Peace of mind, and a piece of pie

By Karen Wagner, Oregon Rural Action member
Originally published as an Op-Ed in the East Oregonian

As a food system developer and local food and farms advocate, I'm encouraged by the ever-growing support for local food production and consumption. The benefits of locally-grown and locally-raised food are many. Food security, food safety, and improved environmental and community health all spring from increasing our connections to the land and the foods that we eat.

Last month was full of local food and farm activities in Umatilla County:

The Pendleton Farmers' Market installed a slate of talented board members to kick off its eighth season with plans for an expanded market site, complete with a new food cart - courtesy of the Wildhorse Foundation - equipped to provide classes and events, host local chefs and highlight the bounty of our Columbia Plateau "foodshed."

The Columbia-Blue Mountain Resource Conservation & Development Council convened a gathering of farmers, chefs, agricultural experts and potential institutional food buyers. They discussed opportunities for economic, environmental and cultural enhancement through increased production and distribution of locally-produced food for regional consumers, schoolchildren and hospital patients. Technical details of agricultural cropping, safe food handling practices and available grants were shared. The Oregon Departments of Agriculture and Education and local food networks began collaborating to craft a Farm to School/School Garden House Bill, which would support local farmers by procuring some fraction of school meals from Oregon farmers - a win-win for both!

The Pendleton Community Co-op steering committee met with regional and national co-op consultants to plan the next steps toward raising community awareness and investment in a community-owned grocery store. With such a store offering local fresh meats, produce and value-added products year-round, regional producers might be encouraged to diversify crops, thus decreasing their risks and increasing income potential. With community ownership and operation comes more control of food supplies and prices, and other entrepreneurial gains (think commercial kitchen, parallel food and hospitality options, learning gardens, recycling center, community rooms and more).

A recently formed group called the Columbia Plateau Food Links, composed of regional food activists, nutrition professionals, farmers and educators (all others interested parties are welcome to join) has been meeting to discuss food needs and gaps, and opportunities for increasing consumption and production of local foods.

I've also begun to see and hear more of other local food stars, Haus Barhyte specialty mustards, Hill meats, and local lamb, wine and olive production. How can we support these businesses in their growth and economic vibrancy? Start by encouraging your favorite restaurants to serve local specialties, for instance. It pays - in dollars and security - for a region to become more self-reliant, especially in light of recent predictions that global food production could drop by as much as 40 percent as climate changes affect production and water availability.

Also, there is a growing indigenous focus on food sovereignty, of securing and preserving the growth and harvesting of traditional "first foods". From roots to fish, medicinal plants, nuts and meats, foods represent nutritional and cultural ways of being buried deep in the soul of this, or any region.

All these activities bode well for us as an agricultural community. If Umatilla County grows enough calories to feed the state, surely we can grow and eat some of them a little closer to home, saving transportation costs and energy inputs.

While we're obviously a nation - and a region - that loves its food, it appears of late that we're beginning to love OUR food. As for the next big thing - a small, locally-owned mill for specialty grains and flours, a local fresh pasta shop, crêpes and muffin bakery, a soup kitchen complete with its own kitchen garden, Tuscan-style herbs and olive groves ... dream on!

Karen Wagner is a former staff member of Oregon Rural Action, having worked on our Statewide Farmers' Markets Promotion Project. She now works as a food and farm advocate in Eastern Oregon, serving as president of the Oregon Farmers' Markets Association and founder and current director of the Pendleton Farmers' Market. Such activities, focused on local economic development and sustainable communities, arise from Wagner's academic certifications, international experience and professional expertise.