FROM FOOD TRAIL TO A FOOD INNOVATION CENTER Collaborative Partnerships Develop Pathways for Needed Resources
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n February of 2017, 80 individuals from as many food businesses gathered in Tillamook for a culinary/agritourism workshop with Travel Oregon. Over two days of discussion and hands-on activities, the group decided that a food trail was the best way to build a collaborative marketing effort, managed and supported by Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA), with funding assistance from Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln City Visitors Bureau. After several months of development, the North Coast Food Trail was launched in March, 2018 with sixty members representing farms, fisheries, restaurants, experiences, farmers markets and lodging. It was quickly successful: In late fall of 2019, the editors of Sunset Magazine named it the “best foodie trip” in their annual travel awards issue. Now completing its fourth year, the food trail has 80 members and extends from Astoria to Neskowin (Lincoln City became part of the Central Coast Food Trail in 2020).
Coast Food Trail,” said Nan Devlin, executive director of TCVA. “Yet it was the conversations that took place between farmers, fishers, chefs and restaurant owners during the initial culinary/ agritourism workshop that got me thinking about the needs of our producers and what TCVA could do to help.” In 2019, TCVA was awarded a Business Oregon Rural Opportunity Initiative (ROI) grant to explore those needs and the interest among small food businesses – that mostly worked in silos – about other collaborative programs that could assist them. A second ROI grant the following year dove deeper into industry data–logistics of delivery and cost of creating a food hub. During these two grant rounds, TCVA sponsored two food producer meetings hosted by Food Roots, a nonprofit in Tillamook that supports local farmers and fishers. Panels of speakers expressed needs for facilities, workforce training, and expansion of markets. Buyers and sellers did a “speed dating” hour, and local food and beverage was shared.
“From a tourism perspective – and as an advocate for small businesses on the coast - I’m thrilled by the success of the North
At a producers event in Garibaldi with buyers and sellers of local foods: Lauren Sorg, Food Roots; Jeff Wong, CS Fishery; Tyson Rasor, EcoTrust; and Jared Gardner, Nehalem River Ranch.
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Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association | WINTER 2022
