SAN DIEGO COUNTY - News from Sept. 11, 1995

Farmers and the Peso: The peso devaluation has caused enormous dislocation for California growers who ship products to Mexico because U.S. exports are now more expensive and less attractive to Mexican shoppers. Moreover, cheaper Mexican import crops are giving them tougher competition here. A conference in San Diego today and Tuesday at the U.S. Grant Hotel downtown from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. will address the problems for California agribusiness in view of the Mexican currency crisis. The conference, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the United Agribusiness League of Irvine, will also look at transportation issues, specifically coming changes in trucking laws that will allow Mexican truckers greater access to U.S. highways as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Scheduled speakers include Anne Veneman, state agriculture secretary. Registration is $95. For information, call (800) 223-4590.