SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5945

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Agriculture & Agricultural Trade & Development, February 23, 1995

Title:  An act relating to the agricultural trade showcase.

Brief Description:  Promoting the agricultural trade showcase.

Sponsors:  Senators Rasmussen, Deccio, Newhouse and A. Anderson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Agricultural Trade & Development:  2/23/95 [DPS-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & AGRICULTURAL TRADE & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5945 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, Bauer, Morton, Newhouse and Snyder.

Staff:  Bob Lee (786-7404)

Background:  The Agricultural Trade Showcase has been held each of the last three summers in Yakima as a means to enhance the market for agricultural products produced in Washington State.  The showcase is a way to bring the state's growers, packers and processors together with both domestic and international buyers of agricultural products.  The showcase has been responsible for increasing sales of agricultural products on both an immediate and long-term basis. 

The showcase has in the past received federal and state grant monies to expand the activities of the showcase. 

Summary of Substitute Bill:  $200,000 is appropriated for the two-year period commencing July 1, 1995 to Yakima County for funding the activities of the Agricultural Trade Showcase in Yakima. 

One half of the money, $50,000 per year, must be utilized to enhance the statewide participation of small and medium-sized businesses in the Agricultural Trade Showcase.

The other half of the money, $50,000 per year, must be used to enhance the ability of the county to recruit qualified buyers from overseas markets that have a growing demand for high value agricultural products.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Included among the items to be promoted by the Agricultural Trade Showcase are aquacultural and agriforestry products.

Appropriation:   $200,000.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 20, 1995.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  A large portion of the products shipped from Washington ports are agricultural products.  The agricultural showcase has shown to be successful in increasing sales of agricultural products produced in the state and has helped to generate business activity and tax revenues.  Expenditures from the state will be a good investment for the state.

Other similar trade shows in the country are a similar public/private partnership and receive public funds.  A search has been conducted and no other public funds are available.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jim Zimmerman, Trout Lodge, Washington Fish Growers Association (pro); Miland Walling, TRADEC (pro); Mike Schwisow, WA Cattle Feeders (pro); Dan Coyne, Dairy Federation, Council of Farmer Co-ops (pro).