``California Grown'' Web Site Clicks With Agriculture Industry and State's Consumers.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- New Site Offers Interactive and Informative Online Experience With Weekly and Monthly Prize Opportunities

Now you don't have to get your boots dirty to learn about California's fantastic agricultural products! "California Grown" is bringing the farm right to your computer screen. Today the program announces one more way for consumers, teachers, students, and industry enthusiasts throughout the state to interact and learn about the nation's number one agricultural state - simply by visiting www.californiagrown.org.

Complete with user-friendly agricultural information about the state's forests, farms, food supply, flowers, fish and fiber, the newly designed Web site also offers visitors an opportunity to access the popular TV commercial featuring Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, learn about new retail promotions, program developments and upcoming community "California Grown" events. Online visitors can even win prizes by playing a new "Spin to Win" online game.

"We designed the 'California Grown' Web site as a useful source of agricultural information of special appeal to Californians," said Scott Horsfall, chief executive officer of the Buy California Marketing Agreement that oversees the "California Grown" program. "The new online game element helps make the site both educational and fun for those eager to learn more about this great state and its agricultural roots."

The new "Spin to Win" online game offers various categories where people can answer interesting and sometimes surprising agricultural-related questions that range in scope from the ingredients in nail polish (including wood oil) to the single gene that separates a peach from a nectarine (the one with the fuzz). Online game categories include the following: Farm to Fork, Dollars and Sense, Bragging Rights, County Bounty, Grab Bag and Commercial Appeal. After playing the interactive "Spin to Win" game, online visitors have the option to enter weekly and monthly random drawings for the opportunity to win "California Grown" t-shirts, water bottles, and/or a basket of homegrown products.

In addition to the consumer elements, the Web site has updated "California Grown" member information, media tools, and licensing, brand and logo usage guidelines available for program partners and other interested parties.

The new Web site is effective and available immediately.

About The Buy California Marketing Agreement

The Buy California Marketing Agreement is a joint effort of agricultural industry groups representing the products of California's farms, ranches, forests and fisheries. Working as an advisory board to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, BCMA brings together industry and government resources to increase the awareness, consumption and value of California agricultural products, helping the state's consumers enjoy the best of the California lifestyle.

The "California Grown" campaign is funded through public and private contributions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and the following California agricultural organizations:

--California Apple Commission

--California Aquaculture Association

--California Asparagus Commission

--California Avocado Commission

--California Cherry Advisory Board

--California Cling Peach Board

--California Cut Flower Commission

--California Fig Advisory Board

--California Forest Products Commission

--California Garlic Producers Association

--California Kiwifruit Commission

--California Milk Advisory Board

--California Nectarine Administrative Committee

--California Olive Committee

--California Peach Commodity Committee

--California Pear Advisory Board

--California Plum Marketing Board

--California Poultry Federation/Chicken

--California Poultry Federation/Turkey

--California Raisin Marketing Board

--California Salmon Council

--California Sheep Commission

--California Strawberry Commission

--California Table Grape Commission

--California Tomato Commission

--California Walnut Commission

--California Wild Rice Advisory Board

--Wine Institute

For more information, visit www.californiagrown.org