PORT OF SEATTLE
MEMORANDUM
Item No.

7e

Date of Meeting

May 24, 2011

COMMISSION AGENDA
STAFF BRIEFING
DATE:

May 13, 2011

TO:

Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer

FROM:

Mark Wen, Inland Cargo & Business Development Manager

SUBJECT:

Central / Eastern Washington Trip Report

BACKGROUND:
Inland cargo, especially agricultural export cargo, accounts for more than 50% of Port of
Seattle's total export volume. Almost $15 billion in food and agricultural products were
exported through Washington state ports in 2008, the third largest total in the U.S. Washington
state ranks first in the nation for production of 10 commodities, including apples, sweet cherries,
pears, red raspberries, hay and hops, with a total of some 300 commodities produced
commercially overall. The agricultural industry employs more than 160,000 people in
Washington State.
It is critical for Port of Seattle to connect with inland exporters, understand their concerns, and
work together with them to ensure public policies and funding (federal and state) are in place to
support our export-focused economy and create jobs for Washington state. In 2009, Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) Yoshitani and Commissioner Bryant visited key exporting
communities in central and eastern Washington to meet with the Port's customers, trade groups
and inland exporters. We had great feedback from this trip. On April 26 - 28, 2011, the CEO
and Commissioners Bryant and Albro arranged a similar trip to Wenatchee, Spokane, Walla
Walla, the Tri-Cities and Yakima. The Port Commission also held a joint meeting with the Port
of Moses Lake Commission and toured several Foreign Trade Zone operations at the Port of
Moses Lake.
BRIEFING OUTLINE:
On the trip, the Port hosted four Export Roundtables attended by more than 100 leading
exporters, regional leaders, economic development councils, transportation associations,
agriculture commissions, inland ports, trade councils, tourism industry representatives and Port
customers. We also visited the Quincy Intermodal Rail Yard, TreeTop (a leading producer of
fruit juices and products in Selah) and Key Technology (a leading designer and manufacturer of
food and other processing equipment headquartered in Walla Walla).

COMMISSION AGENDA
T. Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
May 13, 2011
Page 2 of 2
Our key messages were:
•

Competitive ports and an efficient rail and road transportation system are critical for
Washington agriculture export economy and jobs.

•

We must work together to ensure public policy and funding (federal and state) are in
place to support our export-focused economy and create and sustain jobs in Washington
state.

OTHER DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BRIEFING:


PowerPoint presentation.