Labor Conference, Air Quality Violations & Cider and Perry Orcharding Workshop

I'm Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

The Washington Farm Labor Association's Annul Labor Conference is this Thursday at the Wenatchee Convention Center. WAFLA's Dan Fazio says that this is the only all day conference dedicated to the labor and employment needs of seasonal employers.

FAZIO: We give attendees policies and tools that they can use right now to solve complex HR problems. We're going to have hands-on training about sexual harassment investigation, and a dozen other topics and breakout sessions so that participants can pick the ones that are most useful to them.

The state Department of Ecology has fined organic-based fertilizer producer Perfect Blend $32,000 for air quality violations. Located near Othello, Perfect Blend has failed multiple tests of its pollution control equipment resulting in Ecology ordering the company to reconfigure their equipment and improve operation and maintenance to more effectively capture particle pollution. Failure to meet conditions of that order resulted in the imposed penalty.

To help orchardists and other businesses who are considering investing in the cider and perry industry the Northwest Agriculture Business Center will be holding a one day seminar February 24 in Bow on "understanding the industry as it exists today, and what actions should be taken to ensure a thriving industry for the future". UK's internationally renowned cider maker and educator Peter Mitchell will speak on the state of cider in the world and U.S. markets, along with WSU and Northwest Cider Association representatives who will discuss a variety of challenges in the cider and perry industry. For more information on the event visit agbizcenter.org.

That's Washington Ag Today.

I'm Lacy Gray with the Ag Information Network of the West.