Over the Cascade Mountains and heading east and south, a visitor discovers a unique beauty – drier and cultivated with sustainable farm practices. Although wheat farming in Eastern Washington started in earnest in the 1880’s, it wasn’t until 1958 the state’s farmers saw the need for individuals to pool their resources to support the industry. That year, farmers created the Washington Wheat Commiss
ion and voted to pay an assessment on each bushel of wheat produced in Eastern Washington. On July 27, 2009, the Washington Wheat Commission merged with the Washington Barley Commission (established in 1985) to form the Washington Grain Commission. Today, through marketing, research, education and grower services, the Washington Grain Commission, under the direction of an eleven-member board, supports the work of over 3,000 farms in Washington State – nearly all of which are family-owned and operated.
