Remembering Oregon’s “Berry Goddess” and Friend of OGC, Bernadine Strik

In the early days of Oregon’s organic agriculture movement, when OGC was just blooming, our grower partners in the Willamette Valley needed help to build their expertise. A dedicated OGC team was assembled to collaborate and guide our growers through the evolving market and address practical challenges of growing organic at scale. When the need to coordinate a group of blueberry growers presented itself, OGC turned to Bernadine Strik for help. 

Bernadine, at that time a professor at OSU who had already earned a reputation as a powerhouse in Oregon’s agriculture community for her work with berries, was an early and enthusiastic supporter of OGC’s work to grow the organic movement.  

Together with OGC’s Lynn Coody, Bernadine helped write the OGC Blueberry Handbook—a top to bottom resource for organic blueberry growers in the Northwest. A physical copy of the handbook would remain in co-founder David Lively’s desk for the next couple of decades.  

As we mark Bernadine’s passing, we send sympathy to those who knew her. We’re honored to fondly remember Bernadine, her passion for berries and cannot express enough our deep gratitude for the immeasurable impact she made on Oregon’s agriculture.  

To learn more about Bernadine, her life and her work, please enjoy this lovely tribute published by OPB.