Respect for Agriculture Pt 1

Respect for Agriculture Pt 1

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. The disconnect between agriculture and legislators is causing a lot of stress for Washington farmers and ranchers whose livelihoods are at stake.

During the past legislative session, according to the Washington Policy Center’s Pam Lewison, far too much advice was coming from urban lawmakers …

LEWISON … “To be clear, if you are not one of the less than 1% of people who are producing food as a job, you are not an expert on how to do it.”

But the ag community, Lewison says has that expertise …

LEWISON … “I think it is critical that we start having legitimate two-way conversations about food production because less than 1% of the population in Washington state generate the second largest industry of this state.”

It’s time, Lewison says to bring our ag community to the table …

LEWISON … “I do not understand still, and I have not been in public policy a long time, but I have been a farmer, legitimately, my entire life. I still do not understand how it is possible that we have not been afforded a very prominent seat at the discussion table, the second largest industry in the state.”

Tune in tomorrow for more on the lack of conversation between lawmakers and the experts who produce our food.

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