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OSU Extension and Feed Them Freedom outline community food hub plans in Multnomah County
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Summary
OSU Extension and Feed Them Freedom briefed commissioners on a county-funded collaboration to develop a Black Community Food Hub and food forest in Gresham. Presenters reported soil tests found no heavy-metal concerns, community workshops with strong participation, and plans for workforce development and further on-site workshops.
OSU Extension and community partners updated the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on a county-funded effort to develop a Black Community Food Hub and food forest in East County.
Angela Sandino, regional director for the Oregon State University Extension Service, said county support funded a coordinator, workshops and soil testing that allowed staff to proceed with a community-driven design process. "Because of this investment, we were also able to continue to offer programming...and support our team to offer soil and plant tissue testing," she told the board.
Heidi Nordyke and OSU specialists described multi-stage site work including soil sampling of six areas; lab results showed no levels of concern for heavy metals such as lead or chromium, which allowed planning to move forward for tree fruit and food-forest plantings. The team hosted a March community food-forest design workshop with 38 participants; organizers scanned and coded the maps and input to inform next steps.
Shontae Johnson, executive director of Feed Them Freedom Foundation, described the hub project as a five-acre site in Gresham that will support BIPOC producers, workforce development and culturally relevant food distribution. "In the last year alone, we've served over 26,000 people in our food pantry...and purchased over $200,000 worth of fresh produce and proteins from local BIPOC producers," Johnson said.
Presenters said next steps include three additional on-site workshops (the next scheduled for April 25 on soil health and tree fruit planting), permitting for basic infrastructure, and producing a strategic roadmap and workforce table report to align agriculture, workforce and economic development goals.
Commissioners thanked the partners and noted early positive outcomes for small farms and local producers; the board did not take formal action but accepted the briefing and asked that partners return with additional updates.
