The Harney County Food Systems initiative represents a grassroots community effort to build greater food security, sustainability, and economic opportunity across Harney County. This initiative brings together community members from all walks of life to address critical food system challenges in rural southeast Oregon. Rather than imposing external solutions, the group works to identify community needs and assets, then develops locally-appropriate responses. This approach has enabled sustainable growth and diverse programming while maintaining strong community ownership and engagement.

The initiative demonstrates how rural communities can take leadership in building more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food systems through grassroots organizing, strategic partnerships, and practical, community-driven solutions.

Mission & Vision

• Enhanced Food Security: Reducing reliance on imported food, particularly during disasters and supply chain disruptions
• Improved Food Access: Increasing access to higher quality fresh food throughout the community
• Economic Development: Creating and growing markets that enable residents to start food-related microenterprises

Approach

• The initiative operates utilizing collaboration and partnership, emphasizing education and knowledge-sharing around homesteading, food preservation, and self-reliance skills.
• The group facilitates community-driven solutions that build local capacity and resilience.

Structure & Governance
The Harney County Food Systems Committee serves as the initiative’s guiding body that determines strategic direction and reviews ongoing activities. The committee includes various subcommittees that manage specific projects and events. The structure is designed to be inclusive—any community member can participate and contribute to the work.

Current Projects & Activities

The initiative’s work spans multiple areas of food system development: