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Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008

Central Valley kiwi exporters get good news

Central Valley kiwi exporters are getting a boost from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is giving $321,800 to help pay for marketing.

The money, part of the federal Farm Bill, will pay for publicity efforts in Mexico and South Korea, and possibly India and parts of Central America.

Visalia grower Doug Phillips says it's twice as much as the California Kiwifruit Commission received last year to develop new markets.

Other California recipients of the bill include producers of wine, table grapes, prunes, walnuts and raisins.

California produces all the nation's commercial kiwi crop, valued at $36 million.