Get your shovels out…the day we’ve been waiting for is almost here! Blue Mountain Station is ready to break ground.

Final changes are being made to construction drawings and final approvals are being sought for permits for the first phase of infrastructure for Blue Mountain Station. First phase construction will include a new access point at Wagon Road, a water connection to the City of Dayton and a loop line with stubs to future buildings sites, sewer infrastructure with stubs to future building sites, internal roads and parking lots (some paved and some gravel for future expansion), accommodations for power, telephone, and fiber optic lines, and an eco-friendly on-site storm water management system.

The project is scheduled to go out for public bid in January, 2011, with construction slated to begin in early spring and with no more than 6 to 8 weeks to completion. The project will be advertised in the Dayton Chronicle, which is the paper of record, and construction drawings and specifications submitted to plan centers in the region.

This is a giant step forward. Getting infrastructure in the ground will allow us to site our first business tenant at Blue Mountain Station. Business interest in the site is strong, so we are confident that the location of that first tenant is close at hand.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held to celebrate this momentous day, so watch future eNewsletters for details on the event. We hope you can come help us celebrate!

It appears there is an unlimited number of Whys? in this world. Everyone seems to have at least one. Dig deep into your pockets and you will probably find two or three, especially when it comes to Blue Mountain Station, the World’s First Eco-Friendly Artisan Natural & Organic Food Park. Not to be confused with Whos, those cute little characters that occupyWhoville (quite prevalent this season of year – remember The Grinch Who Stole Christmas?),Whys? seem numerous year around.

In a tip of my hat to Dr. Seuss:

Whys? have no season to fill,
And occupy nothing even close to a ville.
But since they do present some aggravation,
Please let me address them regarding Blue Mountain Station.

Why Natural and Organic?

Because they are the fastest growing segments in the food industry!

• $24.8 billion in organic food sales in 2009, compared to $14.2 billion in 2005.
• Organic food sales in 2009 were up 5.1%, compared to total food growth of 1.6%.
• Organic food sales had market penetration of 3.7% in 2009 compared to 1.2% in 2000.
• $19.8 billion in natural food sales in 2009, 3.9% growth over 2008.

Why Washington?

Because Washington is business friendly.

Forbes.com ranks Washington as the 5th best state for doing business.

Washington is an agricultural powerhouse:

• #1 Producer of Red Raspberries, Hops, Wrinkled Seed Peas, Spearmint Oil, Apples, Sweet Cherries, Concord Grapes, Peppermint Oil, Prunes, Plums and Processing Carrots.
• #2 Producer of Processing Sweet Corn, Niagara Grapes, Asparagus, Potatoes, Processing Green Peas and Apricots.
• #3 Producer of Lentils, Dry Onions, Dry Edible Peas, Tart Cherries.
• #4 Producer of Blueberries and Barley.
• #5 Producer of Peaches, Cranberries and Strawberries.

Washington is a pioneer in Natural & Organic food:

• Washington State University created the first organic farming degree and online certificate in organic agriculture program in the United States.
• Washington is #2 in the U.S. for organic product farmgate sales value.
• Washington has 1,207 organic farms with 689 of those certified in 2008.
• Washington leads the nation in organic apples, pears, cherries, sweet corn and peas. It is the third largest producer of organic potatoes.
• Washington is ideally located to target the concentration of markets for natural and organic food on the West Coast (especially the Pacific Northwest) and the growing Asian markets.

Why Dayton, Washington (home of Blue Mountain Station)?

Because it is the right place at the right time.

• Dayton is strategically located within a two hour drive of three excellent agricultural/food science educational institutions: Washington State University, the University of Idaho and Walla Walla Community College.
• The Highway 12 corridor that connects Walla Walla to Dayton provides one of the most exciting wine & food regions in the United States. Walla Walla is known for its wine. Dayton is known for its food.
• Dayton has excellent commercial transportation: three airports within a two-hour drive, a railroad line that connects to major regional and national lines and access to the national highway system.
• Dayton is within close proximity to Washington’s major organic growing region.
• Dayton has Blue Mountain Station. Nobody else can say that!

Why an Eco-Friendly Food Park?

Because it is the right thing to do.

There you go.

Four little Whys?,
Cut down to size.
Transforming their plots,
From Whys? to Why Nots!

Dennis Miller (my associate) and I will be attending the Winter Fancy Food Show, January 16th & 17th . Let’s meet and talk about Blue Mountain Station. Contact us at the following to arrange a meeting.

From all of us at Blue Mountain Station to all of you, Merry Christmas!