AWB Case Studies
Century 21 Products
Thanks to AWB Efforts, A Pasco Potato Packager Remains Competitive In
Southeastern States
Here’s What Happened:
Unnecessary packing requirements by Washington’s Dept. of Agriculture
were costing AWB member Century 21 Products, in Pasco, market share in the
southeastern United States. Not only was the packaging an added expense, it
was actually damaging the company’s bagged potatoes. George Yoshino, the
owner of Century 21 Products in Pasco, turned to AWB for help.
George’s potatoes were packaged in five and ten pound plastic bags and
then put into larger paper shipping bags for transportation to the south.
That wasn’t enough for the Dept. of Agriculture. They wanted him to double
bag the shipping bags in a large cellophane bag with a wire clasp. That wire
clasp actually dug into the potatoes during shipping and ruined some bags of
potatoes.
Getting Nowhere:
After several frustrating attempts to reason with the Department, George
came to AWB. AWB President Don Brunell took his case directly to then
Governor Mike Lowry. Lowry felt Yoshino had a case and went to the
Department and told them to work with him. The result was the Department
backed off its requirement and Yoshino kept his markets in the southeastern
states. Had AWB not intervened, Century 21 Products would have lost its
ability to compete in its primary markets.
While George died last year, thanks to AWB’s assistance his company
remains a vibrant employer in the Tri-cities area.
AWB Got Results: “The greatest satisfaction I get from being an AWB
member,” Yoshino told Don Brunell, “is knowing AWB is there to help small
businesses like mine when we need them.”
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