There are seemingly countless ways to enjoy the rich bounty of the Willamette Valley: Find the juiciest berries around at our U-pick farms, sip wine on vineyards where the grapes were grown, enjoy small-batch beers using farm-grown ingredients, or dine at our many restaurants dishing fresh, seasonal fare.
With such a renowned farming community—and so much to eat and drink along the way—we wanted to share a bit about how to make the most of your time exploring the farms and food of the Willamette Valley. Here's our guide to the region's farms, markets, and more—many of which you'll find along farm loops and food trails.
There are hundreds of farms and related businesses (such as markets and restaurants) across every corner of the Willamette Valley—so it can be tough to know where to start.
Generally speaking, the best way to begin is to pick a region within the Willamette Valley and explore that area in-depth; trying to cover the whole valley in one day (or even one weekend) can mean a lot of driving—with little time to slow down and really enjoy the sites at stops along the way.
Fortunately, a pair of programs help with that decision-making. Each curated food trail and farm loop in the Willamette Valley helps visitors sift through farm-focused businesses across our region and spotlights what makes our agricultural communities so special.
Berry u-picks can be found all over the Willamette Valley.
These aren't loops or trails in the sense that you have to follow a designated path and hit all the stops—although we'd be really impressed if you did. The self-guided nature of the farm loops and food trails means you can explore whatever sounds interesting, whenever it sounds interesting.
So if you want to pick fresh berries at the height of summer, you can do that while bypassing other stops. And if you'd rather skip the region's wineries in favor of the Willamette Valley's craft breweries, have at it.
You'll find agricultural-themed stops in their many forms across the Willamette Valley—on backcountry byways and in bustling downtowns alike. Here's a sampling of what you'll find at farms, markets, and other food stops across the Willamette Valley:
Many businesses, such as wineries and restaurants, remain open all year long—but may offer reduced hours in fall and winter.
Other, more seasonal businesses (including U-pick farms, produce markets, and farm stands) tend to close altogether between late fall and early spring—roughly following the Willamette Valley's growing seasons.
Even so: You can find farm-fresh food and goods at these five indoor farmers markets all winter long.
Apples are ripe for picking all around the Willamette Valley from late August to October.
U-pick berry farms are popular stops between late May and July—while apples remain in-season through October.
The sheer number of farms, food stops, and beverage producers means you can plan a trip of anywhere from a few hours to whole weeks.
But if you're looking for a broad introduction to the Willamette Valley's home-grown goods, we'd suggest taking a weekend to visit a farmers market, enjoy farm-to-table fare at the region's eateries, visit a couple wineries or craft breweries, and grab fresh-baked goods or artisan items for the ride home.
If your schedule allows—and if your favorite fare is in-season—there is no more quintessential Willamette Valley experience than plucking fresh fruit at our U-pick farms; give yourself anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to pick succulent cherries, berries, apples, and more.
Your pup is welcome to join you as you sip on the lawn at 4 Spirits Distillery in Corvallis.
Many of the Willamette Valley's most popular stops are working farms—and host animals that might not warm to Fido as quickly as the rest of us. Before heading out, have a plan for where you'd like to visit—and check in to see if those spots are pet-friendly.
Generally speaking, working farms with animals ask that you leave any pets in your vehicle—but many breweries, restaurants, and wineries have dog-friendly patios. But rules vary from stop to stop, so plan ahead whenever possible.
