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MEGWHITMANANNOUNCESAGRICULTURECOALITIONLEADERSHIP

AgleadersfromaroundthestatetoadviseWhitman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Sarah PompeiWednesday October 14, 2009 408.457.1369

CUPERTINO

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Meg Whitman, Republican candidate for Governor, today announced her AgricultureCoalition Leadership team. The team includes respected leaders of the state’s $32 billionagriculture industry and organizations that represent more than 1,000 growers and food processorsand their 90,000-plus employees. “California’s growers and ranchers are immense contributors to our state. They help feed ournation and they generate more than $100 billion a year in agriculture and related economicactivity,” Whitman said. “We all want a strong future for California, and we must create a strongeconomy in which all of our key industries, including agriculture, can thrive. I will work with myagriculture coalition to make comprehensive improvements to our water supply system, support ahealthy environment and encourage sensible laws that don’t strangle growth and innovation.” In addition to some of the state’s best-known growers and ranchers, today’s endorsers include theCalifornia Floral Council and the California Farm Labor Contractors’ Alliance. In August, the NiseiFarmers League endorsed Whitman. “Meg understands that the future of our state’s economy depends on finding common-sensesolutions to critical issues facing not just California agriculture, but all Californians. Everyonebenefits by having a clean, reliable supply of water,’’ said Carol Chandler of Chandler Farms inSelma. “Meg believes we can have a clean environment and a healthy economy. We must have soundpolicies that provide true benefit to the environment and we must reconsider the regulatorybarriers that stand in the way of an economic recovery. No other candidate has the vision,discipline and leadership abilities to get this done.”

Agriculture Coalition Co-Chairs:

Jesse Alderete - President, California Farm Labor Contractors’ AllianceMark Borba - Owner, Borba FarmsCarol Chandler - President, Chandler FarmsManuel Cunh - President, Nisei Farmers League