12/8/08 Fruit Industry Confronting Change

Fruit Industry Confronting Change. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. 2009 will be a time of uncertainty all across the board. Recession, automaker woes, new administration. In the northwest, tree fruit growers are asking  what can we expect? Diane Kurrle with U.S. Apple Association. KURRLE: When you are talking about national issues like immigration reform, food safety, the farm bill, trade agreements, they really require a national strategy. And as I always say to my good friends here in Washington, you grow 60-65% of the fresh apples in the entire United States but you still only grow 2 of the senators. Kurrle says the both Cantwell & Murray are very supportive of the industry. KURRLE: When we're looking at these national issues and these very important issues to the industry we really have to form nationwide coalitions. Senator Murray is a member of the Appropriations Committee a very important committee which makes critical decisions about where funding goes. Senator Cantwell is a member of the Finance Committee which makes important decisions about trade agreements and a whole host of other issues. It is important that these and other Senators work with these coalitions to move forward. KURRLE: So now face the really big challenge which is implementation of the farm bill. And we have to do it at the same time we are facing an economic and budget crisis and we have to do it with the new administration and a new Congress. Tomorrow we look at what that will mean. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.