Educating, Providing Opportunities, Bringing Folks Together.

To advance common understanding about the social and economic implications of local food and farming issues.

The Food Literacy program stimulates community involvement in local foods by offering opportunities for people to learn about the potential wealth of it, and issues that sometimes make connecting eaters with growers a challenge. Opportunities range from sitting at your computer to lively discussions with a room–or restaurant–full of people.

Food Lit (our affectionate term for the program) brings farmers, chefs, food activists, authors, neighborhood food groups and many others to our annual Fall Food Series at the Corvallis library, or Community Discussion Dinners at local eateries. Other communitites in the Ten Rivers foodshed hold similar gatherings at churches, community centers, community gardens and potlucks.

A fun way to delve into local foods is through cook-offs. Our first year of Local Seasonal Foods Cook-offs were so popular that more will follow. Restaurants, businesses and the Benton County Health Department have made them deliciously rewarding. Watch for our next one, then get out your pots and pans!

In our fast-paced technological world, websites and listservs are critical connectors. A key element to this website is the Local Foods Directory. We also help you find information and opportunities to build skills to grow and preserve food yourself, thus insuring your own family’s food security.

Look for the Ten Rivers table at the next community event. Join us in reaching the goal of having 30% of the food consumed in our foodshed grown here.