Legislative Apple Session

Legislative Apple Session. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Bruce Grim, Executive Director of the Washington State Horticultural Association is looking forward to February 1. That is the day that tree fruit growers from across the state descend on Olympia with one thing on their mind.

GRIM: Well just a reminder that agriculture is of huge import – tree fruit in particular is a enormously important to the state and we think it’s important to keep reminding of that. We have issues that come up all the time that are critical to our growers and we just think in this environment this year especially.

That of course means the budget issue that is threatening the state capitol. Many growers that attend the annual Tree Fruit Day will deliver gifts of apples to legislators as a reminder of just how good those apples are.

GRIM: It’s been gratifying to hear in a meeting a number of us agriculture folks had with the Governor, the Director of the Department of Ag, Dan Newhouse was there and commenting on the fact that programs that are funded through the research component which is not a huge dollar item but one of extreme importance to us all that there’s a huge return on investment to the state for those very modest funds that are invested there.

Registration deadline for the annual Tree Fruit Day is today so if you are contemplating being part of that you had better contact the Hort Association today. The registration form is online at www.wahort.org.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.