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Oregon Tilth partners with OSU to help organic farmers

By Tiffany Woods, 541-737-2940, tiffany.woods@oregonstate.edu Source: Garry Stephenson, 541-737-5833, garry.stephenson@oregonstate.edu; Chris Schreiner, 503-779-5875, chris@tilth.org CORVALLIS, Ore. – Organic certifier Oregon Tilth has agreed to provide funding to Oregon State University’s small farms program so that the university can continue its research and educational efforts for organic farmers. “This partnership helps to maintain some of the good work that we’ve seen come out of the OSU Extension Service’s small farms program,” said Chris Schreiner, the executive director of the nonprofit Oregon Tilth, which educates the public about sustainable agriculture. “Through this partnership, we can leverage the trust, integrity and rigor that exists at OSU to develop a research and education agenda to help support organic farmers.” Garry Stephenson, the coordinator of OSU’s small farms program, said that Oregon Tilth brings to the partnership “a deep understanding of organic market trends, the regulatory environment and industry connections.” With the funds, the...

Bald Hill Farm store still open for now

By Kate

It may not have been clear in my previous posts, or on other stories around the web about the City of Corvallis ordering the Bald Hill Farm store to close, but they are still open! They’re open daily, 10am to 6pm. Right now they are taking reservations for holiday prime rib, lamb leg, or ham. Or, considering that it’s already December 18 (whaaaaat?! How did that happen?), you would probably want to go there and just purchase what you need for your holiday dinner. The city council will resume their hearing on December 21, but with no further public testimony. Fingers crossed.

Victory for organic seed breeders

By Kate

A seed grower from the Willamette Valley, along with other plaintiffs, has successfully sued the USDA and APHIS for failure to require an environmental impact statement prior to deregulation of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready sugar beet plants. Deregulation opened the door for transgenic sugar beet production in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, one of the most fertile agricultural regions in the world. The judge ordered that an environmental impact statement be conducted because USDA/APHIS failed to adequately consider the impact on the environment from stated cross contamination concerns, and the socio-economic impacts on consumers (eaters), farmers, and other market participants over the question of the continued availability of non-transgenic sugar beet crops. Check out the ‘Cooking Up a Story’ video interview with Frank Morton, conducted earlier this year before the ruling.

Bald Hill, the staff report, questions

By Kate

In my previous post about the Bald Hill store closure, I mentioned that there is a 299-page staff report on the violation and the farm’s appeal. The site that hosted that document was not easy to navigate, so I turned the entire document into a PDF. It can be accessed here on my site until the public hearing on the 7th. There’s a good discussion about this taking place over at the We Love Corvallis blog, and there are comments on the Gazette Times story as well. This issue has potential ramifications beyond the farm store itself, I would think. Yes, it would be supremely disappointing to lose the store — which consists of a couple of freezers, by the way, it is certainly not anything close to a grocery store — but Bald Hill Farm is steward to hundreds of acres of land in Corvallis. There’s the realignment...

Bald Hill Farm store in Corvallis ordered to close

By Kate

Based on different interpretations of a land development code, the city of Corvallis has ordered the Bald Hill Farm store to close. The farm recently sent out this e-mail, which Amanda gave me permission to post: Dear Friends, We have some unfortunate news about the future of our little farm store. The City of Corvallis received a complaint on the road construction; as a result, they came to our site and decided that our farm store is an illegal land use and want us to shut it down. City staff classifies the sale of our farm products from our farm as “Food and Beverage Retail Sales”- like a grocery store. We believe that our farm store is rightfully classed as an “Accessory Use” allowed under LDC Chapter 4.3.50 for Agriculture which allows “Retail outlets, cafeterias, and offices accessory to the Primary Use.” As you all know, Bald Hill Farm LLC, has for...

Weekly Roundup

By Kate

Here are some quick links for the week: Disappointingly, the Salem City Council rejected ordinances that would have allowed chickens within city limits. I wonder if the opponents of the plan have ever actually visited any normal backyard chicken coops. Their arguments seem to be based heavily on fear-mongering. Wine Country Thanksgiving –More than 140 wineries and tasting rooms in the Willamette Valley will be open during Thanksgiving Weekend (most open 11am-5pm, November 27-29, but hours may vary, so call ahead). Meet winemakers, experience special tastings and enjoy specialty food and live entertainment. Click here for a complete list of participating wineries and tasting rooms. I made sweet roasted rosemary acorn squash this week, and it was fabulous. You should try it immediately. Go ahead, I’ll wait here… Heavenly Harvest Farm in Corvallis is having their Harvest Festival through Saturday. The College of Agricultural Sciences at OSU is once...

OSU economist debuts in film about local food movement

By Kate

By Tiffany Woods, 541-737-2940, tiffany.woods@oregonstate.edu Source: Larry Lev, 541-737-1417, larry.lev@oregonstate.edu CORVALLIS, Ore. An agricultural economist at Oregon State University has hit the silver screen in a new documentary that examines and promotes the local food movement and that will show in Portland starting on Friday. In the film “Ingredients,” Larry Lev discusses the benefits and costs of buying food from local producers. He says that although some local products may cost more than food transported from large-scale commercial operations, the extra expense can be worth it. The taste can be superior, and the money shoppers spend stays in the area and contributes to the vitality of the community, he says. By shopping locally, people are also keeping agricultural land from being developed and they’re establishing close relationships with farmers and fellow consumers, he adds. “In the end, it comes down to choices. Price is one aspect that consumers...

In the News

By Kate

I’ve got a few posts and updates waiting in the wings (with lots of thanks to people who have e-mailed) but find myself playing catch-up to life in general after being home sick for a couple of days. (And a desk full of work… what’s THAT about?!) In the meantime, here are a few links to articles you may find interesting. From the New York times: Is a Food Revolution Now in Season? and Eating Food That’s Better for You, Organic or Not In Kansas City, CSAs Grow in Popularity, as well as in Louisville, Richmond, and Rochester.

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Oregon Tilth partners with OSU to help organic farmers

Bald Hill Farm store still open for now

Victory for organic seed breeders

Bald Hill, the staff report, questions

Bald Hill Farm store in Corvallis ordered to close

Weekly Roundup

OSU economist debuts in film about local food movement

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