Two Southern Oregon groups feed people and nourish farms

(NOVEMBER 17, 2023) Two organizations in Southern Oregon are making a big difference in the food chain. One brings food to people, while the other brings food scraps to farms. Both have a big impact.

Food for people

In Talent, Oregon, Cynthia Guillen and Arlene Thommen like going to a farmers market run by Rogue Food Unites. The market gives away fresh, organic food for free. People come back every week to enjoy the food and spend time with friends. Rogue Food Unites, a group trying to help with hunger, started these markets after a big fire in 2020. They happen in Medford, Phoenix, Talent, and Eagle Point and give free food without making people prove they need it.

Rogue Food Unites gets food from 8-10 local farms, like Fry Family Farm. This farm gives a lot of organic fruits and veggies every week. The markets are open all year and help hundreds of people, especially those who are disabled, speak Spanish, or are 60 and older. Wendy Conner, who helps with the food, wants to give a mix of different foods to help people learn about them. Any extra food at the end of the week goes to other groups so it doesn't get wasted.

Even though it costs a lot of money (about $5,500) for each market, Rogue Food Unites wants to keep them going. The markets are open all year, no matter if it's hot, cold, or rainy. People like Lisa Byrne, who lost her home in a fire, say the market is a big help. She's on a tight budget and finds it hard to get fresh veggies elsewhere. The markets not only provide food but also create a sense of community for people who need it.

Food scraps for farms

Adam Hotley started Rogue Produce in 2011 in Ashland, Oregon. He uses a small silver pickup truck and two minivans to collect food scraps from around 300 homes and some businesses. Rogue Produce charges people to pick up their food scraps and then gives the food scraps to local farms. This helps farmers because they don't have to collect the scraps themselves.

The food scraps collected by Rogue Produce are taken to farms like Evers Ridge Farm. There, the scraps are turned into special compost with the help of worms. This compost is really good for the soil and helps plants grow. Thomas Petersen, who owns Evers Ridge Farm, likes getting food scraps because it helps his farm and connects people to where their food comes from.

Recycling the food waste is also important for the environment. Leftover food that goes to a landfill produces gases called methane and carbon dioxide. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says food waste in landfills produced in 2020 as much gas as 50 million cars.

Rogue Produce is growing, and they now collect food scraps not just from homes but also from neighborhoods and farmers' markets. They want to reduce the amount of food that goes to waste in landfills, which is bad for the environment. Hotley hopes to work with more cities and expand the composting service. He wants people to understand that even their leftover food can be useful and help local farmers.