Washington Creates a New Office for Farm Marketing
A new state law establishes a director of markets to bridge the gap between regional agricultural producers and far-flung consumer centers.
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Profitable marketing of his produce is one of the most serious problems confronting the American farmer today. In the Northwest, this problem is especially difficult owing to the long distance between large centers of population and regions of production. Mindful of this situation, the 1917 legislature passed an act creating a state office of farm markets, providing for a director and assistants to investigate, encourage, and improve marketing conditions. The bill, introduced by Senator Ralph Metcalf of Tacoma, aims to reduce waste, improve transportation rates, and coordinate Washington’s agricultural production with federal marketing efforts.
“The most useful education is the one you get through your efforts to make a living.”
Kennewick remains a hub of agricultural output, and today's supply chain debates—over fuel costs, rail access, and middleman markups—echo the exact frustrations Senator Metcalf sought to resolve in 1917. This legislation marks the early institutional effort to move Washington farmers from isolated price-takers to organized players in a global market.
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