H-1321.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE
BILL 1984
_______________________________________________
Passed
Legislature - 2001 2nd Special Session
State
of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By
Read
first time 02/12/2001. 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.
Passed the House June 4, 2001.
Passed the Senate June 7, 2001.
Approved by the Governor June
15, 2001.
Filed
in Office of Secretary of State June 15, 2001.
