02/18/08 Washington landowner honored in USDA conservation campaign

Washington Ag February 18, 2008 USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service rolled out a new national campaign at last week's National Association of Conservation District's annual conference. The campaign, called "Conservation&Our Purpose. Our Passion" honors eight landowners across the country, including Washington, for their commitment to conservation. Carmen and Erica Garcia of G & G Orchards in the Yakima Valley talk about conservation on a video produced for the new campaign. Garcia: "It comes from my heart. All I do comes from my heart. I look down over my parent's porch, down at my grandpa's orchard that he planted and I think of him. He took care of it. So, maybe one day my grandkids will do the same for me." The Garcia's are the only Hispanic grower/packer operation in the state of Washington and the only farm in the state visited by Mexican President Vicente Fox. They are also Tier III contract holders in the NRCS's Conservation Security Program, which rewards agricultural producers for their historic conservation and environmental protection activities and encourages them to add additional conservation practices. I'm Bob Hoff.