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CapitalPress.com
Friday, April 29, 2022
People & Places
Vegetable variety adds to bounty of berries
By JULIA HOLLISTER
For the Capital Press
WATSONVILLE, Calif.
— Apolina Yerena’s experi-
ence in agriculture began as a
strawberry picker and has led
to owning an organic farm.
“My father and grand-
father started growing con-
ventional strawberries and
started to convert a plot
of conventional berries to
organic,” said Apolina’s son,
Adrian, who operates the
farm with his father and his
brother, Ricardo. “We have
two small farms that make
up 22 acres, one in Watson-
ville and the other 5 acres in
Castroville.”
Their wide variety stands
out among other growers,
as they bring Chandler, Sea-
scape, Albion and Mara Des
Bois strawberries, along with
tayberries, blackberries and
raspberries to two farmers
markets in San Francisco.
They also grow dry farm
tomatoes, green beans, toma-
tillos, yacon, summer squash,
cranberry beans and squash
blossoms.
“Yacon is the most
unusual and interesting crop
we farm,” Adrian said. “It is
a root crop that comes from
Colombia and Peru. We orig-
inally started growing it for
personal use after we found
out my mom was diagnosed
with diabetes. We found that
the tubers have a lot of bene-
ficial health properties.”
As organic farmers, they
Established 1928
Capital Press Managers
Western
Innovator
APOLINA
YERENA
Occupation: Farmer
Owner: Yerena Farms,
with locations in Watson-
ville and Castroville.
Acreage: 22 acres.
Fox Nakai/Foodwise
From left, Adrian, Apolina and Ricardo Yerena, who own and operate Yerena Farms in
Watsonville, Calif.
use beneficial insects to con-
trol pests and plant wild flow-
ers in the middle and end of
the strawberry rows to attract
pests with their sweeter pol-
len and scent.
The Yerenas have inno-
vated and diversified their
operations over the years. For
example, they started creat-
ing produce boxes during the
pandemic.
The unique “Farm 2
Fridge” program began in
2020 in partnership with
other local organic farms.
The payments from sales go
directly to the farmers.
The four California par-
ticipants are Yerena Farms;
Green Thumb Organics,
Salinas; Knoll Farms, Brent-
wood; and Alfieri Farms, San
Joaquin.
The statewide drought has
been felt by almost every-
one in California agriculture,
but the Yerenas say they are
fortunate.
“We live and farm close to
the ocean, which helps with
the temperature and climate
of the crops,” Adrian said.
But the maritime climate
has its challenges, he said.
“We also have to be
smarter on when we plant
our crops, which pushes back
our seasonal timeline, and in
some cases it makes the sea-
son shorter,” Adrian said.
Dry farm tomatoes are
popular among farmers
market shoppers. They are
watered only until they start
to flower.
“This makes the tomatoes
more flavorful and makes our
tomato season go farther into
fall,” he said.
Christine Farren, execu-
tive director of Foodwise, the
nonprofit that operates sev-
eral farmers markets in the
Bay Area, recognized Yer-
ena Farms as a mainstay of
two of San Francisco’s largest
markets.
“Yerena Farms, and specif-
ically Apolina and Silvia Yer-
ena, have been a part of the
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
for over 25 years, and helped
found the Mission Com-
munity Market,” she said.
“They are beloved by home
Hometown: Watsonville,
Calif.
Family: Wife, Silvia, and
sons, Adrian and Ricardo.
Quote: “We are a differ-
ent breed. Not everyone
is made for this work. If
it is cold, we go out to
work. If it rains, we go.”
Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher
Anne Long ................. Advertising Director
Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor
Samantha Stinnett .....Circulation Manager
Entire contents copyright © 2022
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,
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POSTMASTER: send address changes to
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cooks and professional
chefs alike for their deli-
cious berries, which we are
lucky to enjoy from March
through November in the
Bay Area.”
Farren said the Yerenas
have established a trajec-
tory that Foodwise hopes
can become more common
for growers in California,
as owning land can provide
much-needed stability and
build generational wealth to
be passed down.
97308-2048.
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32 farmers, ranchers saluted by Oregon State University
By DICK MASON
EO Media Group
COVE, Ore. — Dale
Case, a Cove-area farmer and
agricultural leader, has joined
a select circle.
Case, 80, was saluted for
a lifetime of achievements
by Oregon State Universi-
ty’s College of Agricultural
Sciences, which has named
him to its Diamond Pioneer
Agricultural Achievement
Registry.
“It was a big surprise,”
Case said of his selection. “It
was totally unexpected.”
He added that it is grat-
ifying that some of the
work he has done is being
remembered.
“It is nice to be recog-
nized,” Case said.
Case received an award
commemorating his selec-
tion to the registry on April
19 at a ceremony at OSU in
Corvallis.
He was among 32 dia-
mond pioneers who were
honored as 2021 and 2022
recipients at the event, hosted
by Staci Simonich, dean of
the College of Agricultural
Sciences.
“It is because of the dedi-
cation of people in this room
that we honor today that we
can commit with confidence
to make tomorrow better for
everyone,” she told the hon-
orees and their families.
2021 RECIPIENTS
Eastern Washington
Matthew Weaver ................509-688-9923
Oregon
George Plaven ....................406-560-1655
• Dan Carver*, Maupin
Mateusz Perkowski .............800-882-6789
• Dale Case, Cove
Sierra Dawn McClain ..........503-506-8011
• Robert Dettwyler, Salem
• David Doerfler, Silverton
Designer
Randy Wrighthouse .............800-882-6789
• Clyde Douglas, Pendleton
• Ronald Hathaway, Klam-
ath Falls
OSU
2021 and 2022 Diamond Pioneer Agricultural Achievement registry honorees.
Case was nominated for
the registry by the Columbia
Basin Agricultural Research
Center in Adams.
“Dale has a long history
of service to Oregon’s and
the region’s agriculture,” the
Columbia Basin Agricultural
Research Center said in a
press release.
John Howard, a La
Grande businessman, noted
that Case also has a history
of service to the Northeastern
Oregon community.
“Dale is an all-around
great person who has great
community values and is
always willing to help oth-
ers,” Howard said.
A number of Case’s con-
tributions to agriculture were
made while serving in many
roles as a member of the Ore-
gon Wheat Growers League
and the Oregon Wheat Com-
mission. He served on the
Oregon Wheat Commission
from 2010 to 2019 and was
• Verl Holden, Silverton
• Arlene Kovash, Mon-
mouth
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Subscriptions
2022 RECIPIENTS
• Dan Hane, Kennewick
• Paul Kovash, Monmouth
• Craig Anderson, Turner
• Connie Hatfield, Sisters
• James Males, Corvallis
• John Breese, Prineville
• Tom McCoy, The Dalles
• Mina McDaniel, Corvallis
• Lynne Breese, Prineville
• Nan Scott, Yachats
• Robert Newtson, Helix
• Bill Brewster, Corvallis
• James Thompson, Corvallis
• Keith Cyrus, Sisters
• Don Wirth, Tangent
• Alfred Pohlschneider, St.
Paul
1 year U.S. ...........................................$ 65
• Larry Zweifel, Tillamook
• George Pugh, Shedd
2 years U.S. ........................................$115
• Connie Cyrus, Sisters
• Glenn Fisher, Corvallis
• Pam (Hanson) Zweifel,
Tillamook
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its chair in 2012 and 2013.
During his tenure with the
Oregon Wheat Commission,
he was heavily involved in
helping the commission fund
research on the development
of types of wheat that grow
best in the Pacific Northwest.
He also worked to open new
markets for Oregon wheat.
Case is credited by the
Columbia Basin ARC with
playing an instrumental role
in helping to get grain loaded
• Clinton Reeder, Pend-
leton
• Dale Wilkins, Pendleton
and transported by rail out
of the Grande Ronde Valley.
This helped reduce transpor-
tation costs by reducing the
need for trucking grain.
The Grande Ronde Val-
ley farmer is also being rec-
ognized for work he has done
to help make crops such as
canola become more viable
in the Pacific Northwest. The
Columbia Basin ARC noted
that Case was among 10
agricultural producers who
formed a group to advance
the growing of canola in
Eastern Oregon.
The group worked to
secure funds from the Ore-
gon Lottery that were shared
by Oregon State University
and the University of Idaho
to develop a line of canola
named Erica, which with-
stands winter conditions bet-
ter than many other varieties
of canola, according to the
Columbia Basin ARC.
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Applications open for Idaho Young Cattle Producer Conference
By CAROL RYAN DUMAS
Capital Press
The University of Idaho is accepting
applications for the 6th annual Idaho
Young Cattle Producer Conference,
which provides an in-depth education
about the cattle industry in Idaho.
The conference is scheduled for
June 6-8 in Pocatello. Applications are
due May 6.
Participating in the conference will
provide valuable tools that will help
young producers be successful in the
cattle business, according to organizers.
The program is offered to young
producers between the ages of 18 and
40. Only 20 participants are selected to
attend the conference each year.
The conference will feature speak-
ers from different segments of the cattle
industry in Idaho, including representa-
tives from the packing, feedlot, stocker,
cow-calf and purebred industries. A
marketing panel, beef-cutting demon-
stration and taste panel will be featured.
Participants will also hear from
speakers discussing current issues in
the industry and topics such as how to
finance a cattle operation, risk manage-
ment tools, grazing management and
genetics.
A tour featuring a packing plant,
backgrounding yard, a cow-calf opera-
tion and a purebred operation will pro-
vide participants a chance to visit and
learn from industry leaders in Eastern
Idaho.
Attendees will also meet with
members of the Idaho Cattle Associ-
ation and attend portions of the ICA
mid-year summer meeting. A sample
agenda, an online application form and
additional information on the confer-
ence can be found on the YCC website
www.uidaho.edu/ycc.
The Idaho YCC is free of charge
to participants who are selected to
attend, thanks to industry sponsors.
Selected participants will be notified by
mid-May.
For more information, contact Car-
men Willmore, University of Idaho
Extension educator at (208) 589-1389
or cwillmore@uidaho.edu, or a local
UI extension office.
To become a program sponsor or to
donate to the Idaho YCC, contact Jim
Church at (208) 983-2667 or jchurch@
uidaho.edu.
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.
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CALENDAR
Submit upcoming ag-related
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THROUGH SUNDAY
MAY 1
2022 Wooden Shoe Tulip Fes-
tival: Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm,
33814 S. Meridian Road, Wood-
burn, Ore. Experience the beauty
of 40 acres of tulips and over 200
acres of outdoor space and activi-
ties this spring. We are again offer-
ing tickets online only this year to
minimize crowds and allow for more
time to enjoy our fields. Hours:
9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday;
8 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Website: https://bit.ly/36o2wMD
SATURDAY APRIL 30
Free Waste Pesticide Col-
lection Event in Ontario: Sim-
plot Grower Solutions, 1700 SW
Fourth St No. 4344, Ontario, Ore.
The Oregon Department of Agri-
culture through the Pesticide Stew-
ardship Partnership is sponsoring
a Free Waste Pesticide Collection
Event. This event is an opportunity
for landowners, farmers and other
commercial pesticide users to rid
storage facilities of unwanted or
unused pesticide products. Regis-
tration for this event is required by
April 15. Contact: Kathryn Rifen-
burg, 971-600-5073, kathryn.rifen-
burg@oda.oregon.gov Website:
https://bit.ly/3Km8Eo5
Lane County Master Gar-
dener Plant Sale: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Lane Event Center, 796 W 13th Ave.,
Eugene, Ore. Great selection of
annuals, perennials, natives, berries,
trees, shrubs and $2 tomato and
vegetable starts. Website: https://
extension.oregonstate.edu/lane
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY
MAY 11-12
SATURDAY
MAY 14
Animal Agriculture Alliance
Stakeholder Summit: Interconti-
nental at the Plaza, Kansas City, Mo.
The summit will share insights into
advocacy and consumer and activ-
ist trends. Website: https://animala-
galliance.org/
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY
MAY 4-5
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
MAY 12-14
Agricultural Pesticide Col-
lection Event: There will be a
free Agricultural Pesticide Collec-
tion Event on May 14 in Clacka-
mas, Ore. This is an opportunity
for forest landowners, farmers
and other commercial and insti-
tutional pesticide users to search
out their barns, sheds, and base-
ments for old, restricted or unus-
able pesticides. Participation is
free and anonymous, but partic-
ipants must pre-register for an
appointment. Pre-register for the
event by May 1 at https://conser-
vationdistrict.org/.
Western Food Safety Confer-
ence (in-person and virtual): Hart-
nell College, Salinas, Calif. The con-
ference will focus on fresh produce
safety. Website: www.hartnellfoun-
dation.org
92nd Washington FFA Con-
vention: Location to be deter-
mined. Join us for the live, in-person
92nd Washington FFA Convention.
Website: https://www.washing-
tonffa.org/
Index
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
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