Oregon bill expands rules for farm stores and agri-tourism
By Jamie Hale
Reporting for The Oregonian/OregonLive, Jamie Hale writes that Oregon lawmakers have passed House Bill 4153, a measure that would replace existing farm stand regulations with new rules for “farm stores.”
The bill, now awaiting the governor’s signature, would allow farm stores up to 10,000 square feet to operate if they primarily sell products produced on the farm or sourced from nearby agricultural areas, including prepared food and beverages.
The legislation also clarifies which agri-tourism activities are permitted on farmland. According to Hale, farms would be allowed to host events such as crop mazes, petting zoos, and farm-to-table dinners, though lodging would remain prohibited. Supporters say these activities could help farms create additional income streams at a time when many agricultural businesses are under financial pressure.
The bill follows a dispute over proposed state rule changes that some farmers feared would limit what they could sell at farm stands. Hale reports that those proposals prompted a backlash from farm groups, leading Oregon’s governor to halt the rulemaking process and prompting lawmakers to pursue a legislative solution aimed at supporting the economic viability of family farms while maintaining farmland protections.
