Good Fruit Grower

March 2012

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GOOD POINT Bruce Grim, Washington State Horticultural Association Tree Fruit Day in Olympia Educating our legislature on the value of this industry. T hirty tree fruit industry mem- bers converged on the Wash - ing ton State legislature on January 31 to meet with 66 senators and representatives about issues of critical importance to our industry. Meetings with key committee chairs and members of leadership in both parties were targeted to press home the considerable economic impact that tree fruits have on the state's economy. Many of the legislators com- mented on how important it is for them to hear directly from constituents who will be impacted by proposed legislation. There is no substitute for the growers telling their stories of how a proposed measure will impact their orchard operations. Both legislators and their staffers look forward to our annual visit as—thanks to generous contributions of pears, apples, juice, sliced apples, and other promotional items—we come armed with gift packs of our seasonal specialties! I am often asked, "Do these meetings with our legisla- tors do any good?" The answer is simple: more good than you know. Hundreds of pieces of legislation are introduced each session and the size of the legislative and caucus staff is exceedingly small. It is impossible for them to become experts on each and every bill. The lobbyists who work for Washington State Horti- cultural Association and the Yakima Valley Growers- Shippers Association—Jim Halstrom and Dave Ducharme—rely on our organizations to provide guid- ance as to our positions on the various measures. And it all comes together effectively when real growers, real packers, and real shippers tell their story. Armed with talking points developed collectively by our industry organizations, teams of three or four members divide up the issues and descend upon legislators and their aides to press home the critical message each issue requires. Most legislators lack an agricultural background. What we do and how we do it is exceedingly foreign to them. It is our job as industry advocates to set the record straight by educating those who lack an understanding of how a measure may significantly impact our industry. Let me digress. The education process commences well in advance of our annual trip to Olympia. During the summer of 2009 and 2011, we sponsored tours for legislators and their staff to help them learn more about our industry. How fruit is grown, how it is picked and packed, how pesticides are applied, how organic fruit is grown, how fruit is sold, how workers are treated, how they are housed, how food safety is impacting what we do, how important are export markets, and so much more, form key components of what we convey to program participants. For example, the chair of the Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development Committee TREE SPREADERS Lowest possible prices on 4" to 48" nailed or notched spreaders Additional services: We assemble and repair new and old pallets for re-sale NATIONWIDE SHIPPING AVAILABLE! has attended both tours and was joined by the chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Commit- tee in addition to key committee members. The popu- larity of this program continues to grow, and we appreciate the assistance of YVGSA's Jon DeVaney in making it so. In December, just prior to the start of the January reg- ular session, various agricultural groups meet along with their government affairs specialists (okay, lobbyists) to discuss the likely issues of principal impact to us all. You should understand there is considerable synergy between the ag interest groups and a high degree of cooperation in practice, not just in spirit. Bipartisan Just as in Congress, agricultural interests are biparti- san with support from both Republicans and Democrats needed to either move or kill a measure. We must sup- port those legislators who are supporting us, and that means addressing the need for financial support to see that our friends in both parties are returned to the legis- lature. Let's face facts: we are a special-interest group that has for too long neglected to broadly fund Hort PAC in such a way that it can be responsive to supporting our friends in Olympia when they are running for either election or reelection to office. Agricultural issues and interests are owned by neither party. We have been fighting a bill that would require 24- hour prior notice to facilities (schools, daycare providers, Yakima Specialties, Inc. P: 509.453.0386 36 MARCH 1, 2012 GOOD FRUIT GROWER F: 509.453.1279 www.yakimaspecialties.com Yakima Specialties Inc. I Non-Profit Agency Hiring Disabled Adults Visa and MasterCard Accepted I 1819 West "J" Street, Yakima, WA www.goodfruit.com 48 years in business

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