Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current, October 18, 2019, Image 2

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Newspaper Page Text2 CapitalPress.com Friday, October 18, 2019 People & Places A farmer branches out By JULIA HOLLISTER For the Capital Press WINTERS, Calif. — Aomboom Deasy says farm- ing was not necessarily a career choice but more about being born into it. “My dad was a pomolo- gist (a branch of botany that studies and cultivates fruit) for the University of Califor- nia and advisor for USDA for over 20 years,” she said. “In my college days at the University of San Francisco I worked on the farm and continue to this day with my husband, Timothy.” Their 100-acre K&J Orchards is in Winters. The operation, which began in 1990, has a long fruit season that begins with the first cherry harvest in spring and culminates in pear and apple harvests in autumn. “We grow a wide range of products as we are con- sidered a year-round farm, growing and selling directly to consumers,” Deasy said. They start their harvest season in May with cherries and peaches. “Then we roll into other stone fruits: apricots, apri- ums (a combination of 75% apricot and 25% plum), plums, pluots and nectar- ines,” she said. “Apples and pears roll in by late summer. We round out the autumn with persimmons and then go into winter with citrus. We produce nuts as well.” She said that, depend- ing on the weather, the most temperamental crops are the apples and pears. But they also grow sev- eral more exotic crops. “I was born in Bangkok, and due to my Asian her- itage we tend to grow mis- cellaneous products not usu- ally found in a local grocery store,” she said. The best example, she said, is the “jujube” — also known as Chinese dates. She also balances work on the farm with a growing career in finance. Deasy is involved in a San Francisco startup as its finance director and is get- ting a master’s degree from Harvard University. “I spent the last 17 years of my professional career in sourcing and product-project management for some well known consumer product companies,” she said. “I am attending Harvard (through their extension school) because I changed my career focus a couple of years ago. I go to school online and attend classes on campus.” In the meantime, the farm continues to be a mainstay of the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market in San Francisco. “K&J Orchards has been part of the Ferry Plaza Farm- ers’ Market family for 25 years, bringing a delicious diversity of the highest qual- ity, tree-ripened fruit sea- EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER Established 1928 Capital Press Managers Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher Kevin Blodgett ........... Advertising Director Western Innovator AOMBOON DEASY Occupation: Farmer and finance director of a startup company in San Francisco Family: Husband, Timo- thy, and two dogs Hometown: Winters, Calif. Aomboom Deasy, who operates K&J Orchards on 100 acres in Yolo County, Calif., says farming isn’t for everyone. Although many outside the industry view it as romantic, the hard work can be overwhelming. son after season,” said Brie Mazurek, communications director of the Center for Urban Education about Sus- tainable Agriculture, known as CUESA, which operates the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market at the San Francisco Embarcadero. “Aomboon Deasy is car- rying her parents’ legacy with business savvy and a warm and generous spirit, making K&J a go-to for our chef community and market shoppers alike,” she said. Deasy said she would advise anyone to choose farming as their life’s work only if they are willing to put in the hard work. The idea is romantic to many outside the industry but the work it involves can be overwhelm- ing for some. In addition to long hours, Mother Nature and fluctuat- ing agricultural prices, she said another challenge is facing California farmers. Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, National University, San Diego; master’s degree in project management from the University of San Francis- co and will earn a master’s degree in finance from Harvard University at the end of 2020. Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor Jessica Boone ............ Production Manager Samantha McLaren ....Circulation Manager Entire contents copyright © 2019 EO Media Group dba Capital Press An independent newspaper published every Friday. Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is published weekly by EO Media Group, 2870 Broadway NE, Salem OR 97303. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048. To Reach Us Circulation ...........................800-781-3214 Email ........... Circulation@capitalpress.com “In my opinion, the big- gest challenge is the urban sprawl,” she said. “More and more farmland is disappear- ing into housing develop- ments as the state becomes more densely populated. With the population growth more and more resources — such as water — are becom- ing scarcer.” Main line .............................503-364-4431 News Staff Idaho Carol Ryan Dumas ..............208-860-3898 Boise Brad Carlson .......................208-914-8264 Central Washington Dan Wheat ..........................509-699-9099 Western Washington Don Jenkins .........................360-722-6975 Kiwi berry growers look to build bigger demand By CRAIG REED For the Capital Press ROSEBURG, Ore. — Western Oregon’s few hardy kiwi berry growers have raised a bumper crop of the fruit this year. The 2019 vol- ume is three to four times greater than the past couple of years. But with that good news comes the issue of scram- bling to find enough mar- kets for the berry that is rel- atively unknown to many consumers. “The crop size surprised us a little bit,” admitted Ryan Cleary, an account man- ager in the sales division of Domex Superfresh Growers in Yakima, Wash. Domex is marketing the kiwi berries grown by Norris Farms near Riddle, Ore. “There are various mar- kets in the U.S. and around the world,” Cleary said. “And there are still stones to be turned over out there to develop new markets for this fruit. It’s just a matter of edu- cating consumers about what it is. It’s a cousin to the big- ger fuzzy kiwi fruit without the mess of peeling. Just eat it like a grape.” “It’s a fascinating, emerg- ing market,” said Ellie Nor- The kiwi berry has a smooth, edible skin that is more convenient for eating than the bigger, fuzzy variety of kiwi because there is no peeling involved. The berry is hard when picked, but softens as it ripens. Craig Reed/For the Capital Press Ellie Norris, co-owner of Norris Farms in Douglas County, Ore., checks on the quality and ripeness of kiwi berries prior to shipping. ris, co-owner of Norris Farms. “The challenge is get- ting them in front of people for the first time. People who do try them, love them.” Growers are getting $3.50 to $4.50 a pound for the berries. The research that has been done says the kiwi berry is rich in vitamin C, low in fat, cholesterol and sodium, high in fiber and a good source of potassium, vitamin E and magnesium. Jaysen Weidner, sales manager for HBF Interna- tional that markets kiwi ber- ries for Hurst Berry Farms of McMinnville, Ore., agreed that many consumers remain unfamiliar with the fruit. He added, however, that there are markets for the fruit across the U.S. and some in Asia. “When people have tried them, I’ve never had anyone say they didn’t like them,” Weidner said. “There’s a convenience for the kiwi berry compared to the fuzzy kiwi. Just pop it in your mouth and eat it. They have a smooth, edible skin. The softer the berry, the sweeter the flavor.” Will Ratto of Aurora, Ore., has 2 acres of kiwi berries. He sells his crop directly to New Seasons stores in the Portland area. To help educate consumers about the berry, Ratto adds a free half flat of the fruit with each of his deliveries so the stores can provide samples to potential consumers. “I believe in niche mar- kets,” Ratto said. “It’s just a matter of educating the end user so they understand the ripening process and when is the right time to eat the berry.” On the outside, the berry has a smooth, green-and- red skin. It is the size of an olive or large grape. There is no brown, fuzzy skin to peel as is the case with the larger, better-known kiwis. The inside of the kiwi berry is exactly the same as the larger fuzzy variety. The fruit is green with tiny black seeds. It’s estimated there are only about 80 acres of the kiwi berry being grown and harvested in Oregon. Harvest of the berries in Oregon is from late Sep- tember to mid-October. After being picked, the ber- ries needed a couple days at room temperature to ripen. They are sweetest when they are soft. After ripening, they can be refrigerated and will remain good up to one to two weeks, or they can be frozen. In addition to being eaten whole, the berries are pop- ular in smoothies, blended with yogurt and in salads. “It’s a niche market right now for the berries, but we’re hoping it catches on,” Norris said. “It’s a challenging sale to the retail sector, but there has been growth even though it’s been slow growth,” Weidner said. Eastern Washington Matthew Weaver ................509-688-9923 Oregon George Plaven ....................406-560-1655 Mateusz Perkowski .............800-882-6789 Graphic artist Alan Kenaga ........................800-882-6789 Designer Randy Wrighthouse .............800-882-6789 To Place Classified Ads Telephone (toll free) ............800-882-6789 Online ...........CapitalPress.com/classifieds Subscriptions Mail rates paid in advance Easy Pay U.S. $4 /month (direct withdrawal from bank or credit card account) 1 year U.S. ...........................................$55 2 years U.S. ........................................$100 1 year Canada .....................................$275 1 year other countries ...........call for quote 1 year Internet only .........................$49.99 1 year 4-H, FFA students/teachers .......$30 9 months 4-H, FFA students/teachers ..$25 Visa and Mastercard accepted To get information published Mailing address: Capital Press P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048 News: Contact the main office or news staff member closest to you, send the information to newsroom@capitalpress.com CALENDAR FRIDAY-SATURDAY OCT. 18-19 Biochar Workshop: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tualatin Soil and Water Conserva- tion District, 7175 NE Evergreen Park- way, Suite No. 400, Hillsboro, Ore. Learn how charred biomass (bio- char) can increase soil productivity, reduce wildfire risk and slow climate change. Biochar consultant Kelpie Wilson will provide a history and sci- ence of biochar followed by a full- day interactive demonstration of how to make biochar from your burn piles using a simple “flame cap kiln.” She will also share methods for using biochar in compost and in animal barns to recover nutrients for use in soil. This is a free, two-day work- shop that includes hands-on activi- ties. You have the option to sign up for just one of the workshop days if that’s what best suits your schedule. Contact: Charlotte Trowbridge, 503- 277-3709, charlotte.trowbridge@ tualatinswcd.org SATURDAY, OCT. 19 Meaningful Incentives to Sus- tain Small Forest Lands: 7:30- 11:30 a.m. Willapa Harbor Commu- nity Center, 916W First St., South Bend, Wash. A unique partnership between conservation districts and state and federal agencies has been formed to bring financial and tech- nical assistance to help retain work- ing family forest lands in SW Wash- ington. Join us for a free breakfast to learn about and help shape incentive programs and conservation efforts for small forest landowners. Contact: Patrick Shultz, patrick.shultz@wsu. edu, 360-740-1213 Oregon Ag in the Classroom Fall Harvest Dinner: 5 p.m., CH2M Hill Alumni Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis. Make plans to join us for our 2019 Fall Harvest Din- ner and Auction. All proceeds will directly support our mission: “To help students grow in their knowledge of agriculture, the environment and natural resources.” Contact: AITC@ oregonstate.edu, 541-737-8629 WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23 Exploring the Small Farm Dream for Veterans: 1-3:30 p.m., Benton County Extension, Sunset Meeting Room, 4077 SW Research Way, Corvallis, Ore. A 3-part work- shop series offered to veterans free of cost. Sponsored by Benton County Veteran Affairs. Contact: https:// tinyurl.com/yy2fnnyo SUNDAY, OCT. 27 Young Farmer Tour and Mixer: 6-10 p.m. Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave., Seattle. Ninth annual Young Farmer Mixer hosted by Washington Young Farmers Coalition. Urban farm tours followed by mixer. Potluck and live music. Farm tours 2 to 5:30 p.m. Mixer 6 to 10 p.m. More details on coalition’s Facebook page. Contact: http://washingtonyoungfarmers.org or wayoungfarmers@gmail.com WEDNESDAY- SATURDAY OCT. 30- NOV. 2 92nd National FFA Conven- tion and Expo: Indiana Conven- tion Center, 100 S Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the organization’s annual gather- ing. Contact: https://convention. ffa.org/ SATURDAY, NOV. 2 Goat Discovery Day: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Pleasant Hill High School, 36386 Highway 58, Pleas- ant Hill, Ore. If you are an experi- enced “goat person” or you hope to be, this event is for you. A full day of workshops, demos with live goats, vendors and network- ing. Presented by Emerald Dairy Goat Association and Oregon State University Extension Ser- vices. Contact: Teagan Moran, tea- gan.moran@oregonstate.org, 541-713-5011 SATURDAY-TUESDAY NOV. 2-4 2019 Angus Convention: Reno-Sparks Convention Cen- ter, 4590 S. Virginia St., Reno, Nev. From outstanding educational seminars to nationa: Centre on the Grove, 850 W Front St., Boise, Idaho. Annual meeting of Idaho and Utah dairy industries. Contact: https://www.dairywest.com MONDAY, NOV. 4 Exploring the Small Farm Dream: 6-8:30 pm. OSU Exten- sion Office, Josephine County, 215 Ringuette St., Grants Pass, Ore. This three-session beginning farmer training series meets in Nov. 4, 11 and 18. Southern Ore- gon abounds with enthusiastic or mail it to “Newsroom,” c/o Capital Press. farmers involved in pursuing the commercial small farm dream. TUESDAY- WEDNESDAY NOV. 5-6 Intermountain Native Plant Summit IX: Boise State University Student Union Building. The use of native plants on rangelands in the West. Open to the public. Contact: Thomas Jones, thomas/jones@ usda.gov WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6 Women and Leadership 3: 5-8 p.m., Urban Studio, 935 North- west Davis St., Portland. Jor- dan Ramis PC announces the Third Annual Women & Leader- ship event. Designed to moti- vate, inspire and educate women who are leaders or aspiring lead- ers. Food, drinks, and whiskey tast- ings will be provided with the goal in mind of bringing women and allies in the agricultural indus- try together to network, dis- cuss issues regarding careers and growth and enjoy the company of like-minded colleagues. A panel discussion features Caylin Bar- ter, an environmental and natu- ral resources attorney with Jor- dan Ramis; Cory Carman, owner of Carman Ranch in Wallowa County, Ore.; Leigh Geschwill, owner of F&B Farms and Nurs- ery; and Mallory Phelan, execu- tive director of Oregon Aglink. Contact: info@jordanramis.com, (503) 598-7070. https://bit.ly/ WomenAndLeadership3 WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY NOV. 6-10 American Agri-Women Con- vention: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Embassy Suites by Hilton, 9000 SW Wash- ington Square Road, Tigard. Hosted by the Oregon Women for Agriculture, the American Agri-Women Convention will bring members from around the nation. Contact: Oregon Women for Agriculture, 541- 791-6031. https://owaonline. org/2019-aaw-convention/. FRIDAY-SUNDAY NOV. 8-10 Tilth Conference 2019: Yakima Convention Center, 10 N. Eighth St., Yakima, Wash. Every year, the Tilth Conference brings together hundreds of farmers, producers, researchers and food system pro- fessionals for a weekend of learn- ing, building relationships and shar- ing best practices. Contact: Kevin McAleese, kevinmcaleese@tilthal- liance.org. http://www.tilthconfer- ence.org MONDAY-WEDNESDAY NOV. 11-13 Idaho Cattle Association Annual Convention: Sun Val- ley Inn at Sun Valley Resort, Sun Valley, Idaho. The annual ICA event is focused on cattlemen’s needs, putting them face-to-face with some of the industry’s most renowned experts. Contact: 208- 343-1615, www.idahocattle.org/ Include a contact telephone number. Letters to the Editor: Send your comments on agriculture-related public issues to opinions@capitalpress.com, or mail your letter to “Opinion,” c/o Capital Press. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday. Capital Press ag media CapitalPress.com FarmSeller.com MarketPlace.capitalpress.com facebook.com/CapitalPress facebook.com/FarmSeller twitter.com/CapitalPress youtube.com/CapitalPressvideo Index Dairy ........................................................8 Markets .................................................10 Opinion ...................................................6 Correction policy Accuracy is important to Capital Press staff and to our readers. If you see a misstatement, omission or factual error in a headline, story or photo caption, please call the Capital Press news department at 503-364-4431, or send email to newsroom@capitalpress.com. We want to publish corrections to set the record straight.