H-1224.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1885

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representatives Linville, G. Chandler, Grant, Doumit, Gombosky, Conway, Kessler, Hatfield and Anderson

Read first time 02/07/2001.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Ecology.

Creating the small farm direct marketing assistance program.

    AN ACT Relating to marketing of agricultural products; adding new sections to chapter 15.64 RCW; creating a new section; and providing expiration dates.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that:

    (1) Many consumers in this state appreciate and seek out the opportunity to purchase local farm products.

    (2) Consumers and small-scale farmers would both benefit from increased opportunities to market farm products locally.  Direct marketing provides farmers with the opportunity to realize an increased share of consumers' food dollars and provides consumers with a greater opportunity to support local agriculture and understand farm operations, farm culture, and the role farms play in meeting our food needs.

    (3) The state would greatly benefit from a focused effort to increase the economic viability and profitability of small farms through increasing their ability to market their products directly to consumers.

    (4) Direct marketing opportunities are often not feasible for farmers to undertake because of market barriers and the difficulty of obtaining information related to marketing.

    (5) A direct marketing assistance program for small farmers could provide the needed information, technical assistance, and barrier clearing work that is a key to increasing direct marketing of farm products.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 15.64 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The small farm direct marketing assistance program is created.

    (2) The director shall employ a small farm direct marketing assistant.

    (3) The small farm direct marketing assistance program shall assist small farms in their direct marketing efforts.  In carrying out this duty the program shall:

    (a) Assist small farms in complying with federal, state, and local rules and regulations as they apply to direct marketing of agricultural products;

    (b) Assist in developing infrastructure to increase direct marketing opportunities for small farms;

    (c) Provide information on direct marketing opportunities for small farms;

    (d) Promote localized food production systems;

    (e) Increase access to information for farmers wishing to sell farm products directly to consumers;

    (f) Identify and help reduce market barriers facing small farms in direct marketing;

    (g) Assist in developing and submitting proposals to grant programs to assist small farm direct marketing efforts; and

    (h) Perform other functions that will assist small farms in directly marketing their products.

    (4) This section expires July 1, 2007.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 15.64 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The director shall, by December 1, 2006, issue a report on the accomplishments of the small farm direct marketing assistance program.  The report must be submitted to the committees of the senate and the house of representatives that have jurisdiction over agricultural issues.  The report must be made available to the public.

    (2) This section expires July 1, 2007.

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