Community Food Systems

Rural Oregon’s agricultural assets are exceptional, abundant and crucial to local communities. Reliable access to healthy, locally sourced and culturally relevant food is inextricably connected to thriving people, sustainable environments, prosperous economies and community resilience. Looking forward, we know that adapting agricultural practices to meet the challenges of climate change and leveraging and expanding our agricultural assets for mutual benefit and prosperity are foundational to a thriving rural future.

News & Highlights

Rural Oregon Food Bank

Rural Oregon Food Bank Support

It’s important that friends and neighbors have access to food when they need it—especially in rural and remote areas, where residents experience food insecurity at a rate of 21%, compared to 12% in urban areas.

NeighborImpact Expands Food Distribution Center

During COVID, NeighborImpact, Central Oregon’s regional bank, was at a strenuous peak, distributing over four million pounds of food across the region—nearly double than their annual two-and-a-half-million pounds.

Anahuac Farm and Cultural Center Sows Seeds of a Better Tomorrow

The sixty-acre Anahuac Farm, based outside of Turner, Oregon is a program of Capaces Leadership Institute and it is designed to unify Indigenous communities of America, whose labor has been exploited through the food system.

Condon Food Pantry in Gilliam County

The Condon Food Pantry plays a vital role in Gilliam County, serving about 160 people and 65 families each month.

Vale Senior Center Strengthens Community Connections

“Folks just need to gather and need a place to rely on,” says Frances Rempel, treasurer and long-time leader at the Vale Senior Center.

Resources

Podcast Episode

Jaime Arredondo: Giving Your Gift Away

When we close our eyes and envision ‘rural’ often-times we think of an idyllic setting with a cute downtown or an open field with a tractor. With that, there can be a misconception that rural America looks a certain way – namely that it’s predominantly white. That’s certainly not the case in many rural communities. In this episode, Jaime Arredondo speaks about the work his organization, CAPACES, is doing to reconnect LatinX folks in Oregon with their traditional foods and culture while building community and supporting them with training and other services.

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Strategies

  • Create, strengthen and support interconnections and capacity of regional growers and ranchers, processing and distribution
  • Support and build the capacity of community leaders in agricultural and environmental fields to develop, implement and advocate for practices and policies that strengthen the climate resilience of local food systems (e.g., soil regeneration, agrivoltaics, electric tractors)
  • Encourage and elevate regenerative farming practices among small regional farmers
  • Support and expand Indigenous communities’ access to First Foods and respect and support food sovereignty
  • Support infrastructure in food distribution systems working to expand access to fresh, healthy food and reduce food insecurity (e.g., food banks, fresh fruit and vegetable prescriptions)
  • Support and build the capacity of food collaboratives and other networks that distribute fresh foods, improve access in food deserts and reduce food waste
  • Build the capacity and influence of people working at intersections of healthy, locally grown food and public systems, such as school nutritionists
  • Gather others in philanthropy to leverage resources and influence public policies that support strong, resilient rural community food systems