Regulations highlighted at Conference

KENNEWICK - New food safety regulations and the impact of Obamacare were among the many issues touched upon by Washington State Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt Wednesday.

Voigt gave his industry update during the 2013 Washington-Oregon Potato Conference in Kennewick. The three-day conference ends Thursday.

Voigt said the WSPC follows certain issues that affect state growers. Obamacare is one of those issues, said Voigt.

"This is something that we are going to have to address," he said. "We need to determine the impact to our farms and lessen the economic impacts."

Voigt said commissioners are also keeping an eye on several legislative issues that could affect the industry.

He said the loss of sales tax exemptions on chemicals, parts and auction equipment could happen. Worker's compensation reforms are also being discussed, said Voigt.

WSPC commissioners are also interested in developments in water issues in Odessa and Yakima, said Voigt.

Voigt said Gov. Jay Inslee recently introduced two bills that could secure funding for water projects in both areas.

"We're very excited about that," said Voigt.

Voigt also unveiled the commission's Washington Grown campaign during the conference. He said the WSPC partnered with members of the state's wheat industry to come up with the campaign to promote agriculture throughout the state.

Voigt said the goal of the campaign is to educate consumers about the importance of agriculture to the state and to highlight how their food goes from the farm to their plates.

"We need to get the message to consumers who are voting on legislative initiatives," he said. "What we all have in common is food."

Voigt said the campaign will focus on various food industries in the state, including the potato industry.

Washington Grown will be a series of television shows based on food, he said. Thirteen half-hour shows are already scheduled, said Voigt.

The show will feature where specific food in the state comes from and how it's grown, he said. The show will also include a portion where celebrity chefs prepare a specific dish.

"We were concerned that we would have this show, but we would have to pay someone to run it," said Voigt. "But that's not the case."

Voigt said the show will move to production this spring and summer, and will likely air in the fall.

Several Washington Grown public service announcements will also air on television, he said.

Voigt said he hopes to bring more agricultural groups together on the project, in order to keep the Washington Grown campaign going.