May 29, 2008

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Visalia) and his annual Central Valley Ag Tour 2008 brought 50 federal, state and local officials to California State University, Fresno on Wednesday,May 28, to see two unique operations: the award-wining Fresno State Winery and the Gibson Farm Market.

The Fresno State stop was one of seven on the tour and the first time the university’s agriculture program was included.

Among the guests were Ben Higgins, state director of USDA Rural Development; Fresno County Supervisor Judy Case; Tulare County Supervisors Mike Ennis and Phil Cox; and several rural community elected officials and business representatives.

“The tour helps our guests become better acquainted with the variety and complexity of the agricultural industry in Fresno and Tulare counties,” Nunes said.

At Fresno State, Nunes and his guests were hosted by Dr. Charles Boyer, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology; and Dr. Ganesan Srinivasan, director of the University Ag Laboratory.

They visited the nation’s first commercially-bonded university winery and sampled three award-winning wines. At the Gibson Farm Market they purchased products produced by students in the University Farm’s 25 enterprises.

Boyer said the university was “glad to showcase two of our crown jewels – the winery and farm market” in this tour.

“Our 1,000-acre university farm laboratory with its 25 plant and animal enterprises is a true mirror of Valley agriculture that provides our students with hands-on training and real-world experience in world-class agriculture,” Boyer said.