Governor Sees Start of Farm Promotion Bid

Gov. George Deukmejian got a first-hand look Thursday at prunes, nuts and raisins bound for Australia in a bid to promote California farm products abroad.

Boarding the state-owned merchant marine training vessel Golden Bear, that will sail for Australia today, Deukmejian inspected advertising displays of dried fruit, wine, walnuts and almonds that will be used to entice Australians to buy Californian.

“It’s novel. It’s unique,” the governor said. “We’ll see how successful it is on this first try. I think it should have quite an appeal.”

Ten firms, ranging from Frazier Nut Farms to Safeway Stores, paid $300 each for the privilege of sending their advertising exhibits on the state’s ship.

No Cost to Taxpayers

Deukmejian said there will be no cost to the taxpayers because the vessel would be taking this training cruise anyway. And he told reporters he believes that it is proper for the state to help advertise the products of California firms.

“I think it’s appropriate for us to do everything we can to expand our agricultural exports,” he said. “I think it’s a benefit to the entire state.”

In the last four years, the state’s agricultural exports have dropped 31%, according to the Department of Food and Agriculture.

Deukmejian, who has courted the farming industry throughout his three years as governor, recently launched a campaign to push the state’s farm products in foreign markets.

Last week, the governor proposed opening state trade offices in Tokyo and London, at a cost of $700,000, to promote state products and tourism.

Tours Ship

Deukmejian took a brief tour of the Golden Bear, a ship used by the California Maritime Academy to train merchant marine officers.

Dubbed “the state’s first floating agricultural pavilion,” the Golden Bear will arrive next month in the cities of Sydney and Brisbane, where Australians will be invited to view the exhibit.

The governor noted that the excursion “kills two birds with one stone” because it combines education with the promotion of California agriculture, two of his top priorities.

State Sen. Milton Marks of San Francisco, who recently defected from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party, was on hand to tell reporters that the promotional trip was originally his idea.

Deukmejian jokingly told the ship’s captain, “I was wondering if you could do me a favor and take Sen. Marks with you on a one-way trip.”