STATE OF WASHINGTON
| In the matter of the Washington Strawberry Commission's request To amend the marketing order established in WAC 16-555 by Adding a position on the Commission representing District 3 |
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FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND FINAL DECISION |
1. The Washington Strawberry Commission submitted a request to
the Director of Agriculture to amend the Strawberry marketing
order in chapter 16-555 WAC. The proposed amendment adds a
position to the Commission representing District 3 (Clark,
Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum, Grays Harbor, Mason
and Thurston Counties).
2. According to the Commission, District 3 produced more
strawberries than District 1 and almost as much as District 2,
which are both, represented by two positions. In 1999 District 1
had 19 growers who produced 7,226,483 pounds of strawberries;
District 2 had 17 growers producing 1,040,003 pounds of
strawberries; and District 3 had 24 growers producing 3,675,026
pounds of strawberries.
3. A notice of the hearing was published in the Washington
State Register on March 7, 2001, and was sent to all Strawberry
growers on a list maintained by the Washington Strawberry
Commission. Notice was also published in the Olympian on March
17 and 18, 2001.
4. Norval Johansen, representing the Strawberry Commission,
testified in support of the amendment. The Department received
one letter from two producers in Whatcom County also in support
of the proposed amendment.
5. The 10-day period to file objections to a recommended
decision of the Director was waived as provided in RCW 15.65.110.
The Director adopts the following conclusions:
1. The procedures to amend the marketing order follow the
provisions and terms of chapter 15.65 RCW, Washington State
Agricultural Enabling Act of 1961.
2. The proposed amendment to add a new position on the board of
the Strawberry Commission in District 3 (District 3 representing
Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum, Grays
Harbor, Mason and Thurston Counties) will tend to effectuate one
or more of the declared policies of chapter 15.65 RCW, Washington
State Agricultural Enabling Act of 1961 with respect to the
Strawberry Commission.
3. Through the public hearing process it was determined that
there is sufficient support for the proposed amendment to add a
new position representing District 3 on the Commission and to
submit the proposal to a referendum vote of the growers.
4. In accordance with RCW 15.65.110, the Director may in his
discretion waive the 10-day period to file objections to a
recommended decision and issue a final decision.
It is hereby the Director's final decision that the Strawberry Commission's request to amend the Commission's marketing order established in WAC 16-555, by adding a new position representing District 3, be accepted and submitted to a referendum of the growers for final approval.
DATED at Olympia, Washington this 26th day of April 2001.
James M. Jesernig, Director
Washington State Department of Agriculture