N.Y. N. Y. wine/grape 80/85 § 1: Legislative findings and purposes

Section 1. Legislative findings and purposes. The legislature finds

that the wine/grape industry is a significant part of the state's

agricultural industry and that the continued production of wine,

unfermented juice and table grapes is of significant importance to the

economy of the state.

The legislature further finds that in recent years economic conditions

have had an adverse effect on the wine/grape industry, especially grape

growers, resulting predominately from an international surplus of

grapes. Such economic disadvantages have included various incentives

made available by their counties to European wine producers, tariff and

non-tariff barriers to United States wines entering other countries and

most recently, a strong United States dollar which has increased the

price of all domestic wines in relation to foreign wines. All these

conditions have resulted in a decline in New York's share of the

national and international wine market.

The legislature further finds and recognizes that an important step in

strengthening the agricultural and economic potential of New York's

wine/grape industry is to encourage the long term operation of an

organization, representative of all sectors of the grape industry for

the purpose of conducting an extensive and coordinated promotional and

applied research program intended to stimulate and centralize the New

York wine/grape industry.

For these purposes, there shall be created a non-profit corporation

known as the "New York wine/grape foundation", which may independently

initiate promotional and research projects to fulfill essential public

purposes which are necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the

people of this state.