Orgs & People to Know

How "Safe to Fail" can help you test new agricultural practices

Graeme Hand - Safe To Fail Trial by Linda Poole, Regenerative Grazing Specialist & Mike Morris, Southwest Regional Office Director

Learn about sustainability "Safe to Fail" trials being hosted by NCAT to test regenerative agricultural practices inspired by Australian rancher Graeme Hand. Hand's methods use low amounts of labor, space, and cash to test alternative farming methods on your land. This can include switching a small plot to organic or testing a small paddock's recovery after heavy grazing and trampling.

AHIVOY Nominated for Wine Enthusiast Award

The Dundee Hills AVA organization announced that AHIVOY was nominated for a Wine Enthusiast Social Visionary of the Year Award.

Per the AVA, AHIVOY (The Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad) is dedicated to “empowering Latinx and Hispanic vineyard stewards (workers) of the Willamette Valley through education and professional development opportunities that lead to ongoing careers in the wine industry.”

Learn more about the organization here or visit the Wine Enthusiast’s page here.

Organizations to Know: Culinary Breeding Network

Culinary Breeding Network

The CBN is an organization that aims to identify and promote veggies, grains, and fruits that work well when grown organically. They organize seed trials and marketing events to promote products and networking. It was founded by Lane Selman, a professor at OSU, and works closely with Dry Farming Institute, Uprising Seeds, and other local organic farms, chefs and small grocers.

The CBN recently hosted Tomato Fest, a festival in honor of one of the most delicious and versatile orbs to grace our tables. Tomato Fest was held at Wellspent Market in the Kerns neighborhood of Portland.

A photo of the outdoor market for Tomato Fest 2023 at Wellspent Market in Portland.

Revino's Plan to Save the Planet (With Refillable Wine Bottles)

Founded in 2021 by Adam Rack and Keenan O’Hern, Revino aims to reduce the carbon footprint of wine by offering refillable bottles. The company will collect, wash, and redistribute their proprietary bottle that is designed to last up to 50 fills. Starting in Oregon and using the Oregon BottleDrop collection sites to streamline the process for the wine consumers, their aim is national.

Bottle design by Revino; Image copyright Revino; Used with permission.

The company notes in their press release that over 16 billion glass bottles and containers are used annually, but less than 30% are recycled. The average glass wine bottle takes 1.28 kg of CO2 to produce and dispose of and is most often sourced internationally. Alternatives like cans, Tetra Paks, and bag in box do not offer the cellaring capabilities or unique presentation of a 750ml glass bottle. Recycling itself is not without carbon impacts: it takes significant amounts of energy to melt the glass down so it can be reshaped into a new product.

By offering reusable containers with an efficient distribution and collection network, the carbon impacts are significantly reduced. Revino states that it will take only three cycles for their bottles to “break even on carbon emissions.”

Bottles are launching in the spring of 2024, though interested wineries can sign up for the program now on their website. Interested end consumers can check out the list of participating wineries here and keep an eye out on shelves for bottles stamped “REFILLABLE.” The initial phase is intended for sales and consumption within Oregon, so out of state consumers wishing to participate are encouraged to talk with the winery regarding returning empty bottles.

*Please note, this post was not sponsored and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as an endorsement.

CAFF: Pest Management Guide & Spanish Language Resources

Want to learn about ecological approaches to pest management? Download the free guide by CAFF here. The guide discusses biological controls, cover crops, mating disruption methods, and more with discussions of active studies.

CAFF (Community Alliance with Family Farmers) was founded 45 years ago to connect small farmers together to learn, grow, and advocate. Their mission "is to build sustainable food and farming systems through policy advocacy and on-the-ground programs that create more resilient family farms, communities and ecosystems."

¿Eres latino? ¿Eres agricultor? Learn more about CAFF's WhatsApp resource for Spanish speakers - únete a los grupos de WhatsApp-CAFF!

Straw hat and pruning shears on a table at Cameron Winery.

Get to Know LIVE

LIVE is a non-profit that certifies winegrowing in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1997, the organization currently boasts over 300 certified vineyards, wineries, and tasting rooms in 2023. Benchmark requirements include sustainability measures, workers rights and social justice, and long-term climate goals such as pesticide reduction. Deep Roots Members that are LIVE certified at the winery and/or tasting room include Apolloni Vineyards, Ayres Vineyard, Carabella Vineyard, and Illahe Vineyard. The number of vineyards our members source from are too many to list in our blog, though you can view the full list of certified members here.

One of the many services LIVE offers are free online educational videos, including the most recent on sourcing sustainable flowers for industry events and tasting rooms titled "Sustainable Floristry in the Wine Industry with Lynsea Coy of Coy & Co. Curatorial Floral." Coy offers detailed information on the floral import trade, sources of plastics and petroleum, and the nebulous regulation in the floristry industry. The information can help you make a thoughtful choice for your business. View the video and others here!

LIVE recently held their annual meeting, which included talks by Jancis Robinson. You can view highlights here.

Check In On the Vintage

Want an insider's perspective on 2023? Hop over to the Willamette Valley Wineries Association (WVWA) for updated thoughts from winemakers and grapegrowers here.

The WVWA is a trade organization funded by Willamette Valley wineries. They promote the Valley's wine and tourism. Looking for information on planning your visit to the Valley? They are a fantastic resource covering the entire region.