Showcasing Agriculture

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

WSDA will be hosting the annual conference of the “Western Association of States Departments of Agriculture” in Leavenworth July 21 through the 24. Rianne Perry, WSDA conference coordinator, says this is an opportunity for the leaders of 13 western states to discuss key policy issues that affect agriculture regionally and nationally. She says it’s also a good opportunity to showcase Washington agriculture.

PERRY: We really tried to put together a good agenda to allow for people to talk about policy issues, but also to get people out to see Washington’s agriculture. Most of these folks are coming from out of state, and most of them are major decision makers, and this is a great opportunity for us to show them some of our ag - some of the issues that they are facing, especially since we’re going to be in the Wenatchee area we can show them a lot of the tree fruit sector and how some of these policy decisions are affecting them.

The list of topics to be discussed at the conference is quite broad.

PERRY: The Food Safety Modernization Act is a big one. We’re having some folks from FDA come out to specifically talk about that implementation. Staff from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture will also be coming out and doing updates from their side. On the last day of the conference the focus is more on climate change and really how ag can adapt.

There is an enjoyable side to the conference as well.

PERRY: We have some of the fun stuff - getting out and doing the tours. We’re going to Rocky Reach Dam, going to Pybus Public Market, to the Apple Visitor Center. We’re also getting up into Chelan trying to show off some of our wine country, and doing some really nice receptions. These dinners and receptions - we’re featuring all Washington grown products, so that’s really exciting as well.

That’s Washington Ag Today.

I’m Lacy Gray on the Ag Information Network.