This year’s harvest is one of financial hardship for many American farmers. Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is stepping up to help. Throughout September, 10% of sales – up to $1.6 million – from Tillamook products will go toward grants that will save farms and farmland, provide financial relief directly to farmers, and support sound farming practices.

“At Tillamook, our purpose is to nourish lives in a growing world, and we want to support all farmers who share that mission,” said Patrick Criteser, TCCA president and CEO. “We are launching the Tillamook ‘All For Farmers‘ campaign and grant program by partnering with American Farmland Trust(AFT) and farmworker advocate, Eva Longoria, to raise awareness and dollars to help farmers survive a multi-year downturn and thrive in the future.”

An award-winning actor, producer, director and activist, Eva Longoria brings her star power and passion for American agriculture and the farmworker community to the Tillamook ‘All For Farmers’ effort. Longoria is a longtime advocate for farmers and farmworkers and is committed to doing her part to address the challenges facing agriculture today.

“I am thrilled to join forces with Tillamook and American Farmland Trust to support this new initiative and continue to advocate on behalf of farmers and farmworkers,” said Longoria. “While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the fact that farmers and farmworkers are now ‘essential,’ they have always been essential to our food supply and they deserve our continued support and protection.”

AFT is a not-for-profit national organization with a mission to protect farmland, promote sound farming practices and keep farmers on the land. About half of the Tillamook ‘All For Farmers’ Grants will go to preserve land on at-risk farms. The remainder of the funds will be used to award grants directly to farmers to help them access land that is ready for farming, improve land security, enhance farm viability, and/or adopt new farming practices.

“An average 2,000 acres of rich farmland is being lost each day to commercial development,” said Beth C. Sauerhaft, PhD, Vice President, Programs, American Farmland Trust. “An important step in supporting farmers and preserving the farming way of life in America is to protect the land itself. The financial commitment from TCCA will help to do just that and so much more.”

American Agriculture in Financial Peril
The COVID-19 pandemic is placing a spotlight on a complex U.S. food system that disconnects consumers and farmers and worsens the plight for many who raise crops and livestock. It also comes at a time when many farmers were already financially struggling.

An estimated 580 farmers filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2020, translating into an 8% increase from a year earlier. Additionally, U.S. farm debt has grown to more than $425 billion – the largest since the farm crisis in the 1980s.

Criteser explains that when the pandemic forced restaurants, hotels and schools to close, the rigid multi-stage food supply chain made it difficult for farmers who supply those foodservice sectors to pivot and get their products directly to people. In many parts of the country, farmers were forced to give away or even destroy the goods they produced.

The U.S. government is providing billions of dollars to farmers this year to help those financially hurt by the coronavirus, but more has to be done and more have to step up to fight for the future of farming.

“The unpredictability of the pandemic and the complexities of the supply chain are squeezing the economics for many producers and putting many multi-generational farms at risk,” said Criteser. “This year’s unique challenges have accelerated and intensified the hardships that many farmers across the country were already facing.”

Tillamook Gives Back
Being a farmer-owned and farmer-led co-op gives TCCA a resilient edge. TCCA farmer-owners direct the entire production chain and are accountable to consumers. In other words, the business model brings farmers and people closer together, while the opposite typically happens with corporate food production where farmers simply supply goods and are then removed from the decision-making process.

“Our business model enables responsible growth, sustains the farming way of life for our owners, and allows us to give back with initiatives like All For Farmers,” said Criteser.

Five years ago, people would have found Tillamook cheese, ice cream and other premium dairy products primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Today, Tillamook products can be found throughout the country.

Dairy Lovers Can Take Action
This fall, Tillamook is encouraging people everywhere to help support farmers from across the country in three easy ways.

• Buy Tillamook. Every Tillamook product purchased at grocery retail locations in September will support America’s farmers, with 10% of all sales being donated to AFT.*
• Get Informed. Everyone should educate themselves about farming and those who produce food today. All month long, Tillamook will share farmer profiles at AllForFarmers.com and at @Tillamook on social media. The unique stories and interviews will demonstrate that farmers are:
  • Technologically and business savvy.
  • The original environmentalists, committed to protecting the air, land and water.
  • Diverse in age, gender, ethnicity and in size of farm – because all types of farmers and farms are needed to provide a robust and sustainable food supply.
• Say Thanks. Tillamook is inviting consumers to join in thanking farmers this harvest season by using the hashtag #AllForFarmers on social media. Tillamook will award free ice cream for a year to 10 randomly selected consumers who share their thanks for farmers using both the #AllForFarmers and #Sweepstakes hashtags September 1 through September 30.

Tillamook will announce its total donation to AFT on October 12, National Farmers’ Day. On the same day, AFT will open the grant application to farmer applicants. More details about the TCCA ‘All For Farmers’ initiative can be found at AllForFarmers.com.

*Tillamook will donate 10% of sales, up to $1.6 million.

About Tillamook County Creamery Association
Founded in 1909 as a farmer-owned cooperative, the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) prides itself on its commitment to bringing to market the most consistent, best tasting, highest quality dairy products made in the most natural way possible. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves real food that makes them feel good every day, Tillamook has earned top awards for their cheese, ice cream, sour cream, butter and yogurt products made with unwavering values that never sacrifice or compromise quality for profit. The TCCA is owned by almost 80 farming families, primarily based in Tillamook County, Oregon. Tillamook operates production facilities in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon and employs more than 900 people throughout the state. The Tillamook Creamery is the largest tourist attraction on the coast of Oregon and one of the most popular in the state, attracting more than one million visitors each year. For more information on Tillamook, visit Tillamook.com.

About American Farmland Trust
American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through its No Farms, No Food® message. Since its founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families. Learn more at https://farmland.org/.