Become an Organic Major

"Tending crops at WSU’s 3-acre organic food farm, Will Hollingberry enjoys being able to eat a carrot after pulling it right out of the earth — without worrying about pesticides, herbicides or other man-made chemicals.

Hollingberry, along with six other students, certified into the nation’s first organic agriculture degree at WSU and recently received scholarships totaling $10,000 dollars from Pacific Natural Foods, an Oregon company.

“I think it’s really cool that businesses are rallying behind the major and also that members of the greater community are also noticing and offering their support,” Hollingberry said.

Since the major was implemented last June, the program has attracted students wishing to help fill the growing demand for knowledge about organic foods, said Cathy Perillo, the program’s coordinator and professor of crop and soil sciences. Some students have specifically based their decisions to transfer to or enroll in WSU because of the new major. Some students, such as Hollingberry, were attracted from other areas of the agriculture department."

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