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CapitalPress.com
May 12, 2017
People & Places
Making farmers’ markets successful
Rebecca Landis
advises on direct
sales policy, runs
two markets
Capital Press Managers
Joe Beach ..................Editor & Publisher
Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director
Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor
Barbara Nipp ......... Production Manager
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Capital Press
Questions arise
The rising prominence
and popularity of farmers’
markets in recent years inev-
itably led to questions about
government oversight and
food safety.
For example, should the
Oregon Department of Agri-
culture require farmers’ mar-
kets to be licensed, as are
grocery stores?
Do growers need licenses
to sell jams, jellies and sim-
ilar products that were pro-
cessed on-farm from their
crops?
“It wasn’t clear what was
regulated and what wasn’t
regulated,” Landis said.
To dispel that confusion,
Landis and other experts
formed a work group aimed
at establishing clear rules for
farm-direct marketing.
The resulting legislation,
House Bill 2336, was ap-
proved by the Oregon Leg-
islature in 2011 with strong
bipartisan support.
The bill clarified that
farmers’ markets aren’t
subject to licensing require-
ments — unless they refuse
to comply with sanitary stan-
dards — and sets parameters
for which processed goods
can be sold in such venues.
“We talked out every
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By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI
Two decades after she
managed to “break out of the
cubicle,” Rebecca Landis says
she still draws on her time as
an “all around bureaucrat.”
These days, Landis ap-
plies her experience to the
variety of impromptu prob-
lems that arise while running
two Oregon farmers’ mar-
kets, from filing online forms
to fixing pop-up tents.
“It’s not really a career
path, you just bring to it
whatever skills you have,”
she said.
Aside from managing the
farmers’ markets in Corvallis
and Albany, Landis serves as
a policy adviser to the Ore-
gon Farmers Markets Associ-
ation, helping to navigate the
regulatory hurdles growers
encounter when selling di-
rectly to consumers.
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Rebecca Landis, manager of the farmers’ market in Corvallis, Ore., stands near the Willamette River in North Riverfront Park where the
market is staged. She also manages the farmers’ market in Albany, Ore., and is a policy adviser for the Oregon Farmers Markets Associ-
ation.
Western Innovator
Rebecca Landis
Occupation: Manager of the farm-
ers’ markets in Corvallis and Albany,
Ore. Policy adviser to the Oregon
Farmers’ Markets Association.
Hometown: Corvallis
Age: 58
Family: Husband, Larry, two cats
Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University
of North Texas in 1980, master’s degree in government from the
University of Texas at Austin in 1985
product category that might
be ripe for a lower level of
regulation,” Landis said. “I
think it’s stood the test of
time so far.”
When a legal uncertainty
recently came to light re-
garding egg sales, Landis
lobbied for another bill that
allows farmers to sell un-
graded eggs as long as they
checked them for inner de-
fects with a candling light.
The proposal, House Bill
3116, passed the House and
Senate unanimously this
year.
The process highlights
the improved lines of com-
munication between farm
direct marketers and ODA,
which supported the bill,
Landis said. “That made it
easy to proceed with a fix.”
As a member of ODA’s
Food Safety Advisory Com-
mittee, Landis has helped the
agency avoid pitfalls in other
proposed food safety legis-
lation, said Stephanie Page,
ODA’s food safety director.
The farm-direct marketing
bill in 2011 has “provided
greater certainty” for growers
as well as ODA, Page said.
“We see the farmers’ markets
as an important partner.”
Career move
Landis’ experience with
laws and regulations dates
back to her job as a legisla-
tive analyst in Texas, which
she left to move to Oregon
with her husband, Larry, in
1991.
After resettling in Corval-
lis, the couple was involved
in starting that city’s farmers’
market.
Landis initially worked
for a regional government,
managing contracts to pro-
vide homeless services, but
decided she’d had enough of
office work and in 1995 be-
came manager of the Corval-
lis farmers’ market.
Her arrival as the market’s
manager coincided with an
emerging curiosity about lo-
cal agriculture among con-
sumers.
“How stuff was being
grown wasn’t discussed in
the mainstream culture until
20 years ago,” she said.
Back then, for example,
having 14 vendors at the
Corvallis farmers’ market
would be a “spectacular day,”
Landis said. Last year, the
number of vendors topped
70.
Market trends
Expanding a farmers’
market is often a “chicken
and egg” proposition — ven-
dors are reluctant to show up
unless they can count on lots
of visitors, while shoppers
aren’t enthusiastic unless
they can pick among lots of
vendors.
An important trend that’s
boosted market attendance is
the availability of meat and
poultry, which provides sta-
bility in comparison to the
seasonal fluctuations of fruits
and vegetables, Landis said.
Improved payment op-
tions have also helped.
Consumers who don’t
usually carry cash can now
swipe their debit or credit
cards at the farmers’ market
in exchange for tokens used
to pay vendors. Some ven-
dors now accept “plastic” di-
rectly, through devices con-
nected to their smartphones.
The ability to pay with
food stamps — the USDA’s
Supplemental Nutrition As-
sistance Program, or SNAP
— has increased the number
of people shopping at farm-
ers’ markets as well.
“None of this existed back
in the ’90s at all,” Landis
said.
One thing that has re-
mained constant, though, is
the connection that farmers’
markets provide between
growers and consumers.
Landis said she’s vigilant
in ensuring her markets are
free of vendors who simply
resell wholesale food, since
they undermine the venue’s
credibility and unfairly com-
pete against actual farmers.
“It’s transparent and trace-
able to have direct sales,” she
said. “There’s a lot of ac-
countability that comes from
direct-selling.”
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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 or emailed to newsroom@
capitalpress.com.
Through Friday
May 12
Oregon Board of Agriculture.
8:30 a.m. Best Western Mill Creek
Inn, 3125 Ryan Drive SE, Salem.
On day one, the board will hear
from a panel of agriculture industry
representatives regarding the leg-
islative session. A separate panel,
representing key industry organi-
zations, will discuss immigration
issues. The board will also be given
a presentation on food sourcing and
hunger issues in Oregon. A public
comment period is scheduled
for 9:30 a.m. on day one. On day
two, board members will receive a
progress report on the Japanese
beetle eradication project in Cedar
Mill and receive an update on Or-
egon’s Integrated Water Resources
Strategy and a presentation on the
Port of Portland’s efforts to address
transportation issues. The meeting
will conclude with reports by board
subcommittees.
Through Saturday
May 13
87th Washington FFA State
Convention. Washington State Uni-
versity, Pullman. www.washingtonf-
fa.org/calendar/
Saturday, May 13
Spring Hay Field Day. 8:30
a.m.-noon. Lazy L Farm Services,
Clayton, Wash. Registration at the
door is at 8:30 a.m. A 9:45 a.m.
presentation is on poisonous plants
and pesticides in hay production
problematic for livestock. Spon-
sored by the Northeast Washing-
ton Haygrowers’ Association and
Washington State University Web-
site: www.extension.wsu.edu
Monday, May 15
Farm & Ranch Succession
Workshop. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Jackson
Soil & Water Conservation District,
89 Alder St., Central Point, Ore.
Two-thirds of Oregon’s agricultural
land will be changing hands in the
next 20 years, but the vast majority
of farmers and ranchers don’t have
succession plans. Want to hear
about the trends in farm succession
and land use? Want to learn the
steps for preparing a succession
plan for your farm? Want to hear the
stories of local farmers who have
gone through the process? Learn
about recent research by OSU,
PSU and Rogue Farm Corps on ag-
ricultural land transition. Hear from
attorney Doug Schmor about the
steps to passing your legacy to the
next generation. Learn from a land-
owner panel who has been through
the process. And hear from South-
ern Oregon Land Conservancy
about how conservation easements
can be a tool to help you plan for
succession and leave a legacy. This
event is sponsored by Jackson Soil
and Water Conservation District
and the Josephine County Farm
Bureau with support from Rogue
Farm Corps. Cost: Free. RSVP to
Nellie McAdams, 971-409-6806,
nellie@roguefarmcorps.org
Wednesday, May 17
Pesticide Analytical and Re-
sponse Center (PARC) Board
meeting. 9 a.m.-noon. Oregon De-
partment of Agriculture, 635 Capitol
St. NE, Basement Hearing Room,
Salem, Ore. Website: www.oregon.
gov/ODA/programs/pesticides/pag-
es/PARC.aspx
Thursday, May 18
FSPCA Preventive Controls for
Human Food — One-Day Blended
Course. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Idaho Wa-
ter Center, 322 E. Front St. Boise,
Idaho. The new Food Safety Mod-
ernization Act (FSMA) regulation
GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE
www.oxarc.com
requires every processing facility
to have a trained resource person
or “Preventive Controls Qualified
Individual“ who has completed a
specialized training course (such
as this one) that was developed by
the Food Safety Preventive Con-
trols Alliance (FSPCA) and is rec-
ognized by the FDA. This person
will oversee the implementation of
the facility’s food safety plan and
other key tasks. Cost: $330. www.
techhelp.org/events/342/fspcaboi-
semay2017/
Four-Part Farm/Ranch Succes-
sion Planning Workshop. 6-8:30
p.m. Canby High School, 721 SW
Fourth Ave., Canby, Ore. A free
four-part workshop on succession
planning with one-hour personal
counseling sessions for your family
after each workshop. Light dinner
6 to 6:30, workshop 6:30 to 8:30
p.m. Course 3 on May 18 is Get-
ting Organized, and Course 4 on
June 1 is Passing on Management
Roles. RSVP required. Organized
by Clackamas Small Business
Development Center and Rogue
Farm Corps. Cost: Free. http://bit.
ly/2opTHqO
20 Northwest Locations
break from the Memorial Day Win-
ery Tours to watch the alpacas get
their annual haircuts. Get up close,
hand feed them and handle their
luxurious fleece. Shearing Day is
Saturday. On Sunday, learn to felt
an alpaca gift. Phone 503-348-6954
to reserve a spot; $25-$75 covers
your materials and instruction.
Hand-spinners, knitters and other
fiber artists will find fleece and yarn.
Visitors can chat with four long-time
livestock breeders who’ve raised
llamas, horses, sheep and goats.
www.easygofarm.net/AOOMem-
Day
Wednesday-Friday
May 31-June 2
2017 Oregon Cattlemen Mid-
year Meeting, Wildhorse Casino,
46510 Wildhorse Blvd., Pendleton,
Ore. The annual 2 1/2-day midyear
event is where Oregon cattlemen
and women gather to get updates
on the latest news in Oregon ag-
riculture, hear from top industry
speakers and reconnect with fellow
ranchers. http://orcattle.com/
Thursday, June 1
Family Business Charters. 7:30
to 9 a.m. BridgePort BrewPub, 1313
NW Marshall St., Portland. A family
business charter sets forth the es-
sential rules, obligations, and re-
sponsibilities relating to ownership
and management of the business,
as well as the family values that will
help sustain the business for future
generations. Presented by A. Jef-
fery Bird, Lane Powell PC and the
Austin Family Business Program,
Oregon State University. $40 per
person. 800-859-7609, http://bit.
ly/2gPuLYY
Four-Part Farm/Ranch Succes-
sion Planning Workshop. 6-8:30
p.m. Canby High School, 721 SW
Fourth Ave., Canby, Ore. A free
four-part workshop on succession
planning with one-hour person-
al counseling sessions for your
family after each workshop. Light
dinner 6 to 6:30, workshop 6:30 to
8:30 p.m. Course 4 on June 1 is
Passing on Management Roles.
RSVP required. Organized by
Clackamas Small Business De-
velopment Center and Rogue
Farm Corps. Cost: Free. http://bit.
ly/2opTHqO
Saturday-Sunday
May 27-28
Thursday-Friday
June 15-16
Alpaca Shearing Day and Sale.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Alpacas of Oregon,
21345 SW Aebischer Road, Sher-
wood, Ore. Join EasyGo Farm
at Alpacas of Oregon and take a
2017 Interpera Congress.
Wenatchee Confluence Technolo-
gy Center, 285 Technology Center
Way, Wenatchee, Wash. The con-
ference features presentations from
1-800-765-9055
world experts on emerging pear
varieties, high-density planting, root
stock, harvest and packing house
mechanization, integrated pest
management successes, export
trade flows and successful practic-
es for building consumer demand.
http://ncwctc.com/
Friday-Sunday
June 16-18
Glenwood Ketchum Kalf Rodeo
and Bull Bash. Glenwood Rodeo
Grounds, Trout Lake Highway,
Glenwood, Wash. The bull Bash
starts at 7 p.m. June 16, followed
by the rodeo, which starts at 12:30
p.m. June 17-18. Website: http://
business.gorge.net/glenwoodro-
deo/
Tuesday-Wednesday
June 20-21
Center for Produce Safety Re-
search Symposium. Hyatt Regency
Denver Tech Center, 7800 E. Tufts
Ave., Denver, Colo. Agricultural wa-
ter will kick off the program agen-
da. This session will focus on four
CPS-funded research programs
that will help stakeholders better
understand the factors involved
in sourcing, sampling, testing and
treating specific types of agricultur-
al water.
Thursday, June 22
Oregon Angus Field Day. 4-10
p.m. Quail Valley Ranch, Prineville,
Ore. Cattle on display, contests
with prizes, a meal and a time to
visit. For more information, con-
tact Becky Tekansik, Quail Valley
Ranch, 541-699-8562, or Dick
Hubman, president of the Oregon
Angus Association, 541-601-5495.
Wednesday-Saturday
June 28-July 1
128th Annual Washington State
Grange Convention. Ocean Shores
Convention Center, 120 W. Chance
a La Mer NW, Ocean Shores,
Wash.
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Index
California ................................ 8
Dairy .................................... 14
Idaho ...................................... 7
Livestock ............................. 15
Markets ............................... 13
Opinion .................................. 6
Oregon ................................ 10
Washington ........................... 9
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