The Barometer Online

Issue date: 5/11/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Cory Reed Alan Deitch speaks with Sonya Springstead, a transcriber for OSU disability access service, at the OSU Organic Growers Club Saturday at the Local Food and Farming Forum. The club grows produce on a local farm and sells it on campus every Friday.

Local farmers and businesses gathered to sell the fruits of their labor for the first Local Food and Farming Forum at Midway Farms on Saturday. It was a festival to support local farmers, businesses and alternative food supplies.

Featuring approximately 28 families and their businesses, the forum offered a wide variety of organic foods, plants, cosmetics and other products.

"Everything is local," Midway Farms owner Cynthia Kapple said. "We want to really support local farms."

The event also featured free samples, experts in local food and small farming, seed planting, and live music.

A majority of the businesses that set up booths were also participants in the Saturday markets of both Albany and Corvallis.

"We all share and connect [to bring alternative forms of food sources]," Kapple said. "I believe in what we're doing."

As the owner of Midway Farms, Kapple has provided a place for local growers to sell their products, ranging from fruits and vegetables to homemade cards and soaps.

The name Midway Farms was derived from the fact that she does not always prosper from her farm stand, but she helps others do so. She sees it as a multi-family venture.

The idea of the farm forum was thought of by Jackie Sleeper, an OSU animal science department graduate with an option in animal behavior and bioethics. Sleeper wanted to get involved with the local agricultural community, and also promote local food as another option for community members.

Sleeper asked Kapple if she would help.

"[I thought,] why don't we do it on the farm?" Kapple said. "Since I'm one of the only farms set up for guests, [we held the event here]."

"It turned out so perfectly," Sleeper said. "People really came together and helped each other out."

Continued...

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