Generally, one does not equate whitewater rafting trips with excellent food. The fun of riding the rapids takes precedence over culinary taste treats. Typically, a rafting lunch consists of balancing a sandwich, bag of chips, and store-bought cookies on your lap as you teeter precariously on an uneven rock. And, more often than not, some of that lunch ends up as ant food on the sandy shoreline.
One Oregon whitewater rafting company has been quietly working over the last decade to change the way their customer's eat while on the river. To do that, the company began by buying fruits and produce in season-from local farmers. The thought was that local farmers are wonderful resources. By dealing directly with these farmers, the company came into personal contact with the people who actually grew the foods their clients consumed. Clients started noticing a marked difference in the freshness and uniqueness of the food. Vine-ripened tomatoes, freshly-picked blueberries, juice-dripping peaches, were all often picked by local farmers just a day or two before clients enjoyed them riverside.
Bob Meister, president of Whitewater Warehouse, explains the company's passion for locally grown, in-season foods. "We find inspiration for our menus based on what the farmers tell us about local foods and their availability. As much as possible, we also grow our own produce from seed on our organic farm plots. But, when we can't grow our own, we look to local growers and producers. A perfect example of this is our local hazelnut farmer. Oregon is known for being one of the few regions in the world to grow these buttery nuts. It is such a treat to drive 15 minutes to the actual hazelnut farm, talk to the farmer, and purchase them for our clients."
Whitewater Warehouse, a company that runs multi-day rafting, kayaking, and hiking trips through southern Oregon's Rogue River canyon, has been a leader in "from the source" rafting cuisine. Besides the fresh fruits and vegetables, the company serves its clients delicacies such as smoked Oregon salmon, olive and black fig tapanade, and Northwest wines. Offering foods that highlight Oregon's incredible culinary bounty has been a calling card for the company. Clients come from all over the world to experience what few other outdoor-focused companies are doing.
Molly O'Hearn, a long time Whitewater Warehouse client and passionate food person says, "It is hard to describe the difference because this company is so unique when it comes to food. I am constantly amazed at the quality of the food that they put before us. Many of the items I can't even buy as fresh as they do. Their passion for providing a first-class culinary experience is unsurpassed. I don't know of any other rafting company that focuses so much on the quality of food that they offer their guests. I travel all over the world on business and eat at exotic locations. I have to say that the experience Whitewater Warehouse offers its clients is like no other I've experienced on my travels."
Purchasing "from the source" is getting a bit easier as producers become more marketing savvy. The Oregon Wine and Farm Tour sponsors a website of all-Oregon products. The site highlights large and small Oregon producers who are coming into their own on the national and international cuisine scene. The Southern Oregon Wineries Association is another organization devoted to showcasing southern Oregon's burgeoning wine industry. Michael Donovan, spokesman for the group, shares his thoughts. "Our area is really perfect for a large variety of grapes. We are gaining national exposure and attention due to the incredible geographic diversity that helps produce our spectacular wines. Our region runs from Roseburg to Ashland, Oregon. In it you will find all kinds of different weather and geographic conditions. And this diversity is what makes our wines special. For example, in the cooler regions growers produce spectacular Pinot Noir and Pinto Gris. In the dryer areas, the bold reds come into their own such as the Cabernet Sauvignon and syrah varietals."
Joy Henkle writes on outdoor subjects for several travel websites. She also writes for the blog, Whitewater Rafting Blog She and her husband, Bob Meister, own White Water Warehouse.
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