It was a rollercoaster of a 2023 legislative session! We want to debrief food systems 2023 legislative priorities with the Network, so please join the OCFSN Policy Working Group’s End of 2023 Leg. Session Mini-Convening on July 25, 10:00 - 11:30 am. Register here.

Many OCFSN members and partners put in very hard work for the 2023 Session on a wide range of issues. There were wins and losses for food systems this session. Join us to learn and share what happened with OCFSN member priority bills and budgets. We will also begin the discussion of what’s next for the OCFSN Policy Working Group as we build up our collective power. Any questions please email Erik at policy@ocfsn.org.

The Public Policy Skills and Engagement Opportunities Working Group is preparing a series focusing on the 2023 Farm Bill. We hope to have a four part series starting in August focusing on: Farm Bill 101 with the HEAL Food Alliance, Nutrition, Native Farm Bill Coalition, and Farming & Production.

• The 2023 Census of Oregon’s Veggie Rx Programs is available! Watch Emily’s full presentation on Youtube.

• Register to join us August 16 - 17 for the Veggie Rx Working Group Convening in Portland. We’ll definitely be spending time in Forest Grove with Adelante Mujeres and we’ll share out a full agenda as it emerges.

• GusNIP Year 3 Impact Findings

The Oregon Land Use and Farmland Protection presentations are up on our YouTube channel. Tune in to learn from experts, Greg Holmes and Nellie McAdams of 1000 Friends of Oregon, about Oregon's land use system and threats to protecting Oregon farmland.

The Farming for the Future working group participated in a tequio (volunteer farm work day) at Anahuac Farm south of Salem in June. It was a beautiful and fun day outside supporting this amazing community and cultural space. We look forward to future events with the Anahuac team.

Folks in the working group have asked if there is interest in creating a collaborative organizing space for community gardens across Oregon. This could include a space to discuss other forms of community food production not for profit. If this is of interest, email Andrew and he can coordinate an initial discussion.

Upcoming Meetings:

Climate Resilience & Stewardship Subgroup Tricky Topics Series | Western Water Law, Agriculture, and Climate Change | July 24, 3:00 - 4:30 pm

• We are excited for our second offering for this subgroup's tricky topics series! This session will be focused on western water law 101 with regional case studies on water solutions that make community food systems more resilient to climate change. Experts in western water law Caylin Barter, Wild Salmon Center, and Lisa Seales, Deschutes River Conservancy will be presenting. Bring your burning questions and join the discussion on how to create a better future for water, climate and agriculture in Oregon. Zoom link

Farm Viability Subgroup Meeting | August 2, 1:30 - 2:30 pm

• This is a group of Oregon farm/ranch business TA providers who meet to collaborate/support each other. At our next meeting we will be discussing how this small but mighty group of TA providers can best connect to the exciting new Regional Food Business Center and brainstorm how to better communicate how farm business skills support farmers with goals beyond solely a profit motive such as producing food for their communities, building intergenerational wealth, and contributing to social and environmental justice. Zoom link.

Beginning Farmer & Rancher Subgroup Meeting | August 17, 10:00 - 11:30 am

• Agenda forthcoming for this group of beginning farmer & rancher service providers. We often include a round robin with updates on programming across the state. Zoom link.

We want you to engage with this Working Group! Send Andrew an email and he can get you connected to this work.

The DEI Committee is currently reviewing the Action Plan created from the 2023 Equity Assessment responses. This will be interwoven with the upcoming strategic planning process.

During our May meeting, Amy McCann of Local Food Marketplace dove into the newly published case study reflecting on the first year of the Northwest Food Hub Network. Watch the recording here.

Southern Oregon Region to Region Distribution Plans for the hot topic for our June meeting. Sarah Akbari from Klamath Grown and Carrie Juchau from Josephine County Farm Collective share their region to region distribution plans and farm collective membership guidelines. Watch the recording here.