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News
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Oregon congresswoman visits Food Innovation Center
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4/18/2012
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Article Content
Suggested lead
Oregon's newest member of Congress has been given an up-close look at part of agriculture's cutting edge this week in the form of innovation and partnerships:
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Audio 01
US Representative Suzanne Bonamici came away very impressed by her tour of the Food Innovation Center in Portland- a joint Oregon State University and Oregon Department of Agriculture facility that offers a variety of helpful services for entrepreneurs and food companies:
BONAMICI: "Some great points were raised about the ability of centers like this to bridge what many people perceive as the urban-rural divide. But also the whole message about the potential here and the opportunities for food safety, for innovation- just great work." :18
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Audio 02
On display at the FIC were programs that address sensory testing, product development, processing and packaging technologies- those things that can help Oregon companies move forward. The Congresswoman is learning just how food and agriculture impacts Oregon's economy:
BONAMICI: "I really appreciate the importance of agriculture to the economy in the district. Everybody eats and it's something that we have to have." :09
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Bonamici says she is specifically interested in the next Farm Bill now under discussion, and she especially wants to help promote local agriculture. ODA and OSU officials hope her tour of the FIC signals the arrival of another ally on Capital Hill for Oregon farmers, ranchers, and fishers. In Salem, I'm Bruce Pokarney.
Additional audio: Audio 03
BONAMICI sees local agriculture and many of the things grown in Oregon as something that can help address health care issues:
"Encouraging people to eat more fruits and vegetables and local crops, we are helping not only the agriculture in the district and locally, but we are also getting people healthier and reducing health care costs in the long term." :15
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Additional audio: Audio 04
BONAMICI supports some of the current efforts to promote Oregon agriculture and establish local ties that address good nutrition:
"Certainly things like the farm to school program, again a win-win where we are supporting our local farmers but we are also getting healthier food into our schools. That's going to make a big difference." :12
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Full story
http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/120418bonamici.shtml
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