RISE announces program

Washington D.C. – RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) introduced a grassroots program for managing local pesticide and fertilizer issues during its Feb. 9 industry breakfast held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show in Atlanta.

“Our goal is to strengthen and build alliances in towns and cities across the country and to increase public awareness of the benefits of our industry’s products. Pesticides go beyond beautifying our surroundings – they play a vital role in protecting people, animals and the environment,” RISE president Allen James says.

“Our industry has a great story to tell and we’ve done a good job of communicating at the federal and state levels,” he adds. “This new grassroots program will help us to tell our story in hundreds of communities across the nation, ensuring an informed public and a balanced public policy debate about the use of specialty products.”

RISE has committed to a significant expansion of its grassroots action and is hiring a grassroots manager. Also, RISE is encouraging industry associations, state and local chapters, individual members and distributors to get involved.

“Everyone working in the specialty industry has an obligation to educate their neighbors, friends and local policy makers about the products they make, sell and use,” James says. “The new grassroots program will help us to speak with one voice and to communicate one message – our products are safe and necessary to sustaining public health and the environment.”