PROCEEDINGS 



The sixteen iromber Agriculture, Forestry, and Seafood 

 Awareness Study Cominission held its first meeting on November 

 15, 1986 and was organized under the leadership of Representa- 

 tive Vernon G. James of Pasquotank County and Senator James D, 

 Speed of Franklin County. The Commission viewed the findings 

 and recommendations in its March 1985 report to the General 

 Assembly. Many of the Commission's recommendations were 

 considered and approved by the 1985 General Assembly, 



Based on this success during the previous sessions, the 

 Commission agreed to continue pinpointing problems and develop- 

 ing an awareness of the importance of the Agriculture, 

 Forestry, and Seafood industries to the economy of North 

 Carolina, The Commission also agreed that there was still a 

 need for new State initiatives to assist these three 

 industries. 



The Legislative Research Cominission referred the study of 

 perishable food marketing to the Agriculture, Forestry and 

 Seafood Study Commission. This study is based on SB 718 

 introduced by Senator Marc Basnight. The purpose of the study 

 was to study the marketing of perishable food items and 

 agricultural commodities produced in North Carolina including 

 the adequacy of ej:isting marketing for these items. While this 

 legislation was not formally reviev/ed, the marketing of all 

 perishable food items and agricultural commodities has and 

 continues to be a major focus of the Agriculture, Forestry and 

 Seafood Awareness Study Commission, 



