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2 CapitalPress.com May 6, 2016 People & Places Business is slow at snail farm Charity Anais West brings heliculture to California with her EscarGrow Farms Western Innovator For the Capital Press Charity Anais West AP Food Industry Writer NEW YORK — Whole Foods is prepping for the launch of its hipster new grocery chain. But shoppers won’t be able to get a tattoo with their cheese just yet. The company says its “365” chain will have a min- imalist layout, affordable prices and third-party ven- dors who set up shop inside the stores. That generated fanfare earlier this year when Bloomberg noted the chain’s website said the vendors might include sellers of body care products, record shops and even tattoo parlors. Calendar Occupation: Owner and CEO of EscarGrow Farms Quote: “I want to make people excited, bring them the prospect of a new experi- ence, excite them by the possibility of falling in love with a new flavor.” Courtesy of EscarGrow Farms Charity Anais West, owner of EscarGrow Farms in Eureka, Calif., raises snails and their caviar. After several trips to Bur- gundy, and eating escargot for practically every meal, she said she would always return to the U.S. to anoth- er “chewy, muddy-flavored” dish of snails drowned in butter, garlic and parsley. She did a little research, read a book by Frenchman Francois Picart titled “Es- cargots from Your Garden to Your Table” and learned there was no sizable snail in- dustry in the U.S. She decided to start a snail farm. Anais West works exclu- sively with the Petit Gris, or “little gray” snails. They are often referred to as the “common brown garden snail.” “My first snails came from my mom’s garden,” she said. “But now I forage for them because they are a local pest, and I raise them in a low hoop house.” It takes about a year for them to reach market size. Saturday, May 7 Reducing Fire Risk in the Wild- land-Urban Interface, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., University of Idaho Extension office, Orofino, Idaho Thursday, May 12 Washington FFA Convention, Washington State University, Pull- man Friday, May 13 Washington FFA Convention, Washington State University, Pull- man Saturday, May 14 Reducing Fire Risk in the Wild- land-Urban Interface, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Kamiah Volunteer Fire De- partment, Kamiah, Idaho Washington FFA Convention, Washington State University, Pull- man Washington FFA Convention Saturday, May 21 But Jeff Turnas, president of 365 at Whole Foods, said in an interview this week that there are no plans for tattoo parlors to date, and that he doubts that there will be. He said the exam- ple was given to illustrate that 365’s partners could include any number of possibilities. “I think the point of it is that it’s going to be diverse — it’s not going to be just food,” he said. For instance, Turnas not- ed a pet grooming service that uses organic shampoos has expressed interest in be- ing a partner. Still, Turnas said the Sponsored by: To submit an event go to the Community Events calendar on the home page of our website at www. capitalpress.com and click on “Sub- mit an Event.” Calendar items can also be mailed to Capital Press, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem, OR 97301. 2016 Goat Academy, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. A full day of classes followed by an auction on May 22. Camping available. Half Creek Farm, Gold- Capital Press Managers Mike O’Brien .............................Publisher Joe Beach ..................................... Editor Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor Barbara Nipp ......... Production Manager Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager Hometown: Eureka, Calif. Courtesy of EscarGrow Farms Charity Anais West is owner and CEO of EscarGrow Farms in Eureka, Calif. It is one of the few escargot operations in the nation. She raises several thousand at a time. “I’m trying to speed up the process based on what I feed them. I feed them fresh, organic greens and fruit,” she said. “They love cucum- ber.” They also get non-GMO organic cornmeal, wheat bran and crushed oyster shells that build strong snail shells, she said. She sells snails by the pound, but only in Califor- nia. The company is limited by its invasive species per- mit and does not ship outside the state. Anais West said the oper- ation is small now because, luckily, snails don’t take up a lot of room. She utilizes a curtain method to maximize space. “Caviar” — snail eggs — have long been a popu- lar item at European bistros. Now they are becoming a hot item at many high-end San Francisco restaurants. Snails lay the eggs in the soil, and they have an earthy flavor, like fresh green on- ions. Matthew Dolan, chef at San Francisco’s 25 Lusk, said his customers are discovering the exotic delicacy. “Even those put off by the notion at first glance have enjoyed the subtle, mush- room and pine flavors of her (EscarGrow Farms) fresh eggs — unpasteurized so the flavor is pure and amazing,” he said. “I was surprised and impressed by such an un- dertaking, and as escargots themselves are lovely, I’m much more enamored with their caviar.” He said the quality of her escargot caviar is “bet- ter than any other that I’ve tried, so I wish her well and selfishly hope that her pro- duction flourishes so I will have regular access.” Anais West said her fam- ily and friends were not sur- prised when she announced she was going to start a snail farm. “I don’t think much I do anymore can surprise them,” she said. “From acquaintanc- es and others in the industry, it’s all been quite positive. Everyone seems to think I’m onto something. “I sure hope I am.” Whole Foods executive: No tattoo shops planned for new chain yet By CANDICE CHOI Established 1928 Board of directors Mike Forrester ..........................President Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Sid Freeman .................. Outside director Mike Omeg .................... Outside director Corporate officer John Perry Chief operating officer By JULIA HOLLISTER EUREKA, Calif. — Busi- ness is slow for entrepreneur Charity Anais West, but she isn’t surprised. She owns and operates EscarGrow Farms, one of the only snail farms in the nation. “I grew up in Atascadero (San Luis Obispo County), smack in the middle of three girls.” she said. “I went to Cal Poly and received a bachelor’s degree in journal- ism.” She worked as a televi- sion news producer in San- ta Maria for three years and returned to Cal Poly to get a certificate in teaching En- glish as a second language. Her plan was to travel the world. She worked at a restau- rant in Paso Robles known for its wine program and fell in love with wine, moved to New Zealand for four months to work at a winery and then relocated to San Francisco. “I was naive enough about what it meant to be a tiny fish in a very big ocean and decided to become a sommelier,” she said. “I studied for a passed my intro and certified ‘somm’ exams, through the Court of Mas- ter Sommeliers and the ad- vanced certificate.” Her love for travel re- mained, and over the next few years she kept going back to France — Burgundy in particular — because of the incredible vineyards. “This is where the snail idea came,” she said. (Jeopardy question: He- liculture. Answer: What are snail farm operations?) Capital Press endale, Wash. www.columbiabasin- goatguild.org Sunday, May 22 Oregon Cattlemen’s Associa- tion’s Midyear 2016, 1-9 p.m., Sun- river Resort, 17600 Center Drive, Sunriver, Ore. The event will host Ethan Lane, executive director of the Public Lands Council. www.or- cattle.com Monday, May 23 Oregon Cattlemen’s Associa- tion’s Midyear 2016, 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunriver Resort, 17600 Center Drive, Sunriver, Ore. The event will host Ethan Lane, executive director of the Public Lands Council. www. orcattle.com Tuesday, May 24 Oregon Cattlemen’s Associa- tion’s Midyear 2016, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Sunriver Resort, 17600 Center Drive, Sunriver, Ore. The event will also host Ethan Lane, executive di- rector of the Public Lands Council. www.orcattle.com Wednesday, May 25 Noxious Weed Control Work- shop, 6-8 p.m., OSU Extension Au- ditorium, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point, Ore. (541) 776-7371, Rachel. werling@oregonstate.edu Saturday, May 28 Alpaca Shearing Day & Sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Alpacas of Oregon, press coverage about the po- tential tattoo parlors sparked genuine excitement among his employees, who start- ed asking if they would be able to use their employee discounts for tattoos. Even if a tattoo parlor isn’t likely, Turnas said the idea reflects the culture of Whole Foods employees. “I would say 75 percent of our team members have tattoos,” he said of the team working on the 365 chain. That includes Turnas, 44, who has a tattoo on his leg is of a Grateful Dead bear with a lacrosse stick, a memory of his time as a lacrosse player at Michigan State University. The offshoot chain by Whole Foods comes as sales growth has slowed at the company’s flagship stores, which are being pressured by traditional supermarkets with expanded organic se- lections. Whole Foods Market Inc., which has more than 430 locations, says it still sees potential to expand to 1,200 locations in the U.S. Some analysts question whether the offshoot chain will cannibalize sales from Whole Foods stores. But the Austin, Texas, company says 365 will help it reach new customers, particularly those who want more af- fordable prices or are look- ing for a quicker shopping experience. Turnas noted that 365 stores won’t have meat or seafood counters, and de- scribed it as Whole Foods’ “younger sister, a little scrappy.” The first 365 store is slated to open in Los Ange- les on May 25; its third-par- ty vendor will be an out- post of a New York vegan eatery. Two more locations are slated for Lake Oswe- go, Oregon, and Bellevue, Washington this year, and 10 additional stores are slat- ed for 2017. GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE 20 Northwest Locations 21345 SW Aebischer Road, Sher- wood, Ore. Visitors can chat with four long-time livestock breeders who’ve raised llamas, horses, sheep, and goats. 503-348-6954 Western States Dorper Associ- ation Show and Sale, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Chico State University Farm, 311 Nicholas C. Schoute Lane, Chico, Calif. Cost: Free http://wsdorpers. com/2016_wsda_show_and_sale_ info Sunday, May 29 Alpaca Shearing Day & Sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Alpacas of Oregon, 21345 SW Aebischer Road, Sher- wood, Ore. Visitors can chat with four long-time livestock breeders who’ve raised llamas, horses, sheep, and goats. 503-348-6954 Western States Dorper Associ- ation Show and Sale, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Chico State University Farm, 311 Nicholas C. Schoute Lane, Chico, Calif. Cost: Free http://wsdorpers. com/2016_wsda_show_and_sale_ info Friday, June 3 Citizen Fire Academy Meet and Greet, 5-8 p.m., OSU Extension Au- ditorium, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point, Ore. The Citizen Fire Acade- my statewide program is for pro-ac- tive forest landowners, concerned residents in fire-prone communities and the public. Learn how to cre- ate safe, more fire-resilient homes through online sessions, field trips and by working on a personalized wildfire preparedness plan. Regis- tration is due May 20. http://exten- sion.oregonstate.edu/sorec/cfa Saturday, June 4 AOSA SCST Joint Annual Meet- ing, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Embassy Suites, Airport Way, Portland. http://www. seedtechnology.net/ Sunday, June 5 AOSA SCST Joint Annual Meet- ing, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Embassy Suites, Airport Way, Portland. http://www. seedtechnology.net/ Monday, June 6 California Poultry Federation Summer Meeting, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Cliffs Resort, 2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach, Calif., http:// cpif.org/2016-summer-meeting AOSA SCST Joint Annual Meet- ing, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Embassy Suites, Airport Way, Portland. http://www. seedtechnology.net/ Tuesday, June 7 California Poultry Federation Summer Meeting, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Cliffs Resort, 2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach, Calif. http:// cpif.org/2016-summer-meeting AOSA SCST Joint Annual Meet- ing, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Embassy Suites, Airport Way, Portland. http://www. seedtechnology.net/ Wednesday, June 15 Jump on the Biocontrol Bus: In- troductory Biological Pest Manage- ment for Nurseries & Greenhouses, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. This workshop and educational tour/demonstration will show new approaches to managing common pests on nursery plants. Field and greenhouse growers will learn beginning methods of biolog- ical control, and will be offered in English and Spanish. Featuring Su- zanne Wainwright-Evans, Buglady Consulting, and Robin Rosetta, Oregon State University Extension horticulturalist. Pre-registration re- quired. OSU North Willamette Re- search & Extension Center, 15210 NE Miley Road, Aurora. Cost $20 morning workshop, $35 morning workshop plus educational tour and demonstration. Lunch provided. Website: http://bit.ly/26BIy76 Saturday, June 18 Ketchum Kalf Rodeo, 1 p.m., Glenwood Rodeo Grounds, 63 Trout Lake Highway, Glenwood, Wash. http://Business.gorge.net/ glenwoodrodeo Sunday, June 19 Ketchum Kalf Rodeo, 1 p.m., Glenwood Rodeo Grounds, 63 Trout Lake Highway, Glenwood, Wash. http://Business.gorge.net/ glenwoodrodeo Entire contents copyright © 2016 EO Media Group dba Capital Press An independent newspaper published every Friday. 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