One of Jim Siri’s first memories was as a 5-year-old, riding a plow horse as his father worked the field on the family farm. Now at 65, Siri is still working the farm, along with his own sons. The Siri family is part of a continuous story of Italian family farmers, produce wholesalers and retailers that have fed Oregonians and supported their Catholic community for generations.

A century ago, many of the fruits and vegetables that ended up on the tables of Portland homes and restaurants were grown on Italian family-run farms and distributed by produce wholesale houses also owned by Italian families. Those families helped build and sustain several parishes in and around Portland.