Local, Regional, and Community Food Systems

Community food system programs

• Rural Community Assistance Center: A nonprofit organization that provides training, technical and financial resources and advocacy so rural communities can achieve their goals. Since 1978, our dedicated staff and active board, coupled with our key values: leadership, collaboration, commitment, quality and integrity, have helped effect positive change in rural communities across the West.
• Oregon Community Food Systems Network: The Oregon Community Food Systems Network (OCFSN) is a partner of OSU Extension. OCFSN is a collaboration of 57 nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening local and regional food systems to deliver better economic, social, health, and environmental outcomes across the state.
• Center for small farms & Community food systems: This OSU College of Agriculture program works towards advancing sustainable agriculture, community food systems, and economic progress for Oregon's farmers and ranchers, as well as providing a leading-edge experience for students.

Featured Resources

Seeing race, ethnicity, and gender in community food system indicators

The current set of Community Food System (CFS) indicators developed by the Oregon Community Food System Network (OCFSN) obscures the differential access to power and resources experienced by people with varying identities. Bringing a...

Shannon Caplan, Lauren Gwin | Feb 2021 | Article

Food Hubs in Oregon

This publication is a list of established and emerging Food Hub ventures in Oregon, with brief descriptions and contact info. Hubs included vary in their size, scope, and structure. All of them work to support producers, streamline operations, and play a crucial role in developing our state’s local food system to a scale that is competitive in mainstream markets.

Lauren Gwin, Kiara Kashuba | Mar 2021 | Publication

Expanding opportunities for small-scale farms in the specialty food market

Many small and medium-size farmers face difficulties in competing with larger producers in the production of bulk commodities. While some of these farms have found success by selling their fresh products through farm-direct and ...

Larry Lev, Laurie Houston | Dec 2018 | Article

Photo: Melissa Fery (Cropped from original)

Seasonality Chart: What's in Season in the Region

From fruits to flowers and meat to fiber, this chart will help determine what agriculture products are in season and available directly from farms in the Willamette Valley region.

Mary Stewart, Colton Harms | Aug 2019 | Fact Sheet Peer reviewed (Gray level)