LORA LIEGEL HIRED AS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR TO ESTABLISH A LABELING PROMOTION PROGRAM FOR WASHINGTON FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has hired Lora Liegel as Program Administrator to establish a labeling and promotion program for Washington food and agricultural products. With the passage of Engrossed Senate Bill (ESB) 5341 by the state legislature in 2023, WSDA is working towards creating a statewide promotional program to provide a consistent means for consumers to identify and select Washington agricultural products known for quality, safety, and value. Liegel will work with stakeholders to develop the design for the program’s scope and framework. This encompasses but is not limited to the establishment of the eligibility criteria, fees, logo designs, promotional activities, and application and renewal process.

Liegel has a master’s degree from Cal Poly Humboldt along with a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University. She brings experience working with agricultural producers and industry groups of various sizes and needs. Most recently, she was the Director of the Bellingham Farmers Market. In this role, she led the market through a rebrand and increased sales by vendors 50%.

Since starting in the role, Liegel is meeting with states with branding programs to identify the processes and structure in place for their labeling programs. Then, she will be reaching out to Washington stakeholders for input to create a comprehensive plan of recommendations for WSDA to present the state legislature. She will be sending out communications looking to provide opportunities for involvement in this development program, so please keep a lookout for correspondence on this.

Please contact Lora Liegel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions or feedback.

For more information on the Labeling and Promotion Program for Washington Food and Agriculture Products go here.