Be grateful for the bounty of Washington agriculture

AS you count your blessings today, don't forget the serendipity of living in a region with a nearly unrivaled agricultural bounty contributing to your Thanksgiving Day spread.

Producing more than 300 different commodities, Washington state seems tailor-made for discriminating home chefs who demand the freshest of ingredients. A bonus: Fresh, abundant choices in close proximity give our feasts smaller carbon footprints to boot.

Thank Washington producers for Thanksgiving staples on your table — apples from the Wenatchee Valley in your pie (Washington is the No. 1 U.S. apple producer); steaming heaps of russet potatoes from the Columbia Basin; cranberries from bogs in Pacific County in your relish; and, take your pick of rutabagas, squash, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts and more. Even your pickiest guest can find at least one suitable vegetable grown in Washington. More than 2,000 farms grow vegetables on 350,000 acres.

And the bird of course. Washington grows turkeys, too.

In your wine glass? Grapes from the Yakima Valley or one of the state's other seven official wine-growing appellations. The state is the nation's second-largest wine producer after California and it's continuing to increase its world renown as a source of premium wines.

Not a wine drinker? No problem. Washington is the No. 1 U.S. producer of hops, a key beer ingredient.

The kiddies are not left out — with choices of apple cider or milk, which by the way is Washington's No. 2 farm product.

Beyond today's grub, it's worthwhile to be grateful for Washington's oldest industry — which accounts for about 12 percent of the state's economy. In 2009, farmers and ranchers produced about $7.3 billion of crops and livestock. Add in food processing and other related industries and agriculture contributed about $38 billion to the state's economy and employs 160,000 people.

On this holiday devoted to counting blessings — family, friends and even football, be sure to count what's on the table in front of you.