Promoting Regional Ag

The recent World Ag Expo in Tulare, California had record breaking attendance so it was a good place to discuss potential business relationships. Gary Ballew with the Port of Pasco was there to help identify agriculture suppliers, service provides or other companies that might be interested in locating to Eastern Washington.

BALLEW: The World Ag Expo is the largest trade show in the world for agriculture or what we would call, farming and when you're an economic development person there's sort of two primary ways that you look at to grow the economy and one is vertical integration.

Back in the 80's he said they worked to make sure farmers had local processors to handle their products. He says that there's also horizontal integration which is about making sure there are local suppliers for ag producers.

BALLEW: It was a partnership between Adams County and the Port of Pasco to talk to folks, talk about the region being sort of Eastern Washington, the Columbia region, the agricultural production here and why it would be a great place for them to locate a sales office or a manufacturing facility.

Ballew says the region was very well received.

BALLEW: We ended up speaking to over 20 companies and about half of those were really interested in coming out and taking a look at what we have to offer up here and there's a lot of growth potential in this region for agricultural production. We're seeing diversity of crops. there's over 40 different crops grown in the Mid-Columbia region. People see that and they see the opportunities.

And that's Washington Ag Today. I'm Greg Martin, thanks for listening on the Ag Information Network of the West.