The Growing Together Mentorship Program is a new initiative developed to connect experienced and beginning farmers and ranchers together to provide mentorship and improved knowledge of agricultural production, sales, and farm viability. The program is free for participants and aims to be flexible for mentors and mentees.

 

HDFFA is developing a list of recommended service providers for local farmers and ranchers in Central Oregon. A service provider is anyone who provides an operational service or good such as a bookkeeper, repairperson, hay supplier, or grant writer. We are developing this list based on direct recommendations from farmers and ranchers. Please use the following form to recommend service providers that you have enjoyed working with in the past.

In 2022, we are asking farmers to grow produce that has been requested by pantry clients based on feedback collected in 2021. This list can be found on the Grow & Give website. 

If you want to participate, email abigail@hdffa.org and let her know what you intend to grow or have available. You grow the food and donate it based upon weight at participating farmers markets, have HDFFA pick it up directly from the farm, or have produce gleaned using the HDFFA Harvest Team. In November, HDFFA provides your farm a list of your donation(s) per category, per pound. HDFFA will reimburse for donations on a pre established, discounted, wholesale rate (up to a maximum amount per farm, up to $5,000) in November / December. Those who opt out of reimbursement will receive a tax letter crediting donations.

This year HDFFA is looking for farms who are interested in becoming a contact with our partner food pantries for potential produce buying for Fresh Harvest Kits. Every month, participating food pantries purchase fresh produce that pairs with a recipe to go in a prepared meal kit that is then given out as a first come, first serve item. HDFFA has been granted $5,000 from Whole Foods to service this need and funds used for purchasing wholesale produce from local farms will be paid for directly by HDFFA. 

If you are interested in potentially selling fresh produce at your wholesale price to participating Fresh Harvest Kit food pantries, please email abigail@hdffa.org and we can work to further develop a relationship with a pantry based on need.

Are you a rancher looking to cut down on your feed costs? Have you ever considered using food byproducts as a supplement to your animal's diet? HDFFA currently has two opportunities for free food byproducts:

• Three Creeks Brewing: Spent grain available, wet mix of 2-row base malt and specialty malts. Rancher would need to pick up weekly at the manufacturing facility in Sisters and quantity would vary based on season.
• Laird Superfoods: Food byproduct, mainly coconut and other flavors including turmeric, cinnamon, and sugar. 220 gallons available weekly. Rancher would need to pick up but warehouse would use forklift to lift plastic pallet sized bins on the truck.

If you are interested in being connected or learning more, please reach out to Annie.