31 



Ms. WOOLSEY. My other question is about the FAS agricultural 

 trade shows. I believe that trade shows could be very beneficial to 

 the wine industry. Does the FAS have any plans to do outreach to 

 the wine industry in order to get the industry more involved in 

 these trade shows? 



Mr. GrOLDTHWAlT. Let me ask Mr. Mackie to comment on that. 



Mr. Mackie. Ms. Woolsey, I believe that the wine industry and 

 specific wineries have been a participant in our trade shows. In ad- 

 dition, they have run specific trade shows on wine tastings them- 

 selves, under our programs. In terms of outreach, I think we do the 

 best we can on the outreach question. 



For example, working through the regional associations of State 

 departments of agriculture over the last 2 years, we have spon- 

 sored and participated in approximately 35 seminars per year for 

 small compeinies and those who would have an interest in export- 

 ing. And some wine firms have been participants in those semi- 

 nars. 



Ms. Woolsey. Some of the witnesses at my hearing, the chair- 

 man will remember, spoke about this issue indicating that there 

 needs to be additional encouragement for the wine industry to get 

 more involved, particularly the small, less affluent wineries. There- 

 fore, any help you can offer is appreciated. 



Mr. GOLDTHWAIT. May I add just one word? One of the focuses 

 that we are trying to achieve in terms of the restructuring we are 

 undertaking in the market promotion program is to better serve 

 the small- and medium-sized companies. So we will pay very close 

 attention to the comments you have made in that regard this 

 morning. 



Ms. Woolsey. Good. 



Thank you very much. 



Mr. CONDIT. Thank you very much, Ms. Woolsey. 



There are many of us who come from California, as Ms. 

 Woolse^s already indicated, who are concerned about the USDA's 

 treatment of sort of specialty crops. We feel like we don't get a fair 

 shake at the Agriculture Department and I know that the Sec- 

 retary has committed himself to try to be helpful to that and we 

 appreciate your comments very much. 



GAO says that USDA receives 8 percent of promotion funding 

 from only 20 percent of exports. Is GAO referring only to funding 

 of the MPP? If yes, does the USDA agree with these numbers? 



Mr. Mendelowitz. The numbers that we compiled related to out- 

 lays during fiscal year 1991. They included all outlays associated 

 with assisting exports; this goes well beyond MPP funds. For 1991, 

 the share of the outlays that we identified and compiled that were 

 expended by the Agriculture Department were about 74 percent. 

 And in that year, agricultural exports represented about 10 percent 

 of U.S. exports. 



Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Goldthwait. 



Mr. Goldthwait. Yes, my comment would be I think the money 

 is being extremely well spent. If you look at our success in achiev- 

 ing year, after year, after year a positive trade balance in agri- 

 culture, I think you will see some good return on that. I would also 

 point out that there is very direct correlation or, I should say, a 

 very direct inverse correlation between our success in moving prod- 



