Gregoire on Wine Industry

Gregoire on Wine Industry. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire likes her Washington wine. In a recent trip the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser the Governor had only the highest praise for wines made here in the state. Northwest Ag’s Lacy Gray has the story.

GRAY: Governor Gregoire has put herself behind a number of projects in eastern Washington that will help build the wine industry and also help to support the export of wine. According to Washington’s Ag Director, Dan Newhouse, Gregoire is “our best cheerleader, our best supporter, our best salesperson.” During a state dinner, she sent a letter to the organizers to make sure the wine being served was from Washington State. Gregoire visited the Walter Clore Center in Prosser, a new irrigation pumping station on the Yakima River serving the Red Mountain American Viticultural Area and the $20 million Railex wine distribution center south of Burbank. All these sites have state invested money.

Thanks Lacy. Gregoire is not seeking a third term as governor but has been spending her last days touting agriculture in the state. She said all these these projects help illustrate the importance of partnerships and represent an effort to secure the state's economy by exporting the fruits of its earth across the nation and world.

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