Farm Stands & U-Picks, July 11

Use a smartphone to easily find farm stands, u-pick fields, on-farm festivals with Oregon’s Bounty at www.oregonfb.org. Cherries, peaches, berries, tomatoes, and lavender are just a sampling of summer’s agricultural bounty that Oregonians eagerly await all year. If you want to venture out into the beautiful countryside to buy seasonal food directly from a farmer, where do you go? “Everyone knows where their local farmers market is. But what about roadside farm stands, u-pick fields, and on-farm events out in rural areas? That’s where Oregon’s Bounty comes in,” said Anne Marie Moss, Oregon Farm Bureau communications director. Oregon’s Bounty at www.oregonfb.org is a searchable directory of nearly 300 family farms and ranches that sell food and foliage directly to the public. Smartphone-friendly, the Oregon’s Bounty website allows visitors to search for specific agriculture products — like eggs, honey, corn, or cucumbers — and/or search for farms within a region of the state, such as Portland Metro, the Gorge, or the Willamette Valley. Visitors can also do a search for “u-pick” or “events” for those activities. “Oregonians love farm-fresh food. Thanks to the diversity of Oregon agriculture, we can buy an enormous variety of fruits, vegetables, meat, nuts, flowers, and foliage directly from the families who grew it,” said Moss. “Each of the farms listed in Oregon’s Bounty are owned and operated by Farm Bureau members, who are proud of what they’ve raised and are happy to answer questions about what they do,” said Moss. “Summer is an ideal time to take a trip into the scenic countryside, meet a few of these family farmers, and experience Oregon agriculture firsthand.”