Washington Organic Week

Washington Organic Week I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today. Tilth Producers of Washington will be hosting the fourth annual Washington Organic Week September 7th through the 14th. Tilth Producers Executive Director Michelle Catalano talks about Tilth Producers of Washington’s primary goal. CATALANO: In our efforts to support organic agriculture across Washington state our primary efforts are focused on the education and support of farmers. We want to help farmers be successful. We have a very well attended annual conference, farm walks, and other educational opportunities for growers who want to learn about organic agriculture. We also advocate for them for policies in organics and at the state level to help them be successful. Another way to help them be successful is to connect them to consumers. That’s where Washington Organic Week, or WOW, comes in. CATALANO: Washington Organic Week is the time of year when we encourage consumers to learn about organics - understand what organics are, and the extent of them in Washington state. WOW will be kicking off this year in a whole new way. CATALANO: Other Tilth Chapters over the years have done different things to support Washington Organic Week - we wanted to do something outside of the Seattle area. We have a lot of members and support in Skagit Valley and the idea came up to have a fund raising “Blast Off Party” up there. So the Hedlin Family Farms has generously donated use of a barn on their property that will be having the event on Saturday night from 7 to 11p.m.. The WOW “Blast Off Party” will be a good way for people to meet a few farmers and Tilth board members, as well as enjoy the sounds of Michael McLaskey’s Happy Feet Dance Band, along with Midnight Son. For more information visit tilthproducers.org. Catalano will be back Monday to talk more about Washington Organic Week events. That’s Washington Ag Today. I’m Lacy Gray on the Ag Information Network.