01/30/06 Tree fruit day

01/30/06 Tree fruit day

For the fourth consecutive year, representatives of Washington State's tree fruit industry will be making the trek to Olympia to discuss and lobby issues important to their livelihoods with legislators, department heads, and other key political leaders. HAZEN: And really it is an event that brings tree fruit industry members face to face with the legislators in Olympia to help those lawmakers who don't always have a good understanding or a good handle on agricultural issues, and specifically on tree fruit issues, to help them better understand our industry needs. And according to Jim Hazen of the Washington State Horticultural Association, issues under discussion during the January 31st visit to Olympia will include water storage and operation funds for a new facility at Washington State University's Prosser Research Station. But Hazen says the main topic point will be labor related matters, especially convincing pro-labor House Democrats that the tree fruit industry could use some help. HAZEN: The current leadership in Olympia has completely taken that issue completely off the table. And we have for the last three years, pushed and been successful in getting a minimum wage reform proposal out of the Senate. But we've never been able to get even a hearing in the House. And we've been told even before we go to Olympia this year that that's another issue that the House Democrats are going to take off the table.
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