(a)
The Legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of this state to actively encourage and promote the sale of agricultural products of California in foreign markets and to assist farmers, processors, distributors, and exporters in meeting world market needs.
(b)
The Legislature further finds and declares, as being consistent with the Thurman Agricultural Policy Act (Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 801) of Part 1 of Division 1), both of the following:
(1)
The harvest from approximately one out of every four acres of California cropland is now sold in foreign markets, thus the state’s agricultural economy is dependent upon international trade.
(2)
It is in the public’s best interest to assist California agriculture in market development for agricultural products, and to expand world trade in these products to maximize growth in the state’s economy.