Dufur
One of the state’s organic farming pioneers is beginning
construction on a 63,000-square-foot space in Sherman County.
Azure Standard, located
in Wasco County, operates out of semi truck trailers and has
been turning away business because of the lack of space
at current facilities. By July 2007 owner David Stelzer expects
to move his family’s organic farm and natural food
distribution company to its new $2 million facility. The family
company began in 1973 after Stelzer’s father bought into
the potential health benefits of organic food. Azure Standard,
which raises wheat and cattle, expanded into a natural food
distributor in the 1980s. Stelzer believes organic farming is
where the future is. He says that his company’s mission
is to “impact the health and environment to the best of
our ability.”
