UNION COUNTY — The community is invited to tour small farms, orchards and producers this weekend for the second Union County Farm Crawl.

The first, in 2019, saw more than 300 visitors to each location. The 2020 version was cancelled.

This year’s farm crawl is set for Sunday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There are 12 locations. Maps with addresses and descriptions of each place are available at the Union County Chamber of Commerce office, 207 Depot St. in La Grande, at the La Grande Farmers Market on Saturday (9 a.m. to noon at Max Square), and at participating stops during the Farm Crawl.

The idea for this event started with Nella Mae Parks, who is one of the featured participants. She’d discovered the idea of a farm crawl on the Farmer to Farmer podcast, then presented the idea to the Union County agritourism committee.

“I was immediately taken with the idea because I am always trying to find ways to bring the community into local food production and revive the ‘culture’ in agriculture,” Parks said.

Parks runs Nella Mae’s Farm in Cove. Her produce is available at her own farmstand, as well as the La Grande Farmers Market and on the menu at several local restaurants.

A Farm Crawl such as Sunday’s event provides producers a dedicated day to connect with consumers.

“Growers are so busy, so a one-day event during the prettiest time of the year is perfect. The farm crawl gives us a way to showcase and share what we do, which is often a fairly hidden and solitary pursuit.”

Many farms, gardens, greenhouses, orchards and farm stands around the Grande Ronde Valley will be open to the public offering fruit and vegetables, encounters with farm animals, tours and fun activities for the whole family.

Free samples will be given at several locations, as well as opportunities for conversation with the growers.

The Union County Farm Crawl is organized with assistance from the Eastern Oregon Visitors Association Agritourism Development Program. It is sponsored by the Union County Chamber of Commerce.