Central Oregon Food Collective members issue joint statement

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The following is a collaborative message from the Central Oregon Food Collective to our communities:

To the Central Oregon community members who have shown up over the past few months and supported local growers at a rate we haven’t seen before, we thank you. You have driven increased sales, you have helped farmers and ranchers make up for contracts canceled due to COVID, you have helped to keep many of our farms and ranchers afloat.

We are so grateful for your support and buy-in and we need you to continue to show up every day, in good years and in bad. Farmers and ranchers plan their seasons months, if not years in advance. Farmers invest months of finances, time, and labor before their crops ever make it to market. Ranchers spend years planning and building the soil in the pastures that feed the calves that nourish local families with healthy protein.

While many farmers and ranchers were able to pivot and turn their products, formerly destined for restaurants, into Community Supported Agriculture shares, other farmers didn’t have the quantity or the capacity and were left scrambling to find new markets. Your consistent support of local groceries, farm stands, and farmers markets makes a difference, this summer and all year round!

Tips for continuing to support locally:

1. Get to know your farmers and ranchers. Buy farm-direct when possible, through farmers markets, on-farm stands, and through the farmers’ own websites. Look for farm stands and local, open markets. Many farms and ranches can be found in the High Desert Food and Farm Directory, available in print and online.
2. Support your local food distributors and purchase fresh food boxes or other items through their stores and warehouses.
3. Ask your favorite grocers and restaurants to support local. Suggest that they purchase from a local farmer or rancher when possible. Ask every time you go to their store or restaurant, and look for the “Get a Taste of This Place” logo that tells you you are buying Central Oregon products. Patronize and celebrate businesses who feature local, like Central Oregon Locavore, Food 4 Less, and Jackson’s Corner, to name just a very few.
4. Support local nonprofits and their work in the food system. You can volunteer time, money, or food donations to keep our community strong. Recurring monthly donations make a huge difference for nonprofits, no matter the amount.
5. Speak up on behalf of farmers and ranchers. Let your legislators and decision-makers know where you stand and what type of food system you want to see. Tune in to farmer advocacy groups like Friends of Family Farmers for information on how and when to weigh in.

COVID-19 will not be the last crisis our community faces, but we can be more prepared for the next one by maintaining a stronger, locally-centered food system that’s central to a locally-driven economy.

Agricultural Connections, Contact: Elizabeth Weigand, liz@agriculturalconnections.com

Bend Farmers Market, Contact: Mariah Truax, bendfarmersmarket@gmail.com

Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, Contact: Janel Ruehl, jruehl@coic.org

Central Oregon Locavore Non Profit and Indoor Farmers Market, Contact:  Nicolle Timm-Branch, info@centraloregonlocavore.org

Friends of Family Farmers, Contact: Natalie Danielson, natalie@friendsoffamilyfarmers.org

High Desert Food and Farm Alliance Contact: Chantel Welch, chantel@hdffa.org

NeighborImpact Contact: Carly Sanders, carlys@neighborimpact.org

Rogue Farm Corps Contact: Gia Matzinger, gia@roguefarmcorps.org

Sakari Farms, Contact: Spring Alaska Schreiner sakarifarms@gmail.com

Seed to Table Oregon, Contact: Audrey Tehan, audrey@seedtotablesisters.org

Sisters Farmers Market, Contact: Caroline Hager, sistersfarmersmarket@gmail.com

The Environmental Center, Contact: Denise Rowcroft, denise@envirocenter.org