Pitching Oregon Products & Suited for Drought
Pitching Oregon Products & Suited for Drought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.
New research out of Washington State University suggests that organic farming actually likes drought. John Reganold says it's about the soil and that organic farms understand building healthy soils that hold more water and more nutrients. Many of today's farming operations, while not organic, have been adopting some of organic farmings practices where even in drought conditions, yields remain strong. Reganold says the key to withstanding the effects of climate change, while feeding a growing global population, lies in building healthy soil.
Oregon is using a bit of a secret weapon when it comes to pitching Oregon ag products overseas. Ali Wallace, the current Miss Oregon, is headed to Japan to promote Portland products in an upscale Osaka department store, a chef's competition in which they are required to use the Oregon-Idaho colossal onion, and a large retail show aimed at supermarkets that captures some of the latest food and beverage trends from Oregon.
WALLACE: The crown definitely does help catch people's eyes and attention. If I went out there just as Ali, people will be who is this girl? But when they see Miss Oregon, it gives me a little bit more credibility. I definitely think it will help a lot of Oregon and Portland products.
That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.
