Free Republic

<p>FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Californians can help create more than 5,500 jobs and generate $1.38 billion in revenue each year if they shift 10 percent of their purchases to state-grown produce, according to a new study released Thursday.</p> <p>Californians can also generate about $188 million in taxes for local and state governments if 10 percent of their total purchases included state-grown fruits, vegetables and other California farm goods, according to a study funded by the Buy California Marketing Agreement.</p>

Mon Feb 17, 4:50 PM ET In May, 2003, Nissan North America Inc. will open the first phase of its $1.5 billion assembly plant in Canton, Miss., shown in this Dec. 2002 handout photograph. The plant will make Nissan's new full-sized Titan pickup, Quest minivans and new full-sized Nissan and Infinity sports-utility vehicles. It will be Mississippi's first auto plant, and excitement is high among job applicants angling for jobs with starting wages between $13.25 and $18.50 an hour. (AP Photo/Mississippi Development Authority, File)