Producer
Queener Farm
Address: PO Box 271 INDEPENDENCE, OR, 97351
About Us
The Queener Farm was settled in the mid 1800s and had been selling almost exclusively to many of Portland's top chefs and thru it's farm stand for the past 20 years. In 2014 a new group purchased the farm and is seeking to grow the audience for these amazing fruits.
I, (Jeannie, Queener Farm chief farmer), starting farming in 2009 and began a vegetable CSA in Independence/Monmouth Oregon in 2010. I've always been passionate about organic and water conserving practices but also about growing food that is well adapted to its place. I love finding the varieties that thrive here and taste great. I especially love when I can bring back a variety that has some historic importance to the Willamette Valley like the Jory tomatoes and the Pike melons.
It was love at first sight when I visited the Queener Farm in 2014 and started learning about all the apples here, many of historic importance. When I was asked by the new owners to take over the farming of it later that year I moved my farming operation there. Since then I've had the joy of getting deep into the apples and their qualities and quirks. I've had my mind blown by truly explosive apple flavors and am forever ruined for typical grocery store apples. "We are currently transitioning the farm to organic practices. This involves adding cultural practices to the farm, like having chickens and pigs clean the orchard floor in the winter, and ending chemical applications. We expect this second season without chemical insecticides to be a challenge while we wait for the cultural practices for improve the balance. We are committed to not just follow the guidelines for organic certification but to not use any of the more questionable sprays that are allowed on organic orchards like antibiotic sprays and broad spectrum, bee killing, but organic insecticides. We also apply nothing post harvest, no waxes or any kind of fungicide.
Since we sell many apples into the cider market we have a market for the imperfect fruit. That said, we would only use a chemical application this year if the overall health of the orchard is seriously threatened. In that instance, everyone will be informed.
"
I, (Jeannie, Queener Farm chief farmer), starting farming in 2009 and began a vegetable CSA in Independence/Monmouth Oregon in 2010. I've always been passionate about organic and water conserving practices but also about growing food that is well adapted to its place. I love finding the varieties that thrive here and taste great. I especially love when I can bring back a variety that has some historic importance to the Willamette Valley like the Jory tomatoes and the Pike melons.
It was love at first sight when I visited the Queener Farm in 2014 and started learning about all the apples here, many of historic importance. When I was asked by the new owners to take over the farming of it later that year I moved my farming operation there. Since then I've had the joy of getting deep into the apples and their qualities and quirks. I've had my mind blown by truly explosive apple flavors and am forever ruined for typical grocery store apples. "We are currently transitioning the farm to organic practices. This involves adding cultural practices to the farm, like having chickens and pigs clean the orchard floor in the winter, and ending chemical applications. We expect this second season without chemical insecticides to be a challenge while we wait for the cultural practices for improve the balance. We are committed to not just follow the guidelines for organic certification but to not use any of the more questionable sprays that are allowed on organic orchards like antibiotic sprays and broad spectrum, bee killing, but organic insecticides. We also apply nothing post harvest, no waxes or any kind of fungicide.
Since we sell many apples into the cider market we have a market for the imperfect fruit. That said, we would only use a chemical application this year if the overall health of the orchard is seriously threatened. In that instance, everyone will be informed.
"