Page 28 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County

CHAPTER 2: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURE SECTOR

4. Agreeable Climate 6. Relevance and Availability to the Market
Washington County has an agreeable climate for The same significant growth in small consumer-

growing a diversity of crops. There is a long growing direct farms is due to an increasing interest in
season (the time between the last frost in the spring buying local and consumer willingness to seek out
around mid-April, and the first frost in the fall a relationship with the person and place that grows
around the end of October). This moderate climate one’s food. Visiting farms and farmers markets has
means Washington County does not have sustained become a social outing.
deep cold in winter, nor sustained hot temperatures
in the summer. The mild winters allow farmers to
grow high-value crops such as nursery stock, fruit
trees, and berries that could not be grown in areas

with colder winters like eastern Oregon or Montana.
Annual rainfall in Washington County averages from
38” in Hillsboro to 46” in Forest Grove, according to
the state climatologist. Most rainfall is received in
the winter, and the summers are typically dry.

5. Proximity to Urban Area Washington County Visitors Association has provided signage (pro-
duced by nonprofit Oregon Aglink) that educates travelers about crops
There are costs and benefits for Washington or breeds raised at many roadside farms.
County farmers from being so close to the Portland 7. Efficient and Safe Transportation
metropolitan area. Farmers must deal with certain
negative aspects of population growth: competing Transportation and efficient roadways are important
for space on roads, losing farmland to urban in both the growing of agricultural products and
areas, and the potential future need to compete the moving of products from the farm gate to
for water. On the other hand, farms close to the market. Safety on rural roadways is also important,

urban area have historically benefitted from their given diverse road characteristics and limited
proximity when taking their crops to Portland improvements. In the growing of products, farm
for sale. Relative to Yamhill County, for example, machinery and trucks need to move from supplier
Washington County farms are closer to the large to farm and from farm parcel (field, building) to
population base of Portland. Recently, there have parcel within the farming operation. In transporting
been significant changes in the marketing strategies products to market, farmers need to be able to
of small farms, with many marketing direct to move their product to an intermediary or retail
the consumer through Community Supported entity for processing, packaging, or reselling.
Agriculture (CSA) operations, farmers markets, and This involves trucks and trailers that need safe

direct sales to restaurants and regional markets. and uncongested roadways and bridges. Safety
strategies are critical to protect farmers and all
other rural road users.

24 WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY