FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wilsonville —December 7, 2018 — The Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) has recognized four people and one coalition with Friends of Nurseries awards.

“The OAN gives these awards annually to recognize officials and others from outside our industry who are solution oriented, who consider the nursery and greenhouse point of view, and who act as a partner, regardless of party affiliation,” said Jeff Stone, executive director of the Oregon Association of Nurseries. “We appreciate their help and support in attempting to solve problems that affect agriculture and particularly the nursery industry.”

The winners for 2018 are:

• U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon-4) and U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon-5) were recognized for their support for the OAN’s coalition leadership efforts pertaining to unallocated water, largely impounded behind dams, in the Willamette River Basin. “There are many water users with claims to and needs for the water, including farms, fisheries and cities,” OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone said.  “Reps. Schrader and DeFazio worked hard to help federal officials understand the urgent need to carefully and equitably balance these demands on the available water.
• U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Oregon-2) was recognized for supporting efforts of the House Judiciary Committee, led by retiring U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia), to create immigration reform and meet the labor needs of agriculture while upholding border security and the rule of law. “Rep. Walden’s support in the Republican caucus was critical in trying to move this forward,” Stone said. “The immigration issue is difficult and representatives were not able to come to agreement, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort. Rep. Walden was all in on this effort.”
• Andrea Williams, executive director of Causa, was recognized for her leadership in the successful campaign to defeat Measure 105, which would have repealed Oregon’s sanctuary law. “The campaign was tremendously successful with a 63 percent ‘no’ vote,” Stone said. “It showed that Oregonians are pushing back on attempts to demonize and profile segments of the population. They understand that safe communities begin with open dialogue and rapport with law enforcement, two things that the sanctuary law is designed to protect.”
• A coalition award to several partners on the water issue, including the Oregon Water Resources Congress, the Special Districts Association of Oregon, the League of Oregon Cities, the Oregon Farm Bureau Federation, The Freshwater Trust and The Nature Conservancy of Oregon. “All of these groups were willing to come to the table with us and talk about different water uses in the Willamette River Basin,” Stone said. “If we don’t attempt to cooperate on this, we all lose. It’s only through planning, coordination and constructive dialogue that we can arrive at mutually beneficial solutions.”

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CONTACT:

Jeff Stone or Curt Kipp, Oregon Association of Nurseries, 503-682-5089

The Oregon Association of Nurseries, based in Wilsonville, represents more than 800 wholesale growers, retailers, landscapers and suppliers. Oregon’s ornamental horticulture industry is among the state’s largest agricultural commodities, with annual sales of nearly $947 million. Oregon’s nursery industry is a traded sector; more than 75 percent of the nursery plants grown in Oregon are shipped out of state. For information, visit www.oan.org or call 503-682-5089.