2019 Farm Tour Recap

Another successful farm tour is in the books! With 30 farms this year, visitors could see how bigger farms work, like Herb Pharm, Fry Family Farm, and Rogue Creamery, while also experiencing the joys of smaller farms, such as Turning Point Farm, Fox Run Farm, and Daily Blessing Farm.

Visitors of all ages enjoying Goodwin Creek Gardens
Visitors of all ages enjoying Goodwin Creek Gardens

Every farm did a wonderful job hosting farm activities. It’s no surprise that attendees were drawn out to farms for the activities alone, like carriage rides, hay rides, photo booths, animal petting areas, prizes for children, live music, tastings and goods for sale. Some visitors made it a point to purchase goods from the farm at each stop they made - the lavender cookies and popsicles at Goodwin Creek Gardens were definitely a hit.

Vinfarm cheese, wine and more
Vinfarm cheese and wine

We know this is a great event for the Rogue Valley community because there was an uptick in attendance from last year’s Farm Tour - about 1,500 folks made it out to local farms this year. That’s a great affirmation that Rogue Valley residents and visitors appreciate our strong local food system, and that they enjoy the opportunity to connect with our farmers. (A lot of feedback asked for longer hours or an additional day to tour farms in the future.)

Horse-drawn carriage rides were one of many activities for visitors
Horse-drawn carriage rides were one of many activities for visitors

For 2020, here are some possible changes:

  • A wrap-up party after the event! It was fun swapping stories after the tour about each farm, so it would be great to have everyone come together for a Farm Tour party with music and food at the end of the day. 
    Leading a tour of a local farm
  • More and earlier bus and carpool options - though we got a lot of feedback asking for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of attending multiple farms, the tour buses sponsored by Rogue Retreat and Set-Free Ministries did not fill up. We will focus on filling buses with environmentally-conscious folks next year.
    Pollination in action
  • The more volunteers, the easier it is on farms. We will be looking for more folks to help next year! 
  • Make the Farm Tour a little longer - Farms are spread out, so it's hard to get to more than three. Extending hours would allow attendees time to visit another farm, or just enjoy a nice moment.
    U-Pick Lavender
  • We will schedule the 2020 Farm Tour to avoid double-booking with the Jackson County Fair free day and the Oregon Country Fair.
  • We will add a spot to the maps so you know where you can grab food.
    Farm-raised kiddos helping on the tour

 

 

More Co-op News

What to do with all this citrus?!

So you grabbed a few too many extra oranges and grapefruits and lemons (and some finger limes, and some satsumas…), and rather than watch them go bad, we want to provide you with some ideas on how to reduce waste. You’ll also get to enjoy citrus in a lot of new ways!

There are many guides and recipes across the internet (like this one by our friends at Grow Forage Cook Ferment), so here are a few ideas to get your creative and citrus juices flowing.

Update from the General Manager: "Food for Paradise" campaign

Ashland Food Co-op's General Manager, Emile Amarotico, ends 2018 on a very uplifting note with a report back on the "Food for Paradise" donation campaign. Watch the video below, or read on for an extended written update.

Hello, this is Emile Amarotico, the general manager of Ashland Food Co-op with an update on the Co-op’s Food for Paradise initiative.

5 Fresh Ways to Save at the Co-op

We’ve all been there: your bank account is looking thin after a month of celebrations, but you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to save up for a big purchase later in the year

Now’s the time to make some changes to your spending - but that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on quality goods at the Ashland Food Co-op.

These are some lesser known ways to save at the Co-op. Think of them like ordering off the secret menu. 

Savings Level: $

4 Ways to Reduce Your Food Waste

It’s the New Year, our favorite time for goal-setting, making positive resolutions, and shifting our impact. One of the Co-op’s goals is to become a Zero Waste facility. Our staff works to divert as much food waste as we can - and we hope our member-owners will join us in this goal too.

Meet Cooking Class Instructor Charlie Douglass

Many talented local chefs share their expertise in the Co-op Kitchen. Charlie Douglass is no exception. As the former Master Chocolatier at Harry and David, Charlie knows a thing or two about chocolate and candy making. 

Tell us how your love of cooking and food began.

Meet Cooking Class Instructor Tiazza Rose

From bread baking to Moroccan cooking, many talented local chefs share their expertise in the Co-op Kitchen. We'd like you to meet a few of them. Tiazza Rose has been teaching the Ashland community the art of Moroccan cooking for years. If you haven't taken a class from Tiazza yet, you should. Here's why.

 

Tell us how your love of cooking and food began.

Give the Gift of Wellness

 

Finding the perfect gift for a friend or loved one is an art. This winter, we carefully selected these assortments for those who love some good self-care, are working in partnership with their gut health, or for those making efforts to reduce their pain. Each of these gift ideas will help you make your loved ones feel extra special and extra healthful.

 

Give the Gift of Good Food

During the month of November, Co-op shoppers can nourish their own families and help fight hunger in the Rogue Valley. We’ve teamed up once again with Smart Chicken® for the Smart Giving Holiday Challenge.

Here’s how it works.

  • For every 10 pounds of Smart Chicken® you purchase from the Meat Department or the Deli, Smart Chicken® will donate one pound of chicken to a local non profit

We're All Turtles

By Dean Williamson, Board of Director

My grandmother loved to talk. Oh, could she talk! And she had one expression that I’ve always really liked. “If you come across a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be pretty sure it didn’t get there by itself.”

The Power of Principle Seven

By Emile Amarotico, General Manager

As we approach the holidays, I’d like to invoke the spirit of the Seventh Cooperative Principle: Concern for Community. The International Cooperative Alliance defines Principle Seven as when “cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.”

So how does that work? How does Ashland Food Co-op demonstrate concern for community?

Love Local with the Local Guy

Throughout September, we will be celebrating all things local. And no one loves local or is more local than our Temporary Demo Coordinator, Brighton Litjens. He was basically raised at the Co-op, has a strong passion for local farmers and producers and loves delighting shoppers with delicious samples and great deals. Who better to tell us about loving local than the "Local Guy" himself?

Tell us a bit about yourself.