The Hockinson Main Street Team introduced the Hockinson Homegrown Highway Map to southwest Washington on Aug. 29.
The Hockinson Homegrown Highway is a farm map similar to the popular “Fruit Loop” of Hood River, Oregon.
“Our area has an amazing diversity of agricultural-based businesses and the ‘H3’ is a way to link them together to showcase all that they offer,” said Kelsey Chappelle, a member of the Hockinson Main Street Team, in a release.
Chappelle hopes the map attracts people to take a drive out to the countryside around Hockinson to discover crafts, purchase fresh produce and even stop to sample a local craft beer at the Hockinson Market.
After reviewing 2020 Census data, Steve Marshall, superintendent of the Hockinson School District, shared with the HMST that the community contained hundreds of small, home-based businesses. As a rural area, these licensed businesses were often obscured or known only to local residents. The HMST, whose mission is to promote community connectedness and local commerce, decided to increase the exposure of these farms by consolidating them into a common entity, the release stated.
“Our hope is that people remember the Homegrown Highway, and when they come to visit one of these businesses they continue on and explore others,” said Marshall in the release.
Justin VanNatta, from the Hockinson Market, used his graphic design skills to create the roadmap and shared a few with customers.
“The response was really positive,” said VanNatta in the release. “My initial supply of maps was all gone within a couple of hours, and people who heard about it were asking for a copy of their own.”
VanNatta has since created a stockpile of additional maps, but the map can also be found online
at the Hockinson Main Street website, hockmainstreet.com. The team is already receiving requests from additional farms in the area to be added to future editions of the map.
Local residents and visitors are invited to take the Hockinson Homegrown Highway and see where it takes them. This invitation comes with two caveats, the release added. The HMST wants patrons to know that the “highway” is actually two-lane country roads and encourages safe speeds and caution.
Organizers also warn visitors that not all businesses are open seven days a week or on a full-day schedule.
“Hours of operation vary and, in most instances, are seasonal or ‘by appointment only.’ We recommend that patrons contact businesses prior to hitting the highway,” advised Chapelle in the release.
