A14 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016
FROM PAGE A1
RENT:
continued from Page
STAFF PHOTO BY GARY L. WEST
Stefan Matheny, director of sales for River Point Farms, talks about the Hermiston Sweets onion variety produced and package by the farm. With Matheny are
Jonathan Miller, plant manager for the fresh pack facility, and Mackenzie Mills, who works in sales and account management for River Point Farms.
SWEETS:
continued from Page A1
River Point Farms is the
largest onion producer in
the country, farming more
than 6,000 acres around the
region. Sweet onions make
up just 5-10 percent of
what’s planted, though or-
ders usually sell for $3-$5
more than regular onions,
depending on the markets.
Though they’re close in
terms of distance, Matheny
said Hermiston Sweets
don’t compete directly
against Walla Walla sweet
onions. Walla Walla Sweets
are largely grown over win-
ter, he said, while Hermis-
ton Sweets aren’t planted
until February or March,
meaning they hit shelves
later in the year.
The result makes for a
smooth transition from one
Northwest-grown
sweet
onion to the next, Matheny
said. Hermiston Sweets are
also grown using a different
type of seed, which gives
them more of a globe shape
and darker, tighter skin.
Jonathan Miller, who
runs the production line at
River Point’s fresh pack
facility, said this year’s har-
vest has been one of the best
in years. Mild temperatures
over the spring and summer
made for excellent growing
conditions, he said.
“Two weeks ago is when
we really hit our busy sea-
A Two-Day Wine Event
September 16 & 17
son,” Miller said.
As for Hermiston wa-
termelons, Jack Bellinger
of Bellinger Farms said
they also just inished up
their busiest August ever.
The mild weather actually
delayed the start of melon
harvest by several weeks,
Bellinger said, but that
seemed to have no effect on
quality.
“It was a better than
average year,” he said.
“We’ve sent out quite a few
loads for our Labor Day
push.”
By sharing the Herm-
iston name, Matheny said
he feels they’ve been able
to help grow awareness for
local agriculture as a whole.
“I think it’s kind of
helped grow awareness of
the versatility of commod-
ities that can be grown in
this area,” he said.
things like paperwork
and inventorying sup-
plies.
“My biggest chal-
lenge every year is try-
ing to get volunteers,”
Rossell said. “People
are very generous with
writing a check or do-
nating hot chocolate but
we really need adults
able to volunteer.”
She said she hopes
they will be able to add
some new services this
year, such as vouchers
for rides and showers.
Last winter and
spring a number of
homeless campers were
evicted from several
popular but illegal en-
campments, including
one along River Road
near Umatilla. At the
time the people evicted
said they did not know
where they would go or
whether they would stay
in the area, but Rossell
said that should not have
much of an effect on the
Warming Station’s num-
bers because the people
who use the shelter tend
to be recently evicted or
otherwise newly home-
less and not established
in a tent.
For more informa-
tion about volunteer-
ing or leasing a space
to the nonprofit visit
the Hermiston Warm-
ing Station Facebook
page or contact Rossell
at 541-720-1146.
Ride the Wine & Cheese Train!
Saturday, October 1
Featuring Copper Belt Winery,
hŵĂƉŝŶĞƌĞĂŵĞƌLJĂŶĚWĞƚĞƌƐŽŶ͛ƐŚŽĐŽůĂƟĞƌ
Eagle Cap Excursion Train
800.323.7330
or tickets online
eaglecaptrainrides.com
Mount Angel Oktoberfest
September 15-18, 2016
Learn about Germanic Culture:
Benham Hall
at SHARC
Sunriver
Oregon Wineries
Creameries • Chocolatiers
Complimentary Classes
Music & More
sunriversharc.com/calendar
Presented by the Sunriver Owners Association & sponsored by:
Title / Lodging Sponsor
• Visit the Maibaum and
Glockenspiel at the center
of the village
• Enjoy the beauty of the
Die Fruchtsäule
• German folk dancing,
costumes and bands
• Enjoy the Webertanz
performed by the Mt. Angel
School Children
4EWWTSVXXS+IVQER]VEJ¾I
courtesy Lufthansa
• All Free Kindergarten –
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
• Biers brewed according to
the Reinheitsgebot, (German
Purity Law) and innovative
craft beers
The next 50 years, our future
www.oktoberfest.org
Mount Angel, Oregon
Rotating Taps of Local and Regional Beers
Food BY Gaia World Eats and Pork Wind & Fire
$5 ENTRY lawn games lAWN CHAIRS WELCOME
21+
No Dogs or CoOlers Inside the Festival
240 SW 1st ST STEVENSON, WA
WWW.WALKINGMANBEER.COM
Back to School Photos
2016/2017
AVAILABLE FOR PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Schedule now for this amazing
opportunity to step outside the
traditional School Photos
Limited Appointments:
Now until September 30th
Your Outdoor Mini Session Includes:
1) 8x10 2) 5x7 8) Wallets
All for only $35.00
Add on’s Avilable:
Memoris Made by Jammie on Facebook
1) 8x10 $12 2) 5x7 $12 8) Wallets $12
or Call Jammie Duckett at 541.620.4100
4) 4x6 $12 1) Button $12 CD of 3 Images $425
www.memoriesmadebyjammie.com
The 36th Annual
Hells Canyon
Mule Days
September 9th-10th-11th
Wallowa County Fairgrounds
Enterprise, Oregon
541-436-3271 • 541-263-0104
WWW.HELLSCANYHONMULEDAYS.COM