Miles McEvoy, the founding manager of Washington state’s Organic Food Program and an Advisory Team member of Blue Mountain Station, has been named director of the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program. Miles joined the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) in 1988 as the first employee of the department’s Organic Food Program. Under his leadership, the program has grown to 23 employees. The organic industry continues to thrive in Washington State. The WSDA certifies more than 1,200 organic growers, processors, handlers and retailers. Growers are farming 120,000 acres of organic apples, hay, vegetables and numerous other crops. Total value of WSDA-certified organic products exceeded $700 million in 2008, up from $2.5 million 20 years ago.

Organic is still hot, hot, hot!

Total U.S. Organic Food Sales, 2005-2008

Source: Organic Trade Association’s Manufacture/Organic Industry Surveys. 2006-2009

Washington State Does It Again!

Washington State continues to rank as one of the best states for business. CNBC.com recently released its “America’s Top States For Business ‘09”. Washington State tied with North Dakota for Number 16.

Washington State #16 (tied with North Dakota)

Comparing our West Coast Neighbors

Oregon #18 (tied with Arizona)

California #32

Finally – a place.

After a year of searching, studying, negotiating, and learning more about land and water rights than I ever wanted to know, Blue Mountain Station is a huge step closer to reality.

At their September regular meeting, Port commissioners ratified a purchase and sale agreement for 28 acres located at the west end of Dayton known as the “Bell Farm.” The property is in the Urban Growth Area, is adjacent to Highway 12 and the Port-owned rail line, and has access to City of Dayton water and sewer services.

A combination grant/loan package from the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) is making the purchase of land and the installation of the first phase of infrastructure possible. Several conditions must be met before final closing papers can be signed, including the successful completion of a cultural resources study. An October 30th closing is expected.

This is a tremendous step forward for the project. The Port of Columbia purchased the “Oliver Farm” back in the early 1980s that is now the Rock Hill Industrial Park, home to 14 businesses employing over 70 people. Now we can begin transforming the “Bell Farm” into Blue Mountain Station and bring more business and jobs to our community.

Blue Mountain Station is an exciting project! I have been asked to make presentations on the project to several groups over the last few months, and the reception I get is wonderful. This is an idea whose time has come – and the idea now has a place to grow and become reality.

Terri L. Thayer, Director, Center of Excellence

Terri has spent the last seven years of her career in a number of educational capacities. She is currently the Director of the Center of Excellence for Process and Control Technology at Bellingham Technical College. The Center’s goal is to work as a link between business and education. “We help them reach mutual goals, such as skilled, capable workers to fill industry’s growing needs, and high-demand, high-wage jobs for community and technical college graduates,” said Terri. The Center’s focus is continuous flow processes and instrumentation used in industries such as petroleum refineries, chemical processing plants, food processors, pulp and paper mills and wastewater treatment plants.

The Center’s Vision is that “Washington shall become a national model in developing partnerships among business, industry and education for the purpose of enhancing economic and workforce development initiatives to meet the current and future needs of the industries critical to the state’s economic vitality.”