Farmer's Market Gathering & Understanding the Standoff

Farmer's Market Gathering & Understanding the Standoff. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

The standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Bend continues but a new wrinkle was added yesterday as newly released documents show the four remaining occupiers at an Oregon wildlife refuge, including a couple from Idaho,  are facing charges. All have been charged with felony conspiracy, accused of using intimidation to prevent federal officers from doing their work. Congressman Dan Newhouse from Washington State says there has been a lot of conversation on Capitol Hill.

NEWHOUSE: I hear from most people, maybe they don't necessarily agree with the tactics that were taken to make the point but certainly understand the source of the frustration of folks and you know it's not just Oregon. Throughout the West and in our own state as well there are a lot of people very concerned about some of the actions or maybe more accurately, some of the inactions of the federal government.

Members of the Washington State Farmers Market Association have been meeting the last couple days in Olympia. The conference theme "Exploring Washington's Many Flavors" highlights the abundance and variety of products produced by Washington farmers and entrepreneurs and sold at farmers markets around the state. Farmers markets in Washington generate over $44 million in sales to thousands of Washington farmers, small food processors and artisans each year.

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.