01/22/09 The Politcs of Fruit

The Politics of Fruit. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. It seems fitting that at this time of political change we take a look at some of the politics of growing fruit. Oh, you thought it was just about planting a few trees? Keith Mathews, Executive Director of the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association says everyone needs to be involved. MATHEWS: Part of my role is to represent your interest in front of state government and I think in contrast to the federal situation, you've been in this state a long time and you know that we can go from idea to law in 60 seconds flat or at least 60 days  90 days on this sessions so it's much more intense. Part of my message is that we need to work very closely together between the Hort Association, the Grower-Shippers, the other associations to try and react and to act quickly and to get your help to do that. According to Mathews it takes a good understanding of the tree fruit business to bridge the gap between farmers and politicians. MATHEWS: That's an understanding that we must work hard to convey to regulators and legislators who have, honestly, little understanding of what it is you do. Today less than 2% of the U.S. population have any touch with agriculture. These are days when I think the other 98% of the population really believes that our food; their food is grown or manufactured in the back of a Safeway store. He also says that legislators need to understand that there is a lot of competition out there for the fruit market and that producers need their understanding and support. More tomorrow. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.