Washington State Department of Agriculture

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is a cabinet-level agency in the government of Washington which regulates, advocates, and provides services for the state's agricultural industry. The agency was established in 1913 and is headquartered in Olympia, Washington. The current director of the WSDA is Derek Sandison.[2]

Washington State Department of Agriculture
Agency overview
Formed1913 (1913)
JurisdictionWashington
HeadquartersOlympia, Washington
Employees755 (2013)[1]
Annual budgetUS$151 million (2013)[1]
Agency executives
  • Derek Sandison, Director
  • Patrick Capper, Deputy director
  • Dr. Brian Joseph, State veterinarian
Websiteagr.wa.gov
Footnotes
[2]

History

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (originally known as the Washington Agriculture Commission) was established in 1913.[1]

In 1915, the state legislature granted the WSDA authority to create and enforce grading standards for apples and other tree fruit packed in the state. The grading system for apples was the first of its kind in the United States. The United States Department of Agriculture adopted national grade standards for apples in 1923.[3]

In 1980, the WSDA began an apple maggot control program in order to prevent the pest from establishing itself in eastern Washington, an important apple-growing region. The program consists of an Apple Maggot Quarantine Area, which establishes a pest-free area. The agency also deploys apple maggot traps to a selection of sites in the state. The boundaries of the quarantine area are altered when the apple maggot is discovered in the pest-free area.[4] As of 2018, the apple maggot has never been detected in fruit packed commercially in the state.[5]

Following the passage of Washington Initiative 502 in 2012, the WSDA provides services for the state's recreational cannabis industry. The agency inspects cannabis edible processing facilities and maintains a list of pesticides which are allowed to be used by cannabis growers in Washington.[6] In coordination with the state Liquor and Cannabis Board, the WSDA tests retail cannabis for pesticides. Over 40% of samples tested by the agency contain illegal levels of pesticide. Washington does not require all cannabis to be tested, instead the WSDA conducts random tests and investigates complaints.[7] The WSDA plans to provide a service similar to organic certification for cannabis beginning in 2019.[8]

See also

References
  1. Brown, Steve (June 8, 2012). "WSDA leaders reflect on history". Capital Press. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  2. "Director and Executive Leadership". Washington State Department of Agriculture. April 18, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  3. "Territorial Days to Present—Historic Timeline" (PDF). Washington State Department of Agriculture. 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  4. Brunner, Jay F.; Klaus, Michael W. (1993). "Apple maggot". Orchard Pest Management Online. Washington State Fruit Commission. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  5. Rounce, Kevin (October 12, 2018). "Apple Maggot Quarantine Expanded to Methow Valley". NewsRadio 560 KPQ. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  6. "Recreational Marijuana and Industrial Hemp". Washington State Department of Agriculture. June 1, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  7. Black, Lester (October 29, 2018). "WSDA Tests Show Frequent Illegal Pesticide Use on Cannabis". The Stranger. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  8. Black, Lester (August 13, 2018). "You Could Buy WSDA-Certified Organic Pot Next Year". The Stranger. Retrieved November 3, 2018.



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