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.