AN EDITION OF
Bandon
WESTERN WORLD Thursday, November 27, 2014
theworldlink.com/bandon ♦ $1.00
Education:
Going to nationals:
Inside this edition:
Students caught being good, see A2 for the full story
Several Bandon runners qualify, see A10 for the story
Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Bandon Police Log. . . . . . . . A2 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A4
Arts and Entertainment . . . A5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A10 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A8-9
Grant will help meat, fish producers By Gail Elber Bandon Western World
Photos by Lou Sennick, The World
Russ Iida guides cranberries from the bog to a conveyor belt as he helps Dan Tobiska with the annual harvest at the Tobiska Family Farm on Morrison Road. The Tobiskas are independent growers who own 12 acres of bogs.
Harvest boon or bust? By Amy Moss Strong Bandon Western World
BANDON – Local growers have just completed harvesting this year’s cranberry crop, but for some it was a discouraging year. The depressed market has growers ready to sell their farms — if they could. Others continue to wait it out to see if the market improves as they hold onto the dream that the farm will remain in the family for another generation. That hope, however, grows slimmer as independent growers face the fifth year in a row of payout lower than the cost of production. But that’s typical of farming, said Jim Jackson, a local grower whose three sons now run the family’s 50 acres of bogs off Morrison Road. “Eventually the market will come around,” said Jackson, who’s been in the business since 1969. “That’s the way farming is. We enjoy this kind of life and that’s why we do it. Hopefully things will get better.” Jackson used to be an Ocean Spray co-op grower, but in 1999 became an independent growerwho now delivers to Faber Farms, a local receiving plant. In 1999, Jackson said, Ocean Spray wasn’t being managed well, but he feels nowthe company is competitive and profitable. While Ocean Spray co-op growers in the A-pool can expect 45 cents a pound, B-pool growers will likely receive closer to 14 to 15 cents per pound. Comparatively, independent growers will likely receive around 10 to 12 cents per pound — not enough to cover the cost of production, which is estimated at 25 to 30 cents per pound. A-pool growers are generally long-time Ocean Spray co-op members whose berries are well developed, according to Dan Crocker, vice-president of corporate development based in Ocean Spray’s headquarters in Massachusetts. Crocker said the majority of the company’s growers belong to the Apool. Those berries are used in branded products. B-pool growers are Ocean Spray members who have not yet qualified for the A-pool and whose berries are generally sold in commodity products. It’s complicated, growers say, but many of the independents believe Ocean Spray’s policies and practices drive the market to the co-op’s advantage. Jackson says it’s natural for the company to compete with independent growers for their share of the market. Crocker said the commodity market, not Ocean Spray, determines the price for independent and B-pool growers. “The vast majority of fruit from Ocean Spray growers goes into the A-pool, Crocker said. “Then about 400,000 growers in our B-pool receive a commodity return on their fruit, which is close to what independent growers receive.” Crocker feels this year the price might increase for those relying on the commodity market, which fluctuates with supply and demand. “This year in Oregon, the crop was up 14 percent, from 420,000 barrels (a barrel is 100 pounds) last year to a yield of 480,000 barrels this year,” Crocker said. But the total United States crop, some eight million barrels, was down from last year. The way the market works, the remainder of last year’s berries, which have been kept frozen as concentrate, are just now being sold as this year’s crop is harvested. “There’s always an overlap,” Crocker said. “You want to have enough inventory.” Pools close in the spring, so the 2013 crop will be completely sold sometime next year, then the 2014 crop goes on the market, Crocker
SOUTH COAST — Thanks to a collaborative effort between a Curry County cranberry harvester and government officials at the county, state and national levels, farmers of cranberries, blueberries and strawberries in Curry and Coos counties now have a chance to make greater profits when exporting their product to China. That’s because of a regulatory change approved by the United States Department of Agriculture,which now allows the federal agency to issue the phytosanitary certificate that’s required when shipping frozen fruit to the Asian country. Previously, the USDA would issue the clean plant certificate for fresh produce but not for frozen, which posed considerable problems for cranberry farmers such as Curry County’s Robert McKenzie of Wild Rivers Fruit, who at times struggled to meet the 15- to 30-day shipping deadline imposed by the certificate. McKenzie, who has shipped cranberries to China for several years, dealt with the fact that at any time a container of fruit could be seized and quarantined by Chinese customs, which in turn would hold up the process and potentially cost him thousands of dollars.
■ See Harvest, A7
■ See Market, A7
■ See Grant, A4
Night of 10,000 Lights on Nov. 29 Cranberries fall into a truck as harvesting is done at the Tobiska Family Farm a couple miles east of Bandon on Morrison Road.
Berry farmers expand market into China By Carly Mayberry Bandon Western World
Community meal offered at The Barn The Western World
BANDON — The Bandon Community Thanksgiving Holiday Meal will be held from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27, at The Barn/Community Center, 1200 11th St. S.W. in Bandon City Park. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the free meal, regardless of income. The meals started more than 20 years ago as a way for people to enjoy the holiday with oth-
SOUTH COAST — The South Coast Development Council has received a grant to help local meat and fish producers get the facilities and equipment they need to sell their products close to home. WealthWorks, a group of nonprofits and agencies that supports economic development, has given SCDC and two partner organizations in Curry and Douglas counties $375,000 to spend over two years. The goal, said SCDC development assistant Michelle Martin, is “to have a viable business or businesses that we walk away from and they’re successful.” SCDC and its partners, NeighborWorks Umpqua and Curry Watershed Partnership, were chosen over five other applicants. All six got initial smaller grants to survey their community about what it needed. SCDC and its partners focused on ranchers and fishermen, most of whose product is sold out of the area. For example, local organic beef producers
ers. Last year, more than 300 meals were served or delivered to homebound people at both the Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, according to organizers. The meal will consist of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, yams, vegetables, coleslaw, cranberry sauce, roll, assorted desserts and beverages. Monetary donations will be accepted at
the door. To volunteer to serve, call Ginny Hall at 541-347-5703 or 541-404-4702. To donate desserts or to volunteer for miscellaneous jobs, not including serving (dishwashing, greeting, etc.), call Linda Frick at 541-347-8347. To have this Thanksgiving meal delivered to a homebound person, call Theo Stanley at 541-347-4307.
BANDON — Mark your calendars for Bandon’s annual Christmas tree lighting and kick-off for the 2014 holiday season. The Greater Bandon Association’s Night of 10,000 Lights will be held Saturday, Nov. 29. The Chamber of Commerce’s Shop Local campaign begins Friday, Nov. 28. Irish coffee mugs with iconic Bandon images, which will be part of the Chamber’s Shop Local program this year (with $85 worth of receipts), can be purchased for $10 each at the Visitor Center Saturday, Nov. 29 only, during the tree lighting and Nog/Cider Walk event. As last year, there will be many activities going on in Old Town Bandon for the Night of 10,000 Lights. Santa will be in the Chamber parking lot around 3 p.m. for pictures with the kids (these can be purchased or take your own). Activities for all ages will be held at
■ See Lights, A7
Shop Bandon starts Nov. 28 Bandon Western World
BANDON — Shop in Bandon this holiday season and enjoy special thanks from the local business community. Shop Bandon 2014 starts Friday, Nov. 28. Shoppers are invited to redeem receipts from businesses in Bandon’s 97411 zip code for commemorative Irish coffee mugs with iconic Bandon images through Dec. 22 at the Bandon Visitor Center. The annual holiday program is sponsored by members of the Bandon Chamber of Commerce. Shop Bandon participants may collect one of four different glasses with each $85 worth of receipts. Receipts must indicate products purchased between Nov. 28 and Dec. 22. City utilities, groceries, prescriptions and filling station purchases are exempt. Collect glasses at the Bandon Visitor Center, 300 Second Street, open 10
■ See Shop, A7