Meet Matt
Matt Unger
Unger FarmsMatt Unger was born and raised in the Willamette Valley, and is a 4th generation Oregon farmer. Matt and his wife Kathy founded the current Unger Farm in Cornelius, Oregon in 1985, and through the years it has grown to 143 acres (+50 additional acres leased). Matt and Kathy currently grow 2 varieties of raspberries, and 4 varieties of blackberries, and choose varieties that let them harvest into the fall for an extended fresh berry season.
Raspberries – Cascade Delight (end of June until End of July) and Vintage (end of July until end of November) are grown in tunnels to help extend the season by protecting the plants from rain. Blackberries – Obsidian (late June & July), Triple Crown (late July and August), Prime-Ark 45 and Prime-Ark Freedom (August – October) The farm is also home to 10 varieties of blueberries and 2 varieties of strawberries.
Unger Farms employs up to 100 people during peak season, and other members of the Unger family have now joined the team. Matt and Kathy’s son Will is working hard alongside his parents as a 5th generation farmer. Family and farm are so successfully intertwined for the Unger’s, that they were recognized in 2014 with an award for Excellence In Family Business – Family Harmony by OSU Austin Family Business. They are is also highly active in the berry industry – Matt is the Chairman of the Oregon Strawberry Commission, and Will is on the Oregon Blueberry Commission.
Unger Farms is devoted to several sustainable farming methods, and practice Integrated Pest
Management (IPM): An environmentally friendly, common sense approach to controlling pests & disease, and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP): a voluntary audit that verifies that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored as safely as possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards. They do this to ensure that their land stays farmable for the generations ahead, and in the interests of safety for employees and customers.
You can find Unger Farms fruit at 13 farmer’s markets in the Portland metro area, 5 days per week. They also supply berries to all local New Seasons Market stores from June – November. If you’re out the Cornelius way, stop by! They offer U-Pick berries, as well as fresh picked fruit, and berry products at their farm store and café. The Ungers love their Oregon blackberries and raspberries - Kathy’s favorite blackberry is the Triple Crown. Matt can’t pick a favorite berry because they are all the best during their peak season. Find some near you and enjoy!
Location
Cornelius, Oregon
Varieties
Cascade Delight and Vintage red raspberries, Obsidian and Triple Crown Blackberries
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