
Francisca Benitez
Latest Stories
Salmon: The original ‘Superabundant’ food of the Pacific Northwest
Few things unite the Pacific Northwest’s culture, economy and ecology like food. But sometimes the ingredients we eat are also divisive. Take salmon: Once these fish were superabundant throughout the region, but the arrival of western settlers — who introduced overfishing and dams — has taken a toll.
Why people all over the world love Oregon-grown wheat
Most of the wheat from the Northwest travels the world, where it's eaten in countries like Japan, China, the Philippines and Indonesia. But it’s also being enjoyed much closer to the fields where it is grown.
From dairies to restaurants, robots could be the future of food
Tech and food have gone together since our ancient ancestors made stone hand axes. Increasingly, automated systems — you might call them robots — are part of that equation.
‘More than just sweet’: Honey’s surprising abundance of flavors
Since the first domestic beehives in ancient Egypt, humans have been working alongside bees to cultivate the honey we love so much. We speak to Lee Hedgmon, master brewer and founder of The Barreled Bee, where she sells her barrel-aged honey creations.
Meet the delicious purple sea creature destroying Pacific kelp forests
The purple sea urchin population on the West coast has skyrocketed, putting the coastal ecosystem in peril. If you can't beat them, eat them.
How the Oregon truffle bends humans to its will
Truffles are mysterious organisms that thrive in the damp forests of the Pacific Northwest, especially in Oregon. Like their above-ground cousins, mushrooms, they are the fruit of vast underground networks of fungus.
Oregon and Washington approve Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds
Eligible young people can get their first dose as soon as today after The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup affirmed the safety of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Smith Rock Climbers, Hikers, Bikers Grateful For Park's Reopening
Rock climbers, hikers and bikers were excited to be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the freshly reopened Smith Rock State Park over the weekend.