“Eating with the fullest pleasure, pleasure, that is, that does not depend on ignorance,
is perhaps our profoundest enactment of our connection with the world. In this pleasure
we experience and celebrate our dependence and gratitude.” - Wendell Berry
Farming in Central Oregon
Farming is not easy. Central
Oregon farmers and ranchers
work hard growing and raising
food for you on the challenging
high desert plateau. The growing
season ranges from 60 to 120
days, and precipitation can be as
little as 8 inches per year. Despite
these challenges, Central Oregon
producers grow an abundance of
food!
The life of a farmer
“At the end of a mid-summer day,
soaking up the last drops of sunlight,
I pack up my tools and head to the
house. After a quick dinner at 9 pm, I
look at the weather and see a frost
advisory for the next morning and my
heart drops.
I pick up my headlamp and head
back out into the crisp evening air to
pull row covers over my 1,000 feet of
freshly transplanted tomatoes, a task
that should only take an hour. It ends
up taking two as I find that the chicken
coop is not closed and a few are
wondering around. As my hands get
cold and my job is complete, I head to
16
my bed excited for the 6 hours of sleep
that I may get before the sun rises and
the glory of farming starts another day.”
For the love of it
Every farmer has experienced some
version of this self-sacrifice. Whether it’s
skipping their daughter’s dance recital
to help calve twins, sharing their living
room with abandoned lambs, the tub
with the chicks, or patrolling the lettuce
bed every two hours at night to catch
the porcupine that’s been feasting on
the crop, there are so many reasons
to just throw in the trowel. And yet,
dedicated Central Oregon producers
keep farming. We at HDFFA are proud
to call these Producer Partners our
farming family. Join HDFFA in celebrating
their commitment to nourishing our
community!
Our support
The High Desert Food and Farm
Alliance helps create a thriving
local food economy by supporting
these dedicated agricultural partners.
Our support varies depending on their
needs.
We host Farmer Chef Mixer events to
provide a space for farmers and chefs to
meet and develop business relationships.
We provide one-page colorful “Farmer
Profiles” as free marketing tools to help
producers connect with local buyers.We
assist with agri-tourism events in Crook
and Jefferson counties to highlight
the economic contributions of Central
Oregon producers. We also organize
events, workshops and conferences on
topics of interest to members.
MECCA GRADE ESTATE MAIT