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WSDA launches updated Web site

OLYMPIA – According to USDA’s newly released 2007 Census of Agriculture, 57 percent of Washington’s farmers are regular Internet users. Now producers and consumers have a new Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) site to explore as they surf the Web.

“An increasing number of our customers are doing their business with WSDA through the Internet,” said Bob Gore, WSDA acting director. “Our updated site also provides consumers ready access to the latest information on the food they buy. This site looks great, it’s easier to use, and it puts a fresh public face on the department.”

While the WSDA site’s address, agr.wa.gov, remains the same, the site features new navigation menus to help the public find information more quickly. WSDA divisions and programs are listed across the top of the page, while a new subject menu on the left of the page directs users to topical issue areas. By clicking on “consumer protection,” the public can report food safety, gas pump or fuel quality concerns. An expanded search capability has also been added to the site.

Regular customers of the agency will continue to see more WSDA services move to the Internet. Web-based services and accounts now allow shippers, trade associations and commodity commissions to obtain real-time data for monitoring crop shipments. WSDA helps facilitate the movement of $7.5 billion of commodities each year for domestic and export markets.

The recent update was completed by an internal WSDA design and technology team and did not require any additional investment or outside consultation. The new site is compatible with many mobile devices and works with all standards-compliant Web browsers.

WSDA serves the public by supporting the agricultural community and promoting consumer and environmental protection. The agency carries out more than two dozen programs that benefit producers, distributors and consumers of food and agricultural products.

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