Washington is the apple growing capital of the nation. It’s home to Walla Walla onions, Penn Cove mussels, Rainier cherries and Yakima Valley hops.
While the state’s residents know these agriculture and aquaculture stars well, the rest of the country and world do not.
To change that, the state Department of Agriculture is assembling a program to help promote products grown, raised, caught, baked and brewed in Washington.
“People are really excited. It’s something producers want,” said Lora Liegel, program administrator for the agency’s labeling and promotions program. “Being able to better identify Washington products will eventually help consumers, but it also gives producers a chance to differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace.”