State Will Retain Asparagus Board

Sat., April 29, 2000

From Staff

State Agriculture Director Jim Jesernig has decided to retain the 9-year-old Washington Asparagus Commission.

The panel is fulfilling its mission of advertising and promoting sales of Washington-grown asparagus, Jesernig said Friday.

Jesernig said his review also found the commission is successfully promoting production research, opposing unfair trade practices and providing input to the federal government on pesticide issues.

The panel was authorized under state law after a vote of asparagus growers. It operates with an assessment on Washington-grown asparagus and had a 1999 budget of $615,000.

Some of the state’s 320 asparagus growers sought last year to disband the five-member commission. Critics questioned the cost of commission programs and the panel’s relationship with an industry bargaining group.

Washington ranks second in the nation in asparagus production. Last year, the state grew 32,500 tons of asparagus on 22,000 acres.

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