Key Organizations and Activities
There has been significant assessment and planning activity in Lane County. In 2010, the University of Oregon Community Planning Workshop published a Lane County Local Food Market Analysis. In 2011 Food for Lane County and Oregon Food Bank published a community food assessment for Rural Lane County, including Florence, Oakridge, and the McKenzie River Valley. In 2012 Lane Workforce Partnership published a Food/Beverage Industry Cluster Analysis. In 2014 the City of Eugene published a Lane County Public Market and Food Hub Analysis. Lane County Community and Economic Development has also provided funding for expansion of local food businesses, including Camas Country Mill, GloryBee Honey, Hummingbird Wholesale and Sweet Creek Foods.
Lane County is also home to a large number of farm and food focused organizations, including:
- Willamette Farm & Food Coalition publishes a Locally Grown Guide, is a leader in Farm to School programming, and organizes annual Fill Your Pantry farmers markets.
- Cascade Pacific RC&D hosts an annual Local Food Connection.
- The South Willamette Chapter of Rogue Farm Corps offers beginning farmer training.
- NEDCO manages the SPROUT! commercial kitchen business incubator.
- Huerto de la Familia provides the Latino community with garden and farm education programs and small business development training through a food booth incubator.
- Food for Lane County operates a youth managed CSA farm and gardening classes.
- School Garden Project of Lane County helps schools with garden education programs.
- Willamette Valley Sustainable Foods Alliance is a regional trade association that promotes natural food businesses.
Community Goals and Recommendations
The 2011 community food assessment for Rural Lane County included the following priorities:
- Support and expand consumer food buying clubs.
- Set up gleaning programs.
- Expand education around cooking and shopping on a budget.
- Increase collaboration between small rural retail grocers.
- Increase distribution and the number of retail outlets for local fresh produce.
- Increase distribution, retail outlets and direct sale opportunities for locally caught fish.
- Identify and publish information on existing certified commercial kitchens.
- Develop larger-scale processing capacity to enable food producers to sell to institutions.
- Encourage a countywide conversation about food self-sufficiency.
Willamette Farm and Food Coalition is also running a “Lane County Food makes Dollars and Sense” campaign with a goal of increasing local food consumption from less than 10% to 20% by the year 2020.
Achieving that goal will require each household to dedicate an average of $31 per week to local products, and is estimated to generate $300 million in new revenue for local businesses and create 4,478 new jobs in Lane County.
| GENERAL INFORMATION | |||
| POPULATION | Oregon | Lane | |
| Population (2007) | 3,745,455 | 343,140 | |
| Population (2014) | 3,962,710 | 358,805 | |
| Population change from 2007 to 2014 | 6% | 5% | |
| ESTIMATED SPENDING ON FOOD (WESTERN REGION) | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 ($6,811 per household – average 2.6 persons) | $9,811,651,540 | $898,894,823 | |
| 2014 ($7,175 per household – average 2.6 persons) | $10,935,555,481 | $990,163,798 | |
| Change from 2007 to 2014 | 11% | 10% | |
| FOOD ACCESS AND INSECURITY | |||
| SUPERMARKETS AND GROCERY STORES | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 Grocery Stores | 751 | 67 | |
| 2013 Grocery Stores | 768 | 64 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | 2.3% | -4.5% | |
| 2007 Citizens Per Grocery Store | 4,987 | 5,121 | |
| 2013 Citizens Per Grocery Store | 5,103 | 5,564 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | 2.3% | 8.6% | |
| OTHER SPECIALTY FOOD STORES | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 | 394 | 26 | |
| 2013 | 366 | 28 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | -7.1% | 7.7% | |
| LOW INCOME AND LOW ACCESS TO A GROCERY STORE | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2006 Percentage | 1.0% | 0.9% | |
| 2006 People Affected | 36,785 | 2689 | |
| 2010 Percentage (latest data available) | 5.0% | 4.9% | |
| 2010 People Affected | 195,215 | 17,141 | |
| Percentage Change 2006 to 2010 | 404.3% | 476.5% | |
| AVERAGE COST OF A MEAL | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2009 (National Cost: $2.54) | $2.60 | $2.53 | |
| 2013 (National Cost: $2.79) | $2.77 | $2.86 | |
| Percentage Change 2009 to 2013 | 6.5% | 13.0% | |
| INDIVIDUALS BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2009 (5-year estimates 2005-2009) | 13.6% | 16.2% | |
| 2014 (5-year estimates 2010-2014) | 16.7% | 20.4% | |
| Percentage Change 2009 to 2012 | 22.8% | 25.9% | |
| FOOD INSECURITY RATE | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2009 | 16.8% | 18.3% | |
| 2013 | 15.8% | 16.5% | |
| Percentage Change 2009 to 2013 | -6.0% | -9.8% | |
| SNAP PARTICIPATION RATE | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2009 | 68% | 66% | |
| 2013 | 73% | 65% | |
| Percentage Change 2009 to 2013 | 7.4% | -1.5% | |
| FARMERS MARKETS ACCEPTING SNAP BENEFITS | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2015 Farmers Markets | 172 | 12 | |
| 2015 Farmers Markets Accepting SNAP | 84 | 5 | |
| Percent of Total | 49% | 42% | |
| COMMUNITY CAPACITY | |||
| Oregon | Lane | ||
| Community Food System Assessment Completed | Y | ||
| Food System Council or Working Group Formed and Active | N | ||
| Food System Plan Published | N | ||
| Dedicated Local Food Organization(s) (beyond food assistance) | Y | ||
| COMMUNITY GARDENS | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2014 Number of Community Garden Sites | >158 | 2 | |
| 2014 Number of Garden Plots | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2014 Citizens Per Garden Site | <24,804 | 178,063 | |
| NUMBER OF SCHOOL GARDENS | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 Number of School Gardens | 161 | 30 | |
| Number of Schools Included | 1,262 | 128 | |
| Percentage of Schools Reported to Have a Garden | 12.8% | 23.4% | |
| 2014 Number of School Gardens (new data as of 1/25/2015) | 582 | 79 | |
| Number of Schools Included | 1,174 | 111 | |
| Percentage of Schools Reported to Have a Garden | 49.6% | 71.2% | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2014 | 261.5% | 163.3% | |
| Access to Seed to Supper/Master Gardeners or Equivalent | Y | ||
| Access to Cooking Matters or Equivalent | Y | ||
| FARM BASE | |||
| LAND IN FARMS | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2002: Total Land in Farms | 17,080,422 | 234,807 | |
| 2012: Total Land in Farms | 16,301,578 | 219,625 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | -4.6% | -6.5% | |
| AVERAGE COST PER ACRE | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2002: Average Cost per Acre | $1,202 | $4,572 | |
| 2012: Average Cost per Acre | $1,882 | $6,824 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | 56.6% | 49.3% | |
| NUMBER OF FARMS BY SALES RANGE | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2002: Total Farms | 40,033 | 2577 | |
| 2012: Total Farms | 35,439 | 2,660 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | -11.5% | 3.2% | |
| 2002: Farms with Sales <$25,000 | 31,564 | 2258 | |
| 2012: Farms with Sales <$25,000 | 26,835 | 2334 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | -15.0% | 3.4% | |
| 2002: Farm with Sales $25,000 to $99,999 | 4282 | 191 | |
| 2012: Farms with Sales $25,000 to $99,999 | 3958 | 176 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | -7.6% | -7.9% | |
| 2002: Farms with Sales $100,000 to $249,999 | 1935 | 58 | |
| 2012: Farms with Sales $100,000 to $249,999 | 1,755 | 71 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | -9.3% | 22.4% | |
| 2002: Farms with Sales >$250,000 | 2252 | 70 | |
| 2012: Farms with Sales >$250,000 | 2891 | 79 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | 28.4% | 12.9% | |
| FARMS WITH TYPICAL LOCAL FOOD CROPS | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2002: Vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes | 1708 | 143 | |
| 2012: Vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes | 1889 | 168 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | 10.6% | 17.5% | |
| 2002: Fruits, tree nuts, berries | 5659 | 504 | |
| 2012: Fruits, tree nuts, berries | 5245 | 569 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | -7.3% | 12.9% | |
| 2002: Poultry and eggs (all poultry) | 4588 | 362 | |
| 2012: Poultry and eggs (all poultry) | 6054 | 593 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | 32.0% | 63.8% | |
| 2002: Cattle and calves (farm with sales) | 13654 | 779 | |
| 2012: Cattle and calves (farm with sales) | 11,638 | 748 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | -14.8% | -4.0% | |
| 2002: Milk cows (farms with inventory) | 1133 | 37 | |
| 2012: Milk cows (farms with inventory) | 686 | 50 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | -39.5% | 35.1% | |
| 2002: Hogs and pigs (farms with sales) | 1558 | 104 | |
| 2012: Hogs and pigs (farms with sales) | 1172 | 102 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | -24.8% | -1.9% | |
| 2002: Sheep and goats | 3219 | 231 | |
| 2012: Sheep and goats | 2810 | 252 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | -12.7% | 9.1% | |
| FARMS WITH TYPICAL LOCAL FOOD CROPS | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2002: Total Farms Raising Typical Local Food Crops | 31,519 | 2160 | |
| 2012: Total Farms Raising Typical Local Food Crops | 29,494 | 2,482 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | -6.4% | 14.9% | |
| FOOD CROP DIVERSITY | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 Number of Different Vegetable, Potato, and/or Melon Crops | 42 | 33 | |
| 2007 Number of Different Fruit, Berries, Nut Crops | 27 | 25 | |
| 2007 Number of Different Grain or Cereal Crops | 16 | 9 | |
| 2007 TOTAL FOOD CROPS | 85 | 67 | |
| 2007 Average # of different food crops | 35 | Greater Than | |
| 2012 Number of Different Vegetable, Potato, and/or Melon Crops | 42 | 31 | |
| 2012 Number of Different Fruit, Berries, Nut Crops | 27 | 27 | |
| 2012 Number of Different Grain or Cereal Crops | 16 | 8 | |
| 2012 TOTAL FOOD CROPS | 85 | 66 | |
| Percentage Change in Total Crops from 2007 to 2012 | 0.0% | -1.5% | |
| 2012 Average # of different food crops | 38 | Greater Than | |
| Percentage Change in Average # of crops from 2007 to 2012 | 8.6% | ||
| NUMBER OF ORGANIC FARMS | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2002: Organic Farms | 515 | 50 | |
| 2012: Organic Farms | 554 | 60 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | 7.6% | 20.0% | |
| AVERAGE AGE OF FARMERS | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2002: Average Age | 54.9 | 55.1 | |
| 2012: Average Age | 59.6 | 60.1 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | 8.6% | 9.1% | |
| FARM EMPLOYMENT | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 | 67,222 | 4,427 | |
| 2014 | 61,967 | 3,598 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2012 | -7.8% | -18.7% | |
| TOTAL FARM COMPENSATION | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 | $1,020,772,000 | $33,836,000 | |
| 2014 | $1,109,671,000 | $43,890,000 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2012 | 8.7% | 29.7% | |
| AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPENSATION PER FARM JOB | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 | $15,185 | $7,643 | |
| 2014 | $17,907 | $12,198 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2012 | 17.9% | 59.6% | |
| MARKET LINKAGES | |||
| FARMS WITH ON-FARM PACKING FACILITY | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2012: Number of Farms | 761 | 81 | |
| 2012 Percent of Farms with Packing Facilities | 2.1% | 3.0% | |
| FARMS THAT PRODUCED AND SOLD VALUE-ADDED | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007: Number of Farms | 2,807 | 229 | |
| 2012: Number of Farms | 3,292 | 253 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2012 | 17.3% | 10.5% | |
| 2012 Percent of Farms Selling Value-Added | 9.3% | 9.5% | |
| SALES TO INDIVIDUALS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2002: Number of Farms Reporting Direct Sales | 6383 | 552 | |
| 2012: Number of Farms Reporting Direct Sales | 6,680 | 609 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | 4.7% | 10.3% | |
| 2012 Percent of Farms Selling Directly | 18.8% | 22.9% | |
| 2002: Total Reported Direct Sales | $21,411,000 | $2,327,000 | |
| 2012: Total Reported Direct Sales | $44,177,000 | $5,641,000 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | 106.3% | 142.4% | |
| 2002 Average Direct Sales per Participating Farm | $3,354.38 | $4,215.58 | |
| 2012 Average Direct Sales per Participating Farm | $6,613.32 | $9,262.73 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | 97.2% | 119.7% | |
| 2002 Farm Direct Sales per Capita | $6.11 | $7.09 | |
| 2012 Farm Direct Sales per Capita | $11.37 | $15.93 | |
| Percentage Change 2002 to 2012 | 86.2% | 124.6% | |
| FARMS MARKETING PRODUCTS THROUGH A CSA | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 Marketed through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) | 311 | 29 | |
| 2012 Marketed through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) | 391 | 48 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2012 | 25.7% | 65.5% | |
| 2012 Percent of Farms Selling Through CSA | 1.1% | 1.8% | |
| NUMBER OF FARMERS MARKETS | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2009 Farmers Markets (Data from ERS Food Environment Atlas) | 100 | 9 | |
| 2015 Farmers Markets | 172 | 12 | |
| Percentage Change from 2009 to 2015 | 72% | 33% | |
| 2009 Citizens Per Farmers Market | 38,235 | 38,632 | |
| 2015 Citizens Per Farmers’ Market | 23,039 | 29,900 | |
| Percentage Change 2009 to 2015 | -39.7% | -22.6% | |
| SCHOOL DISTRICTS PURCHASING LOCAL FOOD | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2014-2015 School Year (ODE Grantee list) | 130 | 13 | |
| Number of School Districts | 202 | 16 | |
| Percent of Districts Reporting Purchases of Local Food | 64% | 81% | |
| FARMS MARKETING DIRECT TO RETAIL | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 | No Data | ||
| 2012 | 1,898 | 175 | |
| 2012 Percent of Farms Selling Direct to Retail | 5.4% | 6.6% | |
| NUMBER OF SOLE PROPRIETOR FOOD BUSINESSES (NAICS 311) | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 | 467 | 32 | |
| 2013 | 753 | 50 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2012 | 61.24% | 56.25% | |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF FOOD PROCESSOR EMPLOYERS (NAICS 311) | Oregon | Lane | |
| 2007 | 498 | 49 | |
| 2013 | 548 | 45 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2012 | 10.0% | -8.2% | |
| 2007 FOOD PROCESSORS BY NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES | Oregon | Lane | |
| 1-4 Employees | 163 | 11 | |
| 5-9 Employees | 88 | 10 | |
| 10-19 Employees | 78 | 12 | |
| 20-49 Employees | 80 | 10 | |
| 50-99 Employees | 42 | 3 | |
| 100-249 Employees | 28 | 2 | |
| More than 250 Employees | 19 | 1 | |
| 2007 Total Processor Employment | 19,582 | 1429 | |
| Ranges for non-disclosed data | |||
| 2007 Total Processor Payroll | $686,511,000 | $42,320,000 | |
| 2013 FOOD PROCESSORS BY NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES | Oregon | Lane | |
| 1-4 Employees | 202 | 14 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | 23.9% | 27.3% | |
| 5-9 Employees | 110 | 9 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | 25.0% | -10.0% | |
| 10-19 Employees | 70 | 5 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | -10.3% | -58.3% | |
| 20-49 Employees | 69 | 9 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | -13.8% | -10.0% | |
| 50-99 Employees | 41 | 4 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | -2.4% | 33.3% | |
| 100-249 Employees | 37 | 3 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | 32.1% | 50.0% | |
| More than 250 Employees | 19 | 1 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | 0.0% | 0.0% | |
| 2013 Total Processor Employment | 21,661 | 1493 | |
| Ranges for non-disclosed data | |||
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | 10.6% | 4.5% | |
| 2013 Total Processor Payroll | $848,004,000 | $67,686,000 | |
| Percentage Change 2007 to 2013 | 23.5% | 59.9% |