From Punjab to Corvallis, Riverland Family Farms Carries On A Legacy
“Our culture, language, music, food is all influenced by farming,” says Inder Singh of the fertile Punjab region in India that he, his business partner and brother-in-law Tal Singh, and their families hail from. “We’re a multi-generational family of farmers. My father farmed, as did my grandfather and many before him.”
Get To Know Commonplace Farm
Beyond just gorgeous specialty lettuce, chicories and fresh herbs, Jeremy and Ashli Mueller are using acreage purchased from long-time organic farmer Tom Denison to make the career of farming accessible to future generations.
From His Early Days at Good Time Trying Farm to Denison Farms, Tom Denison Reflects on Four Decades of Farming and His Decision to Retire
For over four decades, Denison Farms has been a household name to many shoppers in the Willamette Valley who have purchased their organic produce at area farmers markets. Tom is one of the earliest organic farmers in Oregon to find success at scale, and created a farming model that set the benchmark for many in the region.
Now, a year since the last pint of berries was sold under the Denison Farm name, OGC takes a look at how Tom’s decades of experience helped to make way for a new generation of organic farmers and his inspiring story of succession planning.
Join us as we share the four chapters of Denison Farms’ transition from Tom’s early days of farming and the sale of his life’s work to three next-generation Willamette Valley growers now coaxing crops from the land.
Nearly One Year Since Devastating Wildfire, Whitewater Ranch is Harvesting Beautiful Blueberries for OGC
A long-time grower partner and land-steward, Whitewater Ranch is as picturesque a location as anyone could hope to farm. Bordered by the river on one side and hugged by a forested ridge on the other, the farm’s rows of blueberries are stunning against their natural backdrop.
Learn more about Whitewater Ranch, just one of the many dedicated growers OGC relies on to fill delicious packs of Ladybug Brand blueberries!
Vernon Peterson’s Equation for Achieving “The Higher Good”
Founded in 1893 upon the fertile soil of Kingsburg, California, Peterson Family Farm is more than just an exceptional stone fruit grower. Learn how Vernon Peterson has assembled a group of farmers and a team of workers he regards as a family to produce fruit that’s beyond organic.
More Than Stone Fruit, Masumoto Family Farm Hopes to Expand Eaters’ Relationship with Food
Nikiko Masumoto, a third-generation stone fruit grower in California’s Central Valley, talks about variety selection, intuitive eating and her goal of challenging implicit bias about food. More than just growers of impeccable peaches and nectarines, learn why Masumoto Family Farm is a leader in progressive thinking.
Valliwide Marketing: A Champion for Family-Run Farms in California’s Central Valley
When OGC’s stone fruit Buyer Brian Keogh wants to know how a variety from Valliwide Marketing is eating, he picks up the phone and calls Mason Parkinson. Mason can be relied on for a straight answer and makes it a point always to test the fruit. Learn why selecting stone fruit from Valliwide is a delicious choice!
Fragrant Fresh Herbs from Circle h Farm
On a dreamy farm in the Southern Willamette Valley, sister and brother pair Sarah and Joel Hucka coax a bouquet of fresh herbs from their well-tended soil. Learn more about Circle h Farm’s dedication to holistic growing practices and why shoppers will reach for herbs to add interest in the kitchen this season!
Nuevo Amanecer: Growing Select Crops With Great Care
On a stunning morning this past week, Juan invited OGC to take a farm tour to check out the lettuce that OGC buyer Matt Visser can’t say enough good things about.
Juan and Maria Aparicio run a tight ship. Nuevo Amanecer is a case study of variety selection and methodical decision-making that are vital for small-scale farms to succeed. Learn more about this exceptional Willamette Valley grower and their high-quality produce.
Oshala Farm’s Nettles
Oshala Farm grows three acres of organic nettles, which are traditionally a wildcrafted plant. “Many people have access to nettles, but others don’t, and the soil health and where they grow are significant,” says grower Elise Higley. “Native plants often grow in ecologically sensitive waterways where they keep their little feet wet, but not all waterways are clean, so cultivation is a great option.”
100 Years In Oregon: Montecucco Farms’ Top Notch Rhubarb and Root Veg
Spring means rhubarb and Montecucco Farms’ annual harvest is one that OGC eagerly anticipates!
Wholesum Family Farms: Tasty Tomatoes & Fair Trade Investments Make Them a Grower To Know!
Longer days mean lighter, more colorful meals as shoppers ditch the dutch oven and reach for the salad bowl! Helping keep eaters’ appetite for tasty warm-weather crops satiated during the Northwest’s cool, wet months are our friends Wholesum Family Farms. With locations in Arizona and northern and central Mexico, OGC is grateful for our long partnership with Wholesum. Beyond delicious crops, Wholesum is also a leader in Fair Trade, contributing to their communities in both the U.S. and Mexico.
Foods in Season: Satisfying the Growing Wildcrafted Market
The demand for wildcrafted foods, such as Morel mushrooms and Fiddlehead ferns, has grown year over year as eaters become more familiar with both the health benefits and complex flavor of these foraged goods. For the past 30 years, one of OGC’s partners for all-things-wild, Foods in Season, has helped provide our region with tasty morsels from the forest while providing essential work for generations of local families.
Shasta View Wheatgrass: Southern Oregon’s Nutritional Powerhouse Rising from the Ashes
Packed with nutrients, organic Shasta View Wheatgrass is an ideal addition to juice and smoothies for shoppers looking to level up their wellness routine. Learn more about the phenomenal family behind this powerful product, the challenges they have overcome this past year, and why now is a great time to feature wheatgrass in your produce display!
Raabs from Groundwork Organics Signal Spring
Residents of the Pacific Northwest eager for signs that longer, warmer days are on their way can look to the arrival of Raabs from Groundwork Organics to mark the transition away from winter! With classic favorites and a new variety that OGC coworkers are buzzing about, now’s the perfect time to learn more about these delicious seasonal greens from this well-loved Willamette Valley grower!
Fruit World: A Pair of Next Generation Farmers Playing The Long Game
On two separate farms in California’s Fresno Valley, two multi-generational fruit growers discouraged their teenage children from pursuing a life in agriculture. The work is demanding, they warned, and every decision is a gamble. The losses can be heartbreaking, and whether you win or lose, the hours are long.
Learn why C.J. Buxman and Bianca Kaprielian first heeded their families’ advice, only to later return to the farm to start Fruit World, and what they say is the ethos behind their business.
Covilli Brand Organics: Passion for Organic Produce that Crosses Borders
During a time that has been anything but “normal,” Covilli Brand Organics continues its strategic expansion with new products and into emerging markets while prioritizing worker health. Read on to learn more about OGC and Covilli’s long-standing relationship and what’s on the horizon for this pioneering grower!
Buck Brand Citrus: A Passion for Flavor
Founded on flavor and an unwavering interest in experimentation, Buck Brand represents organic citrus of superior quality and taste. From more familiar varieties like Navel oranges to more nuanced delights like Finger Limes, OGC is proud to offer nearly 50 varieties from the phenomenal Deer Creek Heights Ranch. With their well-loved TDE mandarin harvest starting in just a handful of days, now’s a great time to learn more about Buck Brand!
From Wild Canyons, En Divina Luz Coaxes Delicious Specialty Citrus
A fog driven by coastal breezes creeps over oak trees, dotting the canyons cut by streams, and rolls over the mountain range to the En Divina Luz ranch. Rugged and a little bit wild, it’s a stunning location to grow citrus.
Meet Rich Johansen: A True Pioneer in Organic Satsuma Production
Anyone who’s tasted Johansen Ranch organic Satsumas, considered to be the sweetest available on the market, know they are worth looking forward to each season.