July 2024 | Issue 6

The Organic Catkin

Meridian Orchard, Aurora, OR

In this issue:


  • Summer Tour 2024
  • Grant Update
  • Member Meeting Re-cap
  • Advisory Committee Election Results
  • TOPP Program
  • Past Webinars
  • Membership Info
  • Event Calendar

You are invited to the Oregon Organic Hazelnut Collective

7th Annual Summer Tour!


August 27th | 8:30 am - 4:00 pm


Join us for an exciting day at Meridian Orchard, an 80-acre third-generation certified organic hazelnut farm. The morning will feature an exclusive farm tour with owners MaryClair Birkemeier Stehman and David Stehman, along with a presentation by their collaborator David Knaus, Founder and President of Apical Crop Science, on Regenerative Agriculture and his projects at Meridian. The event will continue on this beautiful property with a delicious lunch, followed by an afternoon filled with educational, innovative, and exciting presentations and panels.


Don't miss this opportunity to see, experience, learn, and connect with farmers, educators, influencers, and supporters of the Oregon organic hazelnut industry. We can't wait to see you there!


Afternoon Speaker Sessions 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm


  • Marissa Lane-Massee - OSU Faculty Research Assistant
  • Topic: How to Utilize Cover Drops in Functional Orchard Management 


  • Kimberly Garlland - USDA/NRCS Beavercreek Field Office 
  • Topic: NRCS Grant and Support Opportunities for Hazelnut Farmers 


  • Nik Wiman - OSU Hazelnut Extension Specialist
  • Topic: Current updates and news in the organic hazelnut industry


  • Marketing America’s Best Nut/what we can learn from the Pistachio Industry


  • Hazelnuts for Food and Health


  • Nicolette Nickolaou - Owner of Youngberg Hill Winery
  • Topics:  How Your Vineyard Neighbors Can Support the Oregon Organic Hazelnut Movement


  • Grower Panel


Deadline to Register: 8/16/24


Details:

  • Coffee and pastries will be served in the morning
  • Lunch will be provided


Please Note:

  • Each attendee must be registered
  • RSVP with ticket allocation by 8/16/24


Stay tuned to the summer tour page on our website for more details.

Register Here

Meridian Orchard, Aurora, OR

Grant Update


The OOHC is proud to share that the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has approved our funding request for over $190,000 to improve visibility, and strengthen the supply chain of local, organic hazelnuts. Read the full press release here.

Annual Member Meeting Recap


For the OOHC, our first Annual Meeting on April 12th was epic and extraordinary on many levels.  While our organization has been established and in force since 2017, hosting six annual summer tours to date, we had yet to have an Annual Meeting of the Advisory Committee and our members.  This first annual meeting symbolized the culmination of our transformation into the current organization, the beginning of a new OOHC presence and the hope of our future ahead.  

 

Twenty-two attendees spent the day together; learned about the evolution journey and projects of the OOHC, and helped our organization envision its future efforts. Members expressed appreciation for our newsletter, website and summer tour. The roundtable sharing segment was especially of interest, allowing everyone to ask questions, learn from each other and support one another.

 

There was a clear call to establish a communication tool that allows members to share information, ask questions, etc. We’re excited for this and look forward to putting it into action as soon as the summer tour planning is complete and our big new grant project is launched (more on that to come).

 

The meeting was held at Youngberg Hill winery in McMinnville, which offered a most enjoyable setting for the day. Thank you to Youngberg Hill for donating use of the space to us.


The camaraderie continued after the meeting with a tour and social hour at Cow Pig Dragon organic hazelnut farm in Yamhill. Beautiful weather, surroundings and company - What a wonderful way to close out the day. Thanks go out to Sue Chen for hosting!

 

We plan to keep the momentum of our mission going and look forward to our 2nd Annual Member meeting next spring.  

Youngberg Hill Winery, McMinnville, OR & Cow Pig Dragon Farm, Yamhill, OR

Advisory Committee Election Results



The first election of OOHC Advisory Committee Members took place at our recent Annual Meeting, following the process called out in our recently finalized Charter. The OOHC is a project of a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor, not a stand-alone organization. As such we do not have a Board of Directors. Instead, we have an Advisory Committee which oversees the organization’s activities, as called out in the Charter.


Election results are as follows:


Initial 1-year term: May 2024-April 2025


  • Cassedea Ashley (NW Native Nuts), Secretary
  • MaryClair Birkemeier Stehman (Meridian Orchard)
  • Brian Buxton (Buxton Farms LLC),Treasurer
  • Sue Chen (Cow Pig Dragon Farm)


2-year term: May 2024 – April 2026


  • Bruce Kaser (Pratum Farm)
  • Ben Larson (My Brother's Farm), Vice Chairperson
  • Lori Stole (Skydance Farm), Chairperson
  • Jed White (Cascade Foods)
  • Raina Wickstrom (Steenson Hazelnut Orchards)

Meridian Orchard, Aurora, OR

If you have any questions about the Advisory Committee or how to be involved let us know, or ask to join us for one of our monthly ZOOM meetings. (Contact: Lori Stole, loristole@outlook.com)

Seeking Organic Certification?


TOPP (Transition to Organic Partnership Program) is offering free one-on-one assistance to help you develop your organic system plan and prepare for organic certification. Contact NW TOPP today to schedule a session with their certification specialists!


Learn more and apply for TOPP programs at www.organictransition.org or email directly at topp@tilth.org.

My Brother's Farm, Creswell, OR


Check Out Our Past Webinars Here!

The OOHC is excited to share recordings of webinars relevant to organic hazelnut production. 

Visit www.oregonorganichazelnuts.org/events to learn about the reasoning and logistics of growing organic hazelnuts.

Visit our YouTube page for an in depth look at a costing tool available for your production system.


OOHC Membership


$ 50/year ($25 for students*)

 

Membership benefits**

  • Listing of your organization on the OOHC website, with a link to your website
  • Invitation to annual OOHC members meeting (learn about members’ farms, seek solutions to challenges, help select annual OOHC priorities)
  • Listing in Member Directory - and receive directory
  • Free OOHC-branded hat
  • View/participate in the online organic hazelnut forum (launching in Fall)
  • Be counted as a member of our collective, so we can better represent the organic hazelnut industry

 

*   Includes high school students as well as part-time or full-time trade school/college/university students.

** You can opt out of any benefit(s) you don’t want. 


Become a Member


Upcoming Events

Aug 27th: Annual Organic Summer Tour at Meridian Orchard

Register Here
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