Dry farming could help agriculture in the western U.S. amid climate change
Forgoing irrigation can save water and produce more flavorful fruits and vegetables

A lot of produce can be dry-farmed, such as these Native Sun and Marmande tomatoes grown near Portland, Ore.
Catherine Nguyen
In the parking lot behind a grocery store in Portland, Ore., last September, several hundred tomato aficionados gathered on a sunny, breezy day for Tomato Fest. While many attendees devoured slices of tomato quiche and admired garlands of tomatoes with curiously pointed ends, I beelined to a yellow-tented booth hosted by Oregon State University.