.
Source: Comstock’s