SECRETARY KAWAMURA COMMENTS ON MONTEREY COUNTY COURT RULING REGARDING LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH ERADICATION EFFORT

SACRAMENTO, May 12, 2008 - Today, Secretary of California Department of Food & Agriculture A.G. Kawamura released the following statement in response to the Monterey County court ruling regarding the Light Brown Apple Moth eradication project:
                                                           
"We are disappointed in the judge’s decision and plan to appeal quickly. We will likely combine this appeal with the decision two weeks ago in Santa Cruz County to enable the Sixth District Court of Appeal in San Jose to hear the cases expeditiously. The light brown apple moth infestation is, in fact, an emergency that threatens our nation’s food supply and our state's environment.  Eradicating this pest with an aerial pheromone treatment has proven time and time again to be the most effective and safest way to eliminate the need to use conventional pesticides and demonstrate to the nation that California is a leader in environmentally sound eradication projects."

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