Local, regional and community food systems

Announcements

Now accepting applications for the Master Food Preserver program

OSU Extension is now accepting applications for the Master Food Preserver (MFP) volunteer program! The MFP volunteer training course will be offered October 3rd to November 18th in a hybrid format that includes online lectures, ... Read more...

See All Announcements

OSU Extension is engaged in the local, regional, and community food systems movement. This page provides information, educational resources, and applied research related to building equitable, health-promoting, and ecologically and economically resilient food systems across Oregon.

Community food system programs

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.
Farm to School: Farm to School supports Oregon's farmers, creates jobs, and strengthens local economies. It helps kids by providing access to fresh and healthy foods and teaching them about fresh foods. It increases access to local healthy foods...
OSU Small Farms: The goal of the Small Farms program is to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of small farms by employing appropriate scale production and marketing techniques. The program works toward improving small farm ...

How Much Can I Charge for My Farm Products?

By Teagan Moran, Heidi Noordijk, Maud Powell and Larry Lev

Determining the “right” pricing for your products can be challenging for new and experienced farmers and ranchers. This publication outlines some key considerations that should affect what you charge.

View publication

Photo Credit: just.b photography - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Videos

When a Crisis Revives the Dead: A Community Comes Together to Create a Food Pantry

Just when you thought that program was dead in the water and you wondered how you would finish that final grant write up....boom! Catastrophe strikes just in time to engage its revival. The story of the establishment of the...

Jan 2021 | Video

Shop at the Dock Garibaldi: Interview with Amanda Cavitt of the Garibaldi Bistro

Meet Amanda Cavitt, the General Manager of the Garibaldi Portside Bistro. She shares her insights on keeping seafood on the menu during the COVID-19 pandemic, how they prepare their smoked albacore tuna melt, and her advice for learning how cook seafood at home.

Amanda Gladics | May 2020 | Video

Shop at the Dock Garibaldi: An Interview with Julia Wentzel from Food Roots

Meet Julia Wentzel of Food Roots and learn more about their Farm Table store and how you can access flash frozen, locally caught seafood in Tillamook County during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Amanda Gladics | May 2020 | Video

Featured Resources

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)

Browse all resources

Latest News

Local food, local dollars: Community partnership promotes Klamath Basin agriculture

A partnership of OSU Extension Klamath County and Klamath Grown, a nonprofit food hub, focuses on promoting a strong local community food system.

Chris Branam | Sep 7, 2023 | News story

OSU Extension answers the call to serve veterans interested in farming

The Military Veterans Farmer Network is a program of Oregon State University Extension Service meant to connect military veterans engaged in or interested in farming.

Kym Pokorny | Aug 1, 2023 | News story

Through Juntos en el Jardin, families come together to grow their own food

Juntos en el Jardin has rejuvenated existing community gardening locations in and around Lincoln City and created spaces that expand access to growing food to Latino and Mesoamerican Indigenous families in Lincoln County that generally have less access to land for growing their own food.

Chris Branam | Jul 19, 2023 | News story

Browse All News

Latest Resources

The Farm to School Podcast

Join our hosts Rick Sherman, Farm to Child Nutrition Program Manager at the Oregon Department of Education and Michelle Markesteyn, Farm to School Specialist at Oregon State University Extension as they explore what it means to ...

Podcast

For the Love of Farming

This series is all about connecting listeners to small scale farmers and ranchers. We come together to talk about their why, how they came to be where they are, challenges, joys, and how they keep going. We are grateful ...

Podcast

Challenges and opportunities in bringing a DEI lens to the Community Food System Indicators

Adding information about race and gender to the Community Food System Indicators can bring disparities in food production and access among Oregon residents into sharper focus.

Shannon Caplan, Lauren Gwin | Jan 2021 | Article

Browse All Resources

Explore more resources

Agritourism

Organic agriculture

Farm food safety

Food security

Home food preservation

Nutrition and healthy eating

Upcoming Events

Oct 1

Regional Farm Tour and Networking at Goodfoot Farm

2:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Oct 2

Small Farm Social 2023

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Salem, OR

Oct 5

Fall Fruit Loop Tour

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Warm Springs, OR

Oct 11

For Farmers and Ranchers - Local Foods Initiative Funding: Information Session with NRCS

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT Online

Meet Our Experts

Shannon Caplan

OSU Open Campus, Rural Community Explorer Program/Department of Human Development & Family Sciences, Assistant Professor of Practice, SNAP-Ed state team

Diane Choplin

Small Farms Education Program Assistant 2

Dr. Berit Dinsdale

Postdoctoral Researcher

Contact me to discuss desired programming and educational needs related to irrigation and water quality in Oregon agriculture.

Lauren Gwin

Community Food Systems Specialist

Have a question? Ask Extension!

Ask Extension is a way for you to get answers from the Oregon State University Extension Service. We have experts in family and health, community development, food and agriculture, coastal issues, forestry, programs for young people, and gardening.

Ask us a question

Can I sell my homemade pies?

Q: I know that I am allowed to sell fruit pies without a license under the home bakery license exemption, but I was not completely clear on if this includes pumpkin and pecan pies as well. Thank you!

A: View answer | View all featured questions

See More Questions