Farmers' markets in the Willamette Valley and Columbia Gorge

Growers throughout Oregon are getting ready for the 2012 farmers' market season!

Farmers' markets are perfect for consumers who like to browse the marketplace and purchase products from a wide selection of vendors. Most farmers' markets feature vegetable growers, ranchers, beekeepers, bakers, cheese-makers, mushroom foragers, etc. In fact, it's increasingly common for families satisfy their entire food shopping list at their local farmers' market.

We hope this helps you connect with growers in your area. And if there's a market you think we should add to the list, please contact us to let us know. Happy shopping!

Salem Chapter of The Weston A. Price Foundation

by Nate Rafn

A group of Salem-area residents is forming a local chapter of The Weston A. Price Foundation. They are hosting a meeting on September 27th to discuss the importance of nutrient-rich foods and cultured dairy products, among other subjects.

Images from the Oregon State Fair

Down To Earth Film Festival at the Oregon State Fair

Please join Living Culture TV at the first annual Down To Earth Film Festival on September 3rd.

Living Culture TV's recent story about Oregon agriculture will be shown at the film festival, along with 6 other short films from around the region. First-place and second-place winners will be announced, plus a $500 audience choice award.

The Down To Earth Film Festival is sponsored by Wilco and organized by the Agri-Business Council of Oregon.

The Saturday of Labor Day weekend is usually the busiest day of the fair, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to find parking and enter the fairgrounds. We hope to see you there!

Down To Earth Film Festival
Oregon State Fair - Spirit of Oregon Stage (12a on map)
2330 17th Street NE Salem, OR
Saturday, September 3rd 8:30pm

Fair Admission:
Adults (13-64): $11.00
Seniors (65 & over): $6.00
Children (6-12): $6.00
5 & Under: Free

Photo essay from our trip to Spokane and the Columbia River Gorge

Wind mills near Arlington, Oregon.

by Nate Rafn

Rochelle and I took a brief trip to Washington State last week. We drove through the Columbia Gorge on Interstate Highway 84, then traveled on I-82 and I-90 through sparsely-populated eastern Washington to Spokane.

Oregon Ag Fest kicks-off Saturday at Oregon State Fairgrounds

This is a great event for all ages to enjoy. It's especially good for children, as an educational experience with regard to agriculture.

From Airplanes to Ale: the story behind Fire Mountain Brew House

by Nick Pfaff

I recently discovered Fire Mountain Brew House on an early afternoon when my manager sent me home early (on payday nonetheless). I hurried to the bank to cash my check so that I could begin appreciating this work-free day.

What better way to start it than with a tasty beer? So I made my way over to Capital Market to browse their vast beer selection. I wanted to part from my traditional purchases and try something new, and there were a few local beers I had been eye-balling, including the Steam Fired Stout from Fire Mountain Brew house (FMBH). It may not seem like a big deal to try a new beer, but it can be a little disappointing if a beer doesn’t meet your expectations. Along with a Steam Fired Stout I grabbed an old favorite just in case.

Christmas Trees: One of Oregon's most valuable crops

Posted by Nate Rafn

Oregon ranks 1st among all states producing real Christmas trees. In 2007, Oregon farmers harvested an astounding 6,850,841 trees. That's more than twice as many as North Carolina, which ranks 2nd. [View Complete Rankings]

Christmas trees rank 8th among Oregon's top agricultural commodities, just behind 7th-ranked potatoes and 6th-ranked wheat. The state's tree harvest is valued at more than $114 million.

For more interesting statistics and information about Christmas trees, visit the National Christmas Tree Association or the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association.

Douglas fir tree at a farm near Keizer, Oregon.

Will Newman of Oregon Sustainable Agriculture Land Trust talks about farming