H-3678              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2518

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Rayburn, Nealey, Kremen, McLean, Jesernig, Baugher, Grant, Kirby, Rasmussen, Youngsman, Chandler, Doty, Rector, Dellwo, Smith, P. King, Jacobsen, Basich, Fuhrman, Ballard, Spanel, H. Myers and Inslee

Read first time 1/15/90 and referred to Committees on Agriculture & Rural Development/Appropriations.

AN ACT Relating to marketing agricultural products; adding a new section to chapter 43.23 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that approximately seventy-five percent of the agricultural products produced, processed, and marketed from this state are sold in local, regional, and national markets.  The legislature further finds that an enhancement of the sale of Washington's agricultural products in these domestic markets would benefit the economy of the state and the agricultural industry of this state greatly.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.23 RCW to read as follows:

          The department of agriculture shall expand its activities for supporting the marketing of this state's agricultural products in local, regional, and national markets.  In expanding these activities, the department shall emphasize the promotion within this state of purchasing Washington's agricultural products, support the establishment and expansion of local farmers' markets, encourage the in-state production of specialty processed foods, and support the promotion of this state's agricultural products in sales by retail grocery stores, as well as by wholesalers and food brokers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The sum of three hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated to the department of agriculture from the general fund for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, to carry out the purposes of this act.