Washington
State
RCW
15.64.050
Small farm
direct marketing assistance program —
Created — Duties.
(Expires July 1, 2007.)
(1)
The small farm direct marketing assistance program is created.
(2) The director shall employ a small farm direct marketing
assistant.
(3) The small farm direct marketing assistance program shall assist
small farms in their direct marketing efforts. In carrying out this
duty the program shall:
(a) Assist small farms in complying with federal, state, and
local rules and regulations as they apply to direct marketing of
agricultural products;
(b) Assist in developing infrastructure to increase direct
marketing opportunities for small farms;
(c) Provide information on direct marketing opportunities for
small farms;
(d) Promote localized food production systems;
(e) Increase access to information for farmers wishing to sell
farm products directly to consumers;
(f) Identify and help reduce market barriers facing small farms
in direct marketing;
(g) Assist in developing and submitting proposals to grant
programs to assist small farm direct marketing efforts; and
(h) Perform other functions that will assist small farms in
directly marketing their products.
(4) This section expires July 1, 2007.
[2001 2nd sp.s. c 3 § 2.]
Notes:
Findings
-- 2001 2nd sp.s. c 3: "The legislature finds that:
(1) Many
consumers in this state appreciate and seek out the
opportunity to purchase local farm products.
(2)
Consumers and small-scale farmers would both benefit from
increased opportunities to market farm products locally.
Direct marketing provides farmers with the opportunity to
realize an increased share of consumers' food dollars and
provides consumers with a greater opportunity to support
local agriculture and understand farm operations, farm
culture, and the role farms play in meeting our food needs.
(3) The
state would greatly benefit from a focused effort to
increase the economic viability and profitability of small
farms through increasing their ability to market their
products directly to consumers.
(4) Direct
marketing opportunities are often not feasible for farmers
to undertake because of market barriers and the difficulty
of obtaining information related to marketing.
(5) A direct
marketing assistance program for small farmers could provide
the needed information, technical assistance, and barrier
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