02/11/05 Asparagus growers report to lawmakers

02/11/05 Asparagus growers report to lawmakers

Washington Ag February 11, 2005 Despite the loss of canners, the president of the Washington Asparagus Council, grower Kevin Bouchey, quoted Mark Twain to state lawmakers in Olympia this week saying "reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." Bouchey said the future is primarily in the fresh market for asparagus and he was reporting to lawmakers on how the industry has used state funds it has received, one and a half million of which was for fresh pack equipment. He said 11 of 14 fresh pack handlers are leasing automated sorters and graders for the upcoming season, which will significantly reduce labor costs. Bouchey: "The typical line currently would have up to 30 people, individually picking out each spear based on its size qualifications. This machine will reduce that labor probably down to three or four people." The state also provided money for research on a mechanical asparagus harvester and Bouchey told lawmakers: Bouchey: "And finally in 2008 we hope that this machine, or if another machine comes along, is commercially available to farmers." Bouchey asked lawmakers to fund another two years of research on the harvester at 330-thousand dollars a year. Last year the industry received only half of the three million dollars it requested for the automation program and Bouchey asked for funding of the other 1.5 million this year. I'm Bob Hoff.
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