Chinese delegation visits Colusa County

China’s Consul General Gao Zhansheng and staff from the Chinese consulate in San Francisco got a taste of Northern California agriculture Saturday in the largest outing of its kind since trade relations opened between the U.S. and China 30 years ago.

Zhansheng, Deputy Consul General Lu Venxiang, Deputy Consul Wan Xinping, Councilor for Cultural Affairs Sun Jianhua, Councilor for Commercial Affairs Tian Deyou and Councilor for Education Affairs Sho Wei, along with their families, toured rice milling operations at California Family Foods in Arbuckle, a walnut operation in Winters, a fruit packing operation in Vacaville and a winery in Woodland during the one-day outing.

“In our relationship with the U.S., agriculture has played an important role,” Zhansheng said.  “California is a leading exporter of agriculture products with receipts totaling $36 billion.”

More than 70 people were on the tour, many from the Republic of China and the Bay Area.

“Most of these people have never seen a rice field,” Zhansheng said. “Until today, I had never seen a walnut tree. But we understand the importance of agriculture. Walnuts, rice and wine are as popular in China as Coca-Cola.”

Zhansheng said Saturday’s outing was the second tour of north-central California agriculture that China’s consulate staff has taken in 30 years.

“It’s certainly the largest delegation to come to this area,” Zhansheng said. “It’s a unique experience, and I’m very impressed.”

Officials from Rotary District 5160, which stretches from the Bay Area to the Oregon border, organized the outing to exchange educational, commercial and cultural ideas related to agriculture and production in the Central Valley. The Colusa Rotary Club was selected by the district to host the delegates and arrange the tour with California Family Foods, which included lunch and an opportunity to exchanged gifts.

“This is a great experience for Rotary,” Colusa Rotary President Mark Shulthise said. “It’s not only an opportunity to expose Rotary and the work we do, but to expose others to Colusa County’s extensive agriculture industry.”

Following the tour, Shulthise presented Zhansheng with a model of a John Deer rice harvester and California Family Foods co-owner David Myers presented each person on the tour with a gift bag filled with rice, hats and other CFF items. Each also received a copy of the annual Colusa County Crop Report issued by the county department of agriculture.

Rotary District 5160 Governor Jim Campbell and Mary Alice Rathbun, past president of the Berkeley Rotary Club, spearheaded the planning of Saturday’s event after working with Zhansheng following the earthquake in Chengdu, China in 2007.

District 5160 provided $40,000 in aid for victims by providing Shelterboxes – special kits that contain a 10-person tent, bedding, water purification system, cooking equipment and utensils, children’s activities  and tools.

“Rotarians welcome the opportunity to fulfill one of their goals – to build goodwill and better friendships with others around the world,” Rathbun said.

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.