Sue Unger, a farmer's wife, loves to go to the Hillsboro Farmer's Market. She likes to watch the families having a good time and, like them, she buys the beautiful fresh produce, some of it grown by her Washington County neighbors. She wonders what will happen to the metropolitan area's many farmer's markets if the rural land nearest to the cities get developed under Measure 37 claims.

"It is the countryside close to the city that will be developed and these farmers are the ones close enough to do the farmer's markets," she says. Sue supports Measure 49 as a way to fix problems that are arising under Measure 37.

The Ungers grow grain on 680 acres around Cornelius. Some of the farm has been in her husband's family for a century. "He's lived on the farm all his life. We've raised four kids here," she says. The Ungers are surrounded by other grain farmers, some vineyards, nursery stock operations, and, of course, farms that supply the blueberries, strawberries and other produce to farmers markets and local restaurants.

Sue estimates 1,750 new houses are being planned under Measure 37 claims within a two-mile radius of the Unger’s home. "That would destroy our farming business," she says flatly.

The Ungers rent some of the acreage they farm and development would make the land too expensive to rent for farming. Besides the cost, she says "you just can't farm next to housing developments. There are large trucks and equipment. Farms do use some sprays and chemicals. Then, there is dust, huge dust. People don't like that going on 18 hours a day. Farm operations are not quiet and peaceful."

Washington County, with its 505,000 residents has managed to preserve more than 75 percent of its agricultural and forest lands. It is home to some of Oregon's largest cities — Hillsboro and Beaverton — and also generates $322 million in farm sales, placing it behind only Marion and Clackamas counties. Sue wants to see that delicate balance preserved.

"Oregon is gorgeous. And the reason it is gorgeous is that we have minimized the ability of developers to go in and tear up all the land," she says. "Measure 37 is not good for Oregon," she says, she supports Measure 49 as a way to restore balance to development. Unchecked, she says Measure 37 "will destroy a whole bunch of things that make Oregon Oregon."