Sustaining Washington Agriculture in a Shifting Trade Landscape
Washington’s agriculture industry — from apples and cherries to wheat and seafood — has long relied on robust export markets, with China among its most important trading partners. In recent years, shifting trade policies and evolving tariff structures have reshaped market access, supply chains, and pricing, creating both challenges and opportunities for growers, exporters, and consumers.
Join us on Thursday, September 11, for a panel of experts from government, trade associations, and the business community as they explore how changes in U.S.-China trade relations are impacting Washington’s agricultural economy. Our panelists include Rianne Ham, Manager of International Marketing Program at the Washington State Department of Agriculture; John Melin, President and CEO of Brown & Haley; Mark Powers, President of the Northwest Horticultural Council; and Lawrence Ward, Chair of Dorsey & Whitney LLP’s National Security Law Group and head of the firm’s Seattle office. They will discuss the real-world effects of tariffs, strategies for adapting to policy shifts, and what the future may hold for one of the state’s most vital industries.
Agenda
4:30 PM Registration
5:00 – 6:00 PM Program
Register Here
SPEAKER BIOS
Rianne Ham has been with the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) since 2009, managing the agency’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for several years before joining the International Marketing Program in 2015 and becoming manager in 2017. In this role, Rianne oversees a team of trade specialists and internationally-based representatives that work to assist Washington food and agriculture businesses export their products around the world. The WSDA International Marketing Program facilitates buyer-seller connections, provides technical export assistance, promotes Washington agriculture, and continually advocates for global market access.
Rianne currently serves on the board of the North American Agricultural Marketing Officials (NAAMO), the Advisory Council of the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and is active in numerous organizations focused on export issues and Washington agriculture. She has represented WSDA on the board of the Washington State Wine Commission since 2013 and has a Level 2 certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Rianne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Washington University and is a proud graduate of the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program.
John Melin became CEO of Brown & Haley in 2022 after joining the company in 2003 and serving as Chief Operating Officer and President since 2014. He has played a critical role in directing domestic and international sales, optimizing manufacturing capabilities, and introducing new products including the exciting new Roca® Bites and Almond Roca® Popcorn.
Prior to joining Brown & Haley, Melin held operating and consulting roles at Starbucks, Coinstar, and McKinsey & Company, where he served clients across retail, media, and natural resource industries. He holds M.Sc. and M.A. degrees in Economics from Oxford University and a B.Sc. in Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan.
Mark Powers accepted employment as the Northwest Horticultural Council’s (NHC) vice president in 1999, was promoted to executive vice president in 2014, and president in 2017. A policy advocate for Pacific Northwest tree fruit growers, packers, and shippers, he represents industry on all manner of public policy issues.
Originally from rural Wisconsin, he is a former Peace Corps volunteer and graduate of Grinnell College, with a B.A. in Spanish and Environmental Studies. He later obtained an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management. Between his Peace Corps service and MBA education he worked on commercial fishing boats in the Bering Sea, ran the family business in Wisconsin, married, and started a family. Prior to relocating to Yakima, Washington, Mr. Powers was employed by Continental Grain Company.
Powers serves on multiple Boards and committees, including: Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables; Center for Produce Safety (Treasurer); Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports; International Fresh Produce Association U.S. Government Affairs Committee; Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (Steering Committee); U.S. Apple Association’s Government Affairs Committee; and Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee.
Lawrence (Larry) Ward is the Chair of Dorsey & Whitney LLP’s National Security Law Group and is head of the firm’s Seattle office. Clients ranging from small emerging companies or family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 public corporations and international professional associations trust Larry to advise them on ever-evolving national security law and international trade matters. Larry has worked across countless industry sectors and has developed particular expertise in aerospace and defense, mining, technology (including AI/ML), biotech, financial services, higher education, and manufacturing. As a former appointed member of the U.S. State Department’s Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG), Larry has built important connections with U.S. Government and industry leaders, which further bolsters his ability to provide practical compliance insight to his clients.
Larry advises clients on compliance matters related to U.S. export controls and national security law. His work includes representing clients before federal agencies on foreign investment reviews (CFIUS), national industrial security compliance (DCSA), export control regulations (EAR and ITAR), economic sanctions (OFAC), energy and nuclear export matters (DOE and NRC), and enforcement of anti-corruption laws such as the FCPA (DOJ and SEC).
Larry helps clients build and refine compliance programs, train employees, classify products for export purposes, apply for export licenses and classification requests from the U.S. Government and structure internal safeguards for dealing with classified federal government information. Larry also helps clients in building international relationships with various third parties by drafting and negotiating various commercial contracts. Before those relationships are even built, he helps clients craft due diligence programs and assists with vetting of potential foreign partners to ensure that the risks of violations of export control and international business ethics are low. He also helps foreign buyers and U.S. targets navigate important regulatory issues associated with foreign investment in the United States when U.S. national security is implicated through the transaction.