Page 34 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County

CHAPTER 2: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURE SECTOR
• Unsafe roads that make it difficult and
dangerous to move farm equipment and
trucks.
• Perception that working with County
government may be complicated.
• Potential risks associated with providing rural
tourism - concerns about liability and being
sued for slips and trips and other injuries or
losses.
• Need for business plan training. Producers
need to know what it would cost to expand
their business or change commodities. What
would it cost to add rural tourism to the
business mix?
4. What are the strengths and opportunities of
Washington County agriculture?
The following strengths and opportunities were
identified by respondents:
• Quality soils: Washington County has some
of the best soils in the world for growing food
and fiber.
• Secure base inventory of high-value farmland.
• Good water supply: Washington County
agriculture has a good supply of water com-
pared to many counties because of Henry
Hagg Lake and the Tualatin Valley Irrigation
District (TVID).
• Agreeable climate: Washington County has
an agreeable climate for a wide range of
crops and a long growing season.
• Proximity to urban area: Proximity to the
Portland/Vancouver area and the Port of
Portland provides a wide range of opportuni-
ties for marketing agricultural products.
30 WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY
• Relevance and availability to the market:
Growth in consumer direct sales is due to an
increasing consumer interest in buying local
and willingness to seek out a relationship
with the person and place that grows their
food and fiber.
• Efficient and safe transportation: Transporta-
tion and efficient roadways are important both
to cultivation practices and distribution of
agricultural products from the farm to market.
• Innovation and market orientation: Farmers
use innovation and vision to determine the
crops or animal breeds they will grow and
that will bring adequate profit.
• New and diversified markets can strengthen
the industry, which has an increasing role in
Oregon’s economic future.
• Resources and networks: Farmers use
resources, research, and networks to prevent
and solve problems, build relationships, help
each other, and for common marketing.
• Presence of farming infrastructure, including
equipment dealers, suppliers, and seed
cleaners.
5. Do you see any agricultural sectors on the rise in
Washington County?
Interviewees mentioned:
• Sales of product from small and mid-size
consumer-direct farms are on the rise.
• High-value commodities on the rise including
nursery stock, hazelnuts, wine grapes,
wines, cut flowers, fresh fruit, fresh market
vegetables, and agritourism.