Central Oregonians, we need your voice. With COVID numbers on the downward trajectory and temperatures to the contrary, more businesses continue to reopen at larger capacities. This means that some of the temporary permits in Central Oregon are changing, too. If you’d like to see our local hospitality flourish into the future, please read more about these three measures that need our help, stat.
Rainshadow Organics
Many of you have experienced a farm-to-table brunch or dinner at the Rainshadow Organics farm. So, you understand just how devastating it would be if they aren’t able to renegotiate their conditional use permits with Deschutes County.
Rainshadow Organics operates a year-round farm store just Northeast of Sisters across 80 acres. For years, they’ve offered both winter and summer CSA memberships, cooking classes, alfresco farm dining, and year-round farm store.
Now, they need support from Deschutes County to allow them further bookings for farm-to-table brunches and dinners. Should they be denied the new permit, we won’t see any more of these feasts.
Support Farm-to-Table Permits in Central Oregon
“We love serving our community lunches, brunches, and dinners on our deck and in our garden. We feel that serving our unique Farm to Table style meals – almost exclusively Rainshadow grown and harvested foods – connects our community to what is possible by eating locally and seasonally,” according to a spokesperson for Rainshadow.
How can you help? Email Hether Ward of Deschutes County before April 2, 2021. Let her know why Rainshadow Organics is an integral key to Central Oregon’s access to hyperlocal, organic foods. And, be sure to express your support for further farm events! Then, we can continue to enjoy these exquisite events in the future.
You can reference file number 247-21-000268-CU for Lawrence Farm LLC. Email hether.ward@deschutes.org (no ‘A’ in Hether).
To-Go Cocktails for Oregon Restaurants and Bars
The special permit that allows restaurants and bars to sell t0-go cocktails offers more than just revenue. It offers a relaxing, safer way to enjoy their favorite cocktails at home for patrons not yet ready to dine-in.
Oregon SB317 “Allows holder of full on-premises sales license to make retail sales of mixed drinks and single servings of wine in sealed containers for off-premises consumption.” It’s also set to expire 60 days after the pandemic emergency orders have been lifted in Oregon.
How to keep the measure in place
You can help by calling, emailing, or writing to the office of District 27 Senator Tim Knopp. Here, you can express your support for this measure. Let them know how this measure has supported your business or allowed for a better dining experience while still supporting small businesses.
Email Sen.TimKnopp@oregonlegislature.gov or call 503-986-1727 before it goes to vote on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.
our supporters
