June 2026 Newsletter

Published June 15, 2026

cherries

  • Thank you to you all for your dedicated participation over the past 8 months to inform and shape our new 5 year Strategic Plan! We have a final draft that has been lovingly shaped by the network.

    The OCFSN Leadership Team and Board are reviewing and approving the new plan in June and July and then we are excited to share the final draft with you all in August. With this new plan we now have an updated roadmap for how the network can best support and uplift your important work. With refined mission, vision, values, and theory of change, we are able to clearly talk about how and why we exist as a network, and our commitments to growing equitable leadership across the network.

    With new tools like our strategy screen, evaluation plan and implementation tactics we are able to clearly state why OCFSN prioritizes a certain project, show the collective impacts we are making, and how we allocate resources to support working groups.

  • Members, please nominate your amazing staff to serve on the OCFSN Leadership Team (LT)! We have had an LT member leave their position and are now recruiting to fill that space this summer.

    What do folks get out of being on the OCFSN LT?

    • You will deepen your connection to Oregon’s food systems ecosystem and expand your connections with partners across the state.

    • Your organization will be compensated $2,000 annual for your time commitment

    • You will get to help steer the direction of OCFSN’s work and how we serve the membership

    What is your commitment?

    • The LT meets monthly for 1.5 hours on the second Wednesday of the month at 1pm.

    • You commit to reviewing staff reports and meeting materials before the meeting

    • You commit to promoting OCFSN’s mission and vision with members and allies to build our community of engagement and collaboration.

    • You commit to review new member applications quarterly, Leadership Team nominations annually,  and vote to appoint the OCFSN Board annually.

    Who is Eligible to serve on the LT?

    Any person that represents (staff, board or volunteer) an OCFSN member organization and who is approved to serve on OCFSN's Leadership Team by their organization is eligible to join the LT. Our goal is to have diverse and equitable representation of historically underserved communities; urban, rural, and regional perspectives; and other lived experiences. We welcome all levels of experience. You don’t have to be an “expert” or an Executive Director. 

    List of OCFSN's current members - https://ocfsn.org/current-members 

    Please complete the nomination form here to nominate someone you think would be a great LT member, or if you would like to nominate yourself.  We will reach out to them/you to work through the application and voting process.

  • New Resource! HRSN Eligibility Matrix is available here. This visual tool shows all eligibility criteria for HRSN Nutrition Services in one place. 

  • Recording Now Available of Recent Terms and Conditions Webinar 

    A captioned recording is now available of the recent webinar introducing the newly established USDA General Terms and Conditions and highlighting key updates to NIFA’s agency specific requirements. The webinar also covered practical guidance on using SciENcv—equipping applicants, awardees and research administrators with the tools they need to confidently navigate these changes. Find the video here. 

Resources & Engagement Opportunities

Working Group Updates

  • Missed a meeting? You can find recordings of working group meetings on OCFSN’s Youtube Channel and other materials in our Public Google Drive.

    Stay looped into the latest news for each of the working groups by joining the mailing lists: How to Use OCFSN Google Groups.

    • Our late spring meetings will be all about value added processing. On Tuesday May 12th,  Sarah Masoni from OSU's Food Innovation Center  joined us to share more about the resources available through the Innovation Center. Check out our resource folder with links to the recording and slides. 

    • At our upcoming meeting on Tuesday June 23rd,  Zak Wiegand from OSU’s Pilot Processing Plant will introduce us to the Pilot Plant and its resources and capabilities.

    • At our May meeting we had the privilege to talk with the folks from Mission West when they presented their new toolkit which was developed from their experiences creating and realizing Montana Marina. 

    • Lastly, check out the  Hub Network’s has a new Youtube playlist, ”Favorites of OR Food Hub Network”,  highlighting relevant recordings from our partners and collaborators.

    • Based on the dialogue from the April WG meeting and the responses  to the follow-up survey, OCFSN has pursued two grant funding opportunities to support the projects that WG members identified as most  helpful and important. If awarded, these funds would support quarterly working group meetings and other workshops, individualized technical assistance and networking support,  and establish a statewide roadmap for food is medicine policy and opportunities at a state level. We will announce if one or both of these proposals is awarded later this summer!

    • For resources and recordings of the April 2026 and all 2025 working group meetings including guest presentations from program operators and vendors visit https://ocfsn.org/veggie-rx. 

    • This group of 27 organizations meets monthly to learn from each other and build systems to become nutrition service providers under HRSN, a program where they can be reimbursed for providing services  through Medicaid. To learn more about this group visit https://ocfsn.org/hrsn.

    • New Resource! HRSN Eligibility Matrix is available here. This visual tool shows all eligibility criteria for HRSN Nutrition Services in one place. 

    • Interested in final guidance materials about the  Fruit and Vegetable benefit or Pantry Stocking benefits? Find resources from Oregon Health Authority saved here.

    • Find answers to  frequently asked questions from OHA, CCOs, and current HRSN service providers in the OCFSN Quarterly HRSN FAQ  EN / ES

    • Farm Viability subgroup meeting | May 27

      • Meeting notes

      • Recording

      • The Farm Viability subgroup had Amy Gilroy from the Oregon Department of Agriculture come and speak about and answer questions on the new ODA funded Pilot Regional Food & Agriculture Business Centers. Folks learned about the structure and plan for the Centers and what is being planned for their future. See the attached info sheet.

    • Virtual Farmland Access Convening | May 28

      • Recording

      • OCFSN hosted organizations working on Farmland Access from across Oregon to present on their farmland access work and discuss opportunities for collaboration. California'sKitchen Table Advisors presented on their Land Access Ecosystem Building program and participation on theCA's Agricultural Land Equity Task Force whose report has many recommendations that can be informative to the farmland access work and policy in Oregon. This is the first of multiple of these farmland access discussions.

      • Presenters included:

        • Thomas Nelson and James Nakahara of Kitchen Table Advisors and California Agricultural Land Equity Task Force

        • Institutional farmland access and institutional land access study with Oregon Farm to Institution Collaborative (Aliza McHugh and Aaron Poplack) - see initial report attached

        • Farmland access projects with Clackamas Community College with Cultural Harvest Collective (Nikita Vincent)

        • Transitioning Oregon's Farmland BFRDP Project (Andrea Krahmer, OAT; Natalie Danielson, FoFF; and Geoffrey Van, OFC)

        • Oregon farmland access producer survey with Oregon Ag Trust (Tara Olson and Phoebe Autry)

        • Farmland Access Policy Council with Friends of Family Farmers (Britteny Deming)

        • Farmland Access Programming at American Farmland Trust - Carly Boyer

    • Beginning Farmer and Rancher Subgroup | May 21

      • Meeting notes

      • Folks discussed plans for a 2026 working group gathering, plans for BFRDP and LAMP applications, how folks are navigating new USDA Terms and Conditions, and a bit on upcoming BFR events this summer.

    • Climate Resilience & Stewardship subgroup meeting | June 29 from 11:30-12:30pm

      • With the early season drought and growing fire season concerns, this group will meet to discuss tools for climate planning and adaptation, share resources, find collaborators for learning circles, and talk about what folks are seeing on the ground.If folks are interested, we will start with a quick round of 5 minute or so presentations about current climate work and what they are hearing from their networks. Then we will have time for a group discussion. 

      • Zoom link |Calendar link

    Two other quick items:

    • If you would like to be added to the invites to these meetings, please complete this form and I can add you to the recurring calendar events.

    • The BFR subgroup also has a BFR resource map. If you would like to add your organization or update your listing, please use this google form.

    • The CFS at the Leg. working group hosted an end of session debrief with several presentations on food systems bill outcomes. I know several folks were unable to attend.

      • You can find the meeting recording here. 

      • There are great presentations on session outcomes and ways to stay involved on issues like: food access, land use and farmland grabs, data centers, farm stores, and budget outcomes for OSU Extension and other state programs. Of note, Ellie Gluhosky from the Oregon For All Coalition presented on the coalition's work and how to get involved. Folks can find information on how your organization can join the coalition here. 

      • The 2026 Short Session Bills to Watch Matrix and 2026 Bills to Watch slides provide great details on what happened to food systems and allied bills this session.

    • The CFS at the Leg working group coordinators (Andrew Collins-Anderson and Lauren Gwin) will be updating working group materials, reaching out to policy folks to get updates on what folks are planning for the 2027 session and share those updates with the working group and network.

    • Our May OFIC meeting focused on sharing the overlap between Veggie Rx/Food as Medicine programming and Farm to Institution in our state and the goals of increasing local and sustainable food in both of the programming efforts.   

    • The next OFIC meeting is June 16th, from 1:00 - 2:15 PM and will focus on farm to corrections with presentations from author and researcher Leslie Soble, formerly of Impact Justice as well as local organizations working in the farm to prison space.

    • OFIC has been awarded a grant to continue an institutional sales pilot that began in 2025 with Kitchen Sync Strategies. This grant will allow for the continued support for three food hubs to access institutional sales as well as a dissemination of best practices and storytelling. 

    • The Oregon Farm to Institution Collaborative is a workgroup of OCFSN with a mission to create and sustain a network of relationships between Oregon's agricultural producers, organizations, and institutions that supports local food purchasing, creates new markets for food producers, and improves food and nutrition security statewide. If you are interested in being added to the OFIC listserv, please email oregon-farm-to-institution-collaborative+subscribe@googlegroup.com 

    • Our current OFIC documents and resources are linked here 

      • If you have a key resource for either producers or institutions regarding farm to institution to be added to the webpage, please email Aliza McHugh at ofic-coordinator@ocfsn.org

  • Visit OCFSN's calendar page for details on all the food systems related events on our radar.

    • June 25 Strategic Restructuring Cohort: Nonprofit Consolidation hosted by NAO. Space is still available in NAO’s upcoming Strategic Restructuring Cohort: Nonprofit Consolidations, a virtual learning cohort for nonprofit leaders exploring mergers, acquisitions, asset transfers, and other strategic partnerships. Register here.

    • June 27 @ 11am Tour & Picnic at Food for Lane County Youth Farm organized by Slow Food South Willamette. RSVP here.

    • June 28 @ 9am. Community Māla Day at Oregon Food Bank. Register here. 

    • June 30. Salad and Song Fundraiser hosted by North Coast Food WEb at Obelisk Brewing. Free to attend, there will be salads and other goodies for sale, musical performances from local musicians, and a small raffle. Come by and spend some time with your local food community at this summer edition of our biannual Soup and Song fundraiser.  We will continue our Soup and Song event this fall. 

    • July 13 @ 3pm. Klamath Producer Resources Fair at KCC. Browse informational booths, enjoy drinks and snacks, and get the support you need for your farm or ranch. Learn more here.

    • July 15. Indigenous agroforestry webinar hosted by Ecotrust. Learn about the Indigenous Agroforestry Network, the elements of agroforestry practices, and the challenges and opportunities facing Indigenous agroforestry practitioners. RSVP here.

    • July 30 @  4pm. Fire Readiness: Emergency Action Planning for Farms, Ranches, and Rural Properties organized by American Farmland Trust.  The Herb Pharm, Williams, Oregon. Registration coming soon.

    • September 5. Inaugural Rogue Flavor Showcase at Bingham Knolls. Interested in being a vendor? Fill out this short application. 

    • September 15 (Redmond) High Desert Nonprofit Conference: Designed for Central Oregon nonprofit leaders, staff, and volunteers, this conference will include sessions on fundraising, finance, governance, and leadership, along with networking opportunities and an inspiring keynote by Steve Patty. Learn more here.

    • October 7-8. 8th Annual Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum will be hosted in Denver. Learn more here.  Apply by August 14th to be considered for a farmer scholarship. 

    • SAVE THE DATE: October 21st–23rd at Sunriver, OR for the 2026 Oregon Resilience Summit where disaster survivors, thought-partners, CBOs, and nonprofit, public, and private sectors come together for three days of energizing collaboration.

    • October 26-27 (Portland) – Nonprofit Impact Conference: Centered on Insight, Innovation & Impact, this two-day event brings together 500+ nonprofit leaders for workshops, panels, and networking. Keynote speaker Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, will headline this two-day event!

    • [Due June 18] Brighter Future Fund's National Farm Viability Grant Is Open! Grants of up to $10,000 are available to farmers and ranchers. Learn more here.  

    • [Open Grants] The Ford Family Foundation - Technical Assistance Grants, Good Neighbor Grants, and larger funding requests. Learn more here. 

    • [Due August 1] Clif Family Foundation open call grants support general operating costs. Learn more here. Grant announcements occur approximately four months after the deadline. Typical grants range from $5,000 - $50,000 and last for one year. Priorities include: Regenerative and Organic Farming, Food Production Workers’ Health and Safety, and Healthy Food Access. Learn more here. 

    • [Due June 18th] American Farmland Trust, Brighter Future Fund's National Farm Viability Grant - Grants of up to $10,000 are available to farmers and ranchers to:

      • Improve farm viability 

      • Expand access to, transfer, or permanently protect farmland 

      • Advance regenerative agricultural practices  

      • Learn more here

    • [Reviewed Monthly] AgWest - Farm Credit’s Rural Community Grant

    AgWest Farm Credit is dedicated to enhancing the economic and social wellbeing of rural communities across the West. Their Rural Community Grant program offers funding to nonprofit organizations working on projects that improve rural areas in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Eligible projects include facility improvements, equipment purchases, and capital enhancements to support community infrastructure and prosperity.

    •  Forest Grove Farmers Market support roles at Adelante Mujeres. 

    • July 18 and 19. Oregon Food Bank is looking for volunteers for their booth at Portland Pride Waterfront Festival. Register here.

    • Thursdays and Fridays in Astoria. North Coast Food Web is looking for reliable volunteers to help with food box assembly, volunteer delivery drivers (fuel mileage reimbursement provided), and onsite food pickup. Contact info@northcoastfoodweb.org for more info.

  • CISC-INFAS HBCU Fellowship Application for 2026-2027. *Applications must be received by June 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM CT*. For 2026-2027, the CISC-INFAS HBCU Fellowship Program (CHFP) welcomes HBCU graduate students whose research includes work in food systems, regenerative agriculture, natural resources, or related fields. Learn more here. 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Our next newsletter will be published September 2026.

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