BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Hey, Turkey, hands off Idaho's good name. That's the message sent by the House Thursday, where representatives voted unanimously to condemn a Turkish agricultural company's bid to trademark the word "IDAHO" for labeling products including sugarbeet seeds. The measure, which has already cleared the Senate, urges the Turkish Patent Institute to reject Beta Agriculture and Trade Co. bid.

The Idaho Potato Commission already has a trademark on "Idaho" — and hired a Turkish lawyer to keep the central Anatolian.company from intruding on Idaho turf. Rep. Ken Andrus of Lava Hot Springs said it's alarming to many Idaho residents that somebody in another country would try to pilfer the state's good name for commercial exploitation. According to its website, Beta's products include not only sugarbeet seed, but watermelons, beans and barley.

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