Welcome to Skagit County
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September 8, 2003
SKAGIT COUNTY – Skagit County Commissioner Ken Dahlstedt has been appointed to serve as chair of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Food Safety Subcommittee. “With the consolidation of agricultural processing, food is being shipped around the globe without adequate controls and inspection,” said Dahlstedt. Dahlstedt is a fourth generation Skagit County farmer, who also serves on the board of directors of Pro Fac Cooperative, a major supplier of fruit and vegetable products for Agri Link Foods, whose major label is Birdseye. “Not only is public safety an issue, the viability of agriculture is also at risk if other countries can market here without following our safety standards,” said Dahlstedt. Skagit County’s annual dollar value to growers was $261,312,281 in 2001 according to recent report issued by Washington State University Cooperative Extension. Potatoes are Skagit County’s number one cash crop with an annual volume of $70,560,000, followed by nursery and greenhouse stock at $58,287,145, and Dairy at $52,025,595. “We have been world leaders in agriculture innovation and progressive research here is Skagit County,” said Dahlstedt. “This is an opportunity for me to provide leadership and representation to our agriculturally based economy.”
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