05/15/06 Mexican Presidents` Visit

Mexican Presidents visit. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Governor Chris Gregoire will host Mexican President Vicente Fox and First Lady in Washington later this month. President Fox will visit Yakima on May 24 on the first day of his two-day visit to Washington at Governor Gregoire`s request. GREGOIRE: I understand, President Fox, that you were schedule to visit Washington State in 2002 and that particular visit had to be postponed. I want to again extend a very warm invitation to you to come visit our great state and perhaps to come to. We would be honored to have you come to Washington State. Gregoire said she`d like Fox to visit with farmers and farm workers to see their work firsthand. It`s expected that Mexican immigrants from throughout the region will flock to Yakima to catch a glimpse of Fox. Antonio Valero is with NW Spanish News. VALERO: I think it's going to do a lot for the agricultural community here within the Yakima Valley corridor in that a lot of these folks do still have a very strong connection to their home country of Mexico. And I think having the presence, the physical presence of their President here is going to do a lot for the moral. As well as it's going to send a clear message to them that they are not disenfranchised and that whatever may happen with immigration reform, they are supported by their native country. Gregoire said she hopes Fox`s visit will lay the foundation for a closer relationship between Washington State and Mexico. She is considering a trade mission to Mexico next year. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.