Blueberry grower Verne Gingerich and Connie Kirby of the Northwest Food Processors Association are among six honorees the Oregon Department of Agriculture will salute at this year's Agricultural Progress Awards Dinner.

Other honorees include Fred Meyer stores, for its support and promotion of locally grown food; chef Gregory Gourdet of Departure Restaurant and Lounge in Portland, for his efforts to promote agriculture and seafood; Jerry Nicolescu, executive director of the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts; and the WISE Project of Jackson County, for innovative and collaborative water management.

The 21st annual Agricultural Progress Awards Dinner is scheduled March 20 in the Spinning Room of the Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill, 1313 Mill St. SE in Salem.

For more information and to register for the event, contact the ODA at 986-4550 or go to its website: oregon.gov/ODA .

--Mitch Lies