Community Food System
Central Oregon is one of the fastest growing regions in the US. This increase in population and change in socioeconomic demographics has produced a higher demand on regional communities for fresh and locally produced agricultural goods and services. COIC is working with a collaborative network to develop a sustainable food system to integrate food production, processing, distribution, and consumption, focusing on locally produced goods.
The core services of our Regional Food System program are to provide:
Food System Projects
Production of agricultural products for value-added products in niche markets is new for Central Oregon. With limited infrastructure and access to the urban marketplace, producers are determining their options for accessing new markets. Utilizing a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council partnered with Oregon State University Extension Service and a fifth-generation rancher to analyze the feasibility of developing a meat CSA in Central Oregon, along with the possibility of expanding and cooperating with multiple ranches. This study found that marketing beef through a CSA or a Buying Club is feasible and profitable.
For more information download the report.
The vision of the Food Policy Council is to lead the effort to acheive a sustainable and just food system in Central Oregon. Their strategies include: Healthy Food Access, Public Policy Advocacy and Networking and Knowledge Sharing.
The FPC holds meetings meetings every first Monday of the month from 5:30-7:30pm. The location alternates between Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond.
For more information visit this website
The MISSION of the Central Oregon Food Network is to connect agricultural producers with their community. Our vision is to build a local food economy with a central place for the exchange of information about agricultural products, events, and businesses that support local food production and consumption. This includes discussion threads for producers to exchange information about crops, experiments, resources, production, distribution, and processing.
If you are interested in producing or consuming local food, this website is for you!
The 2010 Central Oregon Community Food Assessment,Pioneering a Local Food System in Central Oregon, an initiative of Wy’East Resource Conservation & Development in partnership with NeighborImpact, the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and Oregon State University Extension Service, is complete.
The Community Food Assessment provides tools to gather and document information and community input regarding food, farm and nutrition issues to inform future change actions towards increased food security. Throughout this effort, the VISTA volunteer coordinated committees throughout the tri-county region of Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson which included consumers, farmers, low-income individuals, planners, food businesses and institutions, governmental, private and non-profit organizations. Through a collaborative process we have worked to incorporate every sector of the food industry.
Central Oregon Food Assessment (pdf)
COIC was awarded a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant (October 2008 - September 2010) to promote and create sustainable farmers markets in the Central Oregon by increasing consumer and farmer participation in farmers markets; expanding access to markets by providing Electronic Benefit Transfer machines which accept Oregon Trail Food Stamps; and providing a marketing campaign. This service is available in Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond.
For more information please contact:
Katrina Van Dis, kvandis@coic.org , (541) 504-3307
