Growing a Sustainable Portland Metropolitan Foodshed

2011 Annual Report for SW10-143

Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2010: $223,014.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2012
Region: Western
State: Oregon
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Sheila Martin
Portland State University, IMS

Growing a Sustainable Portland Metropolitan Foodshed

Summary

Progress Since Last Report

Since our last report in January 2011, we have accomplished the following:

• Adopted a definition of the metropolitan foodshed;
• Developed a sustainability framework;
• Completed the Part 1 literature review that identifies Barriers and Opportunities;
• Developed an outreach plan;
• Collected survey data from over 100 small- and medium-sized farms;
• Performed extensive interviews with five core farmers;
• Drafted the current situation report, which includes an analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing urban-influenced farmers in the region. The report is attached.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Define the regional food shed and develop a food shed sustainability strategy

• We have adopted this definition and used it to solicit data from farmers. We have conducted the regional foodshed analysis that characterizes the scope, nature and trends of the regional food economy.

Understand and articulate the barriers and opportunities faced by urban-influenced farmers

• Using the results of the literature review, the foodshed analysis and the surveys and interviews, we have developed a list of barriers and opportunities faced by urban-influenced farmers in the metropolitan region. They are included in the attached report.

Design toolkit

•This is primarily a year 2 activity. We are in the process of designing toolkits that address the barriers and opportunities identified in the report.

Accomplishments/Milestones

• Definition of the Portland Metropolitan Foodshed – Complete

• Define Sustainability for the Foodshed – Complete

• Literature Review: Foodshed Approaches, Case Studies and Key Issues – Complete

• Portland Region Food System Economic Profile – Complete

• Core Farmer Group Interviews – Complete

• Farmer Surveys – Complete. Fiftytaken on line and 65 collected at North Willamette Horticulture Society Meeting taken by 65 growers.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Acceptance of concept of metropolitan foodshed

We have circulated the concept within our small producer group; broader circulation will occur once the toolkit is developed.

Collaborators:

Sheila Martin

sheilam@pdx.edu
Director
Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies
Portland State University
PO Box 751
Portland, OR 9720-0751
Office Phone: 5037255170
Website: www.pdx.edu/ims
Larry Thompson

thompsonfarms@verizon.net
Owner
Thompson Farms
24727 SE Bohna Park Road
Damascus, OR 97089
Office Phone: 5036584640
Beth Emshoff

beth.emshoff@oregonstate.edu
Metro Specialist
Oregon State University Extension Service
Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies
PO Box 751
Portland, OR 9720-0751
Office Phone: 5037258101
Website: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/metro/
Clark Seavert

clark.seavert@oregonstate.edu
Professor and Director
OSU-North Willamette Research & Extension Center
15210 NE Miley Rd.
Aurora, OR 97002
Office Phone: 5036781264
Website: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/NWREC
Ellen Wyoming

ellen.wyoming@coganowens.com
Planner
Cogan Owens Cogan LLC
813 SW Alder Street, Suite 320
Portland, OR 97205
Office Phone: 5032250192
Kirsten Greene

kirsten.greene@coganowens.com
Managing Principal
Cogan Owens Cogan LLC
813 SW Alder Street, Suite 320
Portland, OR 97205
Office Phone: 5032250192
Rebecca Sullivan

rebecca.sullivan@oregonstate.edu
Research Assistant
Oregon State University
213 Ballard Extension Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
Office Phone: 5417371422
Bob Short

bshort@damascusoregon.gov
Associate Planner
City of Damascus
19920 SE Hwy. 212
Damascus, OR 97089
Office Phone: 5036588545
P. Elise Scolnick

escolnick@damascusoregon.gov
Senior Planner
City of Damascus
19920 SE Hwy. 212
Damascus, OR 97089
Office Phone: 5036588545
Bob Wise

bob.wise@coganowens.com
Senior Project Manager
Cogan Owens Cogan LLC
813 SW Alder St., Ste. 320
Portland, OR 97205
Office Phone: 5032250192
Website: www.coganowens.com
Steve Faust

steve.faust@coganowens.com
Senior Planner
Cogan Owens Cogan LLC
813 SW Alder Street, Suite 320
Portland, OR 97205
Office Phone: 5032250192
Joe Siri

organic@siriandsonfarms.com
Owner
Siri and Son Farms
PO Box 1159
Clackamas, OR 97015
Office Phone: 5034825788
Anita Yap

anita.yap@homeforward.org
Deputy Executive Director
Home Forward
135 SW Ash Street
Portland, OR 97204
Office Phone: 5038028505