“WG remains committed to being the leading voice for the fresh produce industry in Arizona, fighting to protect both agriculture and businesses in the state.” – Robby Barkley, Barkley Ag Enterprises
ARIZONA SUPPORT.
ARIZONA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Ensuring Continued Legislative and Regulatory Support.
As with the rest of the nation, 2020 was a unique and challenging year in Arizona. The legislative session was impacted by COVID-19 and recessed for an unprecedented two-and-a-half months before adjourning early for the year. Challenges notwithstanding, Western Growers worked diligently to ensure continued legislative and regulatory support for the Arizona agriculture industry.
One major highlight involved efforts to maintain a fully-funded Plant Services Division within the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Federal grants, which had been used to cover the bulk of funding for 16 full-time plant inspectors, were set to end in 2020, and the
PLANT SERVICES DIVISION
Department indicated they would reduce the inspection team. In response, Western Growers worked with other agriculture groups to lobby the legislature and administration officials, convincing them that this would leave the state vulnerable to incoming diseases and repercussions in the marketplace. Ultimately, the administration agreed and designated funds to maintain a full plant inspection force.
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