08/21/07 New Wine Institute Director

New Wine Institute Director. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. There was a split recently in the Washington wine industry. The industry in the state has been growing so rapidly that it was necessary for a new director to be named to the Wine Institute. Washington Wine Commission Executive Director, Robin Pollard says it's a positive move. POLLARD: A decision was made recently that the Washington Wine Institute which is the advocacy lobbying arm of the Washington wine industry needed to have it's own executive director identity that with the terrific growth of the Washington wine industry, the increased complexity of issues related to wineries and wine sales and distribution and just the need to grow the membership base of the Institute all culminated in saying the time has come for us to make some organizational changes which we all view as very positive. Pollard has been acting as executive director for both organizations. The new director is Jean Leonard. POLLARD: Jean Leonard has served as the contract lobbyist for the Washington Wine Institute for almost 10 years. She is a very highly respected lobbyist. She really takes a very balanced, positive approach in addressing issues and she will do a fabulous job as Executive Director. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.