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HDFFA in the News

Mother May I?

Article by Sharon Maier-Kennelly

Originally published in Bend Lifestyle

High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA) believes everyone deserves good food. At the heart of that belief is their commitment to supporting, showcasing, and elevating local producers who work so hard to bring fresh, healthy, nutritious food from their farms to our own tables.

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High Desert Food & Farm Alliance kicks off its 10th season of Grow & Give

Grow & Give is the largest program of its kind in Central Oregon

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — High Desert Food & Farm Alliance is thrilled to kick off its 10th season of Grow & Give. This program collects locally grown fresh produce from farm gleans, farmers markets, community gardens and home gardeners from May through November.

The program serves the dual purpose of reducing food waste and delivering nutritious produce to our regional hunger relief agencies for our Central Oregon neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

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Bend Don't Break: Sharon Maier Kennelly

Bend Don’t Break: Sharon Maier Kennelly, Executive Director of High Desert Food and Farm Alliance

Apr 23, 2025 Bend Don’t Break Podcast — In this episode, Aaron sits down with Sharon Smith, a passionate nonprofit leader who brings decades of experience in community programming and the arts to her current role as Executive Director of the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance (HDFFA). After relocating from Long Island to Bend in 2019, Sharon quickly immersed herself in the local nonprofit scene—most notably at the Tower Theatre Foundation—before joining HDFFA in 2023. Together, Aaron and Sharon dig into the realities of food insecurity in Central Oregon and explore the many ways HDFFA is working to ensure access to fresh, healthy produce for all. From connecting residents with local farmers to running nutrition incentive programs and education initiatives, Sharon shares how HDFFA is building a more equitable and resilient food system. They also discuss the potential impacts of looming federal budget cuts on these crucial programs—and how community support and advocacy are more important than ever.

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  • KPOV

KPOV interview with HDFFA’s Executive Director

High Desert Food & Farm Alliance with Sharon Maier-Kennelly

Sharon Maier-Kennelly, Executive Director of High Desert Food & Farm Alliance, shares information about their work and about local food markets.

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Megan Sinclair sat down with HDFFA Executive Director Sharon Maier-Kennelly to learn about their upcoming SOUPer Bowl event.

Central Oregon restaurants compete for coveted title in Soup Showdown

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 — When it’s cold and snowy outside, a bowl of soup can be the perfect way to warm up. The High Desert Food and Farm Alliance are bringing back a popular event to crown the best soup in Central Oregon.

Megan Sinclair sat down with HDFFA Executive Director Sharon Maier-Kennelly to learn about their upcoming SOUPer Bowl event.

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Central Oregon restaurants compete for coveted title in Soup Showdown

Thursday, January 30, 2025 — The First SOUPer Bowl, held last year featured 11 Central Oregon Businesses, competing for the championship title as a roomful of community members sampled soups made by each chef and cast votes on printed ballots…

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Article Source: The Bend Bulletin
Article Source: The Bend Bulletin
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Federal funds ‘pause’ wreaks chaos, confusion among Central Oregon agencies

Thursday, January 30, 2025 — The Monday order from the trump administration to pause delivery of federal grants and loans sent some Central Oregon Agencies into chaos and confusion about funding for programs …

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Sharon Maier-Kennelly with Dave Clemens, Operations Manager Horizon Broadcasting Group, LLC

Horizon Broadcasting interview with HDFFA’s Executive Director

January 26, 2025 — Horizon Broadcasting’s Dave Clemens chats with Sharon Maier-Kennelly on HDFFA’s work, Directory, and second annual SOUPer Bowl event.

 

 

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  • KPOV
  • Sharon Maier-Kennelly with KPOV's Claire Meredith

Sharon Maier-Kennelly with KPOV’s Claire Meredith

KPOV’s interview with HDFFA’s Executive Director

January 2025 – HDFFA’s Executive Director Speaks with KPOV’s Carolyn Esky about our work, our 2025 Directory and HDFFA’s SOUPer Bowl 2025!

HDFFA thanks KPOV for their support!  Our Executive Director enjoyed returning to speak with host Carolyn Esky to talk about our work, our 2025 High Desert Food and Farm Directory, Partnership, and HDFFA’s SOUPer Bowl 2025 – our second annual event coming up on February 8, 2025!

⇦ Listen to the interview that aired on January 24, 2025

2024 High Desert Food Trail map of local farms, ranches and restaurants released

Aug 9, 2024 — A new map will take you along a self-guided tour of more than 40 farms, ranches and restaurants in Central Oregon. The annual High Desert Food Trail was released Friday. It’s a collaboration of local businesses to give you a different way to tour the region through its food.

Fresh Harvest Kits Expand to Madras Community – July 2024

Each prepared food kit includes a recipe, and all the ingredients, including local produce, and serves of family of four. 20 kits are available to the public each week through Oct 16.

Farmers Market Tastings – Summer 2024

High Desert Food & Farm Alliance (HDFFA), a regional nonprofit serving Central Oregon, is delighted to announce a series of exciting taste testing events as part of its regional marketing campaign, “Get a Taste of This Place.”

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KPOV’s The Point (General intro to HDFFA)- June 14, 2024

June 14, 2024 — Sharon Maier-Kennelly, Executive Director of the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance, believes that everyone deserves good food along with a sufficient quantity of affordable, culturally preferred, nutritious food that is sustainably produced in Central Oregon. HDFFA has been in the community for nearly 15 years and offers a variety of services, events, educations, to farmers, ranchers, and the community members.

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“Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land” with Marcus LeGrand and Sharon Maier-Kennelly

Carolyn Esky talks to Sharon Maier-Kennelly, Executive Director for the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance, and Marcus LeGrand, COCC’s Afro-Centric Program Coordinator about the Central Oregon premiere of the film “Gaining Ground: The Fight for Black Land.”

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Central Oregon Daily – Video and article VeggieRx – April 2024

The High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA) has announced open enrollment for its VeggieRx program that delivers 10 weeks of fresh, locally grown produce to those who are food insecure and have been diagnosed with diet-modifiable disease.

Those enrolled are given the tools to shop for produce on a budget, use fresh ingredients and stretch their meals to last longer. They receive nutrition education and one-on-one support from a registered dietician.

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HDFFA’s SOUPer Bowl event – Central Oregon Daily News Feb 2024

Promotional Coverage of HDFFA’s First Annual SOUPer Bowl – Central Oregon Daily News – January 2024

Taste This! HDFFA’s SOUPer Bowl Fundraiser Preview with Anthony’s

The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance is hosting its inaugural SOUPer Bowl fundraiser on Saturday, February 3 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bend.

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Fresh Harvest Kits: HDFFA/Council on Aging Collaboration – September 2023

Free farm-to-table meal kits for Sisters seniors through pilot program

From Blue Apron to Hello Fresh, there’s a number of subscription services out there that will send you everything you need to cook meal at home. A pilot program was launched in Central Oregon over the summer to do something similar for Sisters seniors — locally grown produce delivered right to their door for free.

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