Washington Grown Bill Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Washington state may not be as large, in area, as say California or Texas, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that based on incredible amount of food it produces.
Pam Lewison, Ag Director at the Washington Policy Center, says a bill proposing a “Washington Grown” branding program would give our producers a huge boost …
LEWISON … “That gives you a leg up in marketing when you’re talking about a global scale. And we as a state are a huge contributor to the global market in the things that we lead in production, and that includes apples, sweet cherries, hops, those sorts of things that are known around the world.”
But, who would pay for this “Washington Grown” program? …
LEWISON … “So, it would be administered through the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and I think initially they’re looking at funding coming from the state and then, hopefully as it transitions, it will be producer supported is, you know, the goal.”
Lewison says so growers aren’t just waiting for the next round of tax dollars to come their way …
LEWISON … “Producers saying I will pay my registration fee of X-number of dollars on an annual basis so that I can claim this “Washington Grown” status when I’m selling to, you know, whether it’s my neighbor, my grocery store or the guy that’s three states away.”
Senate Bill 5341 passed unanimously through the Senate, and again in the House Ag and Appropriations Committees.
