02/11/08 Farmers and ranchers get a thank you from fast good giant

Washington Ag February 11, 2008 Farmers and ranchers passing by one exhibition booth at last week's Ag Expo in Spokane got a pat on the back. It was from McDonald's of Washington and Idaho. Nickie White of the public relations firm of Miller Whiterunkle represented those McDonald's franchise owners at the booth. White: "It is important for them to know that we appreciate what they do. We purchase 30 million Washington grown apples every year. We purchase 870 million pounds of Washington and Idaho potatoes, 8.5 million pounds of Washington beef and 45 million dollars worth of Washington grain. And we just want to say thank you to our farmers and let them know that we see them as our partners in this and that we couldn't sell our products unless they were out making the products. We get a lot of good reactions from the farmers. They are glad to see us and glad that we see them as our partners and we just want to say thank you." Free samples of McDonald's Fugi Apple Dippers, from Washington of course, were being given out at the booth. A handout stated that most of every dollar McDonald's earns in Washington and Idaho is reinvested here, contributing more than 800-million dollars a year to the local economies. I'm Bob Hoff.