New Agriculture Game for Portland Students
The Farm to Table game helps Portland students learn about food systems through interactive, school-based play.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Organic Food
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A new agriculture-themed trading card game called Farm to Table is launching in Portland to help connect students and families with locally grown foods. The game requires players to manage farm operations through 20 turns, with options to integrate school cafeteria QR codes for additional cards.
Why it matters
By gamifying agricultural decision-making, the project aims to bridge the gap between kids, schools, and local farms. It offers a unique educational tool to foster understanding of food systems and local resource access within the Portland community.
The game design features a 20-turn cycle requiring players to reach 200 beans to win, while falling 200 beans into debt leads to a loss. While the platform maps 3,490 farms on FarmFinderUSA, the actual efficacy of this gamified approach for nutrition education is still under investigation.
The players
Dr. Roxanne Bruce
The creator of Farm to Table who holds a doctorate in business administration and resides in Ludlow.
Cultivated Encounters
The company overseeing the game project and the Food is Medicine initiative.
Victoria Gray
A co-owner of Cultivated Encounters who supports the development of the agriculture-themed game.
Steven Rose
A co-owner of Cultivated Encounters involved in the company's agricultural technology projects.
Avec Community Action
A partner organization under the Food is Medicine initiative.
The details
Players must navigate farm management challenges by making decisions that involve securing insurance or grants to offset potential debt. The game incorporates real-world engagement by allowing students to scan QR codes found in school cafeterias to earn supplemental digital cards. This system is designed to encourage active participation and a tangible link between the game interface and the food choices available within the school environment.
Timeline
October 21, 2026: Game debut and Tech Week demonstration in Portland.
Week of October 26, 2026: Expected launch for new site beta testing.
Health Landscape
This project integrates into the broader Food is Medicine initiative, which aims to bridge the gap between nutritional education and access to local agriculture. It represents a shift toward using interactive technology to address food literacy within community health frameworks.
Students and families in Portland can look for cafeteria QR codes to begin interacting with the platform as it rolls out. Families interested in identifying local food sources can monitor the FarmFinderUSA site to see if their preferred providers are among the 3,490 farms featured.
The takeaway
Engaging with food systems through games can be a novel way to improve literacy around local agricultural resources. If you are interested in exploring local food options, consider using tools like FarmFinderUSA to track availability in your area.
Further reading
Learn more about the local food systems in our guide to Organic Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The County.
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