Agriculture
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PBJ100: Seven companies on the sustainable side of the fence
This year's Portland Business Journal Private 100 event is right around the ol' proverbial corner. And while the event is known for its, shall we say, festive flavor (i.e. it's one heck of a lot of fun),…
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Oregon’s farmers markets go on a publicity blitz (photos)
Farmers markets up and down the Willamette Valley are about to get a healthy blast of branding. The Portland Farmers Market is spearheading a $110,000 advertising campaign aimed at boosting consumer awareness…
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In the Trenches: A beer lawyer's work takes on a touch of green
Editor’s note: In honor of Portland’s ongoing commitment to beer — last week was Beer Week, the National Organic Brewer’s Festival is coming up on June 29, the Brewer’s Festival will attract…
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Rural leaders tout sustainable forestry bennies in D.C.
Several downstate Oregon business leaders returned from Washington, D.C. this week after giving elected officials, Obama Administration members and agency heads an earful about biomass and sustainable…
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Zenger Farm's Urban Grange: Fully loaded, community-driven
As Zenger Farm steps into high-end fundraising mode for its $1.9 million "Urban Grange," Portland local food advocates are licking their lips at the structure's possibilities. Will it provide space for…
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Widmer's BEST practice: Fuel cells for wastewater cleaning
A Corvallis start-up has landed money to help develop technology that will help Widmer Bros. simultaneously clean its wastewater, generate electricity and reduce the amount of water it sends to the city…
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Zenger Farm seeks $1.9M fund raise for 'Urban Grange'
The operators of Portland’s premier urban educational farm are doubling the facility’s educational capacity. Zenger Farm will soon feature a new 7,760-square-foot structure dubbed an “Urban Grange”…
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Ocean advocates pore through national policy specs
One month after the While House issued strategies that would coordinate management of the country’s oceans, West Coast interests are preparing to interpret the National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan. The…
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Q-and-A: Ecotrust’s new food chief Amanda Oborne on local eats
Amanda Oborne took over as Ecotrust's new director of food and farms on April 1. And as she shapes her tenure as the leader of one of the region's key food influencers, she's not asking for much. She…
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Green foodies to get a mouthful at NW processors conference
Sustainability wonks will have their plates full this week. Not only does the Northwest Environmental Business Council’s Future Energy Conference promise a bevy of informative speakers Tuesday and Wednesday…
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Little fish rule big pond in Pacific council's ecosystem plan
The Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously approved a plan this week that calls for "a more holistic approach" to managing the ocean's ecosystem. The Council backed what supporters such as the…
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Seventh? Really? Oregon lags in 'locavore' ratings
Here in Oregon, we pride ourselves on eating locally produced goods. Heck, even one of our fave fast-food joints is known for using suppliers that are mostly a short drive away and, at the very least,…
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Fish council faces big decision on little swimmers
The Pacific Fishery Management Council plans to vote on a measure that could dramatically shape the Ocean's ecosystem in coming years. The group, which meets in Portland April 9, plans to vote whether…
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NFIB: Governors' coal export views are misguided
The National Federation of Independent Business has blasted high-ranking Northwest officials' coal export stances. NFIB leaders from Oregon and Washington this said Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and Washington…
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ZeaChem plans layoffs despite Boardman successes
Several outlets are reporting that the biofuel company ZeaChem is laying off workers. While few details were immediately available, ZeaChem had begun producing a plant-based biofuel three weeks ago at…
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Who's hungry? Who's thirsty? Ecotrust food winners deliver the edible goods
Ecotrust’s quarterly magazine has revealed the six winners of the Edible Portland Local Hero awards. The honors, given out by Ecotrust’s quarterly magazine Edible Portland, went to: Dancing Roots…
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Natural Grocers makes move into Oregon
Another all-natural grocery chain is moving into Oregon. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NASDAQ: NGVC), a Denver-based grocery retailer offering only natural and organic products, on Thursday said…
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A grape idea: OSU researchers find new uses for pulp
Oregon State University researchers have uncovered ways to convert pulp and other materials from crushed wine grapes, which would otherwise be disposed of, into several usable products. The school’s…
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Crailar names new CFO ahead of jump to major exchange
Crailar Technologies Inc. on Monday named a new chief financial officer with experience guiding startups into larger public enterprises. The hiring of Ted Sanders comes as the company — with operations…
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Food producers' waste diversion up 18%
A Portland group that studies the food business reports that organic food companies, in adopting a broad range of sustainablity initiatives, have dramatically boosted the amount of waste they divert from…
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Oregon trawlers re-up their shrimp certification
An Oregon shrimp-fishing group has retained its coveted certification denoting that it practices responsible shrimping. The Oregon Trawl Commission learned this week the Oregon pink shrimp it catches…
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Ethanol market poised for recovery as former Cascade Grain plant plots new future
By almost every measure, 2012 was another banner year for U.S. ethanol producers. Every measure but one, anyway. The industry last year produced a whopping 13.3 billion gallons of ethanol, the second-highest…
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Online 'eco-florist' teams with Kathy Ireland
Online florist Organic Bouquet has added some of supermodel Kathy Ireland's designing talents to its fold. Maitland, Fla.-based BLP Commerce Inc., Organic Bouquet’s parent company, and Ireland’s Kathy…
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Milestone eastern Oregon water agreement signed
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and groups from Washington and Oregon working together under the banner of the Columbia River Umatilla Solutions task force put their signatures Friday to an agreement that outlines…
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Theo Chocolate teams with Ben Affleck to help Congolese farmers
Question: What connects Ben Affleck and 340 tons of Congolese cocoa beans with Seattle? Answer: Theo Chocolate and its two newest products. Affleck, the actor and movie director, is the founder of the…
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