Honoring the Washington dairy industry.

 SENATE RESOLUTION

8609

By Senator Warnick

WHEREAS, The first creamery in Washington was started in Cheney in 1880; and

WHEREAS, Washington's dairy industry is actually older than the state itself; and

WHEREAS, Cows were first brought to Washington in 1838; and

WHEREAS, Dairy farms can be found in twenty-seven of Washington's thirty-nine counties; and

WHEREAS, There are thirty-three certified organic dairies in Washington; and

WHEREAS, Families across Washington have depended on the safe and nutritious dairy products provided by the dairy farmers of Washington state for generations; and

WHEREAS, Dairy is an essential part of a healthy diet, is one of the major food groups represented on the United States Department of Agriculture's "MyPlate" dietary guidelines, and three cups of dairy products per day are recommended for people nine years old and older; and

WHEREAS, There are nearly two hundred sixty family dairy farms in Washington state with approximately two hundred fifty-seven thousand dairy cows; and

WHEREAS, Dairy ranks as the second highest agricultural commodity produced in Washington, with economic impact valued over one billion dollars; and