OPB’s First Look: Vancouver farm reaches Latino families

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Good morning, Northwest.

Under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, even a simple task like getting fresh produce can be daunting for many Latino immigrant families who are too afraid to leave home for food.

OPB’s Southwest Washington correspondent Erik Neumann spoke with Latinos Unidos y Floreciendo, a Vancouver-based urban farm that has spent the past five years growing culturally specific produce and distributing it for free to Latino communities.

Plus, as today marks the annual celebration of the mathematical constant π (pronounced “pi”), we revisit a “Think Out Loud” interview with Stacey Mei Yan Fong, author of the 2023 book “50 Pies, 50 States.”

Here’s your First Look at Saturday’s news.

— Winston Szeto

Vancouver farm takes produce to Latino communities shaken by immigration crackdown

For five years, a small urban farm in Vancouver, Washington has grown produce that’s culturally specific to Latino communities. At food distributions by Latinos Unidos y Floreciendo, the nonprofit gives vegetables away for free as part of its mission to expand access to healthy produce in Latino communities.

But in the last six months, many of those the nonprofit serves have grown too afraid to go out in public because of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. That’s also impacted volunteers at the nonprofit’s farm.

Immigration arrests in Washington state and Oregon increased dramatically in the last three months of 2025, according to data from University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights.

Now, instead of advertising the markets, the nonprofit relies on word-of-mouth networks. And instead of adults, it’s often children who come pick up food. (Erik Neumann)

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3 things to know this morning

• Located on U.S. Highway 95 in far southeastern Oregon, Rome Station was a full-service restaurant, the only place to get gas for 30 miles, a convenience store and a gathering place for the community. After 35 years, the gas station has closed, leaving locals worried about what could fill the hole left in the tight-knit rural community. (Jen Baires) 
• In a contentious vote yesterday, Oregon State University’s Board of Trustees approved a proposal to impose the largest student tuition hike in years after university leaders warned that they would otherwise be forced to make cuts to the institution’s “muscle and bone.” (Tiffany Camhi) 
• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver attended the Portland Trail Blazers’ game against the Utah Jazz last night, following the Oregon Legislature’s approval of funds for the renovation of the Moda Center. (Associated Press)

Headlines from around the Northwest

• Atmospheric river exits, flood alerts remain in northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington (OPB staff)
• Portland Public Schools superintendent defends approach to budget as teachers union calls for ‘systemic change’ (Elizabeth Miller) 
• OSU officials dismiss merger rumors involving Southern Oregon University (Jane Vaughan) 
• School districts across Washington’s Clark County brace for budget cuts (Erik Neumann) 
• Federal judge rules Oregon failed to save key video evidence in prison assault case (Lauren Dake) 
• Pilots: Huge ships increase risk of Lewis and Clark Bridge disaster (Henry Brannan) 
• Trail Blazers beat the Jazz 124-114 to close in on the Warriors for 9th in the West (Erik García Gundersen) 
• Moultrie’s goal gives the Thorns a 1-0 win at the Spirit to open the NWSL season (Associated Press)

America as told through pies

Some might argue that pie is the quintessential American dessert.

Certainly Stacey Mei Yan Fong makes that argument in her cookbook.

Fong’s “50 Pies, 50 States” is an “immigrant’s love letter” to this country as told through pie.

OPB’s Crystal Ligori talked to Fong at the 2023 Portland Book Festival.

This story was first published on Nov. 28, 2024. (Sage Van Wing and Crystal Ligori)

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