Rogue Valley Food Trail

The Rogue Valley Food Trail offers a self-guided adventure to diverse farms, artisans and restaurants in Southern Oregon. The growers and crafters along this bountiful trail are committed to sustainable practices and supporting the agricultural legacy of the region. Find your themed route below or download the official brochure.

Fun fact: The Rogue Valley’s fertile soils and warm microclimates allow for the growth of more than 70 grape varietals.

Healthy Living

Jacksonville and the Applegate Valley

Fragrant botanicals, medicinal herbs and fermented foods make for a feast of the senses.

Begin the day in Jacksonville. A cup of locally roasted coffee and homemade pastry at Goodbean Coffee is the perfect fuel to start a day of culinary exploration in the Applegate Valley.

If your visit is between June and August, fields of fragrant lavender await at Lavender Fields Forever and The English Lavender Farm. Continue to Oshala Farm for a tour of more than 75 varieties of certified organic medical and culinary herbs. Pick up organic goods at Rogue Artisan Foods self-serve farm stand learn from farmers how small farms operate. From there, Whistling Duck Farm offers fresh produce and fermented veggies.

As you make your way toward Grants Pass, pop into Pennington Farms to sample hand-crafted jams and pick up some of their fresh, artisan baked goods. As if these stops weren’t sweet enough, Super Natural Chocolate Co. is the perfect place for an afternoon pick-me-up; choose from a variety of award-winning raw confections or hot chocolate drinks. Pair the goodies collected along the way with house-made charcuterie and cheese at Wooldridge Creek Vineyard and Creamery. A picnic on the grass while sipping the newest vintage and taking in stunning views of the verdant valley below makes for a perfect lunch.

Back in Jacksonville, pick up a fresh, nutritious, farm-to-table prepared meal from Jefferson Farm Kitchen. Simply place your order and pick up a ready-to-eat meal featuring the best of Southern Oregon’s bounty to take with you.

End your day at Troon Vineyard – dedicated to regenerative agriculture – and enjoy a sampling of biodynamic wines, wander through some of the oldest vines in the Rogue Valley, and even tuck in for the night at one of the property’s VRBO lodging options.

Family Farms

Medford to Grants Pass

Alpacas, honeybees and farm stays the whole family can enjoy.

Is there a better way to start the day than with a fresh biscuit the size of your face? Find out at Buttercloud Bakery & Café, a local favorite where scratch-made baked goods reign. Then it’s off to Fry Family Farm, where at the farm store you can find a wide variety of organic produce, potted plants, fresh cut flowers and gifts for the folks back home. From one family-owned farm to the next, at Bigham Farms enjoy more fresh, Southern Oregon produce. At the Oregon Bee Store, find everything from local, raw honey to supplies to start your own beekeeping. From buzzing bees to fuzzy alpacas, learn everything you need to know about alpaca farming at Alpacas at Lone Ranch.

Make your way back to Medford for a craft brew and pub fare made from locally-sourced ingredients at Common Block Brewing Company. At your leisure, head north to Grants Pass. On Saturdays, the Grants Pass Growers Market is a hub for the region’s fruit, vegetables, pastries and farm products. Take your time strolling through the aisles, chatting with the local producers. Daily Blessings Farm specializes in produce, poultry and fresh flowers, but their educational programming is what makes a trip to this farm special for the whole family — from composting with worms to learning about essential oils for kids, this will be an afternoon well spent.

Next, it’s off to Fort Vannoy Farms, a 500-acre, third generation working farm. Though this family favorite is well-known for its Fall Harvest Festival, corn maze and pumpkin patch, it promises to be a year-round hit.

Dinner at Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. is sure to please both old and young with handcrafted brews and a selection of “famous” pizzas. End the day at Pholia Farm, a fully operational Nigerian Dwarf goat farm. Spend a night in the bunk house or refurbished Airstream and get a crash course in goat farming.

Famous Food

Central Point to Ashland

Savor offerings from the Rogue Valley’s most iconic producers.

This trip starts at Oregon’s best little rest stop – the Central Point Artisan Corridor. First stop: Rogue Creamery where Rogue River Blue holds the title of “World’s Best Cheese.” Next door, Lillie Belle Farms‘ array of chocolatey treats are guaranteed to satisfy any taste buds. Taste for yourself why they’ve been chosen as one of America’s Top 10 Chocolatiers.

The seasonal Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market in Medford offers local organic produce, unique crafts and artisan foods. From there, check out Dunbar Farms, a 110-year-old family owned farm specializing in organic produce and stone-milled flours. Next, it’s off to Harry & David, one of Southern Oregon’s most popular purveyors of gourmet foods.

Before you leave Medford, stop in for lunch and a tasting at Immortal Spirits and Distilling Company, a local distillery that has been making handcrafted spirits from scratch for more than ten years. Make your way south toward Ashland with a stop at EdenVale Winery, situated on one of the oldest orchards in the Rogue Valley. The Oregon Cheese Cave is just down the road, carrying a selection from all over the world, with an Oregon focus.

Lithia Springs Resort & Wine Garden offers lodging, complete with in-room soaking tubs that run water from natural hot springs. If you’re just passing through, the Wine Garden offers an intimate and fun wine tasting experience. For dinner, Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine, located in the landmark Ashland Springs Hotel, serves up seasonal fare with a focus on locally sourced ingredients.

A quick jaunt east takes you to Willow-Witt Ranch. This 445-acre working ranch makes for the perfect end to a day of exploration with accommodations nestled in a valley within the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. For a true farm stay, overnight guests have the option to participate in daily farm activities from egg-gathering, milking and goat herding to working in the vegetable garden.

More tasty stops

There are dozens of stops on the Rogue Valley Food Trail, from bakeries to restaurants, farms and growers markets, to wineries and distilleries and beyond. Make your base camp in one of these charming towns and find a delicious farm-to-table meal around the corner. Here are some of the locales to explore.