Page 6 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County
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CHAPTER 1: KEY FINDINGS
This report includes individual chapters addressing agriculture, rural tourism, regulatory issues, and impacts.
Major Points from each are highlighted in Chapter 1.
Agriculture
Washington County is part of a "world-class greenhouse/nursery products had the highest
growing region” recognized as both a state value, while grass seed and wheat crops
3
and national leader according to the Oregon covered the most land .
Department of Agriculture. It is likely to remain a • In 2012, the average age of Oregon farmers
strong economic driver as long as key factors are was almost 60. Younger farmers, however,
in place: a stable farmland base with productive are increasingly assuming ownership and
soils and good water supply, agreeable climate, diversifying product mix and sales models.
urban proximity, market relevance, efficient • For this chapter, the consultant interviewed
transportation, innovation, and access to Washington County farmers who don’t cater
scientific and practical education. Farmers here to visitors. Most indicated:
produce an impressive variety of plant and animal
products year after year, using about one-third » No opposition to rural tourism, provided
of the County’s total acres. While the County's a regulatory framework prevents
agriculture sector experienced job and income permanent farmland displacement and
losses during the recent recession , the agricultural disruption of agricultural practices;
1
industry is steadily rebounding statewide . » Little personal interest in offering rural
2
tourism and a perception that few others
Refer to Chapter 2 of this report, The Washington would choose to;
County Agriculture Sector, for more detail.
» That their prime markets are local, state,
or northwest (except grass seed/wheat,
Of Note:
greenhouse/nursery and Christmas trees);
• Between 2002 and 2012, the County’s largest
farms absorbed many smaller farms, but » That the following are needed to
additional land was also converted to farm sustain the agricultural sector: access
use. to shipping options, road and sign
improvements to ensure safe and viable
• When last officially measured (2012), product transportation as rural roads are
Washington County’s agricultural products increasingly shared by commuters and
totaled nearly $238 million in value, ranking tourists (including cyclists), and ongoing
eighth in Oregon. Of more than 170 food availability of farm labor.
and fiber commodities produced here,
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “BLS Spotlight on Statistics – The Recession of 2007-2009.” 2012.
2 Oregon Agriculture, Food and Fiber: An Economic Analysis. Oregon State University Extension Service Rural Studies Program. December 2015.
3 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2012 Census of Agriculture.
2 WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY
