Wash. state No. 1 in juice grapes, mint, pears
KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) - Washington is ranked No. 1 in the United States for growing juice grapes, mint and pears. And state farmers are the second best producers of onions, nectarines, potatoes, sweet corn and asparagus.
The Tri-City Herald reports The Kennewick area is home to some of the nation's other crops, including hops, spearmint oil, sweet cherries and raspberries.
Some crops, such as Washington wine grapes, get their share of the limelight. But the others are also important to the region's economy but aren't as well known.
The director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture says that with about 300 crops, Washington has some of the nation's most diverse agriculture.
As a matter of fact, Dan Newhouse says aerospace and agriculture make almost an identical contribution to the state economy. But unlike the aerospace industry, the state's 39,500 farms are spread out among every county, Newhouse said.
Agriculture's impact isn't restricted to crops; it also includes processing, transportation and other related activities.
Agriculture contributes about $40 billion to the state's economy each year, he said. Of that, crop production is about $8 billion and food processing is $12 billion.
"When the farmers have a good year, the Tri-Cities typically does well," said Kris Watkins, president and CEO of the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau.
In the Tri-Cities, agriculture accounts for just as many jobs as Hanford nuclear site, but the industry's share of the wages isn't as high.
Agriculture represents about 9.5 percent of the Tri-Cities' employment, with food processing making up another 3.4 percent, said Ajsa Suljic, regional labor economist.
The importance of water to agriculture and its ties to the region's economy can't be understated, officials say.
For example, irrigation is the difference in Benton County between getting a yield of 130 bushels per acre for wheat instead of 25 bushels per acre in dryland fields, said Nicole Berg of Berg Farms near Prosser. One bushel is 60 pounds.
Irrigation is critical to apple orchards, which tend to follow Eastern Washington's rivers, said Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission. Apples brought about $7 billion to the state economy during the 2010 crop year and created about 59,650 jobs, Fryhover said. It brings in $1.95 billion in employee wages and benefits.
And agriculture, especially wine, brings in tourists. The numbers of people drawn to the Tri-Cities area by wine continue to grow, Watkins said.
Yakima, the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla offer an authentic experience of vineyards and wines, where people can meet grape growers and award-winning winemakers, she said.
"The wine industry makes us an international destination," Watkins said.
The Tri-City Herald reports The Kennewick area is home to some of the nation's other crops, including hops, spearmint oil, sweet cherries and raspberries.
Some crops, such as Washington wine grapes, get their share of the limelight. But the others are also important to the region's economy but aren't as well known.
The director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture says that with about 300 crops, Washington has some of the nation's most diverse agriculture.
As a matter of fact, Dan Newhouse says aerospace and agriculture make almost an identical contribution to the state economy. But unlike the aerospace industry, the state's 39,500 farms are spread out among every county, Newhouse said.
Agriculture's impact isn't restricted to crops; it also includes processing, transportation and other related activities.
Agriculture contributes about $40 billion to the state's economy each year, he said. Of that, crop production is about $8 billion and food processing is $12 billion.
"When the farmers have a good year, the Tri-Cities typically does well," said Kris Watkins, president and CEO of the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau.
In the Tri-Cities, agriculture accounts for just as many jobs as Hanford nuclear site, but the industry's share of the wages isn't as high.
Agriculture represents about 9.5 percent of the Tri-Cities' employment, with food processing making up another 3.4 percent, said Ajsa Suljic, regional labor economist.
The importance of water to agriculture and its ties to the region's economy can't be understated, officials say.
For example, irrigation is the difference in Benton County between getting a yield of 130 bushels per acre for wheat instead of 25 bushels per acre in dryland fields, said Nicole Berg of Berg Farms near Prosser. One bushel is 60 pounds.
Irrigation is critical to apple orchards, which tend to follow Eastern Washington's rivers, said Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission. Apples brought about $7 billion to the state economy during the 2010 crop year and created about 59,650 jobs, Fryhover said. It brings in $1.95 billion in employee wages and benefits.
And agriculture, especially wine, brings in tourists. The numbers of people drawn to the Tri-Cities area by wine continue to grow, Watkins said.
Yakima, the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla offer an authentic experience of vineyards and wines, where people can meet grape growers and award-winning winemakers, she said.
"The wine industry makes us an international destination," Watkins said.
Are we also #1 in hiring of ILLEGAL's....
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Just ask store owners in Chelan who have Illegals robbing them while they watch and when confronted they pull the "speak no English" or just shrug their shoulders and play dumb...
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So lets also add in the loss to local businesses from theft, the cost to tax payers because our teachers have to prepare two lesson plans because in many agricultural areas they can't speak English plus all the "special teachers" required, the extra cost by ILLEGAL's abusing our medical system, many gangs comprised of ILLEGAL's who are selling drugs, running meth houses, higher crime and murder rates........
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I'm glad we have success in agriculture but at what costs??!!
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hire an IILLEGAL, put an other US citizen out of work...
 @Truth Percolates what stores in chelan? I go to chelan a lot and I've not heard of that. Please tell so I can not go in those stores!
I just love my state! Â Healthy Industry, Â Healthy Agriculture and Healthy Tourism all in one grand place. Â And yet still a not so crowded place to live. Â Ahhh....
Also makes for good exports. More jobs there at the ports.
That sounds great. Grown in America, eaten in America! Farms are much better that half filled strip malls.