Tree Fruit Day Coming January 31st

The annual Tree Fruit Day, where the tree fruit industry goes to Olympia to meet with state legislators and discuss current issues takes place on January 31^st.

President of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association Jon DeVaney said they look forward to discussing minimum wage, tax policy, trade and other things that impact the cost of production.

“Having growers and members of the industry go and participate as citizen lobbyists is highly effective. When we’re talking to legislators about our issues as an association staff, that is helpful but it is even more helpful for them to hear directly from those on the ground who are their constituents.”

WSTFA arranges all the meetings with the legislators and will send anyone interested in going with others to meet in Olympia as groups and discuss the key issues of the tree fruit industry.

DeVaney said there can be a lot of mischaracterizations of farmers that are made publicly.

“To have an actual grower talk about the decisions that he or she has to make in when you apply pesticides, how you take care of your workforce and how you follow all of the state and federal rules governing that process gives legislators who may not represent agricultural areas a little more insight into how complicated it is to manage a farm responsibly and effectively.”

DeVaney said the more people that can go, the more flexibility they will have to meet with more legislators and get their message across.

For more information, visit wstfa.org.

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