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Location:
Junction City, Oregon
Providing
the Co-op since 2002 with: Lettuce, spinach, summer squash
and more
Farming
practices: Certified Organic
Other
crops grown (varieties not included): Mixed vegetables,
fruits and flowers, with an emphasis on strawberries, early
season greens, new potatoes, cucumbers and late-season tomatoes,
peppers and melons
Acreage
farmed: 30+
Crew
size: 12
Farming
since: 2000
Products
used to control weeds, pests and pathogens: For weeds, mostly
hand and tractor cultivating. We also use propane flamers,
beneficial insects and create insect habitats that help control
pests
"We
both have worked for farms in the area before, leasing 10
acres on Maple Drive, north of Eugene. We were able to buy
the property adjacent to it of 30 acres with an old farmhouse.
Our
farm manager, Juan, came to us just as we expanded the new
acreage, and helped us immeasurably in assembling and managing
our crew.
We're
passionate about what we do, and that in itself is gratifying.
Thanks for supporting local agriculture!"
Did You Know?
- Oregon
ranks third nationally in strawberry production. Two percent
of the nation's strawberries are grown in Oregon.
- In
2001, Oregon growers produced 40.2 million pounds of strawberries
on 3,100 acres, with a farm-gate value of $15,164,000.
- Approximately
95% of the crop is processed, with the remainder being sold
for fresh market. Fresh market berries are generally sold
locally while processed berries are sold and used nationally
and internationally.
- Yield
per acre varies from year to year, depending on weather
and incidence and severity of disease and insect pests.
Average yield is about 10,000 pounds per acre although in
2001, the state average was 13,000 pounds per acre.
- Production
costs for established strawberries are approximately $3,500
per acre.
- Almost
all of Oregon's strawberries are grown west of the Cascade
Mountains in the Willamette Valley.
- Fertile
soils, mild winters and cool summers allow growers to produce
high quality berries with good flavor, color and texture.
Marion County has the most strawberry acreage in the state
(47%), followed by Washington County (22%). Other Willamette
Valley counties producing strawberries include Benton, Clackamas,
Columbia, Lane, Linn, Multnomah, Polk, and Yamhill. There
is also some small acreage in the north central and southwestern
parts of the state.
http://pestdata.ncsu.edu/cropprofiles/docs/orstrawberries.html
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Groundworks
Organic