Article

A Best Practices Guide to Open Air Poultry Slaughter

Small-scale poultry producers in Oregon who meet certain conditions have the option of slaughtering their poultry in an open air setting.

By Lauren Gwin

Article

Keeping It Legal: Regulations and Licenses for Growing and Selling Food in Oregon

This article provides an overview of the common regulations and licenses that apply to farm businesses, focusing on Oregon. It also points you to resources where you can get more details and decide what steps you need to take.

By Lauren Gwin

Article

Recognizing the Strengths and Limitations of Farmers Market Ownership Structure Alternatives

Farmers markets are widely recognized for their important roles in developing local food systems, supporting small farms, increasing local economic activity, help address issues around food access and security, and providing community building opportunities. Markets typically were organized and operated by farmers themselves; over the last fifteen years, however, other groups have organized and operated most new markets. This report examines major gaps in our understanding of this important market channel by detailing how market ownership influences market operations and identifies strengths and weaknesses of different ownership alternatives.

By Larry Lev

Article

Meat and Poultry Processing Regulations in Oregon: A Short Guide

Farmers and ranchers around Oregon raise and sell livestock and poultry into a variety of local and regional markets. Processing is a necessary but often complex link in the chain connecting farms to end consumers. Here, we explain the basic laws and regulations – federal and state – that apply to meat and poultry processing.

By Lauren Gwin

Article

Farm Direct and FSMA: Why Oregon ’s pioneering Farm Direct Law is (mostly) not affected by the federal Food Safety Modernization Act

This article explains why Oregon's pioneering Farm Direct Law is not affected by the federal Food Safety Modernization Act.

By Lauren Gwin

Online Resource

Breaking new ground: farmer perspectives on organic transition

This publication explains the positive affects of organic farming, while also presenting farmer perspectives about the transition as well.

By Lauren Gwin, Garry Stephenson

Publication

From Convenience to Commitment: Securing the Long-Term Viability of Local Meat and Poultry Processing

Consumer demand for local food, including local meat and poultry, has risen in recent years. Meat and poultry processors are essential links in local meat supply chains. To sell meat, farmers need access to appropriately scaled processing facilities with the skills, inspection status, and other attributes to prepare these products safely, legally, and to customer specifications.

By Lauren Gwin

Fact Sheet

Farm to Institution

This fact-sheet explains the concept of having farmer producers sell direct to institutional buyers rather than selling through direct marketing channels or wholesale distributors.

Online Resource

Because they joined the grange

Summary

Originally a graduate research paper produced in 1981, the report contains brief histories, often oral, of the six grange halls of Benton County, Oregon collected over 30 years ago. Included are photographs and other resources such as original drawings. The report is a digital copy of the original paper and has been reproduced as a response to present day efforts by young farmers to revitalize grange halls. A preface puts the report in current context. It is published by the Oregon State University Small Farms Program.

By Garry Stephenson