Oregon Agriculture Adjusts and Adapts

Adjust and adapt. We all do it in response to circumstances and now Oregon agriculture is doing likewise to survive. The Willamette Valley grass seed industry is pretty much dead for the foreseeable future with a 2-year supply of seed on hand and not many customers due to the recession. Obviously the answer for farmers is not to produce more seed but to shift to other crops and this article tells the story of some farmers that are making the shift.

The evolving market in Oregon is for locally-grown organic food. Products like bread using local red wheat, flax seed, and fresh row crops are all the rage and these farmers are shifting into producing these products in a big way. Is it a gamble? You betcha - but people always have to eat so this should be a gamble that pays off. Buy Oregon products and help our local economy, as well as yourself by eating healthy food. Bon apetit!

www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/04/flax_returns_to_the_willamette.html